The Tap: Tuesday, March 29, 2016

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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 #10 of The Tap, which was published on April 4, 2016. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

Federal

  • Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) endorsed Ted Cruz. He posted the following to Twitter: “After the failed Obama-Clinton Admin, Americans want leadership. I endorse @TedCruz, a principled constitutional conservative who can win.” During an interview, Walker discussed his choice, saying, "After all these years of the Obama-Clinton failures, it’s time we elect a strong new leader, and I’ve chosen to endorse Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz is the best positioned by far to both win the nomination of the Republican Party and to then go on and defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall of this year. That's the key."
  • During CNN’s town hall event, all three GOP candidates said that they would not stand by their previous pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee.
    • John Kasich said, "All of us shouldn't even have answered that question.”
    • When asked if he would stand by his pledge, Donald Trump said, "No, I don't anymore.” Trump added that he has "been treated very unfairly" by the “Republican establishment.”
    • Ted Cruz said, "I'm not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife and my family ... I think nominating Donald Trump would be an absolute trainwreck, I think it would hand the general election to Hillary Clinton."
  • The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 per curiam ruling in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association affirming the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The case addressed whether requiring public employees to pay "agency shop" fees to public-sector unions violated the First Amendment, as well as whether the First Amendment is violated in requiring public employees to opt out of paying fees for union political activity rather than opting in to do so.
  • The court heard oral arguments in two cases: Sheriff v. Gillie and Ross v. Blake. The first case addressed whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act unconstitutionally limited Ohio’s sovereignty in having special counsel — appointed by the state’s Attorney General — use state AG letterhead to collect debts for the State. The Sixth Circuit held that special counsel was neither a state officer nor a state employee that qualified for an exemption to the Act, which prohibits “debt collectors from us[ing] any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means.” The second case concerned a circuit split over a common law “special circumstances” exception to a federal law, the Prison Litigation Reform Act. Petitioner Ross argued that the Fourth Circuit’s ruling was exceptional to how other circuit courts and the Supreme Court have interpreted the exemption.
  • In a case regarding religious nonprofits’ objections to the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate, the United States Supreme Court ordered both parties to submit new briefs addressing alternative methods of providing contraception for the employees of those institutions. In the case, which was heard by the court on March 23, the nonprofits argued that the accommodation set up by the Obama administration, which requires the nonprofits to instead notify the government of their objection, still violated their religious beliefs. Questioning from the justices during oral arguments indicated the possibility of a four-to-four split in the decision. The court is now seeking from the parties proposals for a system that would allow employees at religious institutions to obtain contraception coverage with no direct action on the part of their employers. The briefs are due by April 12, and each party’s reply to the other’s brief is due by April 20.
  • Corey Lewandowski, campaign manager for Donald Trump, was charged with simple battery by Jupiter, Florida, police. The charge stems from an alleged altercation involving Lewandowski and Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields on March 9. Jupiter police also released a surveillance video of the altercation in question. Lewandowski’s initial court date is set for May 4. Trump has pledged his support for Lewandowski and said he will remain campaign manager.
    • See also: Alleged altercation between Michelle Fields and Trump campaign manager
    • See also: Alleged altercations involving Corey Lewandowski at Donald Trump campaign events
  • The U.S. and European allies sent a joint letter to the United Nations Security Council claiming that Iran’s recent launch of nuclear-capable missiles defied the Security Council’s resolution that endorsed the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2015. The Globe and Mail reported: “Western officials say that although the launches went against 2231, they were not a violation of the core nuclear agreement between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.”
  • Strategists Michael Biundo and Andrew Boucher joined the campaign of John Kasich as advisors for delegate selection. They will be tasked with targeting currently unpledged delegates as well as delegates pledged to Marco Rubio. Biundo previously worked on Rand Paul’s 2016 presidential campaign and was campaign manager for Rick Santorum’s 2012 presidential run.
  • FILING DEADLINE: Missouri’s congressional filing deadline. Missouri has one U.S. Senate seat and eight U.S. House seats up for election in 2016. The senate seat is currently held by Roy Blunt (R), and six of the eight house seats are held by Republicans, while the remaining two are held by Democrats. All nine incumbents up for re-election in 2016 are running, and they will all face at least one primary opponent in August. Ballotpedia rates each race as safe in the general election for the party that currently holds each seat.
  • FILING DEADLINE: South Dakota’s congressional filing deadline. South Dakota has one U.S. Senate seat and its only U.S. House seat up for election in 2016. Both seats are held by Republicans and Ballotpedia currently rates both races as safely Republican in the general election. Neither Sen. John Thune nor Rep. Kristi Noem will face a primary challenger in June.

State

  • The Kansas state legislature delivered a bill to the desk of Governor Sam Brownback (R) that addresses the state supreme court’s February order to revise the way public schools are funded in the state. The bill does not change the total amount of state funding provided to districts, but instead redistributes $83 million of emergency aid to the state’s poorer districts. In February, the Kansas Supreme Court struck down the legislature’s system of funding schools via block grants as inequitable. The court gave the legislature a deadline of June 30, threatening to close the schools if a solution was not developed by then. Brownback has until April 8 to sign the legislation and is expected to do so. The plan will then head to the Kansas Supreme Court for review. The court’s February order was followed less than six weeks later by a narrowly passed bill in the Kansas State Senate defining impeachment offenses for state supreme court justices to include “attempting to subvert fundamental laws and introduce arbitrary power” and “attempting to usurp the power of the legislative or executive branch of government.”
  • Chicago State University officials have asked employees and students to “turn in their keys” at its South Side campus as the school prepares for the possibility of significant layoffs and closures. Because Illinois has been operating without a state budget for 10 months, some public institutions, such as schools, have been dealing with limited or no state funding in recent months. Chicago State, unlike some of the other universities in the state, does not have enough cash in its reserves to keep the school operational as-is. Projections showed that the school can continue payroll without issue until April 30. At that point, the school will be forced to deploy new strategies that will try to keep the university functional and open. Faculty layoffs are a possible strategy for the school, and the key-collecting process was started in preparation for that possibility. Chicago State has continued to ask students to apply and maintain their enrollment despite the financial situation of the school. Officials have also claimed that tuition will not increase in the coming year.
  • Filing deadline: South Dakota
    • State executives: Though the filing deadline passed, candidates for the one state executive seat up for election--Public Utilities Commissioner--are chosen at the state conventions in June in lieu of appearing on the primary ballot.
    • State legislatures: More than half of legislative seats in South Dakota feature only a Democrat or Republican running in the general election. There are 35 state Senate and 70 state House seats up for election. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans. With a Republican governor, South Dakota is one of 23 Republican trifectas.
  • Filing deadline: Missouri
    • State executives: Five seats are up for election: Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer. All are open elections either due to term limits or incumbents seeking new offices. A.G. Chris Koster (D) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) are both angling for the governor's seat and will each face three challengers in their parties' August 2 primary; Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) is making a bid for a U.S. Senate seat.
    • State legislatures: Republicans will continue to control the Missouri Legislature by large margins. Missouri has 17 state Senate and 163 state House seats up for election in 2016. Both chambers are firmly held by Republicans. Missouri has a Democratic Governor, making it one of 20 states with a divided government.
  • The Washington State Legislature adjourned its 20-day special session. The legislature held a special session to pass a supplemental budget. The House passed the budget by a 78-17 vote, while the Senate passed it by a vote of 27-17. The budget will add $191 million in government spending over the next two years.
  • Diane Snelling (R) resigned from the Vermont State Senate after Governor Peter Shumlin (D) appointed her as the new Chair of the Natural Resources Board (NRB). Shumlin appointed Helen Riehle (R) to replace Snelling in the state Senate and she was sworn-in to the chamber on March 30. Riehle previously served in the state Senate from 1993 to 2000, and the state House from 1983 to 1992. Riehle announced that she will fill the remainder of Snelling’s term, but will not run for re-election in November.

Special elections

Local

Preview of the day

The excerpts below were compiled from issue #9 of The Tap, which was published on March 28, 2016. READ THE FULL VERSION HERE.

Federal

State

Special elections

Local

  • FILING DEADLINE: Deadline to run for two of the seven seats on the Rapid City school board in South Dakota. The general election will be on June 7, 2016. Rapid City was the second-largest school district by student enrollment in South Dakota and served 13,353 students during the 2013–2014 school year.



The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.
March: 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
April: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30
May: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
June: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30
July: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
August: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
September: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30
October: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7• 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
November: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30
December: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 31
January: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31
February: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17
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