USAPP Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in US state blogging. Click here for our weekly roundup of national blogs

Gilson, Christopher

LSE Research Online

blogs.lse.ac.ukhttp://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2016/04/09/sestaks-feud-with-democrats-in-pennsylvania-florida-governor-scotts-video-attack-on-angry-constituent-and-indiana-sued-by-aclu-over-abortion-law-us-state-blog-roundup-for-2-8-ap/Sestak’s feud with Democrats in Pennsylvania, Florida GovernorScott’s video attack on angry constituent, and Indiana sued byACLU over abortion law: US state blog roundup for 2 – 8 AprilUSAPP Managing Editor, Chris Gilson, looks at the week in US state blogging. Click here for our weekly roundupof national blogs. NortheastOn Thursday this week, New Hampshire’s Miscellany: Blue profiles a Republican state Senate candidate, BobGiuda, who they say is ‘militantly anti-government’. They comment that a number of essays Giuda has posted onsocial media show that he supports Nevada’s rancher Cliven Bundy’s armed confrontation with federal officials, andhas also called President Obama a ‘racist, marxist, muslim [sic]’.Moving on to the Green Mountain State, VTDigger reports that the state House has given its approval to a bill whichwould raise the state’s legal smoking age from 18 to 21, as well as increasing tax on tobacco products.Last week saw New York state pass a budget which included an increase of the minimum wage to $15 an hour.Capitol Confidential says that with the measure now passed, advocates in the legislature have now made aproposal to deter wage theft, an issue that is often felt in the restaurant and construction industries. Staying in theEmpire State, State of Politics has the news that 2014 gubernatorial candidate, Zephyr Teachout has raised$530,000 in her bid for the state’s 19th US House district, which will be an open seat given that GOP RepresentativeChris Gibson has his eyes on the Governor’s office.New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Credit: Gage Skidmore (CC-BY-SA-2.0)Following the water quality crisis in Flint, Michigan, concern about lead in water supplies has spread to other statesand cities, with New Jersey being no exception. PolitickerNJ reports Tuesday that the state’s Governor, ChrisChristie, has refused to authorize any extra spending to address lead contamination in public schools’ drinking water,even after it was found that more than half of Newark’s public schools tested positive for such contamination.1/4Florida Governor Rick Scott Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr, CC-BY-SA-2.0)PoliticsPA writes this week on the feud between US Senate candidate Joe Sestak and his own party. They say thatthe former Congressman isn’t like by the Democratic establishment, a rift that goes back to his defeat of ArlenSpecter in 2010’s Democratic primary for the Keystone State’s 7th Congressional district. SouthLoose Lips of Washington DC writes that the District’s Council Chairman is cautious on Mayor Muriel Bowser’sproposed minimum wage increase to $15 an hour; suggesting instead that any increase should be linked toincreases in neighboring counties in Maryland.Speaking of the Old Line State, Political Maryland says that on Monday the state’s GOP Governor, Larry Hoganvetoed a bill that would bring public accountability and transparency to a part of the state government’s decision-making. They comment that given that Hogan stated that the bill would block road and bridge projects (which theysay it would not), the veto must be an April Fool’s joke.This week could have been better for FloridaGovernor Rick Scott, who was subjected to a tirade ofabuse from a constituent in a Starbucks inGainesvile. Saint Peters blog says that the womanwho upbraided Scott, Cara Jennings, is no strangerto controversy, having been a founding member of aprotest group in 2006. Beach Peanuts writes thatScott appears to have had the last word, putting outan attack ad against Jennings to get revenge and asa way to raise money for his future politicalendeavors.Heading west to Alabama, Yellowhammer has thenews that the state’s legislature has overriddenGovernor Rob Bentley’s recent veto of the state’sbudget; Bentley had asked for more money forMedicaid. In response to the veto, Bentley has now suggested that there may be significant cuts to the state’sMedicaid program in the pipeline.Continuing on to Arkansas, Talk Business comments that even though the state’s unemployment rate hit an all-timelow in February, the unemployment rate amongst working-age blacks in the state has stubbornly remained in doubledigits since 2008.Midwest On Monday, eclecta blog is very concerned that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s administration may be planningnot to replace lead water lines in Flint. They write that given that Flint’s water lead levels are falling because of thephosphate added to the water since the lead crisis began six months ago, Snyder’s administration may just simplybe waiting until levels have dropped enough so that residents can use their water again.2/4Governor Mike Pence of Indiana Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr, CC-BY-SA-2.0)Heading south to the Hoosier State, Indy Democrat Blog argues that the mess that Governor Mike Pence has mademakes him vulnerable in the fall, when he’s up for re-election. They say that pence remains unpopular because ofissues like the RFRA debacle where he was forced to back down, and the more recent bill which stops doctors fromperforming abortions for reasons like the potential disability of the fetus. Indy Politics reports this week that theACLU has filed a lawsuit over the state’s aforementioned new abortion law. They say that the ACLU of Indiana hasclaimed that the law violates due process and equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.In addition to holding its presidential primary this week, Wisconsin also saw elections for its Supreme Court. ThePolitical Environment says that the reelection of Rebecca Bradley over JoAnne Kloppenberg reflects the sameresults that have kept GOP Governor Scott Walker in office for more than five years.The Iowa Republican also talks elections, commenting that Patty Judge – the Democratic candidate for the state’sUS Senate seat, has been seen only once in the state in the month since she began her campaign. They say thatthe seat is rated ‘Safe Republican’, and call Judge’s efforts, a ‘phantom candidacy’.Over in North Dakota, Say Anything argues that Governor Jack Dalrymple was correct in refusing to agree to aspecial session of the Legislature to address budget issues. They write that under state law, the Legislature can onlycall itself back into if it has not used all of its constitutionally limited session days; if it has, then only the governor canrecall them back into session. West and Pacific Progressnow NM writes this week that New Mexico’s Lieutenant Governor, John Sanchez has been showing justhow extreme his anti-abortion views are with his recent social media postings which accuse Planned Parenthood ofharvesting and experimenting on the body parts of aborted fetuses.Idaho’s Eye on Boise reports that the state’s Governor, Butch Otter, has vetoed a bill which would have permittedthe Bible to be used in the state’s public schools for reference purposes. In his veto message, Otter stated thatallowing the bill to become law would contravene the state’s constitution which prohibits religious books from beingused in the state’s schools.Oregon Catalyst, meanwhile says that the rapid growth of the state’s budget is continuing, and has gone from $12.5billion in 2005-07 to $19 billion now.Heading south, Fox & Hounds argues that rent controls are the wrong solution for the Golden State’s housing crisis.They write that such government imposed regulations and fees make it more expensive to live in California, and thata better solution would be to expand affordable housing stocks. Staying in California, Flashreport bemoans anotherstate government intervention – the recent decision to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. They say3/4Minimum wage protest Credit: Wisconsin Jobs Now (Creative Commons BYNC)the $15 rate has no historical justification, and that members of the state’s legislature have a view of economicswhich is divorced from reality.Over in Hawaii this week, Honolulu Civil Beat says that lobbyists have spent nearly $1 million to influence statelegislators in January and February on issues such as health care, energy, and prisons. Featured image credit: Joe Sestak Credit: PatrickGage Kelley (Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0)Please read our comments policy beforecommenting.Note:  This article gives the views of the author, andnot the position of USAPP– American Politics andPolicy, nor of the London School of Economics.Shortened URL for this post: http://bit.ly/23u97szCC BY-NC 3.0 2015 LSE USAPP4/4

Sestak’s feud with Democrats in Pennsylvania, Florida Governor Scott’s video attack on angry constituent, and Indiana sued by ACLU over abortion law: US state blog roundup for 2 – 8 April

Sestak’s feud with Democrats in Pennsylvania, Florida Governor Scott’s video attack on angry constituent, and Indiana sued by ACLU over abortion law: US state blog roundup for 2 – 8 April

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