State Legislative Tracker: Washington to convene special session
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April 27, 2015
Edited by Jackie Beran
This week’s tracker includes a look at a former state representative's conviction in Illinois, a failed amendment in Tennessee and an upcoming special session in Washington.
Weekly highlight
- Illinois: Former state Rep. Derrick Smith (D) was sentenced last Thursday to five months in prison after being convicted of bribery and attempted extortion. Appearing before district judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, Smith emotionally proclaimed that he had "lost everything" and that his family no longer respected him.[1] Coleman was unsympathetic, criticizing Illinois politicians for "violating the public trust" and Smith in particular for not admitting wrongdoing at any time during the case. The judge stated, "Public officials, Mr. Smith in particular, just don't get it."[2] In addition to prison time, Smith must also serve a year of probation and 360 hours of community service. Prosecutors had sought a four-to-five-year sentence for Smith; Smith's attorney requested house arrest or probation. Coleman said that imprisoning Smith for four years or longer "could be seen as overkill" regarding the cost of prosecution, which she noted was already far in excess of the amount of the bribe.[3][4][5] Smith was arrested after taking $7,000 during an FBI sting operation in March 2012; he believed the money came from the owner of a daycare facility seeking a grant. Smith will report to prison on July 31. After his swift rise from working in sanitation to being appointed to a vacant seat in 2011, Smith became the first legislator to be removed from the Illinois Legislature in over 100 years as a result of his arrest. Smith returned to the legislature following the 2012 elections but lost the 2014 primary; he was automatically removed from office when convicted.[4][2][6]
- Tennessee: State Rep. Sheila Butt (R) made national headlines this week due to a comment she made while requesting to table an amendment to a 48-hour abortion waiting period bill; the amendment would have granted an exception for victims of rape and incest. "This amendment appears political because we understand that in most instances this is not verifiable," Butt said. "Let’s make sure that these women have the information and understanding to act. Madam Speaker, I move this amendment to the table."[7] Butt's claim that rape and incest aren't verifiable raised the ire of the blogging world, sparking headlines such as "Tennessee Lady Rep Not Buying Your 'Rape And Incest' Story, Harlot" and "Tennessee Anti-Choice Politician Can’t Decide if Women Are Stupid or Cunning."[8][9] The amendment subsequently failed, following a particularly contentious debate. The day following the debate and Butt's comments, State Rep. Sherry Jones (D) criticized the commentary on the floor during the debate.[10] "Yesterday we heard a lot of unsettling things on the floor, from bogus descriptions of women's health clinics to a member of this body actually saying that the violent crimes of rape and incest are, quote, not verifiable...There are 206,000 women in Tennessee who unfortunately can attest to the fact that rape and incest are too verifiable," Jones said.[10] Butt immediately disputed Jones' claims, saying she was being misquoted.[10]
- This isn't the first time Butt has been criticized for her comments. In February 2015, Butt wrote on her Facebook wall, “It is time for a Council on Christian Relations and an NAAWP in this Country.”[11] The Council on American-Islamic Relations called the post racist, saying the acronym NAAWP referred to the "National Association for the Advancement of White People," which was rhetoric used by white supremacist organizations in the past. Butt told The Associated Press that her comment was taken out of context, and actually meant "National Association of Advancement for Western Peoples."[11]
- Washington: The Washington State Legislature ended its 2015 regular session on April 24, 2015, but will return for a 30-day special session on April 29.[12] Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has called the Legislature into special session to finish work on a two-year state operating budget, education funding and a state transportation package.[13] Budget leaders will return to the capitol two days before the start of the special session to restart negotiations on the 2015-17 operating budget.[14] The discussion on the budget is expected to be largely centered around taxes. This issue is a direct result of a 2012 state Supreme Court decision mandating that more money be spent on education.[12] The 2015-17 operating budget needs to set aside $1.4 billion to be spent on educational improvements. The Republican-controlled State Senate and Democrat-controlled House of Representatives are split on how to fund eduction. Democratic House leaders have proposed a budget that would raise $1.5 billion through new taxes, tax hikes and closing tax breaks to fund education and social services.[15] Republicans oppose this plan and believe that new taxes should be a "last resort."[16] The Republican Senate budget proposes no new taxes and cuts social services, but promises to reduce the cost of college tuition. This budget would shift marijuana tax revenue from health programs to education.[13] If the budget is not signed by July 1, the state government would shut down. This almost happened in 2013, when the Washington State Legislature went into special session to work on the budget, only adjourning on June 29, days away from a government shutdown.[16] The cost of a special session varies, but in 2012, a 31-day special session cost almost $291,000.[16]
Sessions
Regular sessions
- See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions
- Click here to see a chart of each state's 2015 session information.
Currently 28 out of 50 state legislatures are meeting in regular session. Six states are in recess and 14 states have adjourned their 2015 legislative sessions. Washington began a special session on April 29 and Alaska began a special session on April 28.
The following states have convened their 2015 regular sessions:[17]
- December 1, 2014: California
- December 3, 2014: Maine
- January 5, 2015: Montana
- January 5, 2015: Ohio
- January 5, 2015: Wisconsin
- January 6, 2015: Indiana
- January 6, 2015: Kentucky
- January 6, 2015: Minnesota
- January 6, 2015: Mississippi
- January 6, 2015: North Dakota
- January 6, 2015: Pennsylvania
- January 6, 2015: Rhode Island
- January 7, 2015: Colorado
- January 7, 2015: Connecticut
- January 7, 2015: Massachusetts
- January 7, 2015: Missouri
- January 7, 2015: Nebraska
- January 7, 2015: New Hampshire
- January 7, 2015: New York
- January 7, 2015: Vermont
- January 12, 2015: Arizona
- January 12, 2015: Arkansas
- January 12, 2015: Georgia
- January 12, 2015: Idaho
- January 12, 2015: Iowa
- January 12, 2015: Kansas
- January 12, 2015: Washington
- January 13, 2015: Delaware
- January 13, 2015: New Jersey
- January 13, 2015: South Carolina
- January 13, 2015: South Dakota
- January 13, 2015: Tennessee
- January 13, 2015: Texas
- January 13, 2015: Wyoming
- January 14, 2015: Illinois
- January 14, 2015: Maryland
- January 14, 2015: Michigan
- January 14, 2015: North Carolina
- January 14, 2015: Virginia
- January 14, 2015: West Virginia
- January 20, 2015: Alaska
- January 20, 2015: New Mexico
- January 21, 2015: Hawaii
- January 26, 2015: Utah
- April 13, 2015: Louisiana
In recess
As of today, April 27, there are six state legislatures currently in recess:[18]
- Nebraska: Returns April 28.
- Rhode Island: Returns April 28.
- Kansas: Returns April 29.
- New Hampshire: Returns April 29.
- New Jersey: Returns May 4.
- Pennsylvania: Returns May 4.
Adjourned
The following states have adjourned their 2015 regular sessions:[19]
- February 27, 2015: Virginia
- March 6, 2015: Wyoming
- March 12, 2015: Utah
- March 14, 2015: West Virginia
- March 21, 2015: New Mexico
- March 23, 2015: Kentucky
- March 30, 2015: South Dakota
- April 2, 2015: Arizona
- April 2, 2015: Arkansas
- April 2, 2015: Georgia
- April 2, 2015: Mississippi
- April 11, 2015: Idaho
- April 13, 2015: Maryland
- April 22, 2015: Tennessee
Special sessions
- April 24, 2015:[20] Washington; special session began 4/29
- April 27, 2015:[21] Alaska; special session began 4/28
2015 Legislative Elections
- See also: State legislative elections, 2015
A total of seven of the 99 chambers will hold state legislative elections on November 3, 2015.
There are seven chambers in four states with elections in 2015:
- Louisiana (Senate and House)
- Mississippi (Senate and House)
- New Jersey (Assembly)
- Virginia (Senate and House)
The New Jersey Senate also typically holds elections in odd years, but all members were elected to four-year terms in 2013 and are not up for election again until 2017.
Of the 1,972 state senate seats in the country, 131 are up for up for election in November 2015, and 407 of the country's 5,411 state house seats are up for election. Altogether, 538 of the country's 7,383 state legislative seats are up for election on November 3, 2015.
Primary Information
The state legislative filing deadlines and primary dates are as follows:
Filing Deadlines
- Louisiana: September 10[22]
- Mississippi: February 27[23]
- New Jersey: March 30[24]
- Virginia: March 9[25]
Primary Dates
- Louisiana: October 24[22]
- Mississippi: August 4[23]
- New Jersey: June 2[24]
- Virginia: June 9[25]
Special Elections
There is one special election scheduled this week in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 13
Dennis Green (R) defeated Carol Croteau (D) in the special election on April 28.[26][27]
The seat was vacant following Ann M. Howe's (R) resignation on February 5, 2015, citing increased demands in her personal and professional life.[28]
A special election for the position of New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 13 was called for April 28.[26]
New Hampshire House of Representatives, Rockingham 13, Special Election, 2015 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
60% | 715 | |
Democratic | Carol Croteau | 40% | 477 | |
Total Votes | 1,192 |
April 28 Special election candidates:
Recent election results
April 21, 2015
☑ Florida House of Representatives District 64
James Grant was unopposed in the Republican primary and defeated Daniel John Matthews (Write-in) in the special election on April 21.[29][30]
The seat was vacant following an invalidated result in the 2014 general election.[31]
A special election for the position of Florida House of Representatives District 64 was called for April 21. A primary election took place on February 10, 2015. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 12, 2014.[32]
Florida House of Representatives, District 64, Special Election, 2015 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
98.7% | 6,852 | |
Write-in | Daniel John Matthews | 1.3% | 92 | |
Total Votes | 6,944 |
- April 21 Special election candidates:
James Grant
Daniel John Matthews (Write-in)
☑ Texas House of Representatives District 124
Nathan Alonzo (D), Delicia Herrera (D), Ina Minjarez (D) and David L. Rosa (D) faced off in the special election on March 31, 2015.[33] Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Minjarez and Herrera, met in a runoff election on April 21, which Minjarez won.[34][35][36]
The seat was vacant following José Menéndez's (D) election to the Texas State Senate on February 17, 2015.[37]
A special election for the position of Texas House of Representatives District 124 was called for March 31. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 10.[38]
Texas House of Representatives, District 124, Special Runoff Election, 2015 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
55% | 1,331 | |
Democratic | Delicia Herrera | 45% | 1,090 | |
Total Votes | 2,421 |
- March 31 Special election candidates:
Nathan Alonzo
Delicia Herrera
Ina Minjarez
David L. Rosa
- April 21 Special Runoff election candidates:
Delicia Herrera
Ina Minjarez
Looking ahead
Upcoming special elections include:
- April 28: New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 13
- May 5: New York State Assembly District 43
- May 5: Rhode Island House of Representatives District 33 (Democratic primary)
- May 19: California State Senate District 7
- May 19: Pennsylvania State Senate District 5
- May 19: New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 32
See also
- State legislative elections, 2015
- 2015 state legislative calendar
- Signature requirements and deadlines for 2015 state government elections
- State legislative special elections, 2015
- State legislative recalls
Footnotes
- ↑ WGN-TV, "Former Illinois Rep. Derrick Smith sentenced to 5 months for bribery conviction," April 23, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Judge sentences ex-lawmaker Derrick Smith, says politicians 'don't get it,'" April 23, 2015
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ex-state Rep. Smith, who pocketed $7,000 bribe, gets 5 months in prison," April 23, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 WLS-TV, "Former IL Rep. Derrick Smith sentenced to 5 months in prison for taking $7k bribe," April 23, 2015
- ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ex-state Rep. Derrick Smith gets 5 months for bribery bust," April 23, 2015
- ↑ Reuters, "Former Illinois lawmaker sentenced to five months for bribery," April 23, 2015
- ↑ Huff Post Politics, "GOP Lawmaker Says Rape And Incest Are Too Hard To Verify, Shooting Down Abortion Exemptions," April 22, 2015
- ↑ Evan Hurst, Wonkette, "Tennessee Lady Rep Not Buying Your ‘Rape And Incest’ Story, Harlot," April 22, 2015
- ↑ Amanda Marcotte, Slate:XXfactor, "Tennessee Anti-Choice Politician Can’t Decide if Women Are Stupid or Cunning," April 22, 2015
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Anita Wadhwani and Dave Boucher, The Tennessean, "TN state Rep. Sheila Butt calls rape, incest 'not verifiable'," April 22, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Associated Press, The Tennessean, "Muslim group: Rep. Sheila Butt’s Facebook post racist," February 25, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 heraldnet.com, "Legislature to adjourn Friday; special session Wednesday," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 seattlepi.com, "Inslee calls special legislative session with budget, transportation work undone," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ tdn.com, "Legislature adjourning Friday, returning in special session," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ crosscut.com, "Legislature faces big divides in special session," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 kuow.org, " As Special Session Looms, 5 Things To Know About Washington Legislature," accessed April 24, 2015
- ↑ Stateside Associates, "Session Calendar 2015," accessed March 16, 2015
- ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 27, 2015
- ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 27, 2015
- ↑ Regular session adjourned
- ↑ Regular session adjourned
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 New Jersey Department of Elections, "2015 Primary Election Timeline," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 20, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Special election results," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ tritowntimes.net, "Selectmen Begin Process to Fill State Representative Vacancy," accessed March 19, 2015
- ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official special election results for District 64," accessed May 26, 2015
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Governor calls special election for state House 64 seat," November 24, 2014
- ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Notice of Special Election," accessed November 25, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 11, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2015 Special Election, House District 124," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Candidates for State Representative, District 124 Runoff Election," accessed April 13, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Special Runoff Election, House District 124," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ NewsWest9.com, "Special election March 31 will replace Menendez in House," March 4, 2015
- ↑ State of Texas, "Special election proclamation," accessed March 9, 2015