Good morning, it’s Thursday, November 14, 2024. In today’s edition, ranked choice voting has a rough year, Ohio lawmakers pass transgender bathroom ban, Google lobbies hard in California:
Top Stories
VOTING: Supporters of ranked choice voting had high hopes for the 2024 elections, when they qualified more ballot initiatives than ever before. Then voters weighed in — and rejected ranked choice voting in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho Nevada and Oregon. Adding insult to injury, voters in Alaska repealed ranked choice voting they had implemented just a few years ago.
Only a few ranked choice voting plans passed, in Washington, D.C., and in Oak Park and Peoria, Ill. And voters in Portland, Ore., struggled to understand ranked choice voting in municipal elections; about one in five voters skipped city council elections altogether, a sign of confusion and frustration.
Government reform advocates shelled out millions to get ranked choice voting on the ballot. If they hold out hope for a comeback, they may need to spend much more on education. Read more at Pluribus News.
LGBTQ RIGHTS: The Ohio Senate has given final approval to legislation barring transgender students from locker rooms and bathrooms that conform to their gender identity. A spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said he was inclined to sign it. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
ABORTION: Virginia’s House Privileges and Elections Committee advanced a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday that would protect reproductive rights. The full legislature must pass the measure in two consecutive sessions, with an election in between, before voters get a chance to weigh in. (Associated Press)
GUN POLITICS: Gun rights groups have filed a lawsuit challenging Maine’s new 72-hour waiting period for purchasing firearms. The lawsuit cites the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bruen decision to argue that a waiting period is unconstitutional for someone who has passed a background check. (Associated Press)
MORE: The Michigan House voted along party lines to approve legislation banning gun owners from openly carrying firearms at election locations. The bill, approved earlier this year in the state Senate, now heads to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) for a likely signature. (Bridge MI)
HEALTH CARE: The Michigan House approved legislation stripping Medicaid of work requirements. Existing rules require able-bodied adults on Medicaid to work 20 hours per week or attend school or training; the work requirements have not been in effect since a judge ruled them illegal in 2020. (MLive)
In Politics & Business
SOUTH CAROLINA: Candidates are beginning to maneuver ahead of the open election to replace term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster (R) in 2026. Among those mentioned: Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R), Attorney General Alan Wilson (R) and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R). State Sen. Sean Bennett (R) is also said to be considering a bid. (FitsNews)
MICHIGAN: The state House has approved a series of proposed tax breaks for tech companies that build large server farms. One measure would exempt data centers from sales and use taxes, while another would create research and development tax credits. (Bridge MI)
LEADERSHIP: Maine Democrats have chosen Rep.-elect Ryan Fecteau (D) as their new House Speaker. Fecteau served as speaker during the 2020-2022 session before leaving office because of term limits. (Maine Morning Star)
By The Numbers
$10.7 million: The amount Google spent to influence California lawmakers over a single three-month span this year, making the tech giant the biggest spender in the third quarter of the year in the midst of a fight over legislation requiring it to pay news outlets for publishing their content. (CalMatters)
$2.7 billion: The deficit Maryland lawmakers will face next year, according to the state’s fiscal analyst. It’s a bigger budget hole than Maryland faced even during the Great Recession. (Baltimore Sun)
$83.1 million: The amount of recreational and medical marijuana sales in Arizona in September, the lowest monthly total this year and $9 million less than in August. Sales have been declining since they reached a peak in March. (AZ Mirror)
Off The Wall
Attention fans of holiday movies: Get your kicks on Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation Christmas Movie Trail. The state tourism agency has created a curated map of 22 locations where studios like Hallmark, Netflix and Lifetime have shot wintery flicks, including Trivia at St. Nick’s, Romance at Reindeer Lodge and A Very Nutty Christmas. (CT.gov)
Dolly on board: Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation to create a specialty license plate supporting country music star Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the program that sends free books to kids. The bill would allow someone to pay $35 for a specialty plate, with $25 going to the literacy program. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
Quote of the Day
“I was prepared for those long days and nights away from home. What I was not prepared for, however, was the endless drama within the caucus. I went into the job expecting tough fights with Democratic leadership. Instead, the toughest fights were with the caucus and party.”
— Oregon House Minority Leader Jeff Helfrich (R), in a letter to colleagues announcing he will step down from his leadership post. (Oregonian)