Legislatures
The New West Project
This is wonderful:
The New West Project, headquartered in Denver, will conduct research and develop strategies to secure and exploit recent Democratic gains in the Western states, party sources said.At least four Western governors - Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Bill Ritter, Colorado's governor-elect - are expected to lead the group's advisory council, the sources said. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado and other members of Congress will provide "strategic guidance."
Reid confirmed the creation of the new organization, which he said would "build upon the leadership of people such as governors Napolitano, Richardson and Schweitzer" and "work to focus attention on the West."
This is a high level group. Consider the Western Strategy in play, my friends. It is wonderful to see this sort of institutional arrangement that will only benefit our local, state and national candidates long term. It looks like part think tank, part strategy firm, part communications development - all aspects that will be welcome by the plethora of candidates that will be running these next few cycles to take advantage of our our new promise out here in the west.
The best part of the article? The quote from an unnamed "Western Democrat":
As an example of what the new organization may do, the Western Democrat said that political professionals would analyze such questions as "the difference between first- and second-generation Hispanic voters, ... what motivates them and how we communicate with them," as well as "why a recent transplant from California, who has voted Republican all her life, is now voting for Democrats."
Good question, "Western Democrat" - it just leaves me amazed to see our namesake invoked so strikingly in an article. Methinks the author of the article, John Aloysius Farrell , might just be an reader of our humble site. If so, thanks for the article John - we'll be watching for you in the future.
It's great to have a new project designed for this express purpose and examining the multitude of new questions that are arising from the new political climate in the West. Now, if any of those people involved in the project are paying attention it would behoove them greatly to include netroots and blog outreach as an element of the project. You see, since major political focus has been absent from the West for awhile the netroots and blogosphere have been proliferating and recruiting top candidates all over the place. It would be an essential element of any plan that you should put together.
I'm excited.
Here's the The New West Project!
Landon Mascareñaz | December 6, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Post-Election Statehouse Roundup
To quote Buffalo Springfield, "there's something happening here". Post-election, Western Democrats have made great gains in the states, building strong majorities in the legislatures and taking or retaining several governorships. Here's a look at the numbers, courtesy of NCSL.
Senate 12-18 Republican majority
House 21-39 Republican majorityPost-Election
Senate 12-18 Republican majority
House 28-32 Republican majorityPickups
Senate – stays the same
House - +7 seats
Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano was overwhelmingly re-elected.
Pre-election
Senate 25-15 Democratic majority
Assembly 47-32-1 (Senate 25-15 Democratic majority
Assembly 48-32 Democratic majority
Pickups
Senate – stays the same
Assembly - +1 seat
Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected.
Pre-Election
Senate 18-17 Democratic majority
House 35-30 Democratic majority
Post-Election
Senate 20-15 Democratic majority
House 39-26 Democratic majority
Pickups
Senate – +2 seat
House - +4 seats
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter was elected Governor.
Pre-Election
House 13-57 Republican majority
Post-Election
Senate 7-28 Republican majority
House 19-51 Republican majority
Pickups
Senate – stays the same
House - +6 seats
Republican gubernatorial candidate C.L. “Butch” Otter was elected.
Pre-Election
Senate 27-23 Democratic majority
House 50-50
Post-Election
Senate 26-24 Democratic majority
House 50-49-1 (
Pickups
Senate – -1 Seat
House – stays the same
Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer is up for re-election in 2008.
Pre-Election
House 26-16 Democratic majority
Post-Election
House 27-15 Democratic majority
Pickups
Senate – +1 seat
House - +1 seat
Pre-Election
Senate 24-18 Democratic majorityHouse 42-28-2(
Post-Election
Senate 24-18 Democratic majority
House 42-28 Democratic majority
Pickups
Senate – stays the same
House – stays the same
Democratic Governor Bill Richardson was overwhelmingly re-elected.
Pre-Election
Senate 17-11-2(
House 27-33 Republican majority
Post-Election
Senate 17-11-2(
House 31-29 Democratic majority
Pickups
Senate – stays the same
House - +4 seats
Pre-Election
House 19-56 Republican majority
Post-Election
Senate 8-21 Republican majority
House 19-56 Republican majority
Senate – stays the same
House – stays the same
Republican Governor Jon Huntsman is up for re-election in 2008.
Pre-Election
Senate 26-23 Democratic majority
House 56-42 Democratic majority
Post-Election
Senate 32-17 Democratic majority (not since 1965)
House 63-35 Democratic majority
Senate – +6 seats
House - +7 seats
Pre-Election
Senate 7-23 Republican majority
House 14-46 Republican majority
Post-Election
Senate 7-23 Republican majority
House 17-43 Republican majority
Senate – stays the same
House - +3 seats
Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal was overwhelmingly re-elected.
kencamp | November 22, 2006 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
FBI Raids Offices of Alaska Legislators
At least 6 Alaskan legislators had their offices raided by the FBI in an investigation into ties between the lawmakers and an oil field services company. One of the legislators whose office was raided , state Senate President Ben Stevens, is the son of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens.
A copy of one of the search warrants, obtained by The Associated Press, links the investigation to a new production tax law signed last month by Gov. Frank Murkowski and a draft natural gas pipeline contract Murkowski and the state's three largest oil companies negotiated.
The warrant called for seizure of documents concerning any payment made to lawmakers by Bill Allen and Richard Smith, executives of oil field services giant VECO Corp. Agents also looked for documents about contracts, agreements or employment of legislators provided by VECO, Allen, Smith and company president Peter Leathard.
Sought-after items named in the search include hats or other garments bearing the phrases "CBC," "Corrupt Bastards Club" or "Corrupt Bastards Caucus." What the names referred to was unclear, and authorities would not comment.
I'll tell you which corrupt bastards they're looking for. Maybe they're looking for the corrupt bastards at BP who are rolling in profit but allegedly manipulating the market. Or how about Ted Stevens, aka Mr. Bridge to Nowhere? Or maybe it's Governor Murkowski, aka Mr. Nepotism, who appointed his daughter U.S. Senator after he resigned to become Governor. How did that work out for you Frank? And so for good measure the FBI can take young Mr. Stevens and young Ms. Murkowski away with their parents. Alaska will be a much better place for it.
kencamp | September 1, 2006 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
Democrats help out the Sagebrush
As Republicans are falling over themselves to abandon the spirit of the Sagebrush Rebellion (here and here) to please big companies back east, Colorado Democrats are trying to convince the oil and gas industry to be good neighbors (Denver Post):
A high-stakes clash of economic titans is set to break out at the Capitol today, when lawmakers consider forcing energy companies to increase compensation for landowners whose property values are hurt by the uninvited roads, gas wells and heavy equipment used to extract natural gas....
House Bill 1185 would encourage energy companies to enter into surface-impact agreements with landowners before drilling on their property and force them to post a $25,000 bond for every well where an agreement was not possible. Courts would decide disputes over compensation.
...
The bill, scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation and Energy Committee today, represents a second attempt of its kind from Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison. The freshman chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Committee saw a similar bill die in her own committee last year, a defeat she blamed on an aggressive energy lobby.
Emmett O'Connell | January 25, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Bring ActBlue West
ActBlue, one of the best ideas since there have been good ideas, is expanding down to statewide and state legislative races. The only thing they need is help navigating through 50 different campaign finance systems. They've already figured out Virginia, and good for them for not picking a Big Blue East state first.
But, it would be safe to assume that their next obvious choice would be something like New York or Massachusetts, unless we convince them otherwise. The West needs ActBlue more than any other region. ActBlue has already helped insurgent candidates (Paul Hackett) and there isn't a region were insurgents can do more in a short period of time than in the West.
From their post on MyDD:
The PlanWe're starting to navigate the campaign finance landscape in each state, and we've got a fantastic group of volunteers helping us gather information on candidates across the country. (We could always use more, by the way — check out our directory of state candidates and let us know who we're missing.)
The most challenging part is the legal side of getting our fundraising operations going -- the staff time and lawyers, Lawyers, LAWYERS, LAWYERS required to do this right are going to cost on average $10,000 per state, at least for the first set of states we take on.
So we're asking: can you help make it happen?
We're going to take an approach just like Howard Dean's 50-state strategy: with the help of this discussion we'll choose a small set of states to start with. If the fundraising there goes well, we'll add more!
Please chime in below with your thoughts on priority states, and thanks for all you do to make the Democratic difference.
I'd be remiss not to mention this: just like we have a directory of candidates, we also have a directory of our fundraising drives for all the states. So if you're hankering to support a state RIGHT NOW, you can do so here.
Swing State Project: ActBlue Expanding to State Races
Washblog: Help bring ActBlue to Washington State
Emmett O'Connell | September 22, 2005 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) |
Schweitzer helps launch national progressive organization
Earlier today in Seattle, a new organization for progressives launched. The Progressive Legislative Action Network, or PLAN, will serve as a policy resource for legislators - developing model legislation, organizing grassroots support, providing expert testimony.
The kickoff speaker was our pal Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana. He blasted the Bush Administration and the right-wing Congress:
"We cannot govern this country depending on Washington D.C. Washington is a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America."
Schweitzer went beyond progressive applause lines, though, and described a vision for an energy policy that makes America independent of the "sheikhs, dictators, rats, and crooks" that hold us hostage to Middle East oil. (And do be sure to note that Brian lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years...)
According to Schweitzer, the technology exists today (and has for 50 years) to convert coal into diesel fuel, cleanly and for about one dollar per gallon.
"If you want energy in this country, look inside this country. We need a hydrogen economy - not fifty years from now, fifteen years from now."
And according to the Governor of Montana, all that change is going to start at the state legislatures across America. And PLAN is going to help show the way.
Kari Chisholm | August 16, 2005 | Comment on This Post (9 so far) |
More thoughts on Coffin of Nevada
I don't often post twice on the same topic, but I think I may have left out some feelings I had on my Nevada post last night. The more I thought about Bob Coffin in Nevada, the more rilled up I got.
It must be sickening to watch a legislature -- Democratically controlled, but reacting to the policy whims of a Republican governor originally bent on giving a tax rebate to Nevada's richest -- roll over you and your seemingly good idea of paying back National Guardsmen.
Coffin isn't the first Western Democrat to point out that maybe the states should be doing something more to support our National Guardsman. Brian Schweitzer on Lou Dobbs last night was all about the shifting rolls, and additional pressure, being put on our National Guards. Schweitzer was talking about the contrasting missions of fire fighting and Iraq, but it was still there.
Bill Richardson was the one that came up with the idea that maybe the states should pitch in to help defray the cost of Guardmen's insurance.
Lastly, how many of us would already know about Bob Coffin if he was a Republican legislator from Orange County, fighting against Democratic controlled legislature in California? If a California Republican fasted for a week to promote his bill for bonuses for National Guardsman, he would be a hero.
But, have we heard anything about Bob Coffin from Ann Coulter? What about Michelle Malkin?
I'm sure Rush was all over it.
The fact is that none of these folks (that would absolutely be out of their minds crazy for a Republican doing what Coffin did) care that a Democrat wanted to give bonuses to his state's National Guardsman so much that he fasted for a week. Not just a Democrat, but a Western Democrat, and one from the home state of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Emmett O'Connell | June 10, 2005 | Comment on This Post (2 so far) |
Coffin, the Democrat stone in the midst of all
The legislative session just ended in Nevada, and they chose a tax-rebate over money over Nevada citizen-soldiers:
The Senate voted Friday for Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan to spend down some $300 million in surplus state funds by returning up to $300 apiece - though in many cases far less - in 2004 vehicle registration fees to Nevadans.The official vote was 21-0, though Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, who has been the bill's sharpest critic of late, said he meant to vote against SB519.
"Whittle away at this and begin to see how many citizens are going to get this rebate, it's not many," Coffin said. "What does this all lead me to? It is the rock with the check attached to it that's going to come through my window."
Coffin said that people think they'll get a $300 check for registration fees for each of their cars, but that's far from true. He said large private businesses with a fleet of cars will get the most money.
Coffin, an "Independent Democrat" from Las Vegas, took the extraordinary step of going on a 7-day hunger strike in support of his bill soldier bonuses:
After fasting since last Sunday on behalf of his bill to give bonuses of up to $500 a month to Nevada National Guard members and reservists for their time served after Sept. 11, Sen. Bob Coffin needed help to his seat on the Senate floor on Saturday."They tell me I passed out over here but I don't believe them," he said, adding, "I have to (fast). On behalf of the kids."
Coffin, D-Las Vegas, has high hopes for SB355, which carries a $25 million price tag. He would like the money to be carved out of the $300 million that will likely go to rebates for Nevadans, and says there is room for both plans.
For all of the attention Coffin got in the Nevada press for what some could call a stunt, I was amazed by how indifferent other Nevada politicians were. Instead supporting Coffin's bill, the majority of the Dems in the leg in Nevada mostly worked to at least spread out the wealth of Gov. Guinn's rebate plan. Under the Republican's original plan, Nevadan's rebates would be connected to the value of their car, so while some would get thousand's of dollars back, others would get as little as three. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a pretty sound round-up of the rest of the session.
(For everyone that likely won't get the title, its from a Yeats poem, Easter 1916)
Emmett O'Connell | June 9, 2005 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
Montanans dig the Dems
After an entire legislative session led down the primrose path by bleeding heart liberals, you would think Montanans would wake up and realize that they just handed their state over to a bunch of stinking Democrats (Thanks to leftinthewest.com) But, alas, no:
Montana voters gave the 2005 Legislature significantly higher marks than they did the previous two sessions, although the verdict was nearly divided, a Lee Newspapers poll taken last week found....When asked how they would rate the 2005 Legislature, 49 percent of voters gave it positive marks, while 45 percent handed it negative grades, with 6 percent undecided.
...In 2003, 70 percent of voters had a negative assessment of the Legislature, while 27 percent had a positive one, with 3 percent undecided. In 2001, 58 percent of voters had a negative evaluation of the Legislature, while 27 percent had a positive one and 15 percent were undecided.
It appears that Montanans not only like what Democrats have to say in campaigns, but also how they govern. Under the heading Got'er Done, the Montana Democrats list their accomplishments for the past session:
1. Health Insurance Tax Credits and Insurance Pooling HB 667 (Wanzenried, Missoula-D) • Sets up purchasing pools and tax credits for small businesses that offer health insurance to their employees.2. Prescription Drug Plan SB 324 (Tester, Big Sandy-D)
• Provides a prescription drug discount program for seniors and the disabled. High costs of prescription drugs forced people to cut their pills in half. This bill lowers drug costs so those people can take the medicine they need.3. Economic Development Trust Fund HB 249 (Lindeen, Huntley-D)
• Provides a long-term, stable economic development funding source to help sustain local and regional economic development projects.4. State Employee Pay Plan HB 447 (Gallik, Helena-D)
• Provides the first significant pay increase for the lowest paid state workers since 1991.5. School Funding HB 63 (Villa, Anaconda-D)
• Provides $80 million additional funding for schools, helping 98% of Montana kids. Also gives schools more flexibility to maximize state dollars without placing a burden on local property taxpayers.6. Definition of a System of Quality Public Schools SB 152 (Ryan, Great Falls-D)
• Provides a basis for a new funding formula based on educationally relevant factors, specifically addresses the constitutional provision of Indian Education for All, and maintains the constitutional authority of the Board of Public Education to set accreditation standards.7. Increases Cap on Taxable Business Equipment SB 48 (Harrington, Butte-D)
• Increases cap on exemption for taxable property from $5,000 to $20,000. Eases the tax burden for 13,372 Montana small businesses. Also eliminates the trigger that would reduce business property tax rate from three to zero percent.8.Ethanol Production SB 293 (Black, Shelby-R)
• Requires that when the State of Montana produces 40 million gallons of ethanol, fuel sold in Montana must be mixed with 10% ethanol.9. Country of Origin Labeling HB 406 (Bergren, Havre-D)
• Requires meat sold in Montana to be labeled with a country of origin tag or label.10. Habitat Montana HB 79 (Golie, Great Falls-D)
• Makes the Habitat Montana program permanent. The Habitat Montana program authorized the Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission to secure, develop, and maintain wildlife habitat.
Emmett O'Connell | May 31, 2005 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
No More Republicans Jumping on the Bed
This op-ed from the Arizona Republic reminds me of the song "five little monkeys." If you haven't heard it before, well your loss. But, the silliness of the song resembles the Republicans in Arizona, who are getting down to monkey business:
Now that conservative Republicans have an edge at the Legislature, they can't resist trying to gum up projects and agencies that are humming along just fine, thanks.This does nothing to move Arizona into the future.
We have an environmental department doing its job, a pro-football stadium going up, a light-rail project under way, a booming astronomy industry and an Indian commission dealing with Arizona's 22 tribes.
All rolling forward. And all with meddling legislators who want to step in the way.
Last week, taking advantage of the absence of a few of its wiser members, the Senate briefly pulled the plug on the Department of Environmental Quality. This is the agency that protects our water, air and soil from contamination.
If Sen. Bob Burns, R-Peoria, and others who led the charge against the DEQ, toasted their short-lived success, the appropriate choice would have been water laced with heavy metals and bacteria.
In another brilliant move, the Legislature adopted a budget that zeroes out the Commission of Indian Affairs. In a state where Indian communities are playing a growing economic and political role. Where reservations make up 27 percent of the state.
The great part of this for Democrats, is that the more ruckus the monkeys make, the more they'll fall off the bed and hit their heads. The black helicopter Republicans don't help themselves by making Democrats, especially smart Western Dems like Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano look smart. By acting crazier and crazier, they are giving away more room to Democrats in the middle. They can keep on acting like monkeys for all I care, though.
Emmett O'Connell | April 5, 2005 | Comment on This Post (3 so far) |
