ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 9 -- The Maryland Democratic Party issued the following news: As the 2019 Legislative Session concludes, we are left with many emotions. While Democrats passed a number of progressive policies that will make deep investments in education funding, improve wages for Maryland workers, and support working parents and young people, we also said goodbye to a friend, mentor, and legend in Maryland politics--Speaker Michael Busch. As we honor the life, service, and legacy of  more

HELENA, Montana, April 8 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release: Sen. Al Olszewski, R-SD-06, today voted against continuing to provide affordable health care to 96,000 Montanans, just days after announcing his 2020 campaign for governor. On April 3, Olszewski announced his bid for the Montana governorship, claiming one of his priorities would be affordable health care. Yet today, Olszewski cast his second vote this session against Republican-sponsored legislation to   more

AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 11 -- The Georgia Democratic Party issued the following news release: Today, as competitive rounds for The Masters begin and the world's eyes turn to Augusta, Brian Kemp and Georgia Republicans are once again attempting to hide their backwards policy agenda from the world. House Bill 481, which would effectively ban abortion in Georgia and is opposed by Georgia doctors, Georgia businesses, and Georgia women, is currently sitting on Kemp's desk - conveniently on hold unt  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chairman David Pepper after Mike DeWine signed into law the nation's most extreme abortion ban, which is expected to lead to another costly legal fight: * * * - Near-total Abortion Ban Abandons Maternal Health, Provides No Exceptions For Rape And Incest * * * "Beyond its violation of the constitution, this law takes Ohio in the wrong direction. A woman should have the ability to make her own personal deci  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 8 -- The Indiana Democratic Party issued the following news release: Governor Eric Holcomb himself made hate crimes a top priority, then never laid out a vision, never led or lifted a finger to get it passed. Now, he struggles to even say where he stands on the bill he signed. In a recent interview, Holcomb toggled between wanting a bill that matches his employment policy (which includes protections for sex, gender identity and age) and believing that the bill he s  more

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 7 -- The Maryland Democratic Party issued the following news: On Sunday news broke that Michael Busch, Speaker to the Maryland House of Delegates was placed on a ventilator due to complications with Pneumonia. Hours later, news outlets confirmed that Speaker Busch passed away. He was 72 years old. Busch served as speaker for 16 years and is the longest-serving speaker in Maryland history. He was born in Baltimore City, and was a coach and teacher at St. Mary's High S  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, April 9 -- The Democratic Party of Missouri issued the following statement by Executive Director Lauren Gepford: This week the Kansas City Star reported that Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr has committed to continuing a House investigation of the Parson Administration's handling of income tax withholdings. This follows a state audit conducted by Auditor Nicole Galloway that uncovered that the Department of Revenue secretly adjusted income tax withholdings in January  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 11 -- The Nebraska Democratic Party issued the following news release, dated April 9: NDP Chair Jane Kleeb praised the strong slate of Democratic candidates that advanced in Tuesday's City of Lincoln Primary Election and now heads to the May 7 General Election. "The strength of Democratic voters continues to beat expectations as we build our party across the state," Kleeb said. In the race for Mayor, Democrat Leirion Gaylor Baird will face Republican Cyndi Lamm in the  more

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 12 -- The Nebraska Democratic Party issued the following news release: NDP Chair Jane Kleeb on Friday assailed a demand by the Nebraska Republican Party that Creighton University rescind its offer to former Gov. and U.S. Senator Bob Kerrey to give a commencement address at the school on May 18 because he is pro-choice. "Sen. Kerrey lives his life defending our country and freedom of speech. Taking a page out of President Trump's playbook, the Republican Party is speaki  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chairman David Pepper in response to Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose's "Fresh Start Campaign," which spent $242 per voter registration to combat the state's aggressive purging policies, which have removed millions from the rolls: "It's time to modernize this whole process and learn from others states that are already undertaking best practices that improve registration and save tax dollars. Reforms such  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 9 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news: The Ohio Democratic Party is ramping up for its Summer of Action campaign with a fellowship program to register new voters, build volunteer capacity and push back on the president's failed policies that are hurting the people of the Buckeye State. "We're proud to be training Ohio's next generation of progressive activists as part of our 88-county strategy, which is designed to engage Democratic voters in every corn  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 10 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following statement by Chairman David Pepper after Ohio House passage of the nation's most extreme abortion ban: * * * - Near-total Abortion Ban Abandons Maternal Health, Provides No Exceptions For Rape And Incest * * * "Republican politicians in Columbus are doing the bidding of right-wing special interest groups and lobbyists, instead of focusing on an agenda to support Ohio women and help Ohio kids," said Ohio Democratic Pa  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 8 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following news: Last month, the Florida Democratic Party denounced Rick Scott for not signing a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration requesting to grant Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to Venezuelans in the United States, passively siding with Trump administration's anti-immigrant policy. As of today, Rick Scott continues to refuse to co-sponsor two major bills in the Senate that would grant Temporary Protection  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 9 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news: Republican state Rep. Bill Reineke entered the 2020 race for the Ohio Senate's 26th District seat Monday just as Ohio taxpayers were learning they may never fully recoup $137 million lost to e-charter attendance scams, serving as a reminder that Reineke accepted more than $12,000 in political contributions from Electronic Classroom of the Future founder Bill Lager. "ECOT's abuse of schoolchildren and taxpayers took  more

BOISE, Idaho, April 8 -- The Idaho Democratic Party issued the following news item in a blog entry: The Idaho Democratic Party has named Shelby Scott as Acting Executive Director until a more permanent hiring decision has been made in regard to the position. Scott, currently serving as the party's Political Director, has taken over all job responsibilities pertaining to executive director. Elle Casner, former executive director for the Party, is serving in the capacity of Senior Advisor to ens  more

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, April 11 -- The Indiana Democratic Party issued the following news release: Call it prescient. Even Governor Eric Holcomb predicted his GOP peers would try to save money by trimming the appropriation to the embattled Department of Child Services. That's preciously what happened this morning as Senate Republicans unveiled a budget down about $100 million compared to the agency's requested increase. Given Indiana Republicans' long and shameful track record at DCS, it's not  more

AUSTIN, Texas, April 9 -- The Texas Democratic Party issued the following statement by Executive Director Manny Garcia: "National Democrats are ratcheting up their Texas offensive yet again ahead of 2020... The chairwoman of U.S. House Democratic campaign arm announced Tuesday morning that her committee will open a new satellite office in Austin..." [Texas Tribune, April 9, 2019] "Texas is the biggest battleground in 2020 and national organizations are taking note. "Texas is the best place to  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 11 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news: The Ohio Democratic Party, Ohio Federation of Teachers and Innovation Ohio held a press call this afternoon to preview Education Secretary Betsy DeVos's visit to the Buckeye State tomorrow. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper: While Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos may say one thing about investing in Ohio students, their budgets have shown their true priority, which has always been taking resources away from  more

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 10 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following news: On April 10, Politico reported officials in the Trump administration are "on the cusp" of approving a plan drawn up by oil and natural gas lobbyists to open up Florida's beautiful shores to major industrial drilling. The proposal would allow Florida's offshore oil and natural gas drilling, putting the local tourism economy and environment in peril. According to Politico, the only thing Trump's Interior De  more