A number of clean energy and environmental protection ballot measures were voted down Tuesday. These ballot measures ranged from more conventional measures requiring certain percentages of a state’s electricity production to come from renewable sources to more radical measures including direct taxes on carbon emissions and the requirement of an open and competitive electricity market. [...]

Voters in traditionally more conservative Idaho, Utah and Nebraska voted Tuesday to adopt Medicaid expansion provisions through ballot measures. Montana voters decided against an initiative that proposed a tax hike on tobacco products to continue funding the Medicaid expansion programs already active in the state. In Idaho voters approved Proposition 2 that proposed expanding Medicaid eligibility [...]

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions submitted his resignation letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Wednesday at the request of President Donald Trump. In the letter, Sessions touted the record numbers of “violent offenders and firearm defendants” the Justice Department prosecuted while under his watch. Trump announced via twitter that Matthew Whitaker, Chief [...]

Four states—Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota and Utah—voted on marijuana measures Tuesday, with Michigan becoming the tenth state to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Michigan voters approved Proposal 1, known as the state’s Marijuana Legalization Initiative. Proposal 1 enables the recreational purchase and possession of marijuana for adults over 21 years old. Individual Michigan municipalities can [...]

Supporters of Oregon’s measure 105 lost their bid Tuesday to repeal Oregon ORS 181A.820, which limits the use of state and local law enforcement money, equipment and personnel for “detecting or apprehending persons whose only violation of law” pertains to their immigration status. Oregon’s sanctuary roots dates back to 1987 when the citizens of Oregon decided that [...]

Voters in six states, including Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina and Oklahoma, voted on Marsy’s law amendments, a model amendment that typically provides a set of constitutional protections for crime victims. The model amendment includes provisions for the right to be notified about and present at proceedings against the perpetrator, the right to be involved [...]

Arkansas and Missouri voted on Tuesday to approve measures raising the states’ minimum wages. In Arkansas, the minimum wage will now gradually raise to $11 per hour by 2021. Arkansas currently has a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour. In Missouri, the minimum wage will now annually increase from $7.85 per hour to $12 per hour by 2023. The final wage can [...]

Washington state voters on Tuesday approved initiative 1639 with 60 percent of the vote, significantly strengthening the state’s firearm laws. The measure will raise the legal age to buy semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21. To obtain such firearms, potential gun owners will need to pass an enhanced background check, show proof that they completed [...]

Alabama and West Virginia voters passed ballot measures on Tuesday to eliminate taxpayer funded abortions. Oregon, the third State to have an abortion related ballot measure this election cycle, did not receive adequate support to ban abortion funding. Alabama’s state legislature proposed a ballot measure to establish a state policy prohibiting state funds from being used for [...]

The state of West Virginia voted Tuesday to approve a judicial budget oversight amendment.  The amendment allows the West Virginia legislature to reduce the judicial budget by no more than 15 percent. Providing that the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary may be reduced in the budget bill, and setting fort the required procedures [...]