November 8, 2017 •
Ohio Voters Reject Issue 2
Voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday to reduce the price of prescription drugs for the state. Issue 2, or Drug Price Relief Act, would have limited the amount the state is allowed to pay for pharmaceuticals to the amount the […]
Voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday to reduce the price of prescription drugs for the state.
Issue 2, or Drug Price Relief Act, would have limited the amount the state is allowed to pay for pharmaceuticals to the amount the Department of Veterans Affairs pays, typically a greatly discounted price. The state provides these drugs to prisoners, injured workers, and those who cannot afford them.
Nearly 80 percent of voters rejected the proposal, many citing a lack of transparency on how the change would affect prices for the general public.
The pharmaceutical industry contributed around $70 million to oppose the measure while AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a California-based group, spent only $17 million.
November 8, 2017 •
Ohio Voters Reject Issue 2
Voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday to reduce the price of prescription drugs for the state. Issue 2, or Drug Price Relief Act, would have limited the amount the state is allowed to pay for pharmaceuticals to the amount the […]
Voters rejected a ballot measure Tuesday to reduce the price of prescription drugs for the state.
Issue 2, or Drug Price Relief Act, would have limited the amount the state is allowed to pay for pharmaceuticals to the amount the Department of Veterans Affairs pays, typically a greatly discounted price. The state provides these drugs to prisoners, injured workers, and those who cannot afford them.
Nearly 80 percent of voters rejected the proposal, many citing a lack of transparency on how the change would affect prices for the general public.
The pharmaceutical industry contributed around $70 million to oppose the measure while AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a California-based group, spent only $17 million.
November 8, 2017 •
Maine Voters Expand Access to Medicaid
Maine voters approved a ballot measure to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Maine is the first state to settle the issue by referendum as Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed expanding Medicaid access five times. Additionally, voters […]
Maine voters approved a ballot measure to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Maine is the first state to settle the issue by referendum as Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed expanding Medicaid access five times.
Additionally, voters approved ballot measures relating to infrastructure bonds and pension funding and rejected a ballot measure allowing casino or slots in York County.
November 8, 2017 •
Maine Voters Expand Access to Medicaid
Maine voters approved a ballot measure to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Maine is the first state to settle the issue by referendum as Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed expanding Medicaid access five times. Additionally, voters […]
Maine voters approved a ballot measure to expand access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Maine is the first state to settle the issue by referendum as Republican Gov. Paul LePage vetoed expanding Medicaid access five times.
Additionally, voters approved ballot measures relating to infrastructure bonds and pension funding and rejected a ballot measure allowing casino or slots in York County.
November 8, 2017 •
Texans Approve Ballot Measure to Loosen Lending Regulations
On Tuesday, Texans voted to loosen some home lending regulations in place since the foreclosure crisis. By a two-thirds margin, the ballot measure expanding who can make a home equity loan and allowing homeowners to convert home equity loans into […]
On Tuesday, Texans voted to loosen some home lending regulations in place since the foreclosure crisis.
By a two-thirds margin, the ballot measure expanding who can make a home equity loan and allowing homeowners to convert home equity loans into conventional mortgage loans was approved.
The measure was widely opposed by fair housing advocates and supported by lenders and the real estate industry. This is the second time in the last five years Texans have voted in favor of more relaxed lending laws.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.05 billion bond package focused on repairing the city’s infrastructure and recreational amenities.
November 8, 2017 •
Texans Approve Ballot Measure to Loosen Lending Regulations
On Tuesday, Texans voted to loosen some home lending regulations in place since the foreclosure crisis. By a two-thirds margin, the ballot measure expanding who can make a home equity loan and allowing homeowners to convert home equity loans into […]
On Tuesday, Texans voted to loosen some home lending regulations in place since the foreclosure crisis.
By a two-thirds margin, the ballot measure expanding who can make a home equity loan and allowing homeowners to convert home equity loans into conventional mortgage loans was approved.
The measure was widely opposed by fair housing advocates and supported by lenders and the real estate industry. This is the second time in the last five years Texans have voted in favor of more relaxed lending laws.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.05 billion bond package focused on repairing the city’s infrastructure and recreational amenities.
November 8, 2017 •
New York’s Constitutional Convention Fails and Democrats Win NYC and Buffalo
New York voters rejected a ballot question calling for a constitutional convention. If passed, a constitutional convention would have been set for 2019 and would have allowed a total review of the New York Constitution. The question is automatically added […]
New York voters rejected a ballot question calling for a constitutional convention. If passed, a constitutional convention would have been set for 2019 and would have allowed a total review of the New York Constitution. The question is automatically added to the ballot every 20 years.
On the other hand, voters approved a proposal revoking the pension of a public official convicted of a felony and another proposal creating a forest preserve land bank for qualifying local projects.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio won a second term as Mayor. De Blasio’s victory marks the first time in 32 years a Democratic mayor was re-elected in New York City.
Additionally, Democrat Byron Brown won his fourth term as Mayor of Buffalo.
November 8, 2017 •
Democrats Fare Well in Virginia Elections
Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam will be Virginia’s next governor after defeating former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie. In what was expected to be a close race, Lt. Gov. Northam won by nearly nine points, the largest margin of […]
Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam will be Virginia’s next governor after defeating former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie.
In what was expected to be a close race, Lt. Gov. Northam won by nearly nine points, the largest margin of victory in decades for a Virginia governor.
By winning over a large number of suburban voters, who typically lean Republican, the resounding win is seen by many as a rebuke of President Trump.
Northam will be joined by fellow Democrats Justin Fairfax and Mark Herring, who easily won races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
November 8, 2017 •
Democrat Phil Murphy is New Jersey’s Next Governor
Democrat Phil Murphy was elected as New Jersey’s 56th governor. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and U.S. Ambassador to Germany, may impact Congress if he appoints a replacement for U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. Menendez is currently on trial for […]
Democrat Phil Murphy was elected as New Jersey’s 56th governor.
Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs executive and U.S. Ambassador to Germany, may impact Congress if he appoints a replacement for U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.
Menendez is currently on trial for corruption charges and the jury began deliberations on November 6, 2017. If convicted, Menendez will face pressure to step down allowing a Democrat, opposed to exiting Republican Gov. Chris Christie, to appoint a replacement.
Murphy is set to take office on January 16, 2018.
November 3, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – November 3, 2017
Jon Spontarelli is here with this week’s government and ethics news you can use from a busy week around the country!
Jon Spontarelli is here with this week’s government and ethics news you can use from a busy week around the country!
November 2, 2017 •
Special Election Set for Iowa Senate District 3
Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for Senate District 3. The special election has been called to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of State Sen. Bill Anderson. In September, Anderson accepted a job as the director of […]
Gov. Kim Reynolds called a special election for Senate District 3. The special election has been called to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of State Sen. Bill Anderson.
In September, Anderson accepted a job as the director of the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation, but Reynolds had to wait until Anderson submitted his formal resignation to call the special election.
With a formal resignation date of November 1, 2017, Reynolds has set the special election for December 12, 2017.
October 31, 2017 •
Bill Introduced Banning Corporate Contributions in British Columbia’s Municipal Elections
On October 30, a bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia banning corporate and union political contributions for local elections in the Canadian province. Bill 15, Local Elections Campaign Financing Amendment Act, 2017, was introduced by Municipal […]
On October 30, a bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia banning corporate and union political contributions for local elections in the Canadian province. Bill 15, Local Elections Campaign Financing Amendment Act, 2017, was introduced by Municipal Affairs Minister Selina Robinson.
Among other related changes, the legislation also caps contributions from individual donors to $1,200 for the 2018 elections with contribution limits then indexed for inflation in sequent election years. If passed, the law would be in effect for British Columbia’s October 28, 2018, municipal elections and would be retroactive to October 31, 2017.
October 30, 2017 •
Guam Legislature Considers Primary Election Changes
The Legislature of Guam passed one bill and is contemplating another that will change the electoral process in the territory. Bill 156-34, passed Friday, Ocotober 27, 2017, proposes moving the date of primary elections and changing the filing date for […]
The Legislature of Guam passed one bill and is contemplating another that will change the electoral process in the territory.
Bill 156-34, passed Friday, Ocotober 27, 2017, proposes moving the date of primary elections and changing the filing date for candidate nomination papers; while Bill 45-34 calls for the elimination of primary elections in their entirety.
If Bill 45-34 also passes and both bills are signed by the governor, whichever bill is signed second will void the one that is signed first.
October 30, 2017 •
Monday’s Government and Ethics News Roundup
Ethics Justice Department Agrees to Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Scrutiny of Tea Party Groups by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post California: Sexual Harassment Complaints Topic of California Assembly Public Hearings by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee Florida: City Commissioners Nix Key Wording in Ethics Ordinance by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee […]
Ethics
Justice Department Agrees to Settle Lawsuits Over IRS Scrutiny of Tea Party Groups by Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
California: Sexual Harassment Complaints Topic of California Assembly Public Hearings by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee
Florida: City Commissioners Nix Key Wording in Ethics Ordinance by Jeff Burlew for Tallahassee Democrat
South Carolina: South Carolina GOP Caucus: Open records law doesn’t apply by The Associated Press for Raleigh News and Observer
Campaign Finance
FEC Drops Foreign Money Case Involving Super PAC Contributions by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA
Kansas: Kansas Ethics Panel Says No to Bitcoin Contributions, at Least for Now by Peter Hancock for Lawrence Journal-World
Lobbying
Florida: Ethics Board Cites Justin Sayfie, Capitol Group for Reporting Violations by Jim Rosica for Florida Politics
Illinois: Emanuel’s Ethics Board Walks Back $2,500 Fines Against 3 Who Illegally Lobbied Him by Bill Ruthhart for Chicago Tribune
Elections
Kentucky: Fired Elections Staffer Alleges Grimes Improperly Gathered Voter Data During Campaigns by Daniel Desrochers for Lexington Herald-Leader
Procurement
With Business Booming Under Trump, Private Prison Giant Gathers at President’s Resort by Amy Brittain and Drew Harwell for Washington Post
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