Delegation Chatter: Cassidy’s coastal funding bill slated for markup

Posted on by Jeremy Alford

— CASSIDY’S COASTAL BILL TO GET MARKUP: When members return from the August break in September, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will markup legislation by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy to improve and enhance offshore revenue sharing. The RISEE Act (Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems) attempts to address coastal infrastructure needs through a new source of money: future offshore wind development. Analysis suggests Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama missed out on about $216 million in such funding within the last year alone.

— JOHNSON ON VEEP PICK: In an interview with The Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson shared his thoughts on why Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was overlooked for vice president on the Democratic ticket. “(Kamala Harris) was reluctant to put a vice presidential nominee on a ticket with Jewish heritage because they’re having a split in the Democratic Party,” Johnson said. “They have a pro-Palestinian, in some cases pro-Hamas wing of the Democratic Party. I mean, think of this and the implications of it, I think, are profound… And so I, sadly for Josh Shapiro, because of his heritage I think he was, I think that is the reason he was overlooked.”

— SCALISE PART OF TIKTOK BRIEF: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise filed an amicus brief last week in TikTok, et al. v. Garland alongside a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The brief defends the constitutionality of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which addresses the “national security threat posed by Chinese ownership of TikTok.”

— CARTER & FARMER DISCRIMINATION: Congressman Troy Carter recently announced new financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Louisiana farmers who experienced documented discrimination in federal farm lending programs. Louisiana has 1,265 recipients selected totaling $77 million awarded. These awards were made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, which Carter helped craft. “This financial assistance is an opportunity to create long-overdue equity for farmers left behind due to decades of discriminatory practices,” said Carter. “Farming and agriculture in the United States has historically withheld access to communities of color and other marginalized groups. These awards are a significant step to ensure farmers and ranchers can sustain their livelihoods, contribute to the economy and pursue new agricultural opportunities.”

— HIGGINS ON ENERGY: Americans for Prosperity-Louisiana hosted an in-person policy discussion with Congressman Clay Higgins this afternoon at SOWELA Technical Community College. Louisiana ranks third in natural gas production and fifth in proved natural gas reserves, but policies from the Biden Administration could economically, socially and personally harm the state’s energy industry, Higgins argues.

— JNK EMAILS REVISITED: When it comes to email fundraising, no one quite does it like U.S. Sen. John Kennedy. A recent email carried this subject line: “The American People Think Kamala Harris is a Ding Dong.” In the actual appeal’s body, the senator adds, “She is not a serious person. I never saw Margaret Thatcher giggling while her citizens were struggling to make ends meet.” In another email appeal from this month, Kennedy opined, “Chuck Schumer’s poker face is worse than Lady Gaga accepting a Grammy.” Kennedy goes on to warn: “The Drowsy Socialist Democrats, with their black berets and chai tea, will do just about everything and anything to allow illegal aliens to vote and influence our elections. That’s why they killed the SAVE Act in the Senate, but not all hope’s lost.” In the past, such appeals have resulted in enviable small dollar donations for the senator.

— LETLOW DURING THE RECESS: “I had such a fantastic visit to the Hammond Kiwanis yesterday to share more about the results we’ve been able to deliver to Tangipahoa Parish,” Congresswoman Julia Letlow shared on social media, “and how I’m working to drive critical investments here for the future.”

NEW DEM FIRM LAUNCHED: Beychok, Berni, Butterworth join other political pros for ‘partnership of friends’

Posted on by Jeremy Alford

A group of longtime Democratic strategists have teamed up to launch Lafayette Advisors, a new full-service political firm powered by personalities who formerly worked for Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, to name a few notables.

Lafayette Advisors is actually a merger of four boutique firms, with six founding partners leading the charge, including:

— Bradley Beychok, a skilled Dem strategist and co-founder of American Bridge 21st Century, the nation’s largest Democratic SuperPAC

— Ryan Berni, a deputy on the Biden infrastructure team who previously built a well-regarded political shop and served as deputy mayor of New Orleans

— Zach Butterworth, an attorney who most recently served as the director of private sector engagement in the Biden Administration

With a staff of a half-dozen others (and growing), plus three more founding partners, the letterhead still made room for former Congressman Cedric Richmond as senior advisor.

Berni, an alum of the political schools of James Carville and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, said the new venture is a “partnership of friends turned business partners who love to work hard and win.”

Most of the founders and staff have known each other for years, or even decades, pushing through one election cycle after another.

With so many recognizable names, the firm’s sector expertise will be broad, but Berni said the team will put a particular focus in the coming months on coalition development for the 2025 tax fights.

Democrats like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are working to set the stage next year for new taxes on corporations and billionaires, among other ideas. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is talking about reducing corporate tax rates and replacing tax revenue with increased tariffs, along with a host of other suggestions.

Back home in Louisiana, an ambitious Gov. Jeff Landry and the GOP Legislature appear to be targeting the entire finance and taxation article of the Constitution as a budget shortfall looms. The regular session in April will be dedicated largely to tax policy, but a special tax session between now and then is possible.

Berni said Lafayette Advisors will also place an early emphasis on “advancing and defending critical infrastructure and clean energy projects that face increased opposition at the local level.”

Other founding partners include:

— Ankit Desai, a government affairs expert with more than 20 years of political and lobbying experience

— Michael Halle, who most recently served as senior advisor to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg 

— Leah Israel, the chief development officer for the 2024 Democratic National Convention and a consultant specializing in development, advocacy, corporate counsel and public affairs

Additionally, comms pro and author Jennifer Palmieri has joined as senior advisor for nonprofits, and Leslie Leavoy, who previously ran the state chapter of Democrats for Education Reform, is part of the team managing the Louisiana office in New Orleans.

The firm will also have operations in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Berni said existing clients include Fortune 100 companies, U.S. labor unions, philanthropic organizations, nonprofits and national issue campaigns.

Other advisors and senior staff include Sameera Fazili, Kate Berner, Leandrea English, Jana Plat and Andrea Purse.

WONG: Hill gigs offer access to current & future leaders, creating La. politics ‘masterclass’

Posted on by Michael Wong

There’s an unwritten rule about being a congressional staffer: be seen but not heard. Yet, congressional staff also get a front-row seat working with Louisiana’s current and future generation of political leaders. 

I spent nearly 20 years as a congressional staffer, on Capitol Hill and in Louisiana, and have worked as an aide on both policy and state affairs. I happened to start my career at the beginning of Louisiana’s shift to being a Republican-dominated state. 

Many may think our federal politics is a world separate and apart from state politics, but they are very much connected. 

I first met Cameron Henry when he was an aide to then-state Sen. Steve Scalise, escorting him to the House side of the U.S. Capitol. He’s now the Louisiana Senate president. 

As a policy advisor to U.S. Sen. David Vitter, I worked closely with then-State Treasurer John Kennedy on major policy reform proposals in Louisiana. He’s now one of the most recognizable U.S. senators in the country.  

While I was working for Congressman Scalise at the Republican Study Committee, we were preparing to launch a major legislative initiative in 2013.  Our team was working with outside policy experts to review and react to it. One member of the team commented “(then-attorney) Mike Johnson looked it over and thinks it’s great.” Ten years later, Johnson would become the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Election rumors and speculation are a time-honored tradition in politics, especially in Louisiana. Who’s running or positioning to get this or that office.  Who’s going to be the next governor, senator or congressman. 

While those games and conversations are fun, the reality is many aspiring and emerging Louisiana political figures work with the federal delegation and work with their congressional staff. 

Louisiana congressional staff often function as the eyes and ears of the member.  

A senator or congressman has a finite amount of time, and deals with seemingly endless requests for meetings and fielding calls, text messages and emails.  Because a senator or congressman’s time is often short, their staff can handle the prep and backend work. Staff sees, hears and studies what members may not have time to do themselves and fills in those gaps. 

In doing that work, congressional staff also sees the political moves by ambitious politicians and leaders. It’s a behind-the-scenes view of our current and next generation of Louisiana political leaders working and maneuvering toward higher office or leadership. 

Being a congressional staffer can be a Louisiana politics masterclass learning experience. Our state’s federal delegation has historically punched above our weight, and Louisiana is doing that now more than ever. 

I’ve been able to see and learn what works, and what doesn’t work so well. I’ve also been fortunate enough to learn from watching those working to ascend up the political ladder. 

It’s Louisiana-style politics in Washington, D.C. 

Michael Wong is president and founder of W Strategies Group. He has nearly 20 years of political experience, including in presidential, senate and congressional elections, and worked for several years as a senior congressional aide for the Louisiana delegation.

NCSL: National housing shortage requires tailored solutions

Posted on by Krista Kano

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — No state is immune from the nationwide shortage of 1.5 million housing units, but each must find its own approach to target its unique challenges, state lawmakers said Tuesday.

Cameron Rifkin, a policy associate with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said during an NCSL summit panel discussion that the shortage has been increasing over the years as construction has failed to keep up with demand, among other factors. 

In the past three years, however, state legislatures have been attempting to address root causes. 

Common themes include incentivizing construction, preventing displacement, strengthening eviction protections, preserving naturally existing affordable housing, revising zoning regulations, permitting more density, expanding transit-oriented development and regulating investor purchases and short-term rentals. 

Kansas, for example, enacted the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Act and the Housing Investor Tax Credit Act (HB 2237 of 2022) for affordable housing projects. 

This year, Maryland prohibited local governments from restricting placements of manufactured homes in a zoning district that allows single-family residential use. 

Illinois has proposed imposing a tax on certain real estate investment trusts and limited liability companies that purchase single-family residences. 

Kentucky, this year’s NCSL summit host, has launched an affordable housing caucus and has a Housing Task Force that is exploring a myriad of comprehensive approaches, similar to Ohio’s Select Committee on Housing.

“We started seeing bills roll into local governments with good intentions, but you’ve got to look at unintended consequences,” Kentucky Rep. Randy Bridges, R-Paducah, said. “We decided to put a task force together to bring anyone and everyone to the table. Hopefully next session we’ll have a lot of good legislation to push forward.”

While Kentucky’s housing shortage has doubled in the past three years, housing-related tax credits are “not an option,” Bridges said. 

“We’re consecutively lowering our income tax from 6% to now 4%, and it’s scheduled for 3.5% in 2025,” he said. “We can’t give up revenue to gain revenue.” 

Perhaps the largest recent investment came from Minnesota, where Gov. Tim Walz, now the Democratic nominee for vice president, last year signed a $1 billion housing omnibus.

The massive bill was possible due to a multibillion-dollar surplus that had built up as lawmakers repeatedly failed to agree on uses, Minnesota Rep. Steve Elkins, DFL-Bloomington, said.

It included $200 million for down payment assistance programs, $200 million in housing infrastructure investments, among other earmarks, and created a permanent funding stream for housing needs across the state. 

This year, the Minnesota Legislature is focused on enacting reforms. 

“We all agreed it doesn’t matter how much we appropriate” if there are still barriers to build, Elkins said.

He helped introduce another omnibus, tackling “every zoning reform issue under the sun,” but has decided to break it into component parts and chip away at issues one at a time, he said. 

“I’m hopeful that will give us the leverage we need to get stuff done,” Elkins said. 

A “build-more” experiment in Minneapolis has already seen success, he said, compared with a St. Paul initiative for rent stabilization. 

“You have to keep building,” Elkins said. “Housing is a commodity, and the overall market is driven by supply and demand. If you want to keep it at a reasonable level, build more housing.” 

Washington state Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, said she has been trying to increase property taxes for homes over $3 million by 1%, which would be used as a dedicated funding source for a housing trust fund. 

Further complicating Washington’s fiscal response to the housing crisis is the state’s constitutional uniformity clause that prevents a progressive property tax, as well as the 1% levy cap.

In a creative move, the state has enacted an annexation sales tax credit to encourage cities to take on parts of unincorporated counties. That translates to better service for residents and increased tax bases for municipalities, Berg said.

“We put a sunset on it because we want it to happen quickly,” she said. 

The state successfully passed the Covenant Homeownership Act, which provides down payment assistance for people negatively affected by redlining. 

Berg said it is the first legislation of its kind in the nation.

Krista Kano is a staff writer for Gongwer Ohio/State Affairs. Reach her at [email protected] or on X @krista_kano. 

NCSL: Ongoing Republican dominance at state level projected for 2024

Posted on by Krista Kano

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Republican edge in state government nationwide is likely to continue, regardless of the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, an associate director of the National Conference of State Legislatures predicted Monday.

“The top of the ticket matters, but it’s not the whole ball game,” Ben Williams said during a discussion focused on potential factors and results of the election on the first day of NCSL’s annual summit in Louisville, Kentucky. 

According to Williams, associate director of NCSL’s Elections & Redistricting program, Democrats’ success in presidential elections has not corresponded to what has happened in state legislatures historically. 

In 2008, Barack Obama won by 7.3%, but Democrats picked up only 1.3% of legislative seats nationwide. In 2012, he won by 3.9%, and Democrats picked up only 1.4% of seats. 

Then, in 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by 2.1%, while Democrats lost 4% of seats. And when President Joe Biden won in 2020 by 4.5%, his party lost 2.2% of seats nationwide. 

“Just because you see these national trends does not mean that reflects at the state level,” Williams said.

Further complicating predictions is the unprecedented nature of this year’s presidential race: The sitting president dropped out late in the cycle, and the vice president now faces a former president who just survived an assassination attempt, Williams said.

Beyond national politics, “there are local dynamics that are always at play that can make a difference,” Williams added. 

As it stands, Republicans control 57 chambers compared with Democrats’ 41 after nearly 50 years of blue dominance in state legislatures that was broken with the onset of the Tea Party in 2010. 

Only Pennsylvania has chambers controlled by different parties. 

Typically, only one party flips a chamber each election, but in some cases, more important than a flip is securing or breaking veto-proof majorities, as in Kansas.

Only nine states have a governor who is of a different party than the legislative majority, a trend common particularly in New England. 

Williams said that number is at a historic low and so is likely to increase after November.

“Assume you will see more governors of the opposite party,” he said. 

Williams also predicted that dramatic swings are unlikely, as 2010 and 2011 were the last years when more than 10 chambers flipped from one party to another.

“We just don’t see those dramatic swings anymore,” he said. “[In] 2018-2019 we saw nine and that was the recent high point. Expect fewer than that.” 

And because Democrats would have to net nine flips in legislative chambers to take the national lead, it is unlikely they will overcome Republicans, Williams said. 

Krista Kano is a staff writer for Gongwer Ohio/State Affairs. Reach her at [email protected] or on X @krista_kano.

NCSL: Party leaders McConnell, Perez rally state lawmakers at partisan breakfasts

Posted on by Brett Stover

The National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2024 summit has been a largely bipartisan affair, but Republicans and Democrats split Wednesday morning for a rallying cry from two national party leaders. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the prevalence of Republican-led state chambers a “stunning development” he attributed first to former President Barack Obama.

“A lot of it has to do with the coasts versus the central part of the country and a reaction on the part of many Americans to this elitist coastal view about what we ought to all think and be like,” he told Republicans at a lawmakers-only breakfast. “There’s been a revulsion to that type of thinking, and I think we need to thank President Obama for taking us in the right direction.”

McConnell noted that in the past four years, he was the only congressional leader not from California or New York, which has helped “completely reverse the political dynamics in rural and small-town America.”

At a simultaneous breakfast, Democratic state lawmakers heard from Tom Perez, President Obama’s labor secretary and a former Democratic National Committee chair who is now director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Citing the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, Perez framed the Democratic Party’s work as a constant effort to create a more perfect union. He drew a rhetorical line connecting injustices in America’s past, including slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans and McCarthyism during the Red Scare.

“At our nation’s inception, we understood that our union was imperfect,” Perez said.

Continue reading “NCSL: Party leaders McConnell, Perez rally state lawmakers at partisan breakfasts”

NCSL: McConnell, Perez rally state lawmakers at partisan breakfasts

Posted on by Krista Kano

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2024 summit has been a largely bipartisan affair, but Republicans and Democrats split Wednesday morning for a rallying cry from two national party leaders. 

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the prevalence of Republican-led state chambers a “stunning development” he attributed first to former President Barack Obama.

“A lot of it has to do with the coasts versus the central part of the country and a reaction on the part of many Americans to this elitist coastal view about what we ought to all think and be like,” he told Republicans at a lawmakers-only breakfast. “There’s been a revulsion to that type of thinking, and I think we need to thank President Obama for taking us in the right direction.”

McConnell noted that in the past four years, he was the only congressional leader not from California or New York, which has helped “completely reverse the political dynamics in rural and small-town America.”

At a simultaneous breakfast, Democratic state lawmakers heard from Tom Perez, President Obama’s labor secretary and a former Democratic National Committee chair who is now director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Citing the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, Perez framed the Democratic Party’s work as a constant effort to create a more perfect union. He drew a rhetorical line connecting injustices in America’s past, including slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans and McCarthyism during the Red Scare.

“At our nation’s inception, we understood that our union was imperfect,” Perez said.

Both leaders played up the importance of the 2024 election. McConnell warned that if Democrats win in November, they would give Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., statehood, which would give them four more Senate seats. Democrats would also eliminate the filibuster and would pack the Supreme Court, he predicted. 

“I feel very strongly that the way you get policy you want is to win elections, not to break the rules,” he said. “They think what they want to do is so important, to hell with the rules. And if they get those two new states and pack the court, they’ll get what they want.”

McConnell also highlighted the importance of the court and discussed his decision to block Obama’s judicial nominees, giving former President Donald Trump the opportunity to appoint three Supreme Court justices and over 50 circuit court judges. 

Perez, directly referencing McConnell’s obstruction of those nominees, highlighted President Joe Biden’s call for major Supreme Court reforms.

“The Supreme Court has lost its legitimacy,” Perez said.

He spoke at length about the administration’s work on equity and on helping underserved communities, pointing to legislative wins such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the PACT Act.

Democrats need to get the word out about the administration’s successes, Perez said, calling Biden’s presidency “an era of unprecedented accomplishment.”

Perez praised the Inflation Reduction Act’s provision that capped insulin prices for seniors on Medicare and hinted that the Biden administration will announce more reduced drug costs in the coming weeks. 

McConnell also spoke about at least one of the bills passed under Biden — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — saying he still believed bipartisanship was important.

“I think when voters have spoken and approved a divided government, they’re not saying, ‘Do nothing,’” he said. “They’re saying, ‘There are big differences, but look for the things you can agree on and make some progress for the country.’”

Unity is particularly important given the growing threat from Russia, China, Iran and Iranian proxies, McConnell said, and America needs to be “well prepared in advance to deter the worst.” 

“Ronald Reagan said you get peace through strength,” McConnell added. “You want to show strength before the bullets start flying because a war is a lot more expensive than deterring a war. 

“This is the worst international situation since the Berlin Wall came down. No matter who wins this election, we need to get peace through strength.”

Krista Kano is a staff writer for Gongwer Ohio/State Affairs. Reach her at [email protected] or on X @krista_kano. 

Brett Stover is a Statehouse reporter at State Affairs Pro Kansas/Hawver’s Capitol Report. Reach him at [email protected] or on X @BrettStoverKS.

NCSL: Party leaders McConnell, Perez rally state lawmakers at partisan breakfasts

Posted on by Brett Stover

The National Conference of State Legislatures’ 2024 summit has been a largely bipartisan affair, but Republicans and Democrats split Wednesday morning for a rallying cry from two national party leaders. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the prevalence of Republican-led state chambers a “stunning development” he attributed first to former President Barack Obama.

“A lot of it has to do with the coasts versus the central part of the country and a reaction on the part of many Americans to this elitist coastal view about what we ought to all think and be like,” he told Republicans at a lawmakers-only breakfast. “There’s been a revulsion to that type of thinking, and I think we need to thank President Obama for taking us in the right direction.”

McConnell noted that in the past four years, he was the only congressional leader not from California or New York, which has helped “completely reverse the political dynamics in rural and small-town America.”

At a simultaneous breakfast, Democratic state lawmakers heard from Tom Perez, President Obama’s labor secretary and a former Democratic National Committee chair who is now director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Citing the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, Perez framed the Democratic Party’s work as a constant effort to create a more perfect union. He drew a rhetorical line connecting injustices in America’s past, including slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans and McCarthyism during the Red Scare.

“At our nation’s inception, we understood that our union was imperfect,” Perez said.

Both leaders played up the importance of the 2024 election. McConnell warned that if Democrats win in November, they would give Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., statehood, which would give them four more Senate seats. Democrats would also eliminate the filibuster and would pack the Supreme Court, he predicted. 

“I feel very strongly that the way you get policy you want is to win elections, not to break the rules,” he said. “They think what they want to do is so important, to hell with the rules. And if they get those two new states and pack the court, they’ll get what they want.”

McConnell also highlighted the importance of the court and discussed his decision to block Obama’s judicial nominees, giving former President Donald Trump the opportunity to appoint three Supreme Court justices and over 50 circuit court judges. 

Perez, directly referencing McConnell’s obstruction of those nominees, highlighted President Joe Biden’s call for major Supreme Court reforms.

“The Supreme Court has lost its legitimacy,” Perez said.

He spoke at length about the administration’s work on equity and on helping underserved communities, pointing to legislative wins such as the American Rescue Plan Act and the PACT Act.

Democrats need to get the word out about the administration’s successes, Perez said, calling Biden’s presidency “an era of unprecedented accomplishment.”

Perez praised the Inflation Reduction Act’s provision that capped insulin prices for seniors on Medicare and hinted that the Biden administration will announce more reduced drug costs in the coming weeks. 

McConnell also spoke about at least one of the bills passed under Biden — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law — saying he still believed bipartisanship was important.

“I think when voters have spoken and approved a divided government, they’re not saying, ‘Do nothing,’” he said. “They’re saying, ‘There are big differences, but look for the things you can agree on and make some progress for the country.’”

Unity is particularly important given the growing threat from Russia, China, Iran and Iranian proxies, McConnell said, and America needs to be “well prepared in advance to deter the worst.” 

“Ronald Reagan said you get peace through strength,” McConnell added. “You want to show strength before the bullets start flying because a war is a lot more expensive than deterring a war. 

“This is the worst international situation since the Berlin Wall came down. No matter who wins this election, we need to get peace through strength.”

Krista Kano is a staff writer for Gongwer Ohio/State Affairs. Reach her at [email protected] or on X @krista_kano. 

Brett Stover is a Statehouse reporter at State Affairs Pro Kansas/Hawver’s Capitol Report. Reach him at [email protected] or on X @BrettStoverKS.

Wake Up Call for Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
CD3 race heading to recount Arizona Capitol Times Only 42 votes now separate former Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari and former minority leader and Arizona Democratic Party chair Raquel Terán in the race for an essentially assured congressional seat in Democrat-leaning district 3.  NCSL: Tax policy, K-12 education among top issues, fiscal analyst survey says State Affairs Tax policy, K-12 education funding and housing are among this year’s top issues noted by state fiscal analysts across the country. Hobbs ‘thrilled’ Walz picked as Harris running mate Capitol Media Services She won’t get a chance to name the state’s next senator. And no one from Arizona will be on the ticket. But Gov. Katie Hobbs pronounced herself “absolutely thrilled” Tuesday that Kamala Harris had chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Judge rejects pro-life challenge to ballot measure Capitol Media Services Arizonans are entitled to vote in November whether they want a right to abortion put into the state constitution, a judge concluded late Monday. Arizona Judge Blocks Election Procedures Designed to Shield From Harassment, Leaves Other Rules Intact Democracy Docket After Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) implemented state election procedures to protect against voter intimidation and harassment, an Arizona judge has temporarily blocked parts of the state Election Procedures Manual aimed at protecting voters and election workers.  Arizona Grand Jury Wanted to Indict Trump in Fake Electors Case The New York Times A state grand jury in Arizona that charged 18 people this spring in a scheme that sought to overturn Donald J. Trump’s 2020 election loss wanted to indict him, too, according to court papers released on Tuesday. Paris’ bicycling infrastructure a model that Phoenix should copy, officials say Phoenix Business Journal The City of Light has become a “gold medal” example of modern bicycle infrastructure, making transportation during the Summer Olympics more accessible than ever. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is 'absolutely thrilled' Harris' VP pick is … not Mark Kelly? Arizona Republic Arizona Gov. Kate Hobbs is not prone to enthusiastic outbursts when answering questions from the press. Police are no match for the teenage punks that control Gilbert Arizona Republic To a casual observer, Gilbert is an all-American town. Handsome homes. Manicured lawns. Parks. Playgrounds. Excellent schools. Restaurants. Golf courses. Even man-made lakes. A picture-perfect vision of suburban Arizona. No wonder Kamala Harris tapped Tim Walz. She needs to fight fire with fire Arizona Republic By picking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Kamala Harris is showing that she’s ready to fight fire with fire. 

Kansas Daily News Wire August 7, 2024

Posted on by State Affairs

Welcome to the Kansas Daily News Wire, your daily roundup of top state and political stories from newsrooms across Kansas. — Hawver’s Capitol Report/State Affairs

STATE

Unofficial primary results: Pyle, Robinson lose after party conflicts: Sen. Dennis Pyle and Rep. Marvin Robinson are out of the Legislature, based on unofficial primary election results Tuesday. (Richardson, State Affairs)

Schmidt wins GOP nomination in 2nd Congressional District race: Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt easily won the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District, earning 53% according to preliminary results. (Stover, State Affairs)

Kelly praises Minnesota Gov. Walz as VP pick : Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday congratulated Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on being selected the Democratic vice presidential nominee. (Richardson, State Affairs)

NCSL: Tax policy, K-12 education among top issues, fiscal analyst survey says: Tax policy, K-12 education funding and housing are among this year’s top issues noted by state fiscal analysts across the country. (Stover, State Affairs)

LOCAL

JoCo Sheriff Calvin Hayden ousted by Doug Bedford in GOP primary: For almost three years, Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden has made skepticism of the 2020 election results and the security of the county’s election procedures a running theme of his time in office. (Johnson County Post)

Kansas State Wildcats sprinter Eugene Omalla wins gold for Netherlands at Olympics: A few short months ago, Eugene Omalla was helping the Kansas State track and field team set school records in the 4×400 relay. Now he is doing even bigger things for his country. (The Wichita Eagle)

Topeka USPS renovations include improved facilities and electric vehicles: U.S. Postal Service leaders say they are taking steps toward innovation. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

Andale native Graham Schmidt wins nine-year-old A Division at U.S. Kids Golf World Championships: Some kids dream of being the best in the world. Graham Schmidt already is. (KAKE)

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