The Tap: Monday, January 30, 2017

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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 #51 of The Tap, which was published on February 4, 2017. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

Federal

Sally Yates’ Memo

• Sally Yates, then-acting attorney general, sent a letter to her colleagues at the Justice Department stating that the department would not defend President Donald Trump’s January 27, 2017, executive order in court while she was head of the department. “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities [as Acting Attorney General] nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful,” the letter stated.
• Later that evening, President Donald Trump relieved Yates from her post, issuing a statement that read, “The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” Trump appointed Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve in her place until a nominee is formally confirmed by the Senate.

State

Resignation in the Nebraska Senate

• The resignation of Nebraska State Sen. Bill Kintner (R) became official. Kintner announced his resignation on January 25, minutes before a scheduled debate over his expulsion from the legislature. His expulsion became a topic of conversation after the senator shared a tweet the night of January 22 that the Lincoln Journal Star described as “mocking Women's March participants and apparently making light of sexual assault.” The vacant seat will be filled by an appointment by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R). The appointed senator will serve until after the 2018 election. Although the chamber is officially nonpartisan, prior to Kintner’s departure, Republicans had a 32-15 majority. Nebraska is currently one of 25 Republican trifectas.

Washington Attorney General Announces Plans to Sue Trump Administration

• Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) announced his plans to sue the Trump administration over the executive order that prevented citizens from seven countries from entering the United States. The executive order suspended the issuance of visas to individuals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and suspended refugee admissions to the United States for 120 days while the process is reviewed for additional national security measures that could be implemented. Six other Democratic attorneys general pledged to join Ferguson in fighting the executive order. In addition to the federal lawsuit, Ferguson said he will ask the court to immediately halt the implementation of the order, saying it harms both the economy and families in Washington. There are currently 25 Republican, 21 Democratic, and four nonpartisan attorneys general in the United States.

New York Legislature Refers Pension Amendment to November Ballot

• The New York State Legislature referred an amendment to the November 2017 ballot designed to authorize judges to reduce or revoke the public pension of a public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her official duties. The issue of pension forfeiture for public officials rose to prominence following the criminal convictions of multiple elected officials, including Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver (D-65) and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-9) in 2015. Between 2000 and 2015, 16 public officials collected pensions after their criminal convictions. As of 2015, the state pension system was paying out about $531,000 per year to 14 former public officials convicted of crimes. A March 2015 Quinnipiac University Poll discovered that 76 percent of 1,228 voters in New York were in favor of elected officials losing their pensions if convicted of a felony. This measure is one of two qualified so far for the November 2017 ballot in New York.

Idaho State Rep Sponsors Bill Regarding Immigration and Local Law Enforcement

• Idaho State Rep. Greg Chaney (R) sponsored a bill that would require local law enforcement officials to assist federal agencies in handling immigration issues. The legislation would effectively outlaw sanctuary cities in the state. Idaho currently has no cities that operate as sanctuary cities. The bill was passed through the State Affairs Committee and will now head to the full chamber for consideration. A November 2016 study by Ballotpedia found that 21 of the largest 100 cities by population in the United States either self-identified or were identified by others as sanctuary cities. Idaho is currently one of 25 Republican trifectas.

Arizona Senate Committee Advances Bill Regarding Immigration and Sentencing

• An Arizona Senate committee voted 5-3 along party lines to advance a bill to the full chamber that would require judges to sentence immigrants living in the country illegally to jail sentences after a felony conviction. The law is referred to as “Grant’s Law” by proponents and is named after Grant Ronnebeck. Ronnebeck was killed by an immigrant living in the country illegally. His killer was sentenced to two years of probation and handed over to federal officials, who released him on bond pending deportation proceedings. The state’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union spoke out in opposition to the bill, saying, “This bill creates a separate but unequal sentencing scheme based solely on a person's immigration status.” Arizona is currently one of 25 Republican trifectas.

Washington State Rep Resigns

• Washington State Rep. Shelly Short (R) announced her resignation after she was appointed to the Washington State Senate. Short will fill the vacancy created by Brian Dansel’s (R) departure after he took a job as a special assistant in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A shortlist of three candidates are already vying to take Short’s place: Jacquelin Maycumber, Short’s legislative assistant; former state Rep. John Smith (R), who served in the state Senate for a session before losing a re-election bid to Dansel; and Larry Stickney, an activist. One of them will be appointed by county commissioners to fill Short’s House seat. Short’s appointment restores Republicans’ 25-24 majority in the Washington Senate. While there are technically 25 Democrats in the chamber, one Democrat— Tim Sheldon—caucuses with Republicans. Washington is currently one of 19 states under divided government.
  • See also: Minority and coalition control of state legislative chambers

Local

Recall Election in Massachusetts

• In Shirley, Massachusetts, Town Selectmen Kendra Dumont and Robert Prescott lost their recall elections. Both were recalled by more than 64 percent of the vote; Holly Haase and James Wilson were elected to replace them on the town board. The recall effort began due to Dumont and Prescott’s support for an increased benefits package for Town Administrator Patrice Garvin. The recall affidavits alleged that Garvin’s contract requires public approval for compensation changes. Successive public votes at town meetings in 2015 rejected an increase. Dumont told local media that the recall effort was "a terrible waste of taxpayers money" and that the raise was part of a larger salary increase for town employees. Prescott had argued that a recall should only be used to deal with illegal actions by officials.

Preview of the day

The excerpts below were compiled from issue #50 of The Tap, which was published on January 28, 2017. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

Federal

Tillerson Up

• Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, is scheduled to receive full consideration in the Senate.

State

Resignation in the Nebraska Senate

• The resignation of Nebraska State Sen. Bill Kintner will become official. Kintner announced his resignation on January 25, minutes before a scheduled debate over his expulsion from the legislature. His expulsion became a topic of conversation after the senator shared a tweet the night of January 22 that the Lincoln Journal Star described as “mocking Women's March participants and apparently making light of sexual assault.” The vacant seat will be filled by an appointment by Gov. Pete Ricketts (R). The appointed senator will serve until after the 2018 election. Although the chamber is officially nonpartisan, prior to Kintner’s departure, Republicans have a 32-15 majority. Nebraska is currently one of 25 Republican trifectas.

Local

Recall Election in Massachusetts

• In Shirley, Massachusetts, Town Selectmen Kendra Dumont and Robert Prescott will face a recall election. The recall effort began due to their support for an increased benefits package for Town Administrator Patrice Garvin. The recall affidavits alleged that Garvin’s contract requires public approval for compensation changes. Successive public votes at town meetings in 2015 rejected an increase. Dumont told local media that the recall effort is "a terrible waste of taxpayers money" and that the raise was part of a larger salary increase for town employees. Prescott argued that a recall should only be used to deal with illegal actions by officials.