Archive for the ‘State Legislature News’ Category

From Cleveland.com:

As union groups on Monday took the first step to blocking Ohio’s controversial new collective bargaining law, Gov. John Kasich’s administration released its fiscal analysis of the measure, claiming it will save state and local governments almost $1.3 billion a year.

The fiscal analysis of the law, which was known as Senate Bill 5, was done by officials in Kasich’s Department of Administrative Services (DAS). It claims the state would see $191 million in savings if the provisions of the law were implemented — a drop in the bucket compared to the $120 billion all-funds budget proposed by Kasich.

By far, the analysis shows the biggest chunk of savings would benefit local governments which would net some $1.1 billion a year, the projections show

Read the Rest…

From Quad City Times:

Iowa senators approved refundable tax credits for solar and wind energy Wednesday, despite an argument that the state would be subsidizing those installations.

Senate File 516 would provide a tax credit of up to $15,000 of the cost of construction or installation of commercial or agricultural wind or solar energy systems and $3,000 for residential systems. The program is capped at $10 million in credits annually.

Iowa is a leader in biofuels and “big wind,” Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, said, “but we haven’t done much in solar or small wind systems.”

Read the Rest…

From the Politico:

“We generally are welcomed when we come in because we bring resources and a level of sophistication,” said Chris Jankowski, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, the GOP’s state campaign arm.

The committee primed Wisconsin for conflict by spending more than $1 million to flip both chambers last November — and $31 million overall in a national effort that cost Democrats more than 700 legislative seats across the nation, the most ever by either party. Democrats lost control of 20 legislative chambers on election night, a number that grew to 21 when party-switchers handed the Louisiana Senate to the GOP.

“The Democrats started this. They got better at it quicker further down the ballot,” Jankowski explained. “The Republicans we work with feel like, ‘Thank God. Finally I’ve got a group that can help me fight back.’”

Read the Rest…

From the Politico:

Republicans have fired back with recalls and an ad campaign of their own. The Republican State Leadership Committee, the national GOP’s down-ballot campaign arm, last week targeted two Democratic senators with an ad campaign the committee said would run for weeks with a six-figure price tag.

The liberal groups say they are putting more than $100,000 behind their new ad, which is being funded through their Wisconsin local affiliates. The two groups have spent more than half a million dollars on television in Wisconsin to date.

“This new TV ad captures the grassroots magic of the campaign to recall Republican senators,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “It also shows that folks in Wisconsin of all ages and political stripes are coming together to reject Republican policies that give millions to big corporations in tax cuts while forcing middle-class families, schools, and communities to pay the price.”

Read the Rest…

The RSLC is fighting back liberal interest groups that just dropped $100,000 in Wisconsin on TV. See what you can do to help the RSLC here: http://www.rslc.com/Wisconsin

From postcrescent.com:

Two Wisconsin GOP legislators will try to block the state from implementing parts of the federal health care reform law.

A bill being circulated by Sen. Joe Liebham of Sheboygan and Rep. Robin Vos of Racine would amend the state Constitution to prohibit passing any law requiring residents to participate in a health care plan.

The new health care law requires each state to create a health care exchange by 2014. Atty. Gen. J.B. Van Hollen claims the law is unconstitutional and joined a multistate lawsuit against the law in January. Wisconsin also is looking into private alternatives to the health care exchanges.

Read the Rest…

From Mlive.com:

The proposal introduced Wednesday by Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, would apply that 20-percent standard to all 148 members of the Senate and House. While all state employees pay 10 percent of their health premium, for new hires it’s 20 percent, legislators pay 5 percent to 7.6 percent, depending on the plan they choose.

“Before we require teachers to pay 20 percent, senators and representatives should set an example,” Jones said. “My bill will require that to happen.”

Snyder’s budget assumes that nearly half of a proposed $470-per-pupil cut in state K-12 aid could be recouped by requiring school employees to pay 20 percent of health insurance. It also assumes $180 million in state agency savings through 20-percent cost sharing to be obtained in upcoming labor negotiations. Local governments that apply that same standard could avoid further cuts in state aid.

Read the Rest…

From mlive.com:

With U.S. Census numbers in hand, legislative Republicans who control the process will waste little time in drawing new political boundaries for Congress and the Legislature.

While Michigan lost population in the past decade and will lose a congressional seat because other states gained residents, the bigger factor in reapportionment could be the stunning population loss of more than 238,000 people in the city of Detroit that will have ripple effects across the state.

“We don’t want to wait forever, but I have no idea how long this is going to take. I’ve never done this before,” said Rep. Peter Lund, R-Shelby Township, chairman of the House Redistricting and Elections Committee. “If it’s up to me, I’d rather get this done sooner rather than later. Dragging it out doesn’t do any of us any good.”

Read the Rest…