Gov. Scott Walker issued Executive Order 129, requiring the Legislature to convene a special session to act on legislation regarding the governor’s new “Blueprint for Prosperity.”

Walker’s plan aims to lower income taxes, property taxes, and state withholding income taxes, while investing part of a $911 million surplus in technical colleges.

Walker has already ordered the Department of Revenue to update the income tax withholding and increase workers’ paychecks starting in April.

Legislators are meeting today, Monday, December 2, 2013, for a special session to consider a package of tax breaks designed to give Boeing a reason to bring thousands of jobs to the state. Gov. Jay Nixon called the special session and asked legislators to approve a $150 million incentive package with extensions of existing economic development programs.

Nixon hopes the package will attract Boeing’s 777X program after a machinists union in Washington State rejected the company’s long-term contract proposal earlier this month.

Prior to the union vote, Washington legislators passed a package of incentives with the largest tax breaks any state had ever offered to a corporation.

Photo of the Missouri Capitol courtesy of RebelAt on Wikimedia Commons.

The New Hampshire Legislature adjourned its special session on November 21, 2013.

Gov. Maggie Hassan had called for the extra legislative session to consider the Medicaid Expansion Study Commission’s report recommending the state accept $2.5 billion in federal funds to expand Medicaid. However, the Legislature did not follow her recommendation and did not pass any health care legislation.

In her press release Hassan expressed her disappointment and assigned blame, stating, “Today, members of the Senate Republican caucus let down the people of New Hampshire by refusing to compromise to develop a health care expansion plan that would actually work.”

Photo of the New Hampshire State House courtesy of Alexius Horatius on Wikimedia Commons.

Lawmakers ended the 2013 regular session early Friday morning, November 15, 2013, after approving an anti-abortion license plate, increased coverage for mental health services, and changes to voting hours and voter ID laws.

The first special session concerning property tax relief concluded earlier this week, but Gov. Scott Walker plans to call a second special session sometime in December to delay the transfer of Medicaid cases from BadgerCare to health exchanges.

Legislators return for the 2014 regular session January 14, 2014.

Photo of the Wisconsin State Capitol by Dori on Wikimedia Commons.

On November 12, the Legislature adjourned its second special session sine die. The legislative body convened in October to address marriage equality.

Effective December 2, the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013 recognizes marriages between individuals of the same sex, and extends to same-sex couples all rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of marriage.

The special session of the Washington Legislature adjourned Saturday, November 9, marking the third special legislative session this year.

The purpose of the special session was to consider legislation containing tax incentives for Boeing and the aerospace industry in exchange for retaining manufacturing operations in the state.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol by Bluedisk in Wikimedia Commons.

Governor Jay Inslee has called a special session of the Washington Legislature in the hopes of passing legislation to entice Boeing to bring the construction of its new airliner, the 777X, to Washington.

The special session will convene Thursday.

Photo of the Washington State Capitol courtesy of Bluedisk at Wikimedia Commons.

On October 16, the Utah Legislature adjourned its one-day special session sine die. The Legislature passed bills authorizing state funds to open and operate national parks, monuments, and recreation areas, to cover the benefits of certain unpaid furloughed employees, and to offset obligations caused by delays in federal funding to the Child Nutrition Program. Gov. Gary Herbert signed the bills Wednesday night.

Gov. Mike Beebe issued a call to bring the General Assembly into special session to address the health insurance rate increase facing the Public School Employee Plan. The special session will begin Thursday, October 17, and is expected to conclude by the end of the day on Saturday, October 19, 2013.

Beebe is confident bipartisan efforts will pass bills designed to stabilize retirement plans for teachers and public school employees.

Photo of the Arkansas State Capitol courtesy of jglazer75 in Wikimedia Commons.

On October 15, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan announced she will call for a special session of the Legislature.

According to the governor’s press release, Hassan will ask the Executive Council to support calling a special session for November 7 through November 21.

The purpose of the special session will be to consider the Medicaid Expansion Study Commission’s report recommending the state accept $2.5 billion in federal funds to expand Medicaid.

Photo of the New Hampshire State House by AlexiusHoratius on Wikimedia Commons.

On Friday, October 11, Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued a proclamation convening a special session for the Legislature on October 16.

During this session the Legislature is expected authorize the appropriation of the use of state funds to open and operate national parks, national monuments, and national recreation areas; to offset obligations caused by delays in federal funding to the Child Nutrition Program; and to cover the benefits of certain unpaid furloughed federal employees. The Senate will also consider appointments made by the governor.

Herbert stated in his press release, “Issues related to the federal shutdown necessitate immediate action by our State Legislature. We can no longer wait.”

The Legislature adjourned a special session on Wednesday, October 3, 2013, after passing a package of bills referred to as the “grand bargain.”

The diverse collection of bills passed included government pension reform, additional education and mental health funding, and a farming regulation that limits local regulation of genetically modified plants.

Lobbying

“No shutdown for K Street as advocates blitz Capitol” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Senate health aide joins top lobby firm” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Numismatists Have Lobbyists Too” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Kentucky: “Ethics Reporter: $4.18M spent in four months as lobbying spending continues upward trend” by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission in KYForward.com.

North Carolina: “Former Rep. and lobbyist Paul Pulley dies” in the News & Observer.

Campaign Finance

“State watchdogs band together to take on ‘dark money’” by Reid Wilson in The Washington Post.

“Zombie Federal Election Commission still wants your quarterly reports” by Al Kamen in The Washington Post.

Ethics

Florida: “Florida ethics commission investigating Rep. Jamie Grant’s business venture” by Michael Van Sickler in the Tampa Bay Times.

Iowa: “Iowa pol resigns amid ethics probe” by Katie Glueck in Politico.

New Jersey: “State agency: DiVincenzo misused, obscured campaign funds” by Matt Friedman in The Star-Ledger.

Tennessee: “Ethics watchdog files more Deal complaints” by The Associated Press in WRCB TV News.

State Legislatures

Colorado: “Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper will not call special legislative session on flooding issues” by The Associated Press on KMGH-TV News.

New Hampshire: “N.H. Panel Delays Vote On Medicaid” by Ben Leubsdorf in the Valley News.

Oregon: “Lawmakers celebrate end of special session on PERS, taxes, GMO (2013 special session)” by Yuxing Zheng in The Oregonian.

Gov. John Kitzhaber has announced he will call a one-day special legislative session on September 30, 2013. The special session bill package would raise tax revenues to provide $100 million for K-12 education and $40 million for higher education to prevent tuition increases in the 2013-15 biennium.

It is not yet clear whether the legislative caucuses have the votes to pass all the bills in the package.

Kitzhaber has indicated he will sign none of the bills unless all bills pass.