Random Politics

[China]

'Extraordinary': GOP governor accidentally vetoes state's housing budget

A Republican governor made what one insider called an "extraordinary" error this week, mistakenly vetoing his state's $35 million housing budget.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that Gov. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) took up an agency budget bill approved by the legislature. He planned to veto a couple of line items on Monday, but instead accidentally vetoed $35 million for the state’s housing budget. He had meant to ax a $150,000 grant to fund a Native American homelessness liaison position.

The state now must regroup and figure out how to work around the veto flub.

Click on the link for the full article

[China]

Meanwhile in Nebraska...

Nebraska biennial budget vetoes fail to go into effect after governor misses deadline

A mix-up in the Nebraska governor’s office has likely cost Gov. Jim Pillen his veto power for the state’s biennium budget.

Gov. Pillen signed LB 261 and LB 264 with line-item vetoes on Wednesday. They made it to his desk on May 15. He made multiple modifications to the 2025-2027 biennial budget, which included:

• Reducing the Supreme Court’s budget increase to mirror the rate of increase provided to the University of Nebraska
  Using existing agency funds to cover Fire Marshal salary and health insurance premium increases
  Reducing the additional appropriation provided to public health departments, thereby, bringing funding back to a pre-pandemic level
  Cutting an $18 million cash fund reappropriation for recreational upgrades at Lake McConaughy

Gov. Pillen’s office was supposed to deliver the line item vetoes to the Clerk of the Legislature by midnight Thursday morning. However, 10/11 learned that the vetoes got there after 9 a.m. this morning.

Per State Statute lV-15, the Governor has five days - excluding Sundays - to get his vetoes to the Clerk’s office after a bill is passed, or it becomes law.

The governor’s office will consult with the Attorney General’s Office and other council on next steps.

It’s unclear where the Nebraska Legislature goes from here, but per state constitution, LB 261 and LB 264 without the vetoes are now law.

Click on the link for the full article

[The Sisko]

Republicans unveil steep cuts to Medicaid in portion of Trump tax bill

Legislation introduced by House Republicans late Sunday would slash Medicaid spending significantly by imposing new restrictions on Medicaid beneficiaries such as work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, but the most controversial changes floated to the program were not included.

The bill from the House Energy and Commerce Committee comes ahead of what’s expected to be a marathon committee hearing Tuesday.

The legislation released Sunday did not include specific spending estimates, but claimed it would save roughly $900 billion.

It appears to cater more to the moderate wing of the party than the conservatives, who had been agitating for drastic cuts to the program. But it remains to be seen if leaders found the right balance between the two factions.

In a Wall Street Journal opinion article published Sunday ahead of the bill’s release, Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) indicated the changes to Medicaid shouldn’t be seen as a cut.

Still, millions of people would lose health insurance under the plan through policies such as work requirements and a new cost-sharing requirement for certain beneficiaries.

The bill also touches on a host of social issues. For instance, it would prohibit Medicaid funding being used for gender-affirming care for minors. It would also stop Medicaid from reimbursing community health providers such as Planned Parenthood that provide family planning and abortion services.

“Let’s be clear, Republican leadership released this bill under cover of night because they don’t want people to know their true intentions,” committee ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) said in a statement.

Democrats late Sunday released a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis showing the legislation would increase the number of people without health insurance by at least 8.6 million in 2034.

Click on the link for the full article

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[China]

Fans Chanted “You Suck” At Governor Ron DeSantis On WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event (Video)

[The Evil Genius]

I was this old when I learned that French President Macron was groomed. His wife was his teacher in school. He was 14, she was 39.

[88Commanders00]

[China]

Sickening that people would vote for this corrupt slimebag, but I shouldn't be surprised; they voted for Trump.

Ken Paxton leads John Cornyn by 9 percentage points in U.S. Senate race, TSU poll finds

A new poll released Wednesday shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with a commanding lead over incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in either a two-person race or a three-person race in next year’s Republican primary. But Paxton's lead in the poll shrinks dramatically against potential Democratic rivals in the 2026 general election.

The poll from Texan Southern University's Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center shows Paxton leading Cornyn by 9 percentage points in a two-person race and by 7 points if U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt of Houston enters the primary.

"Right now, if it's a head-to-head race between Paxton and Cornyn, Paxton is a very strong favorite, and it's tough to see how, absent, say, a Trump endorsement of Cornyn, Cornyn could effectively flip the table on Paxton," said Mark Jones, political science fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute and co-author of the survey with TSU's Michael O. Adams.

But Paxton's lead drops to 3 points in a hypothetical matchup against Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro of San Antonio and to just 2 points against former Dallas Congressman Colin Allred, putting either Democrat within striking distance of victory. The poll shows both Cornyn and Hunt leading either Democrat by larger margins.

Click on the link for the full article

[88Commanders00]