Kentucky's Governor Will Physically Fight for Religious Beliefs; Dead Man Running for New York State Assembly
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Timothy D. Easley / AP Photo
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Massachusetts to transfer mentally ill inmates; California farm workers' pay improved; and a Montana town's trouble with bonds.
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
BEVIN | Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin believes American citizens may need to physically fight to preserve religious and conservative values in the country. While not his first resort, the governor pointed to abortion and gay marriage as signs of the “degradation” of society during a speech at the Value Voters Conference. He likened conservatives sitting silently to those who simply watched as the Nazis persecuted different groups and said a Hillary Clinton presidency would make things worse. “Whose blood will be shed?” Bevin asked. “It may be that of those in this room. It might be that of our children and grandchildren. I have nine children. It breaks my heart to think that it might be their blood is needed to redeem something, to reclaim something that we, through our apathy and our indifference, have given away. Don’t let it happen.” Asked about his comments later, Bevin said he was talking about military sacrifice. [Lexington Herald-Leader]
ALBANY, NEW YORK
ELECTIONS | There is a dead man on the ballot for New York State’s Assembly primary, and it seems likely he may win. Bill Nojay, a Republican, fatally shot himself last week in a city cemetery, and while much is unknown about his final days, or the circumstances surrounding his death, his presence on the ballot has added a twist to what would otherwise be a straightforward race. If voters choose Nojay, as they are being encouraged to do, Republican leaders—three men who lead three counties that fall partly or fully in the 133rd Assembly district—will chose someone to run as the candidate in his place. Officially, they have until 10 days following his death to do so, meaning about a week after the primary. [The New York Times]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
MENTAL HEALTH | Gov. Charlie Baker wants to change how his state’s criminal justice system treats people with mental illnesses. As part of this mission, his administration will be moving mentally ill inmates convicted of state crimes out the state prison in Bridgewater and into a different facility. The move would shift Bridgewater State Hospital, which is currently run by the Department of Correction, away from a prison model and toward a more health-based approach. In Baker’s new stepped up plan, every inmate with mental health issues would get individualized care within 10 days of admission. [The Boston Globe]
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA
FARM LABOR | Overtime pay for agricultural workers in California will become more closely matched with other sectors, under legislation Gov. Jerry Brown signed Monday. The bill will phase in requirements for time-and-a-half pay for farm laborers who work more than eight hours in a day, or 40 hours in a week. With current law the thresholds for receiving overtime for agricultural workers are 10 hours of work in a day, or 60 hours in a week. The overtime bill’s approval was a win for the United Farm Workers union. After passing narrowly in the legislature, it remained uncertain whether Brown would sign the legislation. Industry groups opposed the measure with some arguing it would lead to cutbacks in worker hours. [Sacramento Bee]
HARDIN, MONTANA
BOND DEFAULTS | After a coal-fired power plant on the edge of town stopped paying its taxes, this small city located about 50 miles east of Billings has seen revenue bonds tied to the facility slip into default. The city issued $12 million in debt in 2006 to help pay for infrastructure to support the power plant. But the company that operates it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2012. Because the bonds were linked directly to the plant’s tax payments, city residents are not on the hook to repay the money. But some city officials are still troubled by the situation, which follows a similar one involving $27 million of revenue bonds issued for a jail. A lack of revenue led to a default on that debt also. “It reflects on all of us,” said city finance director Michelle Dyckman. “Because we have pride in Hardin, and to have something like this happen in Hardin again … it just doesn’t look good.” [Billings Gazette]
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