State Net ************************************************** C A P I T O L J O U R N A L ************************************************** News & Views from the 50 States ================================================================= Volume XVII, No. 14 Monday, May 11, 2009 ================================================================= ##### TOP OF THE NEWS ##### SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ............................1 * States seek help sorting out stimulus BUDGET & TAXES ............................2 * Schwarzenegger says look at legalizing pot POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ............................3 * CA GOP Assembly leader steps down UPCOMING ELECTIONS ............................4 GOVERNORS ............................5 * New England govs confront gay marriage bills UPCOMING STORIES ............................6 HOT ISSUES ............................7 IN THE HOPPER ............................8 ONCE AROUND THE STATEHOUSE LIGHTLY ............................9 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...........................10 *** The next issue of Capitol Journal will be available on May 18th. ***************************************************************** ***** #1--SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ***** States seek help sorting out stimulus Well over a third of the $787 billion federal economic stimulus package will go to or through the states over the next seven years, the largest installment -- $108 billion -- coming in fiscal 2010. The sheer size of that sum, combined with the enormity and complexity of the stimulus law itself, has many officials worried about how states are going to make sure it is all spent properly. At a hearing last month on Capitol Hill, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MISSOURI), a former state auditor, predicted some programs would be overwhelmed by the flood of federal dollars. She pointed to a program in her own state that typically gets $6 million to help low-income families insulate their homes that would now be receiving $125 million in stimulus money. Abuse in one program like that "will indict the entire stimulus" package she said. In some states, budget shortfalls have actually forced furloughs of the very people needed to ensure that the stimulus money is used as it's supposed to be. "At the state level, people are being laid off," said WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire's (D) executive policy adviser Jill Satran, who is responsible for monitoring that state's stimulus spending. "We don't have the resources to make sure we have all the systems in place and all the procedures are being followed...We are struggling." According to a recent report by the Congressional General Accountability Office (GAO), there are a number of other states where budget cuts could threaten proper oversight of stimulus spending, including ARIZONA, FLORIDA, NEW JERSEY, NORTH CAROLINA and MICHIGAN. Tom Evslin, who oversees VERMONT's stimulus program for Gov. Jim Douglas (R), however, doesn't seem to think that's the real problem. "It's not an option to fail to provide oversight," he said. "The question is what else might get starved while you are doing it?" And the stimulus law's jumble of reporting requirements provides ample opportunity for starvation. "The last thing you need is duplicative or unnecessary or burdensome requirements," said Ron Naples, PENNSYLVANIA's "stimulus czar." "We'd much rather spend our time getting it right than chasing our tail reporting to everyone." Spurred by all of those concerns, state officials and the GAO urged Congress to press the White House to let states use some of the stimulus money for oversight, as federal agencies were authorized to do. Evidently Congress did as the states' asked, and the Obama administration obliged, issuing a letter April 23 promising states additional guidance this month that provides "new flexibilities" for them to cover the costs of administering the funds and track the federal dollars they receive, among other things. In the meantime, states will keep trying to do the all but impossible job they've been doing. "This whole thing has been a train moving down the tracks and trying to hang on and at the same time trying to make sure you don't run out of fuel and at the same time trying to change the tires," said Naples. (STATELINE) -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #2--BUDGET & TAXES ***** SCHWARZENEGGER SAYS LOOK AT LEGALIZING POT: Long before he was CALIFORNIA's governor, even before he became a movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger smoked a marijuana cigarette on film, the 1977 documentary "Pumping Iron." Some may have thought he had smoked another one of those funny cigarettes last week when he said it was time to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use. The comment came at an event held in a northern CALIFORNIA college town when Schwarzenegger was asked about a recent poll showing that 56 percent of registered voters supported legalizing and taxing marijuana for recreational use to raise revenue for the cash-strapped state. (Golden State voters legalized marijuana for medical purposes in 1996.) While the governor stopped well short of endorsing legalization, he said, "I think it's time for a debate." "I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues, I'm always for an open debate on it," he said. "And I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect did it have on those countries?" CALIFORNIA Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D), who has written legislation that would permit the sale of marijuana to adults 21 years or older for recreational use and impose various fees on wholesalers and retailers who sell it (AB 390), welcomed the governor's remarks. "We're certainly in full agreement with the governor," said Ammiano's spokesman, Quintin Mecke. "I think it's a great opportunity. I think he's also being very realistic about understanding sort of the overall context, not only economically but otherwise." But Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R) warned that legalization could have significant societal repercussions. "Studies have shown there is impairment with marijuana use," he said. "People can get paranoid, can lose some of their initiative to work, and we don't live in some idealized libertarian society where every person is responsible completely to himself. We live in a society where the cost of your poor decisions are borne by your fellow taxpayers." Even if the state did legalize the drug, it would face a significant roadblock: the federal government prohibits its use. And President Obama has indicated he's not inclined to change that. Still, some of the arguments on the other side of the issue aren't without merit. Bruce Mirken of the Marijuana Policy Project, for instance, said studies show alcohol has worse effects on users than marijuana. "There are reams of scientific data that show marijuana is less harmful than alcohol," he said. "Just look at the brain of an alcoholic. In an autopsy, you wouldn't need a microscope to see the damage. Marijuana doesn't do anything like that." More compelling, given CALIFORNIA's current fiscal crisis, is the contention that marijuana legalization could raise $1.34 billion annually in tax revenue, according to a recent estimate by the Board of Equalization. That is undoubtedly one of the reasons Schwarzenegger is high on the idea of a study, particularly one that incorporates a look at Europe, including the governor's home country of Austria, which just authorized cultivation of medical marijuana last year. "It could very well be that everyone is happy with that decision and then we could move to that," Schwarzenegger said. "If not, we shouldn't do it. But just because of raising revenues...we have to be careful not to make mistakes at the same time." (SACRAMENTO BEE) BUDGETS IN BRIEF: Federal stimulus money has displaced sales taxes as the No. 1 source of revenue for state and local governments. Sales taxes had been the biggest source of state and local revenue since the mid-1970s (USA TODAY). * Following the federal government's lead, state and local governments borrowed $53.5 billion in the first three months of this year to finance construction projects and cover expenses that could speed economic recovery. That figure is just shy of the first-quarter record set in 2003 (USA TODAY). * MICHIGAN Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) ordered about $302 million in state budget cuts, including a reduction of 4 percent across the board, a $40 million cutback in revenue sharing with local governments and up to six unpaid days off for state employees (DETROIT NEWS). * HAWAII Gov. Linda Lingle (R) invited the public to the state Capitol last week to see her veto bills passed by the Democrat-led Legislature that would raise taxes, including the state income tax on wealthy residents (HB 1747), the hotel-room tax (SB 1111), and the conveyance tax on luxury homes (HB 1741). The governor said the tax hikes would delay economic recovery (HONOLULU ADVERTISER). * The DELAWARE House rejected a bill last week (HB 100) that would have legalized sports betting in the First State. The measure -- a key part of Gov. Jack Markell's (D) budget proposal -- was opposed by lawmakers concerned about its potential impact on a horseracing track and casino in central DELAWARE (NEWS JOURNAL [NEW CASTLE-WILMINGTON]). * Twenty-six police agencies in 16 states will not receive any of the $1 billion in federal stimulus money set aside for hiring additional officers because they misused aid in the past. All of the agencies agreed to forgo federal grants for up to three years instead of paying back the roughly $7.1 million they misspent (USA TODAY). * IDAHO lawmakers reached a tentative deal on transportation funding last Wednesday. The deal reportedly would not raise the state's gas tax, as Gov. Butch Otter (R) had demanded, or provide funding sources for the state's major annual road maintenance shortfall, but it was expected to clear the way for the session to adjourn days short of the 118-day state record (SPOKESMAN REVIEW [SPOKANE]). * The MISSISSIPPI Legislature approved (HB 364), the state's first cigarette tax hike in two decades, an increase of 50 cents per pack. Gov. Haley Barbour (R), despite being a former tobacco lobbyist, said he would sign the tax increase into law upon the recommendation of a state tax commission (HATTIESBURG AMERICAN). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #3--POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ***** CA GOP ASSEMBLY LEADER STEPS DOWN: The CALIFORNIA Assembly's top Republican, Mike Villines, announced last week that he will be resigning from his post as minority leader June 1. Villines said his decision had more to do with the "tremendous hit" his family had taken from his work in the Assembly than anything else. But it undoubtedly also had something to do with the heat he's taken from fellow conservatives over the deal he helped to negotiate with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and other legislative leaders in February relying on temporary tax hikes to close the state's $40 billion budget hole. Villines said if he hadn't agreed to the deal, the Democrats would have sought permanent tax increases. But many conservatives weren't satisfied with that explanation. "Republicans have one job and one job only: keep taxes low and keep the budget under control. And frankly if we aren't willing to do that job, we should all resign," said Michael Der Manouel Jr., president of the conservative Lincoln Club of Fresno, CALIFORNIA. "We never wanted a compromise on the budget in the first place, and it was done without [our] input." Villines, who was elected Assembly GOP leader in 2006, managed to hang on to his leadership position longer than his counterpart in the Senate, Dave Cogdill, who was ousted from his post in a midnight coup even before the final budget votes were cast. Assembly Republicans elected Sam Blakeslee as Villines' successor last Thursday morning. "Our team is looking forward to working with everyone in the Legislature to find responsible solutions that balance CALIFORNIA's budget and return prosperity to our communities," Blakeslee said in a written statement (SACRAMENTO BEE). POLITICS IN BRIEF: ILLINOIS Gov. Pat Quinn (D) suggested last week that lawmakers should approve public financing for the governor's race before they adjourn on May 31. Quinn told a Rotary Club of Chicago audience that such a law might have prevented the pay-to-play scandals of former Govs. George Ryan (R) and Rod Blagojevich (D). * The NEW YORK Senate unveiled a new Web site last week aimed at getting the public more involved in the legislative process. The site includes areas where users can comment on legislation and link content from individual senators' sites to their own Facebook or Twitter pages (TIMES UNION [ALBANY]). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #4--UPCOMING ELECTIONS ***** (05/07/2009 - 05/28/2009) 05/12/2009 Alabama Special Primary Senate District 19 05/19/2009 California Special Election Senate District 26 (Ridley-Thomas) California Special Primary US House (CA 32nd Congressional District) Massachusetts Special Primary House 3rd Suffolk Pennsylvania Special Election House District 124 05/25/2009 Alabama Special Primary House District 06 ***************************************************************** ***** #5--GOVERNORS ***** NEW ENGLAND GOVS CONFRONT GAY MARRIAGE BILLS: The spotlight in the national debate over same-sex marriage turned solidly back to the Northeast last week after MAINE Gov. John Baldacci (D) signed SB 384, a measure legalizing same-sex marriage in his state. Just hours later, NEW HAMPSHIRE lawmakers sent HB 436, a bill that would make the Granite State the sixth in the nation to legalize gay nuptials, to Gov. John Lynch (D). Although Lynch had previously said he believes marriage should only be between one man and one woman, he noted immediately after the vote that he had not determined whether he would sign or veto the bill, or allow it to become law without his signature. "I have a responsibility as governor to do what I think is best for the people of NEW HAMPSHIRE," said Lynch, who had five days to determine his course of action. "I will continue to talk with the Legislature and with the people of NEW HAMPSHIRE about that bill." Lynch also made it clear he was not going to be swayed by the outpouring of calls -- both for and against the proposal -- that swamped his office after the bill passed the House. "I'm not going to be guided by the numbers of calls that come into the office," he said after the bill passed. "That will not have an impact on my decision." Baldacci also had previously declared his opposition to same-sex unions, but says he gradually changed his mind. "I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste," he said. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage." Same-sex opponents in both states promised to seek to overturn the measures. Papers to begin a ballot initiative campaign have already been filed in MAINE, where citizens who collect 55,000 signatures can file a "people's veto" that can overturn a law passed by the legislature. The campaign will have 90 days to gather those signatures, with the earliest possible referendum in November. Same-sex marriage advocates, who noted that measures in both states passed with strong bipartisan support, say they are also gearing up for the challenge. "Now that it is the law of the state of Maine, we will protect that law," said Betsy Smith of EqualityMaine, a gay rights group. The NEW HAMPSHIRE law would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010, and convert all current civil unions to marriages one year later. Both that measure and the MAINE bill allow clergy to refuse to perform same-sex marriages. (WASHINGTON POST, BOSTON GLOBE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, UNION LEADER [MANCHESTER]) PARKINSON APPROVES COAL POWER PLANT: It didn't take long for new KANSAS Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) to reverse one of predecessor Kathleen Sebelius' signature policy positions. Just six days after taking office, Parkinson agreed to a compromise with GOP lawmakers that will allow the building of one 895-megawatt coal-fired power plant in western KANSAS instead of two 700-megawatt plants that Sebelius repeatedly blocked when she was governor. In exchange, Sunflower Electric Power Corp. promised to build more wind turbines and agreed to more pollution controls and to making a greater investment in energy efficiency. Parkinson said he signed off on the deal to end further legislative wrangling to get the plants approved, saying "I thought it was time to bring an end to that impasse." He said he believed the ongoing fight over the coal-fired plants was derailing efforts to encourage renewable energy, and that making a small amount of coal in exchange for more environmental legislation was a worthy trade. Opponents like the Sierra Club dubbed the agreement "a big step backwards." (KANSAS CITY STAR) DANIELS TELLS CONGRESSIONAL GOP TO BUCK UP: INDIANA Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) said GOP Congressional leaders need to "stop whining" and come up with better policy solutions if they want to regain the momentum the party has lost to President Barack Obama and the Democrats. Daniels, a former director of the White House budget office under President George W. Bush, said Republican leaders are behaving "erratically" by spending too much time complaining that they are being frozen out of the process when they should be working on solutions that present a real alternative to Democratic policies. "To me, there's not a lot of upside in whining," he said. The two-term governor urged Republicans to come up with a "better idea" in policy fights with the White House because "the public needs to see you care and that you've thought about it and you've got a constructive suggestion." (POLITICO, NATIONAL JOURNAL) BEEBE SAYS BUY LOCAL: ARKANSAS Gov. Mike Beebe (D) urged state agencies to make sure in-state companies get the chance to bid on projects funded by federal stimulus money. Failing the availability of a local supplier, Beebe said, agencies should at least make an effort to buy from American companies. Beebe spokesperson Matt DeCample said the governor's memo is only a suggestion and does not mean that state agencies are required to award contracts only to ARKANSAS companies. "It's not a 'shall.' It's a 'we hope you will,'" he said. (ARKANSAS NEWS [LITTLE ROCK]) GOVERNORS IN BRIEF: Speaking to a crowd celebrating Earth Day at the Capitol in Albany, NEW YORK Gov. David S. Paterson (D) said Empire State government agencies under his control will phase out purchases of bottled water by May 2010 out of concern over the product's negative environmental effects. VIRGINIA and ILLINOIS have similar policies (TIMES-UNION [ALBANY]). * TENNESSEE lawmakers postponed until next year Gov. Phil Bredesen's (D) proposal to require restaurants to provide calorie counts for the food items on their menus. The measure, HB 2319, would have required restaurant chains operating 20 or more establishments to post the number of calories on each menu item (KNOXVILLE NEWS). * ILLINOIS Gov. Pat Quinn (D) abandoned his proposal to increase Prairie State government workers' pension contributions by 2 percent in an effort to cut state spending. Quinn dropped the pension hike in an effort to bolster support for his plan to create a two-tiered retirement system that offers fewer benefits to new employees (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). * Responding to criticism that he was trying to skirt state public records laws, IOWA Gov. Chet Culver (D) released e-mails he sent in his first two years in office using private computers and non-government servers (SACRAMENTO BEE). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #6--UPCOMING STORIES ***** These are some of the topics you may see covered in upcoming issues of the State Net Capitol Journal: - Balance Billing - Data Mining - Free Choice/Card Check ***************************************************************** ***** #7--HOT ISSUES ***** BUSINESS: The OREGON Senate endorses SB 633, which would require the Beaver Stave to divest from any companies doing business with Iran, or those which are controlled by the Iranian government. The measure moves to the House (OREGONIAN [PORTLAND]). * Also in OREGON, the House approves HB 2191, which requires debt-management companies to register with the state. The measure also limits fees those agencies can charge, caps the amount they can take for settling debt, regulates advertising and specifies other protections for consumers. It moves to the Senate (OREGONIAN [PORTLAND]). CRIME & PUNISHMENT: The NEW JERSEY Supreme Court rules that a child's revelation of abuse to a parent is admissible as evidence in court even if the child does not actually testify in those proceedings (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). * GEORGIA Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) signs HB 160, legislation that adds an additional $200 fine on drivers cited for topping 85 mph on four-lane roads and interstate highways or 75 mph on two-lane roads. The measure takes effect in January (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION). * WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signs HB 1517, legislation that allows convicted felons to regain their voting privileges when they have completed their parole or probation (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER). * The CALIFORNIA Senate approves SB 434, which would bar prisoners in Golden State correctional facilities from having a cell phone. It would also make it illegal to smuggle a cell phone into a prison. It goes to the Assembly (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR). * The COLORADO House approves SB 241, which requires anyone arrested on felony charges to submit a DNA sample. The sample would not be processed unless the person is formally charged. It moves to Gov. Bill Ritter (D) for consideration (DENVER POST). * Also in COLORADO, the Senate rejects HB 1274, a proposal to abolish the death penalty in the Centennial State (DENVER POST). * MARYLAND Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signs SB 279, legislation that restricts the death penalty to murder cases with biological evidence such as DNA, videotaped evidence of a murder or a videotaped confession (BALTIMORE SUN). * Still in MARYLAND, O'Malley signs SB 151, a bill that adds the homeless to those protected under the Old Line State's hate crime law (ASSOCIATED PRESS). EDUCATION: The ALABAMA House endorses SB 334, a proposal to raise the age students can drop out of school from 16 to 17. The bill returns to the Senate (MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER). * WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signs HB 1385, legislation that requires teachers, janitors and bus drivers to register as sex offenders if they are found guilty of having sex with a student even if that student is considered an adult under other state statutes (OLYMPIAN). ENVIRONMENT: The OREGON House approves HB 2676, which would require smokers to dispose of cigarette butts in a fireproof container. Violators would face a $90 fine. The measure wafts over to the Senate (OREGONIAN [PORTLAND]). * NEW JERSEY Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signs SB 802, which allows Garden State bow hunters to hunt deer on Sundays. The law goes into effect in September (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). * COLORADO Gov. Bill Ritter (D) signs HB 1149, a measure that requires homebuilders to offer prospective homeowners the option of having their home pre-wired for solar heating and energy (DENVER POST). * The TENNESSEE House gives final approval to HB 2300, a bill that would forbid coal mining within 100 feet of a river or stream's normal high water mark. The bill goes to Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) for review (KNOXVILLE NEWS). HEALTH & SCIENCE: The OREGON House approves HB 2702, a bill that would allow Beaver State psychologists to prescribe drugs. The prescriptions would be limited to psychotropics that treat mental illness, such as depression. It moves to the Senate (OREGONIAN [PORTLAND]). * MONTANA Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) allows House Bills 130, 131 and 132 -- which allow counties to set up local treatment programs to prevent people suffering from mental-health crises from being jailed or sent to the state mental hospital -- to become law without his signature. Schweitzer opposed the bills over concerns about their cost (BILLINGS GAZETTE). IMMIGRATION: The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rules that illegal immigrants who use false documents to obtain work may be jailed, but cannot be prosecuted for identity theft unless authorities can prove that they knew the identification number belonged to someone else. The ruling strikes down a Bush administration policy of charging illegal workers with aggravated identity theft as a way to speed up their deportation (LOS ANGELES TIMES). * GEORGIA Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) signs SB 20, legislation that bars state funding to any city that declares itself to be a "sanctuary city" that bars local officials from reporting illegal immigrants (ATHENS BANNER-HERALD). SOCIAL POLICY: The Washington D.C. city council approves B 10, a measure that would require the District of Columbia to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where such unions are legal. Congress must approve the bill before it can become law (SACRAMENTO BEE). * MAINE Gov. John Baldacci (D) signs SB 384, a measure which makes the Pine Tree State the fifth to legalize same-sex marriage. Opponents immediately filed papers to begin a petition drive to overturn the law at the statewide ballot box (PORTLAND PRESS HERALD). * The NEW HAMPSHIRE House gives final approval to HB 436, which would also legalize same-sex marriage. It moves to Gov. John Lynch (D), who has not indicated whether he will sign it into law (UNION LEADER [MANCHESTER]). POTPOURRI: The OREGON House approves HB 2727, which would keep hidden the names of concealed carry permit holders. It fires off to the Senate (OREGONIAN [PORTLAND]). * GEORGIA Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) signs SB 86, legislation that requires potential voters to show identification before being allowed to enter the polls. The U.S. Dept. of Justice must grant final approval under the federal Voting Rights Act for the measure to go into effect (ASSOCIATED PRESS). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #8--IN THE HOPPER ***** At any given time, State Net tracks tens of thousands of bills in all 50 states, US Congress, and the District of Columbia. Here's a snapshot of what's in the legislative works: Number of Prefiles last week: 363 Number of Intros last week: 2,001 Number of Enacted/Adopted last week: 1,890 Number of Prefiles to date: 31,521 Number of Intros to date: 134,285 Number of Enacted/Adopted overall to date: 20,769 -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (measures current as of 05/07/2009) Source: State Net database ---------------------------------------------------------------- States in Regular Session: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, ID, IL, KS, LA, MA, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, US, VT, WI States in Special Session: CA "c" States in Budget Hearings: NJ States in Extended Session: WV (Recessed) States Projected to Adjourn: AL, AZ, CO, FL, ID, KS, MS States Adjourned in 2009: AK, AR, CO, GA, HI, IA, IN, KY, MD, MT, ND, NM, SD, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY State Special Sessions Adjourned in 2009: AZ "a", CA "a", CA "b", CT "a", DE "b", FL "a" Letters indicate special/extraordinary sessions -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (session information current as of 05/08/2009) Source: State Net database ***************************************************************** ***** #9--ONCE AROUND THE STATEHOUSE LIGHTLY ***** HOW SOON THEY FORGET: A series of ongoing budget woes and disastrous leadership gaffes has sent NEW YORK Gov. David Paterson's popularity into an epic nosedive. How epic? Well, a new Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll places Paterson's approval rating at just 19 percent, the lowest figure in the 27 years the university has been doing such surveys. But as Newsday reports, the poll also indicated that more than half of voters would rather have disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer back in charge in Albany. Yes, that would be the same Eliot Spitzer that Paterson replaced last year after the then-gov got himself into a little brouhaha over his penchant for high-priced hookers. Pollsters say Paterson trails Spitzer in every region and among every demographic group. On a brighter note, 46 percent do approve of his handling of the swine flu crisis. So he's got that going for him. DOGGONE SHAME: Things got a tad testy in the MINNESOTA statehouse last week when Rep. Frank Hornstein introduced a bill that would require retailers to post signs warning consumers that a certain kind of garden mulch was dangerous to dogs. As the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports, several lawmakers got their hackles up over the proposal, citing it as yet another example of big government gone unleashed. Lawmaker Tom Emmer seemed particularly aggrieved about the sign itself, complaining that it wouldn't do anything to help his own hound because "I don't believe the dog can read" English. Rep. Steve Drazkowski, further growled that "big dogs are detrimental to little dogs. How long are we going to take this nanny state and waste our time?" Alas, the bill passed by a whisker and is now with Gov. Tim Pawlenty. NO IFS, JUST LOTS OF BUTTS: Stamping out smoking in public places has been all the rage in statehouses these last few years. Not so in central China, where the Global Times reports that government officials in Hubei province recently ordered staffers to burn through 230,000 packs of Hubei-produced cigarette brands a year, with departments that fail to light up enough to meet their quota subject to big fines. Leaders say the "smoke 'em if you got 'em" directive will "boost the local economy via the cigarette tax" while helping to fend off competition from tobacco producers in other regions. Officials didn't address the potential long-term implications of the new policy. China, which has 350 million smokers, loses about one million a year to smoking-related diseases. FLIPPERS, FLOPPERS AND GREEN HUED HOPPERS: Things were definitely hopping around the CALIFORNIA statehouse last week as lawmakers, press and staffers took part in the 35th annual Capitol Frog Jump contest. As the Sacramento Bee reports, many of the amphibian contestants clearly gave away the political leanings of their human handlers, bearing names like "No Tax Max" and "Taxed to the Max." Others broke free of the ideological rants, sporting monikers like "Pond...James Pond" and "Tastes Like Chicken No. 2." The winner, however, was an appropriately blocky croaker named "Susan Boyle" after the Scottish singer who has become an Internet sensation. "Susan," sponsored by a GOP Assembly staffer, took the crown with a leap of 11 feet, four inches. -- By RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #10--IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ***** As reported in the May 4 issue of SNCJ, states are responding to the swine flu's rapid spread across the globe by ramping up their efforts to ward off what the World Health Organization says will likely turn into a pandemic. In case you missed it, the article can be found on our Web site at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal/05-04-2009/html ***************************************************************** State Net Publications """""""""""""""""""""" Editor: Rich Ehisen - capj@statenet.com Associate Editor: Korey Clark - capj@statenet.com Contributing Editor: Virginia Nelson and Art Zimmerman - capj@statenet.com Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Steve Karas (CA), Bruce McKeeman (CA), Linda Mendenhall (IL), Lauren King (MA) and Ben Livingood (PA) Graphic Designer: Vanessa Perez ***************************************************************** To receive future issues in PDF or HTML format contact our Help Desk at 800/726-4566 or email helpdesk@statenet.com. To unsubscribe, go to http://statenet.com/unsubscribe *****************************************************************