Good morning, it’s Thursday, February 12, 2026. In today’s edition, Dem governors skeptical of billionaire taxes; White House reverses itself, invites governors to breakfast; new poll shows Abbott leading in Texas:
Top Stories
TAXES: Democratic lawmakers in California, Washington, Virginia, Illinois and other states have proposed raising new taxes on the highest earners. Their biggest hurdle: The Democratic governors who run those states. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is against a billionaire’s tax he says will send some of the state’s top taxpayers packing. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) expressed skepticism about a tax on unrealized capital gains. (Pluribus News)
GOVERNORS: The White House has reversed course and will invite all governors to a business breakfast during the National Governors Association’s annual meeting next week, NGA chair and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wrote in a letter Wednesday. President Trump later attacked Stitt for what Trump said was misconstruing the previous invitation, which left Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) off the list. (Associated Press)
SOCIAL MEDIA: Utah is considering legislation to impose a 4.7% tax on online ad revenue from Facebook and Google. The tax would apply only to companies that generate at least $100 million from targeted advertising. The funds would go to programs supporting youth mental health. (Deseret News)
Maryland, the only other state to tax online ad sales, has faced legal challenges from Apple, Google and Meta.
IMMIGRATION: An Iowa House subcommittee has advanced legislation requiring recipients of WIC funds to verify their immigration status. The Women, Infants and Children program is one of the only federal assistance plans that does not require proof of citizenship. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
CRYPTO: The Indiana House is advancing legislation to ban digital currency kiosks, also known as crypto ATMs. Previous legislation would have imposed new regulations o the machines, but a unanimously-adopted amendment would ban the machines altogether. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
HEALTH CARE: The Florida House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee has advanced legislation allowing people harmed by vaccines to sue drugmakers that advertise in the state. A Senate committee approved a nearly identical bill last month. (State Affairs)
VETERANS: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed legislation prohibiting unaccredited private companies from billing former military service members for help with Department of Veterans Affairs claims. Ten other states have approved laws aimed at putting so-called “claim sharks” out of business. (CalMatters)
MARIJUANA: The Oregon legislature is advancing a bill to prohibit the sale of individual marijuana edibles that have more than 10 milligrams of THC. The bill, similar to a 2017 Washington State law, aims to cut the number of children treated for marijuana poisoning. The Washington law helped cut hospitalizations by 75%. (Washington State Standard)
In Politics & Business
TEXAS: A new University of Houston poll finds state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D) leading the Democratic primary field for governor at 37%. No other candidate cracks double digits. In a general election matchup, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) leads Hinojosa 49% to 42%, with 3% opting for Libertarian Pat Dixon. (University of Houston)
NEW YORK: Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) has formally accepted the state GOP’s nomination for governor. President Trump cut a video supporting Blakeman, whose nomination speech focused heavily on affordability and immigration. (State of Politics)
KANSAS: The state Senate is considering legislation to allow donations to political campaigns be made in cryptocurrency, up to $200. The bill would treat crypto donations in a similar manner to cash donations, requiring them to be funneled through verifiable payment processors to identify the donor. (State Affairs)
WEST VIRGINIA: The House of Delegates has approved a bill requiring all absentee ballots be received no later than the time polls close on Election Day. Current state law allows absentee ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by Election Day. (WV News)
By The Numbers
$600 million: The amount the Department of Health and Human Services plans to withhold from public health grants to California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, the agency told Congress on Monday. Attorneys general from the four states are suing to block the cuts.
$133.8 million: The total wagers on the 2026 Super Bowl placed at Nevada sportsbooks this year, the lowest total in a decade. Gaming analysts suggested the prevalence of online prediction markets are to blame for the drop-off. (Nevada Independent)
Off The Wall
The Florida House voted to replace its state bird, sending the northern mockingbird packing and elevating the flamingo and the Florida scrub-jay in its place. The flamingo will be the official state bird, while the scrub-jay will serve as the official state songbird. The lone vote against the bill came from a lawmaker who wanted the pelican considered as well. (Florida Politics)
A prosthetic leg lost by a swimmer in England has washed ashore 10 months later at a beach about 15 miles away. The swimmer, Brenda Ogden, said she lost her custom-made titanium leg when a wave knocked her over at a beach in April. A beachcomber found the leg and put photos on social media, reuniting Ogden with her errant limb. (UPI)
Quote of the Day
“The way I’ve described it is, I’ve had the opportunity to exercise political muscles that I haven’t had to exercise in a while.”
— North Carolina Senate President Phil Berger (R), on the primary challenge he faces from Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page (R). The two Republicans, both allies of President Trump, face voters on March 3. (New York Times)