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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

Former state Rep. Derrick Smith (D)
  • 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]
Rep. Sheila Butt (R)
  • 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

Current sessions capture for the week of April 27, 2015
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]

In recess

As of today, April 27, there are six state legislatures currently in recess:[18]

Adjourned

The following states have adjourned their 2015 regular sessions:[19]

Special sessions

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:

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

Primary Dates

Special Elections

SLP badge.png
See also: State legislative special elections, 2015

There is one special election scheduled this week in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire House of Representatives District Rockingham 13

See also: New Hampshire state legislative special elections, 2015

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 Green check mark transparent.pngDennis Green 60% 715
     Democratic Carol Croteau 40% 477
Total Votes 1,192

April 28 Special election candidates:

Democratic Party Carol Croteau
Republican Party Dennis Green

Recent election results

April 21, 2015

☑ Florida House of Representatives District 64

See also: Florida state legislative special elections, 2015

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 Green check mark transparent.pngJames Grant 98.7% 6,852
     Write-in Daniel John Matthews 1.3% 92
Total Votes 6,944
Republican PartyFebruary 10 Republican primary candidates:
April 21 Special election candidates:
Republican Party James Grant Green check mark transparent.png
Grey.png Daniel John Matthews (Write-in)


☑RunoffArrow.jpg Texas House of Representatives District 124

See also: Texas state legislative special elections, 2015

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 Green check mark transparent.pngIna Minjarez 55% 1,331
     Democratic Delicia Herrera 45% 1,090
Total Votes 2,421
Texas House of Representatives, District 124, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngIna Minjarez 42.2% 828
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDelicia Herrera 28.3% 555
     Democratic Nathan Alonzo 23.8% 467
     Democratic David L. Rosa 5.7% 111
Total Votes 1,961
March 31 Special election candidates:
Democratic Party Nathan Alonzo
Democratic Party Delicia Herrera Approveda
Democratic Party Ina Minjarez Approveda
Democratic Party David L. Rosa
April 21 Special Runoff election candidates:
Democratic Party Delicia Herrera
Democratic Party Ina Minjarez Green check mark transparent.png

Looking ahead

Upcoming special elections include:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ WGN-TV, "Former Illinois Rep. Derrick Smith sentenced to 5 months for bribery conviction," April 23, 2015
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Associated Press, "Judge sentences ex-lawmaker Derrick Smith, says politicians 'don't get it,'" April 23, 2015
  3. ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Ex-state Rep. Smith, who pocketed $7,000 bribe, gets 5 months in prison," April 23, 2015
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 WLS-TV, "Former IL Rep. Derrick Smith sentenced to 5 months in prison for taking $7k bribe," April 23, 2015
  5. ↑ Chicago Sun-Times, "Ex-state Rep. Derrick Smith gets 5 months for bribery bust," April 23, 2015
  6. ↑ Reuters, "Former Illinois lawmaker sentenced to five months for bribery," April 23, 2015
  7. ↑ Huff Post Politics, "GOP Lawmaker Says Rape And Incest Are Too Hard To Verify, Shooting Down Abortion Exemptions," April 22, 2015
  8. ↑ Evan Hurst, Wonkette, "Tennessee Lady Rep Not Buying Your ‘Rape And Incest’ Story, Harlot," April 22, 2015
  9. ↑ Amanda Marcotte, Slate:XXfactor, "Tennessee Anti-Choice Politician Can’t Decide if Women Are Stupid or Cunning," April 22, 2015
  10. ↑ 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. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Associated Press, The Tennessean, "Muslim group: Rep. Sheila Butt’s Facebook post racist," February 25, 2015
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 heraldnet.com, "Legislature to adjourn Friday; special session Wednesday," accessed April 24, 2015
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 seattlepi.com, "Inslee calls special legislative session with budget, transportation work undone," accessed April 24, 2015
  14. ↑ tdn.com, "Legislature adjourning Friday, returning in special session," accessed April 24, 2015
  15. ↑ crosscut.com, "Legislature faces big divides in special session," accessed April 24, 2015
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 kuow.org, " As Special Session Looms, 5 Things To Know About Washington Legislature," accessed April 24, 2015
  17. ↑ Stateside Associates, "Session Calendar 2015," accessed March 16, 2015
  18. ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 27, 2015
  19. ↑ StateNet, "Daily Session Summary," accessed April 27, 2015
  20. ↑ Regular session adjourned
  21. ↑ Regular session adjourned
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mississippi Secretary of State, "2015 Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 New Jersey Department of Elections, "2015 Primary Election Timeline," accessed February 2, 2015
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Virginia State Board of Elections, "2015 November Election Calendar," accessed January 2, 2015
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 20, 2015
  27. ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Special election results," accessed April 29, 2015
  28. ↑ tritowntimes.net, "Selectmen Begin Process to Fill State Representative Vacancy," accessed March 19, 2015
  29. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official candidate list," accessed December 17, 2014
  30. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Official special election results for District 64," accessed May 26, 2015
  31. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Governor calls special election for state House 64 seat," November 24, 2014
  32. ↑ Florida Department of Elections, "Notice of Special Election," accessed November 25, 2014
  33. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 11, 2015
  34. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2015 Special Election, House District 124," accessed April 30, 2015
  35. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Candidates for State Representative, District 124 Runoff Election," accessed April 13, 2015
  36. ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Special Runoff Election, House District 124," accessed April 30, 2015
  37. ↑ NewsWest9.com, "Special election March 31 will replace Menendez in House," March 4, 2015
  38. ↑ State of Texas, "Special election proclamation," accessed March 9, 2015
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