FL: Florida legislative leaders release anti-riot bills
As supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to block congressional certification of the 2020 election on Wednesday, Republican leaders in Florida released legislation aimed at cracking down on violent protests.
VT: Vermont governor sworn in under heightened security
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, and Vermont’s other statewide officeholders took their oaths in ceremonies overshadowed by the chaos that unfolded the day before in Washington, D.C. The bedlam in the nation’s capital prompted Vermont officials to step up security protocols in Montpelier during the state’s inaugural events.
GA: Strict absentee voting limits proposed after record Georgia turnout
Voting was never easier in Georgia than in November’s presidential election, but it might not last. When the legislative sessions begins Monday, Democrats are bracing for a wave of bills from the Republican majority that would make it harder to vote.
RI: President-elect picks Rhode Island governor as Commerce secretary
President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo as his commerce secretary. Should she be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, her resignation would promote Democratic Lt. Gov. Dan McKee for the two remaining years of her second term.
NJ: New Jersey governor signs B corporate tax break bill
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed a massive $14 billion corporate tax incentive program for New Jersey into law, just three weeks after it was first introduced and fast-tracked through the state legislature amid a worsening pandemic that continues to hurt businesses.
OK: Pandemic prompts first enrollment decline in nearly two decades for Oklahoma public schools
Oklahoma’s public school enrollment has seen its first downturn in 19 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the biggest hits have been to pre-K and kindergarten.
MA: US attorney for Massachusetts says he will prosecute residents who went to Capitol to engage in violence
The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts said Thursday that anyone who traveled to Washington, D.C., with plans to join the violence that erupted in the Capitol on Wednesday will face criminal charges brought by his office.
MN: Some Minnesota lawmakers don’t want youth athletes to wear masks
A state order requiring high school and youth athletes to wear masks while practicing and competing is unpopular with a group of Minnesota state legislators. As high school and youth sports began practice, many parents took to social media to make similar claims.
WA: Washington governor calls for Trump’s ouster
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, joined a growing chorus of elected officials calling for President Donald Trump’s removal from office. He said Trump should be removed “by any legal means necessary”—whether through resignation, impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution.
KY: Kentucky governor outlines proposed relief package for small businesses, unemployed
Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear proposed using federal money to provide more than $200 million in direct payments to small businesses hurt by COVID-19, and $48 million to give Kentuckians waiting for unemployment assistance a one-time check for ,000.
ID: Idaho Democrats sue top state House official over coronavirus risks during session
Two state House Democrats are suing the Idaho legislature and House speaker for the ability to vote from home days before the legislative session is scheduled to begin. The House members could “sustain irreparable injury and loss,” the complaint says.
HI: Hawaii lieutenant governor calls for 2-week moratorium on social gatherings
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, is calling for Hawaii residents to avoid all social gatherings for two weeks as state health officials reported that the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide reached the first record high of the new year.
AK: Alaska’s seniors struggle to sign up for coronavirus vaccines
Even as some in Alaska received COVID-19 vaccines early, other people over 65 around the state said they tried unsuccessfully to even book a time slot.
WY: Wyoming GOP reacts to Capitol riot with anger at media
A day after a violent mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, the Wyoming Republican Party released a statement condemning violence, but said it would “wait for the facts” on whether Trump’s supporters were actually responsible for the breach.
ME: Maine loses record number of jobs
Maine has lost more jobs on a percentage basis during the pandemic than in any recession in the past 50 years, according to a recent analysis by the Maine Department of Labor. Nearly 4,000 claims for state unemployment benefits were filed last week, the highest weekly claims total since mid-July.
SC: South Carolina governor opposes Trump’s removal
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, said he does not support the forced removal of President Donald Trump from office. McMaster, a steadfast Trump ally who in early 2016 was the first statewide elected official in any state to endorse the president’s election bid, said through a spokesperson that he thought Trump would voluntarily leave office Jan. 20 and did not need to be removed.
MD: Maryland Republican governor supports Trump’s removal
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said he would be in favor of President Donald Trump’s resigning or being removed from office after a violent mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
CA: California DMV postpones in-person driving tests until February amid COVID-19 surge
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will postpone all in-person driving tests through Feb. 1 out of concern for the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases, the department announced.
AZ: Arizona state employees told to avoid state Capitol, work from home
Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s office directed state workers to avoid the Arizona Capitol complex Thursday, advising agency directors to grant administrative leave to employees unable to work remotely. The request came at the Department of Public Safety’s urging, which also asked the Arizona Supreme Court to allow only “critical staff” into the building.
WI: Wisconsin Republicans give up lawsuit challenging 2020 election
Two Wisconsin state legislators and several groups abandoned a lawsuit seeking to overturn the presidential election, causing a judge to renew his questions about whether their attorney should be sanctioned for filing a meritless claim.
UT: Utah abandons plan to weekly test college students for COVID-19
Utah is dropping its plan to require all college students attending classes in person or living on campus to get tested weekly for the coronavirus. The decision to walk back the measure came shortly before it was supposed to take effect for the coming semester. Both public and private institutions will now require that students get tested just once at the beginning of the term.
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