state senate

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Every Ohio Republican Senator Mailed Envelope of Feces

'Just another crappy day'

(Newser) - Envelopes sent to every Republican member of the Ohio Senate marked what state Sen. Jay Hottinger on Thursday called "just another crappy day" in politics. Inside were feces. "It's gross and stupid, immaturity at its highest level," Hottinger, R-Newark, told the Columbus Dispatch . None of the...

Pa.'s Statehouse Descends Into Chaos

State-certified election winner Jim Brewster denied oath of office in Pa.

(Newser) - Republican senators in Pennsylvania refused to seat a Democrat on Tuesday despite his state-certified election win, resulting in chaos . Democratic State Sen. Jim Brewster of Allegheny County defeated Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli by just 69 votes in the Nov. 3 election, according to state-certified returns. But Ziccarelli has sued in...

He Was Suspended Over Parkland, Is Now Out for Good

State Senate in Florida votes to remove Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel

(Newser) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had already suspended Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. Now the state Senate has removed Israel from his elected position for good. CNN reports on the 25-15 vote Wednesday that now makes Israel's removal official; it came nine months after DeSantis put Israel's job on...

Brother of Sandy Hook Hero Makes Public Move

Republican JT Lewis is running to be a Connecticut state senator

(Newser) - JT Lewis was 12 years old when he learned his 6-year-old brother, Jesse, had been shot in the head at Sandy Hook Elementary School after helping some of his classmates escape alive . The horrific event transformed Lewis into an advocate in his teenage years—he received an award for courage...

NY Democrat Urged GOP Senate Aide to Kill Herself

He apologizes for 'poor choice of words'

(Newser) - A New York state senator apologized Tuesday for what he called a "poor choice of words" after sending a tweet to a legislative staffer urging her to commit suicide. Democrat Kevin Parker's tweet to Republican Senate aide Candice Giove consisted of only two words: "Kill yourself!"...

GOP Candidate Accused of Anti-Semitism Over This Mailer

Connecticut Republican chair says it's 'false outrage' by Dems over Ed Charamut's ad

(Newser) - Just days after the slaying of 11 Jewish congregants at a Pittsburgh synagogue, a GOP candidate for a state Senate seat in Connecticut is accused of sending a mailer using an "age-old anti-Semitic trope." The ad sent out by Ed Charamut includes what the Washington Post calls a...

Lawmaker's Residence Under Scrutiny for Airbnb Ad

Frank Lasee stays in 2 different places

(Newser) - If Frank Lasee ran for office using his wife's house as his primary residence, he'd have to run against incumbent Paul Ryan—which the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says would be "political suicide." Instead, the GOP state senator looking to fill a soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat says he...

Florida Lawmakers to Live on $17 a Day

But only for a week as part of 'Minimum Wage Challenge'

(Newser) - At least 18 Florida lawmakers say they'll take the "Minimum Wage Challenge" this week to show the need for a minimum wage hike to $15 an hour. From Monday to Friday, each of the lawmakers, who are mostly Democrats, will live on just $17 a day—the remains...

Teens in Florida Illegally Set to Pay In-State Tuition

Gov. Rick Scott expected to sign bill when it clears House

(Newser) - Florida is on track to become the 20th US state to offer students who are in the country illegally the same in-state college tuition rates as citizens. The state Senate yesterday voted 26-13 in favor of a bill that would save undocumented youth the burden of paying out-of-state fees—typically...

Hawaii State Senate Backs Gay Marriage

Bill heads to state House

(Newser) - In a 20-4 vote, Hawaii's state Senate has passed a bill to allow gay marriage; the bill now heads to the state House of Representatives, where the vote could be closer, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser notes. That chamber is also likely to amend the Senate's version of the bill,...

California Senate Backs 'Anti-Arizona' Bill

Measure would limit deportation after minor crimes

(Newser) - California's Senate has passed a measure that runs counter to federal immigration efforts—one that's been dubbed the "anti-Arizona" bill, Reuters reports. The legislation, which looks set to pass the state Assembly, would hamper police's ability to hand an arrested person over to immigration officials for...

Oklahoma Senate Passes 'Personhood' Act

Says life begins at conception, but supporters say it doesn't ban abortion

(Newser) - The Oklahoma Senate has passed a controversial bill that declares that life begins at the moment of conception, in a landslide 34-8 vote. The Personhood Act passed yesterday after two hours of debate. It's unclear what effect the bill will have, however; its author says it's just a...

NJ Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

But Gov. Chris Christie likely to veto it

(Newser) - New Jersey's state Senate passed a gay marriage bill today, but by a margin too slim to overturn the governor's expected veto, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Senators voted 24-16, with two Republicans in favor. "We have some among us who are separate and not equal,"...

Control of Virginia's Senate Too Close to Call
Control of Virginia's Senate Too Close to Call
2011 Elections

Control of Virginia's Senate Too Close to Call

Just 86 votes separate Republican and Democrat

(Newser) - Republicans appear poised to take over the Virginia state Senate—by a mere 86 votes. Heading into last night’s election, the Democrats had a 22-18 majority in the chamber, but they lost one seat in a strange race that, thanks to redistricting, pitted two incumbents, one Republican and one...

Dems Survive Wis. Recall
 Dems Survive Wisconsin Recall 

Dems Survive Wisconsin Recall

Runaway lawmakers keep seats; GOP keeps state senate

(Newser) - Two more Democratic state senators have survived recall votes in Wisconsin, ending the state's recall saga with the Republicans still in charge of the legislature—but with only a one-seat majority. Another Democrat survived an earlier recall vote, and four of six targeted Republicans held their seats after recall...

Carl Lewis Can't Run for New Jersey State Senate

He will appeal decision that he doesn't meet residency requirements

(Newser) - New Jersey won't let a favorite son run for state office. The lieutenant governor ruled today that Carl Lewis, who has nine Olympic gold medals on his mantle, doesn't meet the four-year residency requirement to run for a state Senate seat, reports the Star-Ledger . The 49-year-old Lewis plans...

'Don't Say Gay' Education Bill Advances in Tennessee
'Don't Say Gay' Education Bill Advances in Tennessee
in case you missed it

'Don't Say Gay' Education Bill Advances in Tennessee

Teachers can't talk about homosexuality before high school under bill

(Newser) - A Tennessee state Senate committee has passed a bill to make sure teachers don't mention homosexuality in classes below ninth grade, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The Republican sponsor of the so-called “don’t say gay” bill got it passed 6-3 after some legal wrangling, and it now...

California Bill Would Require Gay History in Schools

Would be first state to launch mandate

(Newser) - California could be the first state to require that schools teach gay history. Lessons on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people would be added to social studies classes under a landmark bill passed yesterday by the state Senate, the AP reports. The state Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown must approve...

AWOL Dems: We're Not Coming Home

Fleeing Wisconsin senators deny recent reports that they will return

(Newser) - Some Wisconsin Democrats recently seemed to imply they will return to the state even though talks with Gov. Scott Walker have broken down—but now they're now backtracking on those reports. Minority Leader Mark Miller told the Wall Street Journal the senators were considering a return as soon as certain...

Georgia Lawmaker Likens GOP to KKK, Then Womanizers

Comments about 'white sheets' stir things up

(Newser) - A Georgia state senator has thrown down against his political rivals, comparing turncoat Democrats to Ku Klux Klan members, Mediaite reports. State Senator Robert Brown, lashing out against his former Dems who'd switched over to the GOP after Republicans made big gains in the election, said that they "put...

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