Back to The Newsroom

Labor Council Standing with Long Thompson

The Central Labor Council of Southern Indiana, an Evansville-based umbrella group of locals affiliated with the AFL-CIO, has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates Jill Long Thompson and Dennie Oxley II. Read more

DGA, RGA Send Joint Letter to Congress. This morning the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Governor Joe Manchin, and the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Rick Perry, released a joint letter to Congress urging them to pass an economic recovery package. Read more

CAMPAIGN NEWS

MO – Nixon Endorsed by School Administrators. The Missouri Association of School Administrators announced its endorsement of Jay Nixon for Governor. After the organization met with both candidates, it decided Nixon is “best suited to meet the challenges facing Missouri schools.” This endorsement follows Democratic criticism of Congressman Hulshof’s new education proposal, which creates a tax credit that can be used for tuition or tutoring. Read more

DE – Working Families Back Markell. Delaware’s AFL-CIO and the union representing thousands of state workers have endorsed Jack Markell in his bid for governor. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Laborers International Union of North America’s Political Action Committee also endorsed Markell over Republican candidate William Lee. Read more

NC – Perdue to Put More Police Officers on the Streets. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue criticized Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory in his hometown for vetoing a city budget that contained money to hire more police officers. Perdue mentioned at a breakfast forum in Charlotte that the mayor rejected a budget bill that would have added 70 police officers. The Democratic-controlled City Council overrode his veto. Perdue has been endorsed by several law enforcement groups. Perdue’s campaign said she would work to increase the number of police officers in the state and support a federal plan that would give incentives for police recruits. Read more

ENERGY NEWS

ME – Baldacci Encourages Student Involvement in Energy Efficiency. October is Energy Awareness Month, and to kick it off, Gov. John Baldacci is encouraging students to submit one or two tips on how to save energy in their homes or schools. He will present the winners with a solar-powered iPod Shuffle at a special award ceremony. “We want to inspire students to talk about saving energy in their homes and schools and also learn how simple changes can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Baldacci said. “The earlier we get our students focused on these issues and what they can do, the better the outcome will be for Maine and the world. Their children and grandchildren will be living with the consequences of energy decisions made now.” Read more

MD – O’Malley Announces New Solar Energy Agreement. A new solar power system will help power the Maryland Environmental Service’s headquarters in Millersville, the governor’s office said. The agreement involving Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group will last 15 years, and the electricity produced by the solar panels will power about half of MES headquarters’ annual electricity, the governor’s office said. The solar installation will also serve as an educational facility. “Maryland will continue to invest in renewable energy resources, including the use of Maryland’s share of the $38 million generated in the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade auction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said. Read more

WY – Freudenthal Welcomes New Wind Farm. Duke Energy Corp. opened its first wind farm dedicating a 30-megawatt “local” project that will supply wind power to Cheyenne and environs. The14-turbine Happy Jack Wind Farm will supply power to Black Hills Corp. and its subsidiary, Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power, with nearly enough power for its daily needs. With wind turbines whistling gently in the background, speakers from Duke Energy and Black Hills hailed the partnerships behind the Happy Jack project, while Gov. Dave Freudenthal said the project sends a signal that utilities can develop wind energy and transmission capacity in Wyoming. Read more

GENERAL NEWS

AZ – Napolitano Announces New Education Center. Gov. Janet Napolitano announced the new Arizona STEM Education Center, which will help Arizona expand its focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to successfully prepare our children to lead in today’s competitive global economy. “The new education center will help make certain that Arizona cultivates the skills needed to thrive in today’s global marketplace,” Gov. Napolitano said. “Increasing science, technology, engineering and math education is critical to our students’ and state’s future.” Read more

IA – Culver Confident in State’s Economy. Iowa is well-positioned to withstand Wall Street’s crisis, Gov. Chet Culver said, expressing confidence the state will still make a full recovery from flooding and tornadoes that struck this spring. “Relief is on the way to people who still need it,” Culver said in a speech to about 300 people. He promised that none of the 40,000 Iowans displaced by flooding in 35 cities will be left homeless this winter. In assessing Iowa’s economic situation, Culver noted the state’s treasury currently has $640 million in cash reserves, compared with $48 million in cash reserves after the 1993 Midwest floods. “The good news is that in Iowa, our fiscal house is in order, so going into this challenging national economic situation, Iowa is actually much better positioned than most states,” Culver said. “I feel good knowing that we continue to create jobs and our bioeconomy is doing well, although it’s still too early to know the direct impact from the financial crisis on Wall Street.” Read more

KY – Most Kentuckians Approve of Beshear. A new poll shows most Kentuckians approve of the job Gov. Steve Beshear is doing. The Courier-Journal Bluegrass poll of 800 randomly selected Kentucky residents found that 60 percent approve of Beshear’s actions in the governor’s office. Beshear’s approval rating is 17 percentage points higher than former Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s was at the same point in his term. In recent weeks, Beshear has taken steps to keep gas prices low in the wake of two Gulf Coast hurricanes and joined with Attorney General Jack Conway to determine whether some gas stations have been gouging Louisville customers. Read more

MA – Patrick Announces Increased Health Care Funding. At a time when many states are facing substantial cuts in federal financing, Massachusetts will be able to expand its first-in-the-nation healthcare law because of a federal promise of $10.6 billion over the next three years, Governor Deval Patrick said. The deal gives Massachusetts about $2.1 billion more than it received from the government in its last round of negotiations three years ago for its Medicaid waiver package. The waiver allows Massachusetts to provide subsidized health insurance to some residents with incomes higher than would typically be allowed under traditional Medicaid rules. Read more

NH – Lynch Launches Training Program to Help Displaced Workers. Gov. John Lynch has announced the start of an advanced manufacturing training program, which will provide 150 displaced workers with an accelerated apprenticeship program and guaranteed jobs in two companies. The Skills Through Apprenticeship and Retraining program is being founded through a $1.8 million grant awarded to the state from the U.S. Department of Labor. The program offers workers an accelerated, 2-year advanced manufacturing apprenticeship. At the same time, these workers will earn college credits from River Valley Community College on Claremont, which can be applied towards an associate’s degree. Read more

NJ – Corzine Addresses Economy on PBS. Gov. Jon Corzine discusses the current economic crisis on the PBS program, “The Tavis Smiley Show.” Watch here

NY – Paterson Wants New Commission on Public-Private Partnerships. Gov. David Paterson is expected to create a state commission that will recommend ways the state can raise money, or save money, through public-private partnerships involving state assets. Paterson said public-private partnerships would enable the state to make efficient long-term investments, even amid the turmoil on Wall Street and with the state’s own financial difficulties. He said spiking prices of commodities such as asphalt and steel have created a “paramount” need to develop new ways for the state to build and pay for infrastructure projects and other needs. “Public-private partnerships are not the only answer, but we need to honestly assess whether they can be part of the solution,” Paterson said. Read more

PA – Rendell Welcomes New Jobs. Equitable Resources will expand its operations in Pittsburgh and lease a large downtown office space in the Dominion Tower for its non-utility businesses, Gov. Ed Rendell said. The building will be the headquarters of Equitable Production, which develops, produces and sells natural gas and related products, and Equitable Midstream, which provides natural gas gathering services, storage capacity, natural gas liquids processing and transmission pipeline services.
Overall, the project could create 354 jobs and protect 772 more, Rendell said. Read more

TN – Bredesen Announces Health Care Improvements. Gov. Bredesen announced that there will be no rate increase in CoverTN premiums in 2009 and the number of primary care physician visits will be doubled. “Keeping premiums low while providing access to quality health benefits for our CoverTN enrollees is incredibly important, especially during these tough economic times,” Bredesen said. In addition to increasing the number of physician visits, the qualifying annual income limit for individuals enrolling in the plan will increase from $43,000 to $55,000. Read more

VA – Kaine: Funds to Help Speed Rail Service. Passenger train service between Richmond and Washington could become faster, thanks to a rail expansion project just south of Fredericksburg that’s now getting some federal help. Gov. Tim Kaine and U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced federal funding will help pay for an already-started project to help ease a choke point along the rail line in Spotsylvania County. The project will construct a three-mile third track south of Fredericksburg so that faster trains can pass slower ones. Eventually, Kaine said, “you will be able to get quicker from downtown Richmond to Union Station on the train than you’ll be able to drive from Leesburg in rush hour.” Read more

WV- Manchin Looking Out for Families, Businesses as Wall Street Fallout Continues. Joined by top state officials, Gov. Joe Manchin reiterated today that West Virginia was in better position than other states to weather the Wall Street storm because of the fiscally responsible actions his administration has taken in the past four years. Manchin and other officials called a press conference to discuss the state’s financial condition as the national economy struggles to rebound from a barrage of problems such as bad mortgages, failed banks and plummeting markets. The governor used an old proverb, “It’s better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once,” to describe the state’s approach to financial matters. “We have been careful,” Manchin said at today’s conference. “There’s not one of us who’s going to escape the financial calamity. But West Virginia is in the best possible condition to weather the storm. We’re better prepared than any other state, if not all states.” Read more

WI – Doyle Announces Foreclosure Relief. Gov. Jim Doyle announced local foreclosures will get a bit of a bailout from Uncle Sam. Wisconsin will get $39 million to buy up, tear down, or sell foreclosed properties. According to UW-Extension, there are 7,663 foreclosures in Wisconsin in the first quarter of the year. That’s up 41% from the same time last year. Governor Doyle says the government money will help stabilize neighborhoods and help slow the drop in the value of homes. These grants can help buy up foreclosed properties, demolish them, or help buyers put down payments on them. Read more

Copyright & Paid for by The Democratic Governors Association

A Bullseye Project