The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear a case alleging the state’s 2011 voter ID law is unconstitutional.

Following the decision, the Government Accountability Board consulted with the Wisconsin Department of Justice and determined photo ID will not be required for the April 7 Spring Election.

Photo ID will be required for subsequent elections, including any special elections in 2015.

Rep. Aaron Schock is resigning his seat at the end of the month in the wake of a congressional ethics investigation and looming federal investigation. The ethics investigation will focus on his use of taxpayer money, including mileage reimbursements from a car paid for by his campaign account.

Federal prosecutors in Illinois will focus on the mileage reimbursements as well as travel paid for by donors and in-kind contributions never reported.

Gov. Bruce Rauner must set a special election date within five days of Schock’s resignation at the end of the month; the congressional seat must be filled within 120 days.

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Freshman Lawmaker Determined to ‘Pay My Own Way’ at the Roundhouse” by Matt Grubs for KRQE

Vermont: “Senate Grumbles about Lobbyist Disclosure Bill” by Terri Hallenbeck for Seven Days

Washington: “Zombie Lobby Descends on Capitol to Rally for Expanding Film and TV Tax Incentive Program” by Rachel LaCorte (Associated Press) for The Daily Journal

Campaign Finance

“State Legislatures Taking Aim at Dark Money, Disclosure” by Peter Olsen-Phillips for Sunlight Foundation

“Meet the Man Taking Aim at Campaign Finance Regulations” by Cameron Joseph for The Hill

Montana: “‘Dark Money’ Bill Heard by House Panel” by Charles Johnson for Montana Standard

Ethics

Connecticut: “Rowland Sentenced to 30 Months, a Decade after Last Imprisonment” by Kristin Hussey and Marc Santora for New York Times

New York: “Income Disclosure, Pension Forfeiture and Attendance Verification All Part of 2-Way Ethics Deal” in Legislative Gazette

Elections

Ohio: “Federal Judge: Ohio’s new ballot access limits for 3rd parties are constitutional” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Lobbying

“The ‘Moneyball’ Effect on K Street: The influence game gets scientific” by Catherine Ho for Washington Post

Campaign Finance

California: “Big Money Arrived Too Late for L.A. Election Debate” by David Zahniser for Los Angeles Times

Connecticut: “Former Connecticut State Sen. Newton Gets 6 Months in Prison on 2nd Criminal Conviction” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Ethics

“Ex-Energy Official’s $1.7 Million Gig Draws Fire” by Darius Dixon for Politico

“U.S. Attorney Leading Inquiry of Ex-D.C. Mayor Gray to Step Down” by Spencer Hsu, Keith Alexander, and Mike DeBonis for Washington Post

“Marco Rubio’s House of Horrors” by Marc Caputo for Politico

New Mexico: “Longtime New Mexico Sen. Phil Griego Resigns Amid Questions Surrounding Santa Fe Property Deal” by The Associated Press for Greenfield Daily Reporter

Pennsylvania: “Wolf Proposes Slight Funding Increase for Pennsylvania Ethics Commission” by Andrew Staub (PA Independent) for Watchdog.org

Texas: “In Dallas, Most Ethics Complaints Go Nowhere” by Elizabeth Findell for Dallas Morning News

Elections

“Evangelicals Aim to Mobilize an Army for Republicans in 2016” by Jason Horowitz for New York Times

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Stripped-Down Lobbying Disclosure Goes to Senate” by Gwyneth Doland for New Mexico In Depth

Washington: “Lawmakers Kill Proposed Lobbyist ‘Cooling Off’ Period for State Officials” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times

Campaign Finance

Arkansas: “Campaign E-Filing Bill Falls Short in 1st Vote” by Lisa Hammersly and Claudia Lauer for Arkansas Online

Arkansas: “Paul Bookout, Former Arkansas State Senator from Jonesboro, Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud Charge” by Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) for Daily Journal

New Mexico: “Senate Panel Passes Bill to End Campaign Donation Limits” by Steve Terrell (Santa Fe New Mexican) for Las Cruces Sun-News

Ethics

“Drugmakers Turn Heat on Insurers by Backing Copay Limits” by Alex Wayne for Bloomberg News

“Big Costs to See Public Documents Hider Access” by Michael Felberbaum (Associated Press) for USA Today

“Lawmaker Facing Spending Probe Benefited from Donor Projects” by Jeff Horwitz and Stephen Braun (Associated Press) for Philadelphia Inquirer

“Jeb Bush’s Emails Detail Communications with Top Donors” by Ronnie Green and Steve Peoples (Associated Press) for Raleigh News & Observer

“Committee Says No to Ethics Commission” by Nick Smith for Bismarck Tribune

Elections

“Absence of 2016 Competition for Clinton Raises Stakes for Democrats” by Dan Balz for Washington Post

Gov. Phil Bryant has announced a special election to fill an opening in the state House of Representatives. The election, for the House District 45 seat, will be May 5, with a runoff held on May 26 if needed.

The vacancy is a result of Rep. Bennett Malone resigning earlier this month and the winner will serve the last few months of his four-year term.

With the election occurring a month after the legislature adjourns, it is unlikely the new lawmaker will vote on bills.

On March 4, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a special election will be held on March 31 for Texas House District 124.

The winner will serve the remainder of the term for the seat left vacant by Jose Antonio Menendez. Menendez won a special election to the state senate earlier this year.

City Council incumbents and Charter amendments fared well in this year’s March city elections.

Five incumbent City Council members retained their seats by receiving over 50 percent of the vote, but a May runoff will be necessary in the 4^th District to replace termed-out Councilman Tom LaBonge.

Voters passed Charter amendments intended to increase voter turnout by moving city and school board elections to even-numbered years when presidential and gubernatorial races are held, beginning in 2020.

Photo of the Los Angeles skyline by Nserrano on Wikimedia Commons.

The states in which our presidents are historically attached aren’t necessarily the states where they were born. However, for this post, I wanted to review which states have produced a President of the United States by their home as an adult and where they ran for office.

In researching this subject, I found that some presidents are claimed by more than one state. Total number of states that can claim an elected president? Eighteen. FYI: All U.S. Presidents were born in America.

All information was found on History.com, Whitehouse.gov, Wikipedia.org, and Answers.com.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel failed to garner enough votes in Tuesday’s consolidated primary to avoid heading to a runoff election. Emanuel required more than 50 percent of the vote to win the election outright.

Although he finished first in the five candidate field with just over 45 percent of the vote, the city will now hold a runoff mayoral election for the first time in history.

The runoff is scheduled for April 7, and the mayor will face Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

Jay Jordan has won the Republican primary for the vacant seat in House District 63. Unofficial results have Jordan with 1,927 votes, Robby Hill with 1,076, and Elijah Jones with 517.

No Democrats filed to run in the special election on April 14, 2015.

The vacancy was created when Republican Kris Crawford resigned his seat a month after being elected unopposed to a fifth term.

Photo of the South Carolina Capitol Building by Nikopoley on Wikimedia Commons.

Two Senate bills pertaining to Michigan election law were signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on February 19, 2015.

Senate Bills 44 and 45 change the date of the presidential primary election to the second Tuesday in March.

The bills will take effect in time for the 2016 presidential primary election.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has called a special election for May 5, 2015, to fill the congressional vacancy left by former Rep. Michael Grimm.

A federal judge compelled the governor to set a date for the election by February 20, 2015.

Political parties now have 12 days to designate their candidates and a few short months to campaign.

Photo of Gov. Cuomo courtesy of Pat Arnow on Wikimedia Commons.

A federal judge has ordered Gov. Andrew Cuomo to set a date by Friday, February 20, 2015, for a special election filling the congressional vacancy left by former Rep. Michael Grimm.

Judge Jack Weinstein wrote in his opinion the constituents of the 11th Congressional District, mostly covering Staten Island, are “bereft of an advocate to help them navigate the morass of government bureaucracy.”

Shortly after the federal court issued its opinion, the governor’s spokeswoman made a statement saying Cuomo will announce a date for the special election “shortly.” If Cuomo does not set a date by Friday, February 20, 2015, the judge will set a date “as promptly as the law will allow.”