Free Republic

Considering her many years in office, her solid liberal track record and her whopping $1.7 million war chest, one might have thought that Carole Migden's state Senate campaign in overwhelmingly Democratic Marin County would be a walk in the park. Instead, she's managed to turn it into Sherman's March to the Sea. Case in point: Migden's recent appearance at the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce candidates' debate, where she was booked for a joint appearance with her Republican rival, Andrew Felder. For many in the audience, it was their first glimpse at the woman who, in all likelihood, will represent...

SACRAMENTO - The wages of more than 1 million Californians would increase by a dollar an hour under legislation approved Thursday by the Democratic-controlled Senate. The bill by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, would raise the state's minimum wage 50 cents to $7.25 an hour next summer, and then to $7.75 an hour in January 2006. The measure, approved on a 22-14 vote, now returns to the Assembly for final approval, which is considered a formality, before it lands on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

Assemblyman criticizes Panzer fund-raising letter By STEVEN WALTERS swalters@journalsentinel.com Posted: Aug. 13, 2004Madison - Another Assembly member who represents the same area as Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) on Friday endorsed Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman, her Sept. 14 primary opponent. In a statement, Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) said he was moved to back Grothman because of an Aug. 10 fund-raising letter Panzer wrote - a letter Gottlieb said was full of "innuendo, half-truth and false charges." In that letter, Panzer said "outside special interests" are funding and advising Grothman. She also took credit for trying to...

Madison - Republican lawmakers began planning Friday for a special session of the Legislature next week to vote on a constitutional amendment still being written that would limit spending by state and local governments. Reversing a decision made weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) called for a quick vote on a possible constitutional amendment and a separate three-year plan to limit the property tax levies of local governments. The Legislature faces a deadline of next weekend to give initial approval to a constitutional amendment to meet an Aug. 3 deadline for its publication. The amendment - which...

SOMERSET, KY - Pulaski County broadcaster and Republican State Senate candidate David Carr said today there are clear differences between him and his opponent. He said a close examination of his opponent's voting record reveals these differences. In particular, David Carr points two votes in the 2000 session of the General Assembly. These votes to increase his opponent's Senate pensions are a clear need for a change in the State Senate says Carr. "Both bills would have financed the huge pension increase on the backs of Kentucky taxpayers, while many projects and programs went unfunded. I don't think votes like...

*MEDIA RELEASE* DAVID CARR FOR STATE SENATE SOMERSET, KY - Local broadcaster, small businessman and Senate candidate David Carr called on Frankfort today to take all steps necessary to repeal or suspend the automatic gas tax to be paid by Kentucky's drivers. With gas prices approaching nearly $2.00 per gallon, David Carr said now is not the time for a new hike in gas taxes. A law passed by the General Assembly in the 1980's triggers automatic tax increases when gas prices rise above $1.11 per gallon in a selected month. Its purpose is to force consumers to curb their...

SOMERSET, KY – Pulaski County businessman David Carr today said his first act as State Senator would be to introduce legislation to end the penalty against active duty military personnel on the premium rates they pay to reinsure their vehicles. “I want to defend the soldiers who defend our freedom and this is one way of looking out for them while they’re protecting us in the War on Terror,” said David Carr. Carr said his campaign had had discussions with local insurance agents that say America’s fighting men and women are being penalized. His campaign has been told that they...

INVESTIGATION: Federal authorities on Wednesday began searching records of a crime scene supply company whose president is a state senator.Sen. John Carrington, R-Wake, is president and CEO of Sirchie Fingerprint Laboratories Inc., which sells crime evidence collection materials to law enforcement agencies and security firms worldwide.James W. Gocke, Sirchie's vice president, said in a statement that federal authorities "came to our company today to review our records.Sirchie has a long history and tradition of being in full compliance with the law, and we are fully cooperating with the investigation." Carrington did not return phone calls seeking comment. A spokeswoman for...

Yesterday I received a call from Katherine with some great news - she is running for the SC State Senate Seat. The following is taken from the Myrtle Beach Newspaper - the whole article can be found at http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/8318274.htm "Brown's Horry County staff member Katherine Jenerette filed to run on the Republican ticket against state Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach. Her husband, Van Jenerette, ran against Brown four years ago. Katherine Jenerette is treading in the steps of state Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, who also was an Horry County staffer for Brown."

Leading the way Sen. Duncan tops list of influential people in city BY DOUG HENSLEY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL One thing is clear when it comes to identifying influential people in Lubbock: A majority view state Sen. Robert Duncan as a person who is effective at getting things done, regardless of the size and scope of the task. "Bob has delivered," said Texas Tech Chancellor David Smith. "Not only does he have the personality to do what he does in state and local forums, he has led by example and delivered. "He has a great understanding of human anatomy. We have two ears...

Panel kills tougher DUI penalties By Allison Fashek rep8@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Senators killed a bill Monday that would have strengthened penalties for driving under the influence. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Becket Hinckley, R-Cheyenne, was frustrated after the Senate committee charged with considering the bill failed to debate its merits. "I think if it made it to the floor, it would have passed," he said. House Bill 183 proposed changing current law so that after a second DUI conviction, rather than a third, a person would go to jail for a minimum of 30 days and...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Senate leaders proposed Monday that the state help bridge a coverage gap in a new federal prescription drug benefit for people 65 and older. The legislation was filed by the chamber's top leaders from both parties - Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and Minority Leader Ken Jacob, D-Columbia. Kinder and Jacob propose to revamp SenioRx - the state's existing prescription plan for certain older Missourians - to help such citizens meet costs not covered under the federal government's new Medicare prescription plan. "This is a logical and essential next step in helping seniors...

Opponents in the State Senate decided to play politics with the healthcare of Kentucky's citizens by voting against medical malpractice reform. In opposing Senate Bill One (SB-1), opponents, like State Senators Ray Jones and Ernesto Scorsone, danced the old Frankfort two-step to the tune sung by the Amen corner at the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. It is clear that Senator Jones, Senator Scorsone and other liberals in the State Senate refuse to represent the best interests of their constituents and support this piece of reasonable legislation that will reduce liability insurance rates and preserve the high level of medical...

Republicans see chance for big inroad By Bill Estep HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER FRANKFORT - Buoyed by winning the governor's race, Republicans have recruited candidates from across the state to try to make gains in the Kentucky House of Representatives this year. Democrats, however, vowed they would hold their wide edge in the House and try to pick up seats in the Senate, where Republicans now lead 22 to 16. Yesterday was the deadline to file for House and Senate seats, bringing the usual last-minute flurry of candidate entries and setting up some races that could be hotly contested. Republicans hope...

Perry sets election to fill Bivins' seat AUSTIN (AP) — A special election to fill the seat of resigning state Sen. Teel Bivins will be Jan. 20, Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday. Bivins, an Amarillo Republican nominated by President Bush to be ambassador to Sweden, is leaving the office Jan. 12. His Senate district covers 26 counties in West Texas. The person elected to fill the post will serve the rest of Bivins' term, which runs until January 2005. Perry also has set Jan. 20 as the date for a special election to fill the seat of Sen. Bill Ratliff,...

CANDIDATE STATUS REPORT - MARCH 2, 2004 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY12/08/2003 9:52 AM D/I - Declaration of Intention D/C - Declaration of Candidacy SIL - Signatures in Lieu of Filing Fee NOM - Nomination Signatures *-Incumbent PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CANDIDATE PARTY CONTEST Peroutka, Michael A. AI Clark, Wesley DEM Dean, Howard DEM Edwards, John DEM Gephardt, Dick DEM Kerry, John F. DEM Kucinich, Dennis J. DEM LaRouche, Lyndon DEM Lieberman, Joe DEM Moseley Braun, Carol DEM Sharpton, Al DEM Cobb, David GRN Mesplay, Kent GRN Salzman, Lorna GRN Badnarik, Michael LIB Nolan, Gary LIB Abu-Jamal, Mumia PF Brown, Walter F....

<p>BATON ROUGE - With Louisiana Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco on vacation, senators are battling behind the scenes to see who will emerge as president of the state Senate.</p> <p>The short list of candidates includes senators from throughout the state - some of whom actively are campaigning, such as Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, Don Hines, D-Bunkie, and Joe McPherson, D-Alexandria. Hines, who supported Blanco and gave her information about health care, is emerging as the most likely winner.</p>

Florida Governor Jeb Bush is finally pursuing a course to save the life of Terri Schiavo. Governor Bush is calling a special session of the Florida legislatureon Monday to pass legislation that he worked on with Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd. ``Terri's Bill'' would immediately suspend all dehydration and starvation deaths in the state. LifeNews.com, however is reporting that one man is the greatest obstacle to this happening, Florida Senate President Jim King, the man who controls the state Senate's agenda. It's obviously important that we contact all state representatives, Senators, and other parties, but it is absolutely...

<p>RUSTON - For the first time in more than 60 years, the senator from District 35 will come from somewhere other than Jackson, Lincoln or Union parishes.</p> <p>Official returns confirmed that former 2nd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kostelka defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Jones. Kostelka, R-Monroe, tallied 17,321 votes, while Jones, D-Ruston, totaled 16,122 votes.</p>

Senate gives nod to redistricting plan By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AUSTIN — The Texas Sen ate, by an 18-13 vote largely along party lines, tentatively passed a redistricting bill Tues day night that keeps three West Texas congressional districts largely intact. Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. The action by the Senate sets the stage for negotiations with the House, which has passed a far different plan — one that gives House Speaker Tom Craddick the district he's seeking for Midland. The Senate plan keeps Lubbock and Midland in Congres sional District...