Author Archive
Georgia GOP Leading the Way on Retaining good teachers
Last Updated on Monday, 11 April 2011 01:10 Written by rslcpol Monday, 11 April 2011 01:10
From ajc.com:
Teachers could no longer rely on seniority as a safe harbor when school districts lay off workers, under legislation before the Georgia House Monday.
Senate Bill 184 would require local school systems to use teacher performance as the primary factor when deciding layoffs. Supporters argue that policy change will give job security to the best educators and give middling teachers incentive to improve.
“If we want the best students and to improve our education system, we have got to have the best teachers,” said Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, the measure’s sponsor. “Anything else is contrary to keeping the best employees.”
Opponents say the legislation isn’t necessary because job performance has been included as a factor in decisions on layoffs for years. They worry the issue draws focus away from school funding cuts the state has made for years.
Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
MO Lt. Governor Kinder on Attorney General Koster Filing Amicus Brief in Florida Case
Last Updated on Monday, 11 April 2011 12:48 Written by rslcpol Monday, 11 April 2011 12:48
From Lt. Governor Kinder’s office:
JEFFERSON CITY – Lt. Governor Peter Kinder today released the following statement after Attorney General Koster filed an amicus brief in the Florida case:
“After thirteen months of inaction and indecision, Attorney General Koster has joined me in declaring the individual mandate to be unconstitutional. However, AG Koster fails to recognize what Judge Vinson clearly articulated and ruled, which is that the individual mandate is not severable from the Health Care Act and therefore the entire law is unconstitutional. AG Koster’s amicus brief in the Florida case, while welcome, is a day late and a dollar short. It does not adequately defend the Missouri Health Care Freedom Act or respond to the resolution passed by the Missouri General Assembly.
With the exception of AG Koster now agreeing that the individual mandate is unconstitutional, we are otherwise disappointed in AG Koster’s course of action. His filing of an amicus brief in the Appellate Court hearing the Florida case does not effectively advocate for the interests of Missouri citizens. I continue to urge AG Koster to join the lawsuit that I and other Missouri citizens have filed in federal court in Missouri. This case is the only case in the nation specifically defending the Health Care Freedom Act and rights of Missourians.
It is crucial that leaders of our state are willing to get in the battle for Missourians’ constitutional rights and freedoms, and not just comment from the sidelines.”
Posted under Attorney General News, Lieutenant Governor News | No Comments
WI: Special Election likely to be Fierce
Last Updated on Friday, 8 April 2011 12:15 Written by rslcpol Friday, 8 April 2011 12:15
From LaCrosseTribune.com:
With better than 40 percent voter turnout in La Crosse County – and upwards of 70 percent in some towns and precincts – Tuesday’s election showed that area voters are engaged in a way rarely seen in spring elections, usually reserved for sleepy nonpartisan races.
And with a special Assembly race and possible Senate recall election looming, the Coulee Region will likely remain in the crosshairs of both parties for months to come.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim attributes the turnout in part to happenings in Madison – where tens of thousands of people spent February and March protesting a Republican move to curtail collective bargaining rights for public employees.
Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
State Justice Department Lawyer sends advice email to MIA Democrats
Last Updated on Friday, 8 April 2011 01:15 Written by rslcpol Friday, 8 April 2011 12:12
From Madison.com:
A Republican lawmaker on Thursday called on a state Justice Department lawyer to resign for sending an email offering legal advice to Democratic state senators after they fled the state in February.
Rep. Steve Nass sent Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen a letter asking for an investigation into Assistant Attorney General Thomas Bellavia for emailing the Democrats on Feb. 27 and telling them he supported their efforts to block the Republican-backed bill that would strip most public workers of collective bargaining rights.
Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
WI Senate Majority Leader on Fox News
Last Updated on Friday, 8 April 2011 12:09 Written by rslcpol Friday, 8 April 2011 12:09
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on Fox News discussing the State Supreme Court election in Wisconsin.
Posted under Blog | No Comments
WA: GOP unveils alternative to Democrats’ budget
Last Updated on Thursday, 7 April 2011 01:48 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 7 April 2011 01:47
From the Olympian:
House Republicans Wednesday released their alternative to the Democratic majority’s budget proposal.
The Republican plan would slash $4.7 billion in spending over the next two years, in part by eliminating state contributions to Washington’s health care program for the poor and most of a program that aids disabled adults.
GOP leaders say their proposal is both more sustainable and responsible than the budget unveiled Monday by House Democrats. The Republicans say their plan protects three priority areas: K-12 education, public safety and vulnerable populations – such as the developmentally disabled.
Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
NC: $259,300 Spent to repair Governor’s Second Home
Last Updated on Thursday, 7 April 2011 01:44 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 7 April 2011 01:44
From CharlotteObserver.com:
In an age of government austerity, the Western Governor’s Residence would seem a relic of better times – a mansion sitting on top of Sunset Mountain with a panoramic view of Asheville.
North Carolina is one of only five states that have a second residence for its governor, the result of a gift to the state and one that the state manages to run pretty cheaply.
But even so, some eyebrows were raised when the state – in the midst of laying off thousands of state employees and cutting many programs – agreed to spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars to renovate the western residence.
Posted under Blog | No Comments
RSLC President on Backbone Radio discussing Wisconsin
Last Updated on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 04:18 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 6 April 2011 04:18
Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski was recently on Backbone Radio discussing the RSLC’s fight in Wisconsin. Listen to the segment below:
Posted under Blog | No Comments
CA: Lawmaker Drops Bid to Arm Legislators
Last Updated on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 01:03 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 6 April 2011 01:03
From the LA Times:
A bill to streamline California’s gun-permit process has been stripped of a controversial provision that would have made it easier for lawmakers to get permits.
Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) said he agreed to drop the provision for now, but hopes to revisit the idea later.
“I look forward to having a debate on the issue,” Wright said in a statement. “The recent news in Wisconsin of threats to legislators only supports the basic premise of the bill.”
Tags: California | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
Washington State Democrats: Out of Gas
Last Updated on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 12:57 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 6 April 2011 12:52
Check out the web ad the RSLC put out last week taking the Democrats to task for attacking Republicans instead of seeking solutions to the states problems.
Posted under Blog | No Comments