State Net ************************************************** C A P I T O L J O U R N A L ************************************************** News & Views from the 50 States ================================================================= Volume XVI, No. 33 Monday, November 10, 2008 ================================================================= ##### TOP OF THE NEWS ##### SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ............................1 * Obama win may soon have Democratic govs on the move BUDGET & TAXES ............................2 * MD voters approve slot machine gaming POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ............................3 * Victories all around in statehouse races UPCOMING ELECTIONS ............................4 GOVERNORS ............................5 * Dems gain one governorship 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 November 17th. ***************************************************************** ***** #1--SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ***** Obama win may soon have Democratic govs on the move With last week's historic election now complete, President-elect Barack Obama has turned his attention to putting together the team that will accompany him to Washington D.C. for at least the next four years. While Obama is keeping a tight lid on who he is focusing on, several current Democratic governors are reportedly under consideration for key posts in the new administration. The chief executives said to be on that list include ARIZONA Gov. Janet Napolitano, a candidate for U.S. Attorney General or director of Homeland Security; NEW MEXICO Gov. Bill Richardson, a potential secretary of state or secretary of the interior; KANSAS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is said to be a contender for U.S. health secretary and VIRGINIA Gov. Tim Kaine, a possibility for education secretary. MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Deval Patrick, a long-time friend of Obama's, could also be in line for a the attorney general slot. All of these governors are among the president-elect's earliest and staunchest state-level supporters. Three other governors who supported U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NEW YORK) in the Democratic primaries, Jon Corzine of NEW JERSEY, Ed Rendell of PENNSYLVANIA and Jennifer Granholm of MICHIGAN, are also thought to be in the mix. Several reports last week had Corzine, a former CEO at Goldman Sachs, being vetted as a possible head of the U.S. Treasury, while Granholm has been mentioned previously as a candidate for a federal judgeship or even for a spot on the U.S. Supreme Court should one become open during an Obama administration. Rendell, a major advocate for more federal support for states to upgrade their infrastructure, may be in line for running the departments of Energy or Transportation. Some Western governors are also drawing their share of speculation. Within days of the election, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-COLORADO), who many credit with delivering the Centennial State's nine electoral votes to Obama, was calling on the president-elect to choose a Westerner as a senior-level official because the region has major issues that the new administration must address, including federal land use and water. "[Obama] will be looking for the best of talent, and we have our share of talent here in the West," Salazar said. Salazar has already suggested Richardson and Napolitano for key positions, and in addition has asked that Obama consider WYOMING Gov. Dave Freudenthal or MONTANA Gov. Brian Schweitzer as secretary of the Interior. The names of a few former governors have also cropped up, including former IOWA Gov. Tom Vilsack as a potential head of the Department of Agriculture. Former NORTH CAROLINA Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. has been mentioned in tandem with a pair of former VIRGINIA governors, W. Gaston Caperton III and Robert E. Wise Jr., for the top spot at the Department of Education. The Obama camp has been decidedly tight-lipped about who it is considering for any spot in the new regime, making it tough to discern how much of the name-dropping is based in fact and what portion is simply the usual post-election chatter. For their part, the bulk of the governors mentioned have deflected discussion of the matter, though many carefully avoided entirely shutting the door on taking a high-level job should it be offered. "I never say never, but I am anticipating being governor for two more years. I love my job. I'm not looking for a job. I am not campaigning for any job," said Richardson, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination himself before dropping out and endorsing Obama. Freudenthal and Schweitzer have also rejected the idea of moving east, with Schweitzer adamantly insisting last week that he is not interested in taking orders from anyone at the moment. "I ran a business before I ran the business of the state of Montana," Schweitzer said last Wednesday. "And I like running a business, not getting calls from somebody telling me I'm off to some place to do something else." Patrick and Kaine have been equally insistent that they are not interested, though Kaine said he would be open to the possibility after his current gubernatorial term expires in January of 2010. Others, however, have not been so quick to dismiss the idea out of hand. Corzine, for instance, said that while he has not spoken with anyone about the possibility of taking on the Treasury post, he would consider the idea if approached. "I'm not going to say never to anything," Corzine said. Sebelius also did not reject the possibility, saying that she was "honored and humbled to be mentioned in this way" and that she would "contribute in any way I can" to the Obama administration. The greatest speculation of all, however, has centered on Napolitano. Obama named the ARIZONA governor to his transition team last week, and Napolitano press aide Jeanine L'Ecuyer only fueled the belief that her boss would soon resign by sidestepping questions of whether Napolitano has been asked for the personal and background information that would be necessary to screen potential nominees. Napolitano herself has been mostly silent on the matter, sticking to an "I'm not looking for a job" script that most observers note does not include a Schweitzer-like denial of interest in an Obama-cabinet position. But while she may be the most likely governor to leave her current job for a bigger one in Washington D.C., doing so will carry greater repercussions for the Democratic Party than would the other potential candidates because ARIZONA Secretary of State Jan Brewer, a Republican, would assume the governor's office should Napolitano resign. Some believe that with the governor's office being up for election in 2010, Obama may be reluctant to allow a Republican to build up the inside track as an incumbent. Grand Canyon State political observers also note that John McCain's Senate seat will be up for re-election in 2010, a position many believe Napolitano has long been eyeing. Accepting a Cabinet post would put off those ambitions at least until the state's junior senator, Republican Jon Kyl, is up for re-election in 2012. Ironically, one other Democratic governor who is highly unlikely to be considered for a federal post may still find himself taking a new job in the nation's capital. With Obama leaving the Senate, ILLINOIS Gov. Rod Blagojevich will be expected to name the President-elect's replacement. Blagojevich said last week that he has set up a committee to vet possible successors, but also would not explicitly rule out the possibility that he might name himself to fill Obama's vacant Senate seat. (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, NEW YORK TIMES, POLITICO.COM, SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER, ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX], BLOOMBERG.COM, DETROIT FREE PRESS, STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK], BILLINGS GAZETTE, CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE, BOSTON GLOBE, BOSTON HERALD, LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD, VIRGINIAN PILOT [NORFOLK], DES MOINES REGISTER, CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION) -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #2--BUDGET & TAXES ***** MD VOTERS APPROVE SLOT MACHINE GAMING: MARYLAND lawmakers have been debating about slot machines for years, with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) championing them as a way to close the state's budget holes and opponents arguing that expanding gambling would increase crime and addiction. Last year, politicians punted the issue to the voters in the form of a referendum authorizing 15,000 slot machines at five locations around the state. And last Tuesday, the voters spoke, approving Question 2 by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent. The measure won support across a wide range of demographics, including age, sex, race, income and party affiliation, according to exit polls conducted by Edison Media Research. Those who were very worried about the economy and those with young children were particularly likely to back the proposal, the survey found. O'Malley was pleased that the measure drew support "in every part of our state." Opponents naturally felt differently. "For me, it's been a long fight, and it's a bitter defeat," said W. Minor Carter of Stop Slots Maryland. (BALTIMORE SUN, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE) BUDGETS IN BRIEF: Voters in ARIZONA rejected Proposition 200, which would have allowed payday loan companies to continue in the Grand Canyon State after 2010 (STATE NET). In contrast, OHIO voters endorsed Issue 5, an initiative capping annual interest rates at 28 percent, effectively outlawing payday lenders, whose business model has depended on average annual rates of 391 percent. Payday lenders poured $30 million into the two initiatives (STATE NET, WALL STREET JOURNAL). * MAINE voters decisively repealed the beverage tax passed to help pay for the state's universal healthcare program, Dirigo Health. Unofficial results showed Question 1 passing 64 percent to 36 percent (PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE). * COLORADO Gov. Bill Ritter (D) proposed what he called a "frugal, conservative" budget. It calls for a 4.98 percent increase in the general fund, raising it to $7.9 billion, and the establishment of the state's first rainy-day fund (DENVER POST). * CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) proposed several steps last week aimed at closing the Golden State's $11.2 billion budget gap, including a temporary 1.5-cent increase in the state sales tax and new taxes on liquor and oil production. Schwarzenegger also proposed once-monthly unpaid furloughs for state workers for the next 19 months and rescinding two of their 13 paid holidays. He also called for $4.5 billion in spending cuts, including $2.5 billion from elementary and high schools. Lawmakers are currently meeting in special session to consider ways to deal with the budget shortfall (SACRAMENTO BEE). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #3--POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ***** VICTORIES ALL AROUND IN STATEHOUSE RACES: The Democrats had a pretty good day at the races last week. On top of claiming the White House and more than 25 seats in Congress, they also picked up majority control of five statehouse chambers. Their biggest prize was NEW YORK's Senate, which had been led by the Republicans since 1966. The Dems already controlled the House and governor's office, so the win also gives them a monopoly on NEW YORK lawmaking for the first time since 1935. "After 40 years in the wilderness, we are now in charge of the New York State Senate," said Senate Democratic leader Malcolm A. Smith at a party in Midtown Manhattan. Empire State voters turned out in historic numbers and handed the Democrats 32 of the Senate's 62 seats, according to unofficial results, in the process ousting a couple of Republican senators in their 70s and 80s who'd put off retirement to help the party hold onto its majority. One of them, Sen. Caesar Trunzo, who's been in office since the Nixon administration, lost to the son of a candidate whom he'd defeated back in the early 1980s. "The people have spoken," Trunzo said. Democrats also claimed the DELAWARE House for the first time since 1984, giving the party control of every legislative chamber north of VIRGINIA except for the PENNSYLVANIA Senate. The Dems also picked up the OHIO House, WISCONSIN's Assembly and NEVADA's Senate, and earned shared control of ALASKA's previously GOP-controlled Senate. The candidates at the top of Democratic ticket had something to do with those gains, according to Tim Storey, elections expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "Obama's coattails definitely helped Democrats win legislatures in the presidential battleground states of NEVADA, WISCONSIN and OHIO," said Storey. "Biden's place on the Democratic ticket certainly helped take the DELAWARE House." Republicans hardly went away from Election Day empty-handed, however. They scored big wins in the South, claiming the Senate in OKLAHOMA and both the House and Senate in TENNESSEE, giving them total control over both legislatures for the first time in history. The Republicans also took back control of the MONTANA Senate from the Democrats, who won it four years ago. State GOP leaders savored the victories. "The election of a Republican majority in the General Assembly is historic in its own right, and even more so given the strong Democratic tide across much of the country," said TENNESSEE Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith. "Our victories send a national message that Republican values still resonate with mainstream America." The NCSL's Storey, once again, saw a connection with the top-ticket race. "Republicans did well in a couple of states where McCain ran strong -- OKLAHOMA and TENNESSEE." Women also passed a major milestone last Tuesday, becoming a majority in a state legislative chamber -- NEW HAMPSHIRE's Senate -- for the first time. (NCSL.ORG, NEW YORK TIMES, CHATTANOOGA FREE PRESS) VOTERS ALL OVER MAP ON BALLOT MEASURES: The prediction that the current state of the economy might make the nation's voters more likely to vote 'no' on this year's crop of ballot measures wasn't really born out last week. Of the 153 initiatives on the ballot in 36 states -- six of which were yet to be decided at press time -- 90 were approved and 57 rejected, a passage rate (61 percent) only marginally below the 67 percent rate in 2004 and 2006. In fact, voters seemed to pick and choose among the measures in a way that showed little indication of a prevailing national or, in some cases, even local mood. In CALIFORNIA, for instance, voters passed the high-profile constitutional ban on same-sex marriage (Proposition 8) but rejected a measure that would have required parental notification before a minor could have an abortion (Prop. 4). They also voted down several funding measures but approved the priciest one on the ballot, providing nearly $10 billion to build a high-speed rail system between San Francisco and Los Angeles (Prop. 1A). At the same time, they rejected a pair of other environmentally-friendly proposals (Props. 7 and 10) by sizeable margins. And after decades of apathy about the issue of redistricting reform, they appeared to have finally embraced the idea of turning over the job of drawing legislative districts to an independent commission (Prop. 11). "This is just one of those times you say, hey, voters are unpredictable," said Republican strategist Ken Khachigian. On social issues, conservatives scored with same-sex marriage bans in ARIZONA (Prop. 102) and FLORIDA (Amendment 2), in addition to CALIFORNIA's Prop. 8, but progressives fought off abortion restrictions in SOUTH DAKOTA (Initiated Measure 11) and COLORADO (Amendment 48), along with CALIFORNIA's Prop. 4. NEBRASKA voters passed the measure on their ballot ending affirmative action (Measure 424), but COLORADO voters were failing theirs (Amendment 46). The electorate was unpredictable even when it came to fiscal matters, despite the national economic crisis. MASSACHUSETTS voters rejected Question 1, aimed at repealing the state income tax, by an even wider margin than they rebuffed a virtually identical proposal in 2002 (70 percent-30 percent versus 55 percent-45 percent). And nationally, voters were on their way to approving 12 of the 15 bond measures on the states' ballots, authorizing billions 0f dollars in borrowing. The number of initiatives on COLORADO's ballot did appear to have some impact on voter reception there, however. Of the 14 measures up for consideration, 10 were going down to defeat. One of them, ironically, was Referendum O, which would have made it more difficult to qualify constitutional amendments for the ballot. (INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE, NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES, BOSTON GLOBE, LOS ANGELES TIMES) TENSION BUILDS IN STEVENS RE-ELECTION DRAMA: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-ALASKA) is on the verge of making history by becoming the first convicted felon ever to be re-elected to the U.S. Senate. At press time, he held a 3,257-vote advantage over his Democratic opponent, Mark Begich. But even if Stevens manages to hang on to the lead after all the absentee and other uncounted votes are tallied, he's not likely to be able to keep his job on the Hill. "The reality is that a convicted felon is not going to be able to serve in the United States Senate," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NEVADA). "And as precedent shows us, Senator Stevens will face an ethics committee investigation and expulsion, regardless of his appeals process." Should that actually turn out to be the case, the Last Frontier State will have to choose Stevens' replacement. And the rumor buzzing around last week was that Gov. Sarah Palin (R), fresh from her turn on the national stage, might consider the role. A law passed by the ALASKA Legislature after former Gov. Frank Murkowski (R) appointed his daughter to fill his U.S. Senate seat would bar Palin from appointing herself to Stevens' post, but she would be a frontrunner in a special election to determine his successor. (WASHINGTON POST) POLITICS IN BRIEF: A pair of Republican state House leaders -- DELAWARE Speaker Terry Spence and UTAH Speaker of the House Greg Curtis -- suffered surprise losses in their re-election bids last Tuesday. Two Democratic state Senate leaders were also shown the door by voters: IOWA Senate President Pro Tem Jeff Danielson and RHODE ISLAND Senate President Joseph Montalbano (NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES). * All four current African-American members of the IOWA House were re-elected to their seats, and two new black members appeared headed for victory. If the results hold, it would set a new record for the state (QUAD-CITY TIMES [DAVENPORT]). * Despite scattered reports of voting machine malfunctions in a few states and deceptions aimed at minority voters and college students -- such as text messages claiming that, due to long lines, voting would be staggered with Republicans voting Tuesday and Democrats voting Wednesday -- Election Day went fairly smoothly. "There really weren't any major problems, there were lots of minor problems," said Doug Chapin, director of electionline.org. "But there were no big meltdowns like the ones that people had feared" (STATELINE.ORG). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #4--UPCOMING ELECTIONS ***** (11/05/2008 - 11/26/2008) 11/18/2008 Ohio Special Election US House (Congressional District 11) ***************************************************************** ***** #5--GOVERNORS ***** DEMS GAIN ONE GOVERNORSHIP: When the dust settled on last week's elections, Democrats had increased their number of governorships, but just barely. Dems gained a single governor's office, inching their total to 29, the highest number they have held since before the Republican Revolution of 1994. MISSOURI was the lone state where gubernatorial party control changed hands. Attorney General Jay Nixon (D) easily outdueled his GOP counterpart, Congressman Kenny Hulshof, with many observers chalking the victory up to the rising unpopularity of outgoing Gov. Matt Blunt (R), who chose not to seek a second term. Democrats also prevailed in NORTH CAROLINA, where Lt. Gov. Beverly Eaves Perdue defeated Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory to become the first female governor in Tar Heel State history; NEW HAMPSHIRE, where Gov. John Lynch easily won a third two-year term over a state senator, Joseph D. Kenney; WEST VIRGINIA, where incumbent Gov. Joe Manchin III easily won a second term over former state senator, Russ Weeks; and DELAWARE, where Democratic state treasurer Jack Markell defeated Republican Bill Lee. Markell will become the first Jewish governor in the state's history. MONTANA Gov. Brian Schweitzer won re-election in a walk, tallying more than 65 percent of the vote. WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire, another Democrat, also grabbed a fairly easy victory in her rematch with Republican Dino Rossi, at least in relative terms. While Gregoire's tally was in the 55 percent realm, that marked a huge difference from her 2004 contest with Rossi, which was ultimately decided by 133 votes -- the slimmest margin for a governor's race in U.S. history -- after two recounts and a GOP lawsuit. Republicans enjoyed their biggest victory in INDIANA, where incumbent Mitch Daniels routed Democrat Jill Long Thompson. VERMONT Governor James Douglas also won a clear majority against two opponents, Democratic state House Speaker Gaye Symington and independent Anthony Pollina, taking about 55 percent of the vote. UTAH Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. and NORTH DAKOTA Gov. John Hoeven were also re-elected by wide margins. (CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY, INDIANAPOLIS STAR, NEW YORK TIMES, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, BILLINGS GAZETTE, KANSAS CITY STAR). GOVERNORS IN BRIEF: The Council of Great Lakes Governors sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff asking them to hurry along operation of a new $9 million electric fish barrier designed to keep Asian carp from invading the lakes.The barrier was finished more than two years ago, but federal officials in charge of the project won't activate it because of worries about the danger the electrified water could pose to barge operators traveling along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL). * CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week proposed a 90-day freeze in pending home foreclosures to give the state's financially troubled homeowners more time to get new or more affordable loans. Under the governor's plan, lenders could avoid the 90-day freeze if they proved they were aggressively rewriting loans so that homeowners could afford to make lower payments and avoid foreclosures. Schwarzenegger made his proposal to lawmakers, who are meeting in a special session to deal with the state's budget crisis (LOS ANGELES TIMES). * The lawyer for embattled NEVADA Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) said he has been told by federal prosecutors that the governor will not be charged with improperly receiving gifts from a software company that received military contracts while he was in Congress. Gibbons has denied any wrongdoing (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL). * Federal prosecutors declined to press charges against former NEW YORK Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) for his role in a high-priced prostitution scandal. U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said that after a thorough investigation, his office found no evidence that Spitzer or his office misused public or campaign funds for prostitution. Spitzer resigned in March after his use of the call girl service was revealed (ASSOCIATED PRESS). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #6--UPCOMING STORIES ***** Here are some of the topics you will see covered in upcoming issues of the State Net Capitol Journal: - Nuclear power - No Child Left Behind - Fed/state bailouts ***************************************************************** ***** #7--HOT ISSUES ***** This column includes results of some key ballot measures not covered elsewhere in this issue. Results for all state ballot measures were not available at press time. BUSINESS: CALIFORNIA voters approve Proposition 2, which bans caging practices that prevent farm animals from lying down, standing up, turning around or extending their limbs. The measure does not take effect until 2015 (SACRAMENTO BEE). * MASSACHUSETTS voters approve Question 2, which bans commercial dog racing in the Bay State (BOSTON GLOBE). * OKLAHOMA voters overwhelmingly endorse State Question 743, an initiative that allows small wine makers to sell directly to package retailers and restaurants (EDMOND SUN). * NEVADA voters give final approval to Question 2, a constitutional amendment that restricts the use of eminent domain to acquiring private property only for public use. Voters previously approved the amendment in 2006 (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE). * COLORADO voters reject Amendment 47, a proposal that would have made the Centennial State a "right to work" state that bars employers from making union membership or paying union fees a condition of employment (DENVER POST). CRIME & PUNISHMENT: The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review an ALASKA rape case to determine whether defendants have a constitutional right to have tests conducted on genetic evidence found at a crime scene. The Last Frontier is one of six states -- ALABAMA, MASSACHUSETTS, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA and SOUTH DAKOTA -- are the others -- that do not allow prisoners to have access to DNA testing of evidence (NEW YORK TIMES). * MASSACHUSETTS voters approve Question 2, a ballot initiative that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana. Under the new statute, getting caught with less than an ounce of pot is now punishable only by a civil fine of $100 (BOSTON GLOBE). ENVIRONMENT: CALIFORNIA voters reject Proposition 7, which would have required that half the Golden State's electricity come from windmills, solar panels and other renewable sources by 2025 (SACRAMENTO BEE).* MISSOURI voters approve Prop C, a measure that requires Show Me State utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH). HEALTH & SCIENCE: MICHIGAN voters approve Proposal 2, which allows embryos left over from fertility clinics to be used for stem cell research. The Wolverine State becomes the ninth to allow the controversial practice (CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS). * Still in MICHIGAN, voters also endorse Proposal 1, which makes the Wolverine State the 13th to allow seriously ill patients to buy, grow and use small amounts of marijuana (LANSING STATE JOURNAL). HOMELAND SECURITY: The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security announces new rules governing the $3 billion in annual counterterrorism grants handed out to states. The new guidelines allow states to spend up to 50 percent of their grants for personnel expenses, up from 25 percent; ease a 25 percent local-match requirement for rail, transit and port security aid; lift a three-year limit on funding for intelligence analysts in law enforcement "fusion" centers, which police chiefs nationwide have requested; spread aid for immigration law enforcement to states with international water as well as land borders, and allow grants to be used to store emergency supplies such as prepackaged food, water and medicines (WASHINGTON POST). IMMIGRATION: ARIZONA voters reject Proposition 202, which would have reduced employer responsibility for identifying illegal immigrants (ARIZONA REPUBLIC [PHOENIX]). SOCIAL POLICY: NEBRASKA voters endorse Initiative 424, which bars public agencies from considering race, gender and ethnicity when handing out contracts, hiring employees and awarding scholarships. A similar initiative in COLORADO, Amendment 46, was rejected (STATE NET, OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS [DENVER]). * WASHINGTON voters approve Initiative 1000, which allows doctors to prescribe lethal doses of medication for terminally ill patients seeking to hasten their deaths (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER). * ARKANSAS voters approve Act 1, which bars unmarried couples from adopting children (ARKANSAS NEWS BUREAU [LITTLE ROCK]). * COLORADO voters reject Amendment 48, which defined a "person" as a human being from the moment of fertilization (DENVER POST). * SOUTH DAKOTA rejects Initiated Measure 11, which would have banned abortions except in cases of rape or to protect the health of the mother (INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE). * Voters in three states -- CALIFORNIA (Proposition 8), ARIZONA (Proposition 102) and FLORIDA (Amendment 2) -- approve constitutional amendments that ban same-sex marriage. Opponents in CALIFORNIA have already filed a trio of lawsuits seeking to overturn the election results in the Golden State (LOS ANGELES TIMES). POTPOURRI: WASHINGTON voters reject I-985, which would have allowed aLl drivers to use freeway carpool lanes outside of rush hour (INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE). -- 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 2008 prefiles last week: 20 Number of 2009 prefiles last week: 79 Number of Intros last week: 169 Number of bills enacted/adopted last week: 17 Number of 2008 prefiles to date: 21,550 Number of 2009 prefiles to date: 1,903 Number of Intros to date: 91,879 Number of bills enacted/adopted overall to date: 27,885 -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (measures current as of 11/06/2008) Source: State Net database ---------------------------------------------------------------- States in Regular Session: CA, DC, MI, NJ(Quorum), OH, PA States in Recess: NY States in Special Session: CA "d", PA "a" Special Sessions in Recess: CA "b", CT "b", CT "c", CT "d", DE "b" States in Informal Session: MA In Pro Forma Session: US Senate States in Perfunctory Session: IL Special Sessions "a"-"z" States in Veto Session: IL States Currently Prefiling or Drafting for 2009: AL, FL, IA, KY, MT, ND, NH, NV, VA States Adjourned in 2008: AK, AL, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NM, OK, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY State Special Sessions Adjourned in 2008: AK "c", AK "d", AL "a", AR "a", CA "a", CA "c", CT "a", DE "a", KY "a", LA "a", LA "b", ME "a", MS "a", NC "b", NH "a", NM "a", NV "a", NY "a", OR "a", UT "a", VA "a", VA "b", WI "c", WI "d", WI "e", WV "a", WV "b" Letters indicate special/extraordinary sessions -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (session information current as of 11/07/2008) Source: State Net database ***************************************************************** ***** #9--ONCE AROUND THE STATEHOUSE LIGHTLY ***** FREEBIES GALORE: Last week's historic elections drew a record number of voters, most presumably because they wanted to support the candidate or cause of their choice. We say presumably because, as the New York Daily News reports, companies across the country were offering all sorts of juicy incentives to folks who braved the lines and the cold to cast their ballots, including free java at Starbucks, red-white-and-blue-sprinkled, star-shaped donuts at Krispy Kreme and music downloads from Rock the Vote. But by far the most unusual chotchkie of the day came from the New York City outlets of Babeland, which offered diligent voters a sample from among its plethora of what some folks used to call marital aides. No word how many folks said "yes we can" to that inducement. FLUSH THAT IDEA: San Francisco has long had a well-deserved reputation as the mother ship of all things liberal. As such, the City by the Bay has not exactly enjoyed the last eight years so much. Thus, to commemorate the changing of the presidential guard, San Franciscans last week weighed in on Proposition R, a mostly lighthearted measure that would have renamed a local water treatment plant the George W. Bush Sewer Plant. But as the San Jose Mercury News reports, the idea drew criticism from all sides: Republicans denounced the measure as childish and stupid, while some others said it was an insult to the hard-working sewer plant. Alas, voters were not thrilled with the estimated $50,000 it would take to change the name on the facility and its accompanying letterhead, rejecting the measure by almost 70 percent. PALIN PUNKED: It wasn't the best of weeks for ALASKA Gov. and Republican Veep candidate Sarah Palin. Not only did she and running mate John McCain come out on the wrong end of a serious election thumping, the Associated Press reports that she was also the butt of a highly public practical joke. According to the AP, Palin was tricked by a Canadian comedy duo called "The Masked Avengers," famous for tricking celebrities and politicians with prank phone calls, into believing she was speaking with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. In an exaggerated French accent, the fake Sarkozy got Palin to accept an invitation to hunt baby seals as well as his praise for an alleged documentary on her life that is actually a pornographic movie. Palin also did not catch on when the caller referred to Stephen Carse as Canada's prime minister. Stephen Harper is Canada's prime minister; Carse is a singer. GONNA HAVE TO PAY, PAL: It is clearly time for former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to make her best offer and get on with it. Whitman has long been rumored to be mulling a run for CALIFORNIA governor when Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out in 2010, something she would neither confirm nor deny while keeping herself busy as a senior adviser to John McCain's presidential campaign. Alas, cybersquatters wait for no one, not even big time CEOs. As reported by the Sacramento Bee, Whitman recently filed a petition with the World Intellectual Property Organization in an effort to claim several domain names that some savvy gent managed to wrap up while she was otherwise occupied. The domain names in question give more than a hint about her long-term ambitions: megwhitmanforgovernor.com, megwhitman2010.com, meg2010.com, whitmanforgovernor.com and whitman2010.com. It looks like the cat is out of that bag now. -- By RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #10--IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ***** A dozen initiatives appeared on CALIFORNIA's election ballot last week, but none sparked more passion than Proposition 8, the controversial measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. In case you missed it, the article can be found on our Web site at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal/11-10-2008/html ***************************************************************** State Net Publications """""""""""""""""""""" Editor: Rich Ehisen - capj@statenet.com Associate Editor: Korey Clark - capj@statenet.com Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Steve Karas (CA), Bruce McKeeman (CA), Jeff Kinnison (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 *****************************************************************