Category: State Government
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Abbott Remains Steadfast on Border Policy
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that migrants detained at the U.S. border with Mexico would be bussed to the steps of the capitol building in Washington. Abbott’s move comes in response to the federal government’s decision to end Title 42 in May, which permitted authorities to quickly remove migrants and asylum-seekers. The governor received bipartisan […]
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Florida Concludes Combative Legislative Session
The Florida legislature capped a combative regular session with the traditional handkerchief drop in the capital rotunda. The Republican legislature used the 60-day annual session to approve a $112 billion budget as well as increased funding for education, environmental protection, and pay raises for teachers and law enforcement. Governor DeSantis praised the efforts of the […]
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Texas Primaries Mark Beginning of 2022 Midterms
Democrats and Republicans in Texas turned out on March 1st to select nominees for office in primary elections. As expected, both Republican incumbent governor Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke won their respective contests outright. The primaries in Texas provided few surprises as many candidates were running in safely-drawn seats. The only statewide, high-profile […]
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Public Schools Become Political Battleground
The recent political debate over education arrived in San Francisco as voters in this famously progressive city overwhelmingly recalled three members of the city’s school board. Analysts attribute the recall to unpopular initiatives and for putting politics over the needs of children. Particularly unpopular were the board’s effort to rename a third of the schools […]
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California Joins Other States and Relaxes Pandemic Restrictions
State political leaders in California announced the relaxation of some of the country’s most restrictive COVID policies. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state would no longer mandate masks in indoor settings for vaccinated residents. The current rules were instituted during the December omicron wave but will be allowed to expire on February 15. California […]
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States Spar Over Redistricting Maps
Several states still had unresolved redistricting maps as midterm elections loomed in November. Congressional districts are redrawn after every decennial census and might determine which party controls the House of Representatives next January. The legislatures are tasked in most states with redistricting, but an increasing number have established commissions to draw more representative districts. Commissions, […]
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New Leaders Take the Helm in VA and NYC
Glenn Youngkin was inaugurated the 74th governor of Virginia on January 15. Youngkin became the first Republican to assume that office in nearly a decade in the increasingly Democratic-leaning commonwealth. Governor Youngkin wasted little time after he was sworn in and signed eleven executive orders on his first day. Among the more controversial actions were […]
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East Coast Braces for Winter Storm
Approximately 50 million Americans braced for heavy snow fall associated with a wave of severe weather that wreaked havoc in the eastern and southeastern United States. Several governors including Roy Cooper from North Carolina and Henry McMaster from South Carolina issued state of emergency proclamations in anticipation of more damage. The storm has forced states […]