Archive for the ‘State Legislature News’ Category

From RGJ.com:

The budget and taxes will dominate the Nevada Legislature as the session enters its 14th week today.

Democratic lawmakers on Thursday unveiled their long-awaited tax plan that, along with additional projected revenues, would generate $1.5 billion over the next two years.

The proposal includes lifting the sunset on taxes set to expire June 30; a gradual phase-out the modified business tax in favor of a margins tax paid on business revenue; and implementing a 1 percent to 4 percent tax on some services.

State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, and Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, said they hoped the proposal would be a starting point for discussion on revamping Nevada’s tax structure that is heavily reliant on tourism and casino taxes — two revenue sources prone to economic volatility.

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From The Sun:

It may be the governor himself who lacks courage to close a budget deal.

In March, five Republican senators reported that they had “reached an impasse” in negotiations with the governor because their “substantive reform proposals to create jobs, require responsible state spending, eliminate abusive pension practices, and implement meaningful governmental reforms” had been “either rejected or so watered down as to have no real effect.”

The senators concluded that the governor was “unable to compel other stakeholders to accept real reform.”

Later that same month, it was the governor, not the Republicans, who pulled the plug on budget negotiations. Rather unconvincingly, the governor claimed a deal was impossible because Republicans were asking for too many reforms.

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On the flip side, Texas ranks first followed by North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia.

From The Sacramento Bee:

Many of the nation’s top business executives apparently have no love for California.

For the seventh year in a row, a survey of chief executives has ranked the Golden State as the nation’s worst in which to do business.

More than 500 U.S. CEOs polled by Greenwich, Conn.-based Chief Executive magazine based their opinions on numerous factors, including regulations, tax policies, work force quality, education resources, quality of living and infrastructure.

“ABC – Anywhere But California,” said T.J. Rodgers, CEO of Cypress Semiconductor, a $668 million chip-making firm in San Jose. “It’s expensive, it’s hostile to business and environmental regulations are more of a drag on business than protecting the environment.”

Cypress Semiconductor, which also has overseas operations, said it once had 1,500 workers in California but is now down to about 600.

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From Las Vegas Review Journal:

Nevadans could pay more for everything from plumbing to car repairs, from legal services to yard upkeep to raise money for schools and social services under a $1.5 billion plan detailed by Democratic lawmakers Thursday.

The proposal includes a new tax on services and another on business revenue.

They would boost state general fund spending for 2011-13 by about $920 million more than the $6.1 billion budget proposal from Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval.

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From USA Today:

Feeling under siege in more than a dozen states, some of the nation’s largest labor groups are focusing their political activity to challenge state laws that sharply curb union rights or to oust the legislators who crafted them.

That could hurt congressional Democrats who rely heavily on organized labor for campaign money and get-out-the vote efforts. Democrats received 93% of the money union-affiliated political action committees donated to federal candidates in last year’s midterm elections, according to data collected by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.

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From nwi.com:

House Minority Leader Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, called the 2011 session that ended Friday a “complete disaster.” Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, summed it up as “the session from hell.”

The 2010 elections gave Republicans total control of the Statehouse, and they successfully pushed an agenda that includes a corporate tax cut, a bill cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood and education initiatives that critics contend devastate public schools.

“I know the people were wanting change, but I’m not sure that the changes that we have seen during this session were the changes that they wanted,” said Sen. Lindel Hume, D-Princeton. “This has been a difficult time.”

Some Democrats think the best way to approach 2012 elections is to allow the GOP agenda to backfire.

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After a judge gave election officials more time to review the petitions, it looks like we’re going to have an interesting summer.

From laCrosseTribune.com:

A judge gave Wisconsin election officials more time Friday to review recall petitions filed in the past month against eight state senators, including Republican Dan Kapanke of La Crosse.

That means Kapanke and others will likely face special elections July 12 if the petitions are ruled sufficient, although more legal challenges could lead to further delays.

The Government Accountability Board is now scheduled to meet May 23 to rule on recall efforts against Kapanke and two other Republicans and again May 31 for the other five senators.

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From Statesman.com:

The Texas House spent hours Wednesday battling over a redistricting bill that would redraw the boundaries of the lawmakers’ districts.

The once-a-decade effort is always contentious. Lawmakers resist redrawn districts that would pit them against each other or bring tough re-election

bids, and allegations of bias and partisanship abound.

The author of the bill, House Redistricting Committee Chairman Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, noted that the debate over his proposed map of House districts is inherently personal.

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From ajc.com:

President Barack Obama called Georgia’s Arizona-style immigration enforcement bill “a mistake,” possibly setting the stage for a showdown between Georgia and the federal government.

Opponents of Georgia’s House Bill 87 said they were glad to see the president weigh in against the legislation, but they want the Obama administration to go further and challenge it in court. At the same time, supporters said the state needs to act because the federal government has failed to do enough about illegal immigration.

Both sides expect the measure, which authorizes local police to investigate suspected illegal immigrants, to wind up in court. Opponents say they are drafting a lawsuit to block HB 87. Gov. Nathan Deal’s office confirmed Wednesday the governor would sign it during the first two weeks of May.

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