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The Republican Party has a problem: Individual freedom for women to choose how they handle their reproductive health is wildly popular with voters.

In last Novembers midtermsthe first general election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wadesupporters of reproductive rights won every abortion-related state ballot measure, even in red states. Concerns over abortion rights helped propelDemocratic candidates to victory in race after race. With 13 states banning nearly allabortionssince June, dissatisfaction with Republican abortion policies is soaring high among US adults, and 60 percent of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

So what is the Grand Old Party to do? Their answer, in several states, is to attempt to curb voters power on this front (and others) by taking aim at the roles of elected officials.

In Georgia and Texas, state legislatures are advancing bills that create a process to boot elected prosecutors from office if they decline to enforce a state lawas nearly 100prosecutors across the country pledged to do after the Supreme Court eliminated the right to abortion last June. The Georgia effort would create a commission that could remove or discipline prosecutors who demonstrate a willful and persistent failure to perform his or her duties. According to the Houston Chronicle, the Texas package of bills would allowing district court juries to remove prosecutors who set a policy of not enforcing a particular lawsuch as the states criminal abortion ban.

The bills involve issues beyond abortion, taking aim at the progressive prosecutors who have recently won elections in big Texas cities on promises not to charge certain low-level crimes, such as minor drug possession. But tellingly, theyve drawn support from anti-abortion activist groups.Prosecutors who decline to file charges in abortion-related cases undercut the gains we have made, Rebecca Parma, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, recently testified, according to the Chronicle.

Meanwhile in Ohio, where a law banning abortion after six weeks is currently blocked by a court challenge, reproductive rights groups submitted language last month for a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing access to abortion, which is expected to go before voters in November. Republicans lawmakers who want to make it harder for that amendment to pass have been pushing a different amendment that would raise the threshold of passage for state constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60 percent supermajority. That proposal had appeared to die last December, amid protests and dissent among lawmakers. But the issue was renewed in a hearing last week, where its sponsor, state Rep. Brian Stewart, argued that constitutional amendments should be able to earn the widespread support that a 60 percent margin will require.

Theres a complication, though: For the higher vote threshold to apply to the abortion amendment, voters would first need to approve the supermajority amendment in a special election this summer. And here, Republican have shot themselves in the foot. Three months ago, as part of an elections bill that will require photo ID at the polls, they eliminated August special electionsarguing that those were too costly and drew low voter turnout. So now Republicans in Ohio are also pushing a bill to revive the August special elections, specifically to undermine the abortion amendment. If we save 30,000 lives as a result of spending $20 million, I think thats a great thing, Ohio Senate president Matt Huffman said last Thursday, according to the Ohio Capitol Journal.

The hypocrisy here has no bounds, Democratic state Rep. Alison Russo, the Ohio House minority leader, told the Capitol Journal. Really what this is about is silencing the voice of voters and shutting down direct democracy.

Continued here:
Anti-Abortion Republicans Are Pushing State Legislation to ... - Mother Jones

Candidate says city needs a strong leader who can make hard decisions

Jodie Perry says the city, community and region are facing a "pivotal moment."

"We need a strong leader, someone who can build positive relationships, someone who can make hard decisions," she said.

Perry is one of four Republican candidates running in the May 2 primary to replace Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker, who cannot run again because of term limits. Early voting begins April 4.

Perry is vying with Jim Holsinger, Linn Steward and Stephanie Zader. The winner will face Democrat Sherry Vaught in November's general election.

A resident of Mansfield since 2014, Perry has been the president and CEO of Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development.

Since her September announcement that she would run for mayor, Perry has assumed the title of chief operating officer.

Perry, 46, is a native of Rochester, New York. She came to the area to attend Ashland University, where she majored in political science and religion and minored in history.

"All the things you're not to speak about at the dinner table," Perry said.

She oversaw the affiliation with the countywide economic development organization, Richland Community Development Group in 2017, which has focused on bringing higher-paying jobs to the area.

Perry is also a co-leader of the Mansfield Rising project, which established a Downtown Improvement Plan in 2018.

"I really have made a lot of great connections in this community," she said. "My love for the community is very genuine. I thought this is the place where I wanted to stay."

Prior to coming to the local chamber, Perry led the Greece (N.Y.) Chamber of Commerce for eight years and the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce in Ohio.

She also was the director of research and communication for the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce.

For the last few months, Perry has been a regular attendee at Mansfield City Council meetings.

"I'm used to a board of directors, which is different than council," she said. "It's been interesting to learn about that."

Perry said she decided to run because Theaker is serving his final year.

"With the experience and work I've done with the city, I was interested," she said. "It's related to what I do at the chamber but different. I enjoy challenges."

Perry says she wants to focus on economic development as a foundation.

"We need to grow. I think Mansfield is well-positioned for further growth," she said.

She said she wants to see the city build, secure and prepare.

"Essential upgrades to Mansfield's underlying infrastructure will improve our safety, plus create a strong foundation for future development," Perry said in campaign literature. "Our safety services need the tools, training and personnel to provide the service you expect."

Regarding preparation, she said, "Fiscal responsibility can be done with wise management of your tax dollars while minimizing the burden to city residents and businesses."

Perry has been going door-to-door in her campaign and has seven billboards. She jokes she's getting tired of seeing her own face.

She is being endorsed by Theaker, Ontario Mayor Randy Hutchinson, Richland County Commissioners Tony Vero and Darrell Banks, Shelby Mayor Steve Schag, Mansfield City Council members Aurelio Diaz and Laura Burns, Bellville Mayor Teri Brenkus, county Auditor Pat Dropsey and county Engineer Adam Gove.

"What people have seen from me at the chamber in terms of my work ethic, my ability to collaborate ... I am who I am," Perry said.

She noted there will be many changes in city administration. Along with mayor, there will be new law and finance directors and new municipal court judges.

"To me, it's a good opportunity to build new relationships," Perry said. "Whatever happened in the past can just stay there. I think everybody's excited for fresh ideas."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

See more here:
Perry is one of 4 Republicans seeking nomination for Mansfield mayor - Mansfield News Journal

The Iowa Capitol dome is illuminated by the sunset Feb. 16, 2017, in Des Moines. (The Gazette)

Raising individual and corporate income tax rates in the state would require a two-thirds majority vote of lawmakers under a proposal advanced by Senate lawmakers Monday.

A three-member subcommittee of the Senates Ways & Means tax-policy committee advanced Senate Study Bill 1207. The joint resolution calls for an amendment to the Iowa Constitution to require a two-thirds rather than a simple majority vote of each the House and Senate to increase individual and corporate income tax rates.

The proposed amendment also would create the Taxpayer Relief Fund under the Iowa Constitution and specify it is to be exclusively used to reduce income tax rates, sales and use tax rates, or property tax rates.

The Taxpayer Relief Fund is currently established under Iowa Code, making it subject to amendment or repeal by lawmakers. Under the proposal, the fund would be protected under the state constitution, requiring voter approval for any changes.

Amending the Iowa Constitution requires the proposal pass both the House and Senate, be signed by the governor and pass again during the next General Assembly, either during the legislative session in 2025 or 2026, before then being put to voters for approval.

What we are trying to accomplish here is create an article in the Iowa Constitution protecting the taxpayer from runaway government, said committee chairman and bill sponsor Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs. What we are trying to do here is at least rein government in on its worst times.

Dawson added: It should be harder in Iowa to raise taxes than it is to cut it.

I find it perplexing that in the Iowa Constitution we protect money for highway funds, fish habitats and for trails, he said. But, what we dont do is protect the Iowa taxpayers, and thats what this is here about today putting something in the Iowa Constitution that actually protects the Iowa taxpayers.

Opponents, including the Common Good Iowa, the Iowa Catholic Conference and the Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club, called the proposal fiscally irresponsible.

Our economy is cyclical, and we need policies that adjust to that when it is expanding and when it is contracting, said committee member Sen. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport. To put something like this in the constitution doesnt gives us the flexibility we would potentially need, particularly when previously approved income tax cuts fully kick in, resulting in an expected reduction of $1.9 billion from the state budget.

Dawson and Sen. Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville, advanced the bill to the full Senate Ways & Means Committee for consideration, with Winckler opposed.

An Iowa Senate committee advanced a bill dealing with county compensation boards on Monday, but said they intend to remove a provision allowing county boards of supervisors to dissolve a compensation board.

As written, House File 314 would give county supervisors the option to dissolve and create a county compensation board, which annually sets the salaries of the county supervisors, attorney, treasurer, sheriff, auditor and recorder. Under current law, compensation boards are required. It passed the House 62-33 in February.

While the bill passed unanimously out of the Senate Local Government Committee meeting on Monday, Sen. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville said the Senate intends to amend the bill on the floor to keep compensation boards as a requirement in each county.

The amendment, which has not been filed, would keep a requirement in the bill that compensation boards provide the data they used to reach the proposed salaries, Klimesh said. It also would dictate that the salary of new elected officials could not be lower than the previous officeholders salary and require members of a county compensation board to receive training on the position.

Klimesh said the decision to keep county compensation boards as a requirement came out of conversations with elected officials and supervisors, most of which wanted to keep compensation boards.

Erika Eckley, a lawyer with experience in health care, agricultural law and statehouse lobbying, has been named the new executive director of the Iowa Public Information Board, the state board that resolves disputes over Iowas public records and meetings laws.

Eckley becomes the fourth executive director in the boards 10-year history. She succeeds Margaret Johnson, who is retiring.

We are excited to have Erika join the staff of the board, IPIB chairwoman Julie Pottorff said in a news release. Erika brings a number of skills that will make her a tremendous asset.

The executive director advises and provides counsel to the nine-member board, and oversees the agencys administration.

Eckley has worked as an attorney for the Iowa Hospital Association and Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. She also has worked as a lobbyist for the Iowa Hospital Association, the Hospice and Palliative Care Association, and Intoxalock, an ignition interlock device company.

Eckley has a law degree from Drake University, a masters in public administration from Iowa State University, and an undergraduate degree from Grand View University in Des Moines.

Read the original:
Iowa Senate Republicans propose adding taxpayer protections to ... - The Gazette

Senate Republicans adopted a joint resolution Wednesday pressuring Gov. Tony Evers to convene a special election to replace Secretary of State Doug La Follette who resigned last week. State law, however, does not require a new election.

The move comes after the governor appointed Sarah Godlewski, former state treasurer and unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate, to fill the rest of La Follettes nearly four year term.

Senate Republicans balked at Evers appointment, claiming voters should have the chance to choose their own secretary of state in a special election.

The legislature is simply calling on the governor to exercise his authority to allow the people of Wisconsin to elect their next secretary of state, Sen. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) explained at Wednesdays floor vote. The people of Wisconsin did not vote for Sarah Godlewski.

Democrats defended the appointment, recalling former Republican Gov. Scott Walkers appointment of Rebecca Bradley and Dan Kelly to the State Supreme Court without ever calling a special election, and pointing to Godlewskis recent history in elected statewide office.

Gov. Evers did not pick a random person off the street, said Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison). He picked Sarah Godlewski, a person who was elected in her own right, statewide, served four years as state treasurer, and she won her election overwhelmingly in a Wisconsin landslide by 100,000 votes.

Shell do a great job, Evers remarked at a press conference Tuesday. Shes been part of the executive branch of government, and I trust her.

Republicans have also accused the governor of colluding with La Follette, the popular 82 year old incumbent and fellow Democrat, to resign and give the much younger Godlewski an incumbency advantage in 2026. Evers denies any such involvement.

I think the last I talked to Doug La Follette, I saw him at the inauguration, and I said Good speech, Doug, Evers explained.

Additionally, Evers noted there was no collusion.

He brought [to] my office a letter saying Im sick of this stuff. He left, I appointed a completely competent person to do the work and thats the end of that story, Evers added.

The secretary of state is a largely symbolic position, mainly responsible for safeguarding the states official seal.

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If a special election is not called, Godlewskis term will expire in 2027. She will likely face a reelection challenge from Republicans in 2026.

The Daily Cardinal has been covering the University and Madison community since 1892. Please consider giving today.

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Wisconsin Republicans recommend special election for secretary of ... - Daily Cardinal

On Saturday, March 25th, along northbound Highway 101, beginning at Parkway Drive, you may have seen men and women wearing hardhats and vests. The Del Norte Republicans participated in a statewide effort to clean up California one segment at a time.

The CalTrans sponsored event, Clean California Community Spring into Action, encouraged groups and residents statewide to participate in cleaning their communities.

Under the Adopt-a-Highway program, the Del Norte Republicans are responsible for keeping the segment along northbound Highway 101 between Parkway Dr and Highway 199 clean.

Garbage collected on the highway.

Our committee cares about our community. Keeping our stretch of the highway trash free is one way to give back. Being part of the community is important, not just during election season.

Thats why we, the Del Norte Republicans, have adopted one of the most littered segments in Del Norte County, Karen Sanders, chairwoman of the Del Norte Republicans, said during the event.

The Del Norte Republicans are responsible for cleaning their section of Highway 101 about 6 times a year. They average 13 bags of trash each time. If you are interested in helping in the future, please go to their website at http://www.delnorterepublicans.org and click the "Volunteer" button.

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Del Norte Republicans Participate in the Clean California ... - The Triplicate