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Pluribus AM: New York kills congestion pricing

Good morning, it’s Thursday, June 6, 2024 — the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In today’s edition, Virginia exits California EV compact; Hochul kills congestion pricing; Colorado Gov signs gig worker bills:

Top Stories

ENVIRONMENT: Virginia will end its adherence to California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, meant to boost sales of electric vehicles, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said Wednesday. Youngkin said the rules would put small auto dealers out of business. (Pluribus News)

Virginia was one of 17 states to adopt California’s initial Clean Cars rule, and 12 of those states have adopted the second version of that standard.

TRANSPORTATION: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is indefinitely delaying a plan to implement congestion pricing for traffic entering Manhattan. The plan faced eight lawsuits, including one filed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) administration. Hochul said congestion pricing would hinder New York’s economic recovery. (New York Times)

GIG ECONOMY: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed legislation requiring ride share companies to disclose how much of a fare goes to the driver and to the company. He also signed legislation barring ride share companies from reducing the amount they pay drivers based on a rider’s tip. (Denver Post)

PUBLIC SAFETY: Colorado Gov. Polis has signed legislation banning the use of cell phones while driving, with exceptions for hands-free devices or in emergency situations. (Denver Post) Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) also signed a ban on handheld electronics behind the wheel. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

GUN POLITICS: Polis also signed legislation requiring eight hours of in-person training with a verified instructor to qualify for a concealed-carry permit. Applicants would be required to pass a live-fire exercise and a written exam. (Denver Post)

PUBLIC HEALTH: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has ordered nine synthetic opioids classified as Schedule I narcotics, essentially banning their sale and use in the state. DeWine said the nitazene drugs, alternatives to morphine, are showing up in the illegal drug supply. (Center Square)

TRANSPARENCY: New Jersey Gov. Murphy signed legislation overhauling public records laws, making it harder for the public and media to access records. One provision allows officials to charge double the cost of producing records. Another allows agencies to sue requesters they accuse of interrupting government functions. (Associated Press)

In Politics & Business

NORTH CAROLINA: A House committee has advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict voting to U.S. citizens to November’s ballot. North Carolina would be the seventh state — and the second presidential battleground, along with Wisconsin — to place a citizen voting measure on the ballot. (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON: Republican backers of three ballot initiatives that would reduce funding for education, environmental and long-term care insurance programs have sued to keep information about possible budget ramifications out of voter pamphlets. A 2022 state law requires a statement on revenue implications. (Seattle Times)

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Former Senate President Chuck Morse (R) formally filed papers to run for governor as the filing period opened Wednesday. (WMUR)

National Republicans favor former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) as their nominee to replace retiring Gov. Chris Sununu (R).

By The Numbers

28: The number of natural disasters in the United States that caused at least $1 billion in damage in 2023. There have been 102 billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. over the last five years, double the number that took place across all of the 1990s. (Stateline)

57: The number of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in California, the first time since 2014 that the Golden State has beaten out Texas and New York. Those two states each have 52 top companies. (Fortune)

302: The number of fire hydrants that have been stolen in Los Angeles County since the beginning of 2023. Law enforcement officials believe thieves are taking the hydrants to recycling centers to be sold for scrap. (Los Angeles Times)

Off The Wall

Storm chasers in the Texas Panhandle have recovered what is likely a record-breaking hail stone following a major thunderstorm. The seven-inch stone, about the size of a pineapple, was recovered near the town of Vigo Park. (Associated Press)

School districts across Iowa pulled nearly 3,400 books from shelves after the legislature approved a new law requiring “age-appropriate” library books. Among the titles pulled, at least temporarily: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Giver,” “1984,” “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Color Purple” and “The Kite Runner.” The Des Moines Register compiled a full list.

Quote of the Day

“Wow! It’d be an incredible show of solidarity if all the Republicans continues to boycott and not show up for work until the end of the session. Then we’d really hear your point. Keep up the boycott!!”

California Assemblyman Alex Lee (D), sarcastically encouraging a Republican boycott of the Assembly Judiciary Committee after Speaker Robert Rivas (D) removed a Republican member of the panel over personal comments aimed at another lawmaker. (Sacramento Bee)