OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Though his predecessor, Democrat Drew Edmondson, ultimately decided against pursuing litigation against the federal health care reform measure, incoming Republican State Attorney General Scott Pruitt said that he plans on moving forward with the legal action as soon as he takes office. Edmondson’s about-face with the health care lawsuit was quite controversial in the rather [...]

By Bailey Ludlam and Al Ortiz: January 2011 marks the beginning of a new year for ballot measures, as Ballotpedia will turn to a new batch of election dates, legislative sessions, proposals and campaigns. Before 2010 ends, however, Ballotpedia has completed the last section of the 2010 ballot measure analysis, which breaks down election percentages by ballot [...]

By Greg Janetka RALEIGH, North Carolina: Republicans in the North Carolina General Assembly have long cried foul over how Democrats have redrawn district boundaries, often with allegations of gerrymandering. This is all set to change, however, as Republicans will be in control of redistricting for the first time in over a century. Sweeping gains in the November [...]

On its November 2 and June 8 ballots, California voters weighed in on a total of 20 local ballot measures that influence the pay, pension packages, healthcare retirement payments, and contract negotiation perogatives of labor unions. The pro-union/labor position lost in 19 out of the 20 contests. 5 measures about labor negotiations, pay rates and binding arbitration. [...]

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island: Lincoln Chafee will be sworn in as the new Governor of Rhode Island on January 4, 2011. [1] Chafee, who ran as an Independent, will become the only governor in the country who is not a Democrat or Republican. With a glaring budget hole to fill, Chafee is planning to lead by example with responsible [...]

LANSING, Michigan: The Michigan state legislature held their final vote for the 2009-2010 session on Wednesday. The vote sent a bill to Gov. Jennifer Granholm that will allow the sale of the state’s School for the Deaf site in Flint to a developer. The bill would allow the state to offer the Flint property to Lurvey White Ventures [...]

SANTA FE, New Mexico: With a budget deficit of roughly $400 million next year, Governor-elect Susana Martinez (R) has requested to state agencies that they trim their budgets by 10 percent for the next fiscal year. [1] Additionally, Martinez has asked for recommendations of low-priority programs that could be cut. According to Danny Diaz spokesperson for Martinez, the [...]

PIERRE, South Dakota: Allegations of voter fraud in this year’s South Dakota general elections have been found not worthy of federal prosecution by US Attorney Brendan Johnson. [1] South Dakota Democrats and Republicans filed similar complaints against each other in October with allegations that food was offered in exchange for votes at campaign events. Republicans fired the [...]

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Oklahoma State Question 744, according to Ballotpedia’s 2010 ballot measure campaign contribution rankings, comes in at #21, raking in a grand total of $5,158,159. Both supporters’ and opponents’ contributions were added to come to this total. State Question 744 would have amended the Oklahoma Constitution to require the Oklahoma State Legislature to fund public education to [...]

TOPEKA, Kansas: Kansas ballot measure results have been certified, and while it was already known that both constitutional amendments on Kansas ballot were approved, final numbers have now been solidified. Amendment 1, which changes the constitution to allow the right to bear arms in the state of Kansas for lawful purposes, passed with a vote of 88.2 to [...]