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- Stateline Story
Legal Woes Have Hit Other Governors
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) became the latest governor to be in trouble with the law, after federal authorities arrested him and his chief of staff Tuesday (Dec. 9). But not all scandal-tainted governors have been convicted or forced to step down.more -
- Stateline Story
'Present' Votes Defended by Ill. Lawmakers
In most legislatures, lawmakers vote either "yes" or "no" on bills, but in Illinois, senators and representatives can hit a third button for a "present" vote. Now that quirk - not unique to Illinois - has sparked heated exchanges among Democrats vying for president.more -
- Stateline Story
Another Sanford joke riles lawmakers
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) jokes about terrorism at the Capitol. A Kansas political operative asks for unemployment benefits after running a losing campaign. And a GOP ad in Louisiana commits a football faux pas. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.more -
- Stateline Story
Turnabout overdue in state-federal relations
States' relationship with the federal government is at a low point, a condition our nation can no longer afford, writes Raymond C. Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association, in his latest commentary for Stateline.org.more -
- Stateline Story
Colorado is hot spot for politicking by 527s
More than a dozen political nonprofit groups, so-called 527s, are using their special federal tax status to circumvent Colorado's tight limits on campaign contributions. And they aren't alone. More than 300 527s are based in at least 45 states, raking in unlimited contributions and sometimes wresting control of the political landscape even from the parties and candidates they seek to promote.more -
- Stateline Story
Scandals alter pols' tunes; will voters listen?
Scandals are making news in more than a dozen states at a time when key members of Congress and the Bush administration are under a cloud as well. Political experts caution, though, that the string of scandals won't necessarily translate into big changes in control of state or federal government on Election Day.more -
- Stateline Story
Four Legislatures Rapped For Lax Ethics Ignore Criticism
In a scathing report last February called "Hidden Agendas," the Center for Public Integrity, a non-profit, non-partisan government watchdog group, criticized state legislators in Michigan, Idaho, Utah and Vermont for having the laxest ethical standards in the nation. stateline.org looked at the situation again six months later, and found that little has changed. more