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The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.

Review of the day

The excerpts below were compiled from issue #14 of The Tap, which was published on April 30, 2016. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

Federal

Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) endorsed Ted Cruz. During a radio interview Pence said, “I see Ted Cruz as a principled conservative who has dedicated his career to advocating the Reagan agenda.” He continued that he will work his “heart out” to help whoever the eventual nominee is.

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson retired after 30 years on the state supreme court bench. He was appointed by Gov. Robert Orr (R) in 1986 and served as chief justice from 2012 to 2014. Justice Dickson retired in advance of reaching the court’s mandatory retirement age of 75 this summer. He heard his final oral argument on April 20 as the court convened in historic Corydon, Indiana, which was the state capital until 1824. The Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission has selected three finalists as candidates to fill the vacancy left by Justice Dickson’s retirement. Gov. Mike Pence (R) will appoint Justice Dickson’s successor from these three finalists. Indiana Supreme Court justices are all chosen by appointment, serve two years, and then stand in yes-no retention elections for a full 10-year term. They may stand for retention again for future 10-year terms. There are five justices on the court.

The Iowa General Assembly adjourned its regular session. Lawmakers are not required by law to adjourn by a certain day, but the per diem in even-numbered years only lasts for the first 100 days of a regular session. Per diem expenses ran out for legislators on April 20. Iowa is one of 20 states under divided government. Republicans currently control the governor’s office and the House by 14 seats. Democrats control the Senate by two seats. Both chambers have been included in Ballotpedia’s 20 battleground chambers to watch in 2016.

Former Colorado State Representative Jon Keyser (R) has won his legal challenge and will appear on the ballot for the U.S. Senate primary election. District Court Judge Elizabeth Starrs issued a ruling that found that Keyser’s campaign complied with state law and ordered Keyser back on the ballot. Keyser’s campaign sued Secretary of State Wayne Williams (R) over the state’s rejection of 186 signatures in the 3rd Congressional District. According to state officials, Keyser was 86 signatures short of the petition requirement of 1,500 in the district. The 186 signatures were rejected because Tyler Gonzalez, the campaign aide who collected the signatures, had a different address on his voter registration than where he currently lives because of a recent move. Judge Starrs found that the difference in the aid’s address was too minor to keep Keyser off the ballot. Keyser resigned from his position as a state representative in order to run this Senate campaign. Both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly have been included in Ballotpedia’s 20 battleground chambers to watch in 2016.

The excerpts below were compiled from issue #13 of The Tap, which was published on April 23, 2016. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

The Iowa General Assembly is projected to adjourn its regular session. Lawmakers are not required by law to adjourn by a certain day, but the per diem in even-numbered years only lasts for the first 100 days of a regular session. Per diem expenses ran out for legislators on April 20. Iowa is one of 20 states under divided government. Republicans currently control the governor’s office and the House by 14 seats. Democrats control the Senate by two seats. Both chambers have been included in Ballotpedia’s 20 battleground chambers to watch in 2016.