Accept No Substitutes edition

If you're waiting for a seasonal lull in statehouse action, you must be looking for some other blog. Because this is the real deal, and anyway, summer break is for kids. But even though lawmakers don't always act like grown-ups, they're keeping awfully busy.

• In Mr. Jefferson's Capitol, this is a legit "Go F^@k Yourself"  For instance, in Virginia, where Medicaid expansion, possible political bribery, and budget drama have flooded Richmond, Republican House Speaker Bill Howell turned a simple paperwork delivery into a big middle finger aimed at Gov. McAuliffe. Speaker Howell had the House Clerk (his former Chief of Staff) and Capitol Police invade the Governor's locked offices -- after confirming no one would be there -- to deliver the state budget on Father's Day. Family values!
• I hope you can see this, because I'm doing it as hard as I can: This F.U. from the Speaker seemed not only aimed at disrespecting McAuliffe's authority, but also designed to deprive the Governor of a weekend to review the state's two-year spending plan. I mean, it's just a $96 billion budget that House Republicans blocked until practically the very last minute. NBD. 
• Oh, and the GOP has commenced with some super serious (and expensive! Did that $25,000 legal fee come out of taxpayer pockets?) legal posturing, even though there's literally nothing to sue over right now.

• Not Monopoly money: Kentucky Republicans hope desperately to strip Democrats of majority control of the state House (54 D/46 R) this fall. And they're getting serious about their efforts. 
• First, there was the announcement that incoming U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy will raise money for state House Republicans in Bowling Green on July 17.
• Then came the announcement that AmeriGOP, a Kentucky super PAC trying to help Republicans pick up the five seats necessary to take control of the state House, has hired Kathryn Breiwa, a "top aide to Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign," as the organization's executive director.
• It was so gracious of AmeriGOP's chairman to describe Breiwa as "a strong young woman" in the super PAC's announcement. Because obviously we'd have otherwise thought she was weak and it's so tough for us ladies to do man stuff like run things. 

• RINO-hunting season roots out fake GOPers: At least, that's how the gun nuts repping the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners framed the two Colorado state Senate primaries they won on Tuesday night. In taking out two fairly moderate Republicans in these Democratic-leaning districts (SDs 19 and 22, if you're curious), the RMGO is helping Democrats keep their tiny majority in closely-divided chamber (18 D/17 R) this fall. RMGOh no!

• Real freedom for fake calls: A federal court in South Carolina has ruled the state's ban on political robo-calls unconstitutional. Push 1 if you think Candidate X should acknowledge his illegitimate half-bat baby.

• Taxpayer dollars funding the Hydrox of women's health clinics: And by "Hydrox" I mean the "crisis pregnancy centers" that are terrible and not legit at all. The GOP-controlled Michigan legislature has approved a budget that directs $800,000 to a PA-based nonprofit that supports religion-infused pregnancy centers that discourage women from getting abortions and oppose use of contraception. That group helps such centers avoid church-state separation issues when receiving government funding. 
• Fun fact! That $800,000 is roughly equal to the total funding lawmakers allocated for legit family planning and pregnancy prevention in that same budget.
• Funner fact! That same nonprofit, "Real Alternatives," was allocated $700,000 in Michigan's last budget and apparently did jack squat with it.

• Real tiger drama: The Tony the Truck Stop Tiger saga just won't end in Louisiana. Now that Gov. Jindal has signed the bill that lets Tony's owner keep him as a roadside attraction at the eponymous truck stop, the state is getting sued for violating its own constitution by creating an exemption for just that one guy who owns that one tiger.

• Not that the market on tiger policy has been cornered: The New York legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit people from taking pictures of themselves with captive tigers or other wild animals -- or, as I think of them, Darwin Selfies. 

• So actually for really real, actually: Could Oklahoma become the first state to elect a transgender legislator? We'll know after Democrat Paula Sophia faces Jason Dunnington in an August 26 runoff, since there's no Republican in the race for HD88. Cue some conservative Oklahomaneurysms when she gets sworn in. 
• She may be have to share the "first transgender state legislator" distinction with Nevada Republican Lauren Scott come November, but probably not, since AD30 leans pretty heavily Democratic. 

For the Week of June 25, 2014 

The following 8 state legislatures are meeting actively this week: CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW JERSEY, NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA and VIRGINIA.

  

Also meeting: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

GROUPS

The Democratic Governors Association will hold its Regional Policy Conference June 24-25 in Chicago, Illinois. 

Women in Government will hold its Midwestern Regional Conference June 26-28 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

CALIFORNIA

The Senate Committee on Judiciary met June 24 to discuss A.B. 1442, which requires school districts and county offices of education considering a program to gather personal information obtained through social media on any student enrolled to notify the students and guardians and provide an opportunity for public comment. 

The Berkeley City Council is scheduled to hold a second reading of the Berkeley Minimum Wage Ordinance June 24.

COLORADO

Primary elections were held June 24 for the office of the Governor and state House and Senate seats.

CONNECTICUT

The General Assembly convened a veto session June 23. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

The City Council Judiciary and Public Safety Committee met June 24 to discuss B20-757, which prohibits an employer from requiring that an employee refrain from inquiring about or discussing wages with fellow employees. 

MARYLAND

Primary elections were held June 24 for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and state House and Senate seats. 

NEW JERSEY

The Assembly Committee on Appropriations met June 23 to hear A.B. 1368, which requires a court to order convicted drunk drivers to install an ignition interlock device in motor vehicles owned, leased or principally operated by the offender. 

OKLAHOMA

Primary elections were held June 24 for the office of the Governor, as well as state House and Senate seats. 

PENNSYLVANIA

The General Assembly reconvened on June 23 to work on the state budget. 

SOUTH CAROLINA

A runoff election was held June 24 for the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

UTAH

Primary elections were held June 24 for state House and Senate seats.

VIRGINIA

The General Assembly convened a special session June 23 to discuss Governor Terry McAuliffe's (D) line item budget vetoes.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.

Summer Reruns edition

It's been a big week for... well, nothing new, really. No primaries, none of the high-profile SCOTUS decisions were released, no one declared s/he's running for president, no budget bill was signed into law in Virginia...

• Yup, that's totally still a thing. Gov. McAuliffe actually has until Sunday to decide what to do with the dirty budget the Republicans threw his way. (After clamoring for a "clean" budget without any Medicaid expanding add-ons, they decided one little Medicaid add-on was okay, as long is it meant NO HEALTHCARE FOR POORS!!1!@!) 

• So the budget has been on the Governor's desk since Sunday, starting a seven-day clock for him to sign it, veto it, or line-item veto the added language prohibiting the expansion of Medicaid without express approval of the General Assembly (because that's could totally happen. Seriously. In a pig's eye...). 
• No one's quite sure if that last option is technically legal in this case, but if he does veto it in any fashion, there's no way it gets overridden by the 2/3 majority needed in the state Senate (19 D/20 R). 

• Fun fact! Only 11 days remain in Virginia's fiscal year. Drama! Romance! Shutdown!

• Funner fact! Virginia Democrats' big annual fundraiser, the JJ Dinner, is this Saturday night. Sure would be a fun place for Gov. McAuliffe to announce veto -- line-item or otherwise -- plans, yes? (If you plan to head down to Richmond, you can still wrangle yourself a press credential.) 

• Meanwhile, back at the alligator ranch...  The judge in the Florida congressional redistricting lawsuit is still expected to issue his ruling by the end of the month. No one seems to have a strong opinion on which way it will go, but if any of those 27 districts end up getting tossed out and re-drawn, well.... I bet lots of folks will suddenly be headed to Disney World. 
• Except not, because everyone involved will probably be stuck in Tallahassee. 
• If the ruling goes the other way and the judge finds the congressional maps totally legal and legit, those cool Fair Districts constitutional amendments the good people of Florida passed back in 2010 will pretty much be rendered worthless.

• Vindicated in reruns: Last Friday, a judge in North Carolina overturned some rather onerous rules the state legislature -- led by one Thom Tillis of NC Senate candidate fame -- put in place to prevent those pesky Moral Monday protesters from doing all that annoying protesting stuff they did last year. Protesters were again allowed to yell, sing, and wave signs on sticks to their hearts' content. 
• Except not so much. Some 20 protesters were arrested outside of the General Assembly chambers just this past Monday.

• Counterprogramming: Waaaaaaay back in December, a bunch of state legislators had themselves a little party at Mt. Vernon and talked about how super awesome it would be to get enough states to call an Article V "Convention of States" to amend the U.S. Constitution, because balanced budget or Obamacare or whatever. 

• Well, the "Mt. Vernon Assembly" crew went and had another bash last week. Apparently they've set up some structure among themselves and laid out some potential rules for that fabled Convention.
• Also, now they're calling themselves the "Assembly of State Legislatures." Which isn't misleading at all. 

• What a twist! South Carolina has a Democratic statewide officeholder! For a little while, anyway. After some serious intra-party drama, Gov. Nikki Haley couldn't convince a single Republican to get in line to succeed her lieutenant governor, who's just bailed to become a college president. 
• So, despite alleged pressure from Haley for a GOP replacement, state Senate Republicans worked out a deal elevating Democratic Sen. Yancey McGill to the state's No. 2 political position. (Technically, anyway. The Senate President has way more power.)

• Re-airing: Democratic lawmakers in Michigan are introducing legislation to repeal the rape insurance law-by-petition pushed by Right to Life of Michigan and signed off on by state lawmakers late last year -- all without silly complications like "public hearings" or "ballot measures" or "gubernatorial vetoes." The law (which took effect back in March) outlaws abortion coverage except through a separately purchased rider on a woman's health insurance policy. 
• Thing is, only seven out of the state's 42 insurance providers offer the rider. So, if you're a lady whose employer has insurance through one of the other 35 providers, of if you're self-insured, well, good luck with that!
• Reality check: Does the repeal have a shot of passing? Nah. Republicans control both chambers of the legislature. Even getting a committee hearing on the bill is a long shot.

• Don't touch that dial (or I'll shoot)! As of July 1, college students in Idaho will be allowed to carry guns on campus. Obviously, the professors are SUPER psyched. 

• Goodnight, everybody! Hey, you darn kids, what's with the all that crap on the back pockets of your jeans? The caretakers of the Nebraska legislature would like for you to check your sparkly butts before you sit on their historic benches, thankyouverymuch, because you're leaving marks.

For the Week of June 19, 2014 

The following 10 state legislatures are meeting actively this week: CALIFORNIA, DELAWARE, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND and SOUTH CAROLINA.

  

Also meeting: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

GROUPS

The Council of State Governments will hold its Leadership Forum June 19-21 in Washington, D.C. 

The State Legislative Leaders Foundation will hold its Conference of State Majority Leaders June 19-21 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. 

The Republican Attorneys General Association will hold its Edmund Randolph Club Retreat June 19-22 in Coronado, California. 

The United States Conference of Mayors will hold its Annual Conference of Mayors June 20-23 in Dallas, Texas. 

The Republican Attorneys General Association will hold its Summer National Meeting June 21-24 in Coronado, California. 

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners will hold its Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners Annual Education Conference June 22-25 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

CALIFORNIA

The Assembly Committee on Judiciary met June 17 to discuss S.B. 1348, which allows a person to review and correct personal information held by an online data broker. 

DELAWARE   

  

The City of Dover held a special election for the office of Mayor on Tuesday, June 17. 

INDIANA

The General Assembly convened June 17 for a technical session to address the criminal code.

MISSOURI

The Elevator Safety Board met June 18 to discuss amendments to rules regarding licensure of mechanics and elevator contractors. 

NEW JERSEY

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee met June 16 to hear S.B. 2172, which establishes liability and remediation for any person who discharges a hazardous substance from a drilling platform into state waters. 

NEW YORK

The Legislature is scheduled to recess June 19. 

A joint meeting of the New York City Committees on Economic Development, Environmental Protection, and Consumer affairs was scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, to discuss the economic impact of New York City's failing gas, steam, and water infrastructure. 

SOUTH CAROLINA

  

The General Assembly reconvened June 17 for a veto session and to address any unfinished conference committee reports. 

 

The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn sine die June 19. 

TEXAS

The Austin City Council and Capital Metro Board held a joint meeting on Tuesday, June 17, to discuss "Project Connect", a plan for a Central Texas high-capacity transit system.  

The San Antonio City Council is scheduled to consider a Resolution setting forth the process to fill the vacancy in the Office of the Mayor following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate as Secretary of HUD on Thursday, June 19. 

WEST VIRGINIA

The interim Joint Committee on Health held a meeting June 18 to discuss long-term care planning and will hear from AARP and the Partnership for Elder Living. 

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.

Elections of Future Past edition

Big week in the Commonwealth. Big week in statehouse action. So... Supersized super-awesome TWISA. Grab a snack.

I'll leave genuine Cantor experts (like the inimitable Jeff Schapiro) to illuminate Tuesday's primary, except to note Cantor's time in the House of Delegates because, hey, that's my jam.

But there was another upheaval in Virginia politics this week that popped on Sunday night and gushed all over the news on Monday: state Sen. Phil Puckett's surprise resignation. More on that later, though -- there's so much fun to get to first. 

• Go time: Looks like the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is setting up fundraising committees in Minnesota to help the DFL keep its majority in the state House (73 D/61 R), which Republicans are reportedly targeting this year in a major way. The Republican State Leadership Committee/RLCC, the DLCC's counterpart, has been pumping money into its own state committee, Minnesota's Future, since 2012.
• Fun fact! The DLCC gave state Democrats over $700,000 in 2012, and the DFL flipped GOP majorities in both the state House and Senate. That same year, the RSLC-backed Minnesota's Future spent $1.1 million targeting 35 races; Republicans won only 11 of them.

• The DLCC is also already spending in New Mexico, where the state House (37 D/33 R) is a top GOP target this year.

• Making up for lost time: On Wednesday afternoon, a federal court ordered the three days of early voting just prior to Election Day restored to Ohio voters. The order affirms a 2012 ruling invalidating a law passed in 2011 by the state's GOP-controlled legislature that ended early voting on the Friday before election day. Now if they'd just bring back the "golden week"...

• Winter is coming: Actually, it came, like it does every year, but a ballot measure committee seeking to return Michigan's legislature to its part-time status is blaming the cold for the group's failure to collect enough signatures to make it on the November ballot. 

• Time well spent, guys:  But the Michigan legislature is taking advantage of its full-time status by doing things like introducing fetal heartbeat legislation. One GOP lawmaker has introduced a package that requires doctors to check for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion and, if one is detected, have the woman listen to it. If no heartbeat is detected, one bill requires the doctor to pressure the woman to have an "additional diagnostic procedure" (read: transvaginal ultrasound) or wait to obtain an abortion until a heartbeat can be detected. 
• I see what you did there. But accompanying legislation makes performing an abortion after that heartbeat has been detected a Class F felony. Even better, there's no rape or incest exception -- just when the life of the mother is in peril. It's a catch-22 made specially for the ladies. I feel so treasured.

• Multitasking: A Nebraska state Senator is seeking to chair all 17 committees in the legislature. YOLO.

• All the cool kids are doing it: Also, Nebraska could find itself on the minimum wage ballot measure bandwagon this fall. Supporters need to gather 85,000 signatures by July 3 to place a measure on the November ballot that would raise the hourly minimum wage to $9.00 by 2016.

• Showtime! It's sure to sweep the Tonys next year. Are you ready for Crazy GOP Lawmaker: The Musical? No, seriously. It's called Cacey Stampfield: The Musical. Inspired by a concept album (!) based on Tennessee Republican state Sen. Stacey Campfield, a Nashville theater company is premiering an "original political satirical show" based on the legislator's antics. The show will touch on Campfield's greatest hits, including his "Don't Say Gay" bill and his proposal to tie kids' grades to parents' welfare payments. The writer is still working on incorporating Campfield's comparison of Obamacare to the Holocaust.

• Tony Danza is an outstanding Italian-American. Thus spake the New York legislature. Governing! 

<Virginia>

Flashback to Monday. Democratic Sen. Phil Puckett resigned. Shady deals were happening, then maybe didn't happen, but probably still are going to happen after the hubbub subsides. 

Here's everything you n/ever wanted to know about the near, middling, and far-off future consequences of The Pucketting.

• Much attention was lavished on the short-term consequences: Puckett's departure tips the divided state Senate (with an effective Dem majority, thanks to Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam) to Republican control (20 D/20 D --> 19 D/20 R). 

• This new GOP majority is now able to pass its non-Medicaid-expanding version of Virginia's long-overdue budget, which had been held up because Gov. McAuliffe and fellow Democrats are really into expanding healthcare to some 400,000 Virginians (and using the budget is really the only way to do that).
• Shockingly, the Republicans who dominate the House (32 D/68 R) have no intention of passing anything that expands Medicaid, because OMG OBAMACARE -- and the threat of being primaried from the right -- are way scarier than the wrath of the poors at the ballot box in 2015. They'll be too sick to make it to the polling place, anyway, right?

• So the shiny new GOP majority in the Virginia Senate can now pass a version of the state budget that doesn't expand Medicaid, which they'll do on Thursday, and then the House Republicans will be delighted to pass that same budget, which they'll also do on Thursday, and then all those folks get to drive back to the tens of thousands of uninsured folks who totally would have benefited in their home districts

• Oh, and that budget they'll pass? Not only does it most definitely not expand Medicaid, but it also cuts new funds for free clinics and hospitals. Raises for teachers and state employees will get axed, too.
• You know what's not getting axed? $300 million for a new office building and parking deck for those same lawmakers who couldn't bring themselves to give 400,000 Virginians access to healthcare. 
• #richforever

• Anyway, so that nasty budget those lawmakers pass will end up on the governor's desk, and McAuliffe will find himself with a Very Hard Decision to make.
• If he A. Vetoes it, Virginia state government will shut down for the first time ever.
• If he B. Signs it, everything is terrible, but state government stays up and running.
• And that's to say nothing of the epic political implications of either of those decisions.

But that's all short-term, really, except for the broad implications for Virginians generally. So let's take a peek at the future, with a quick glance at the past.

• Gov. McAuliffe will call a special election to fill the Puckett vacancy (SD38). Dems have almost no chance (or maybe just a 32% chance, which is how seriously Obama lost here in 2012) of keeping the seat. 
• Fun flashback! Democrats pumped $600,000 into Puckett's fight to keep his seat in 2011-- money that could have saved, say, Sen. Edd Houck, who lost by a couple hundred votes that year.

• A 19 D/21 R state Senate will give Republicans control over both chambers of the legislature for the 2015 session with only the threat of Gov. McAuliffe's veto pen to stave off right-wing shenanigans. Transvaginal ultrasounds, anyone?

• But then the Commonwealth's nifty odd-year elections happen, and the entire state Senate will be on the ballot.
• Do the Democrats have any chance of reclaiming a majority in the chamber?
• Definitely maybe.

• Math is hard. Odd-year electorates are finicky things, so using the 2012 Obama results to predict success is, admittedly, a little problematic, but it's at least a decent indicator of where Democrats can find opportunities.
• SD7: Senator Frank Wagner ran unopposed in 2011, but Obama won the district with 50.2% here in 2012.
• SD10: Sen. John Watkins won with 56.6% in 2011; Obama won 51.1%.
• SD17: Sen. Bryce Reeves eked out a win over incumbent Dem Edd Houck in 2011 with 50.3%; Obama narrowly lost the district with 49.8%.
• Fun fact! Puckett's SD38 was the only district won by a Democrat in 2011 and by Romney in 2012. Virginia Senate Democrats shouldn't have to worry too much about defense in 2015.

</Virginia>

For the Week of June 11, 2014 

The following 11 state legislatures are meeting actively this week: CALIFORNIA, DELAWARE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND and VIRGINIA.    Also meeting: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

GROUPS The Western Governors' Association will hold its Annual Meeting June 9-11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners will hold its New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners Annual Meeting June 15-17 in Stowe, Vermont.  ARKANSAS A primary runoff election was held June 10 to decide the races from the May 20 primaries where no candidate received a majority of votes, including the Republican primary for Attorney General.  CONNECTICUT Governor Dan Malloy's (D) Common Core Task Force will hold its final meeting June 11 to develop recommendations on how best to implement the Common Core education standards.  MAINE Primary elections were held June 10 for House and Senate seats.

MARYLAND

Early voting for the primary election is scheduled to begin June 12. 

MICHIGAN

The Legislature is scheduled to recess June 12. 

NEVADA

Primary elections were held June 10 for the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General, as well as House and Senate seats. 

NEW JERSEY

The Board of Education will hold public workshops June 11-12 to discuss possible amendments to Core Curriculum Content Standards. 

NORTH DAKOTA

Primary elections were held June 10 for the office of the Secretary of State, as well as House and Senate seats. 

SOUTH CAROLINA

Primary elections were held June 10 for the office of the Lieutenant Governor, as well as House seats. 

VIRGINIA

The House Appropriations Committee will meet June 11 to discuss the state budget and Medicaid Expansion. No kidding.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.

Magic 8 Ball edition

The summer vacation lull may be setting in for some, but there ain't no rest for the wicked serious fights for state legislative chamber control this fall... and beyond. 

• What does the future hold? The summer will continue to be speckled with primaries, like last night's -- some of which actually may have determined the fate of millions of Iowans.
• Republicans have controlled both the Iowa governor's mansion and the state House since 2010, and the teeny tiny one-seat Democratic majority in the Iowa state Senate (26 D/24 R) has been the only thing standing between Iowans and the waves of new conservative laws like those seen in Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana ("right to work," anti-choice, anti-public school, and voting restriction measures are just a few off the top of my head).

• And while a certain former hog castrator (and current state lawmaker) got most of the attention last night, the downballot primary results are far more critical for the average Iowan. 

• Signs point to yes: The smart folks over at Bleeding Heartland feel pretty sure that Tuesday's state Senate primary results give Democrats a great shot at holding their majority -- and maybe even expanding it a little. 

• Voters went to the polls on Tuesday in Mississippi, Alabama, California, New Jersey, South Dakota and Montana, too, but those state legislatures aren't competitive and/or have no real impact on congressional redistricting and/or aren't even up this year.

• Yeah, that's right. I said the R word. Because the fight for 2020 has already begun. If progressives want to meaningfully impact the district lines drawn by state lawmakers in 2021, the herculean labor of creating, maintaining, and expanding Democratic majorities in legislative chambers by -- and through -- the 2020 elections started yesterday. If you're not already at this party, you're late.  

• Voters in New Mexico went to the polls, too, and they get their own set of bullets, since 
• the House is fairly competitive (37 D/33 R), 
• the legislature will draw the new district lines after the 2020 Census, and 
• the state has more than one congressional seat.
• Outlook good: In-state observers say chamber control will come down to ten key districts, which are currently evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Expect both parties to make it seriously rain in state legislative races here. Despite a strong Republican running at the top of the ticket, Democrats have a good chance of keeping their majority in this chamber. 

• Concentrate and ask again: While legislative elections in Montana don't matter a whit in terms of congressional redistricting, the battle for control of the state Senate (21 D/29 R) is a real thing. Democrats are fielding candidates in each and every one of 125 legislative seats on the ballot this fall, and Tuesday's GOP primaries were defined by the ongoing war between the party's conservatives and moderates (although most incumbents on either end of that mini-spectrum survived). The director of the state's Democratic legislative campaign committee says the most recent round of redistricting made November's elections "either party's game." Fall sleeper state!

• Ask again later: Next week, I'll take a peek at how primaries in Maine and Nevada affect the outlook for those states' legislative chambers. 
• South Carolina and North Dakota hold their primaries next Tuesday, too, but things like chamber competitiveness and redistricting impact make those states way less cool. 
• Virginia will hold its primary on June 10, too, but y'all of course know that the Commonwealth holds its state elections in odd years, so we'll start caring about that stuff again in 2015.

• Speaking of Virginia...
• Reply hazy try again: Despite reports of a possible compromise proposal, there's no real movement in the General Assembly budget impasse. House Republicans still hate the idea of poor people getting health insurance because OMG OBAMACARE, and they're willing to shut down state government to prove it. With less than a month to go until the Commonwealth budgets up or closes down, Republican lawmakers show signs of digging in their heels even further, somehow. So expect some hot developments soon. 
• Maybe. 
• Or maybe next month my mom and dad don't get the retirement checks they earned by teaching in Virginia's public schools for several decades. No one's quite sure how a government shutdown would work south of the Potomac, but I can guarantee it'll make a lot of people really, really mad. Including me.

Whatever, back to redistricting.

• Cannot predict now: In Florida, that awesome trial over the constitutionality of the state's congressional district boundaries wrapped up after two super fun weeks. 
• The Tallahassee judge presiding over the case could take several weeks render a decision. If he rules that the maps violate new state constitutional amendments by intentionally being drawn to help one party over the other (in this case, Republicans), the judge may order the legislature to re-draw the state's 27 congressional districts. Or he could require a court-overseen process. Or he could throw a map into a woodchipper and see what gets spit out (okay, probably not). No one knows. The ruling may not directly affect the 2014 elections, but whatever happens in this case will have an epic impact on the state's politics -- and Congress -- for years to come. Stay tuned!

• Meanwhile, a lawsuit over Alabama's state legislative district lines is headed to SCOTUS.

• Better not tell you now: So there's an awful new anti-abortion bill that's just popped up in Ohio. SB 351 would make it illegal for all insurance covering Ohioans to cover abortions -- even in cases of incest, rape, or when the mother's life is in danger.
• The bill would also ban state employee insurance plans and Medicaid from covering "drugs or devices used to prevent the implantation of a fertilized ovum." The sponsor claims he plans to clarify via amendment that this won't apply to birth control pills, but he fully intends it to apply to IUDs. Because science is hard, I guess, and women parts are weird and hard to understand.
• Also, while the bill bans abortions to protect the life of the mother, it allows them in cases of ectopic (tubal) pregnancies. Um... thanks? 

For the Week of June 4, 2014 

The following 12 state legislatures are meeting actively this week:CALIFORNIA, DELAWARE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND and SOUTH CAROLINA. Also meeting: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO

GROUPS The National Association of Attorneys General will hold its Summer Meeting June 2-5 in Mackinac Island, Michigan.  The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee will hold its Southern Leadership Conference June 8-9 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  ALABAMA    Primary elections were held June 3 for the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, as well as House and Senate seats. CALIFORNIA    Primary elections were held June 3 for the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General, as well as House and Senate seats.     The Senate Environmental Quality Committee will hold a hearing June 4 to discuss A.B. 1846, which addresses damages for attempting to redeem ineligible beverage containers.   DELAWARE The House Economic Development, Banking, Insurance and Commerce Committee will meet June 4 to discuss H.B. 161, which requires individual, group and blanket health insurers to provide notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of health insurance coverage due to nonpayment of premiums and to retain proof of mailing of such notices for a one-year period.  IOWA Primary elections were held June 3 for the offices of the Governor and Secretary of State, as well as House and Senate seats.

LOUISIANA The Legislature adjourned sine die June 2.  MONTANA Primary elections were held June 3 for all House seats and select Senate seats.  NEW JERSEY The Board of Education will hold a public workshop June 4 to discuss revisions to the Core Curriculum Content Standards. NEW MEXICO Primary elections were held June 3 for the office of the Governor, as well as House seats.  NEW YORK The Senate Labor Committee meet June 3 to discuss S.B. 1701, which prohibits an employer from requiring an employee or prospective employee to disclose login information for personal accounts through an electronic communication device.  OHIO The House Insurance Committee met June 3 to discuss H.B. 351, which prohibits health insurance corporations from providing coverage for abortion services under any policy, contract or agreement that is issued.  PENNSYLVANIA The General Assembly reconvened June 2.  SOUTH CAROLINA The Legislature is scheduled to recess June 5.  SOUTH DAKOTA Primary elections were held June 3 for the office of the Governor, as well as House and Senate seats.

via Stateside Associates, Project Vote.