Mediaboss Marketing

CARSON CITY Senate Democrats rolled back collective bargaining reforms Friday on party-line votes, approving two bills that Republicans argued gut bipartisan changes enacted two years ago.

Senate Bill 356 reinstates so-called evergreen clauses that allow existing agreements to remain in effect during negotiations after contracts expire. It also allows public employers to grant leave to employees for union activities, and eliminates restrictions on arbitration.

The bill passed 12-9, with independent Sen. Patricia Farley of Las Vegas joining with Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, the architect of the existing law, said SB356 is the gutting of very good collective bargaining reform passed in 2015.

He said Senate Bill 241 of the last session was a compromise endorsed by both labor and management that set strict time frames for the collective bargaining process.

It required both sides in the negotiations to come to the table, have a certain number of meetings within a certain time period, Roberson said.

Farley said while she supported the bill two years ago, the law had unintended consequences. During testimony in hearings, critics said some workers were denied raises they were entitled because government employers stalled negotiations.

As a legislator, we should be willing to say we made a mistake, and make adjustments, she said.

Roberson objected to her characterization and said the impetus behind the law was stall tactics used by unions.

Because there were evergreen clauses in contract, it gave an incentive to several organizations to stall and delay and not come to the table, he said.

I worked with union leaders across the state on this bill, he said of the 2015 effort. In fact, just about every major labor organization in this state came to the table, (and) publicly supported this bill in committee.

Now to say two years later, never mind, unintended consequences I dont buy that, Roberson said.

Money matters

Another bill, Senate Bill 469, lowers how much of a local governments ending fund balance is off limits to collective bargaining in time of fiscal emergencies. It also passed on a 12-9 vote.

The bill reduces the percentage to 16.67 percent from 25 percent. The bill states that amount is not subject to negotiations and cannot be considered by an arbitrator when determining if a local government has the ability to pay compensation or other contractual monetary benefits.

Republicans opposed the bill.

Sen. Ben Kieckhefer R-Reno, said it discourages local governments from saving money for bad times.

Sen. Julia Ratti, D-Sparks and a former Sparks councilwoman, said ending fund balances are not rainy day funds to be tapped in emergencies. She said the set-aside amount is for cash management and gives local governments two months in reserve to pay immediate bills.

Both bills now go to the Assembly.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Follow @SandraChereb on Twitter.

Continue reading here:
Democrat bargaining rollback guts 2015 laws, Roberson says - Las Vegas Review-Journal

WFSB

Chris Mattei has been trying to raise his profile since leaving the U.S. attorneys office.

Chris Mattei, a former federal prosecutor who helped send former Republican Gov. John G. Rowland back to prison, opened an exploratory campaign Wednesday, becoming the second Democrat in 24 hours to begin testing his viability in the open race for governor in 2018.

With a subtle nod to the anti-Trump resistance now energizing Democrats, Mattei cast himself as a career public servant, a prosecutor of corrupt public officials, Wall Street financiers, investment advisors and gun traffickers ready for a campaign of citizen engagement.

This is a time for citizenship, Mattei said in an announcement video. And, what I believe is that if we are to resist whats happening in Washington, that work starts right here.

Mattei joins Jonathan Harris, a former state senator, top Democratic Party official and commissioner of consumer protection, in filing exploratory papers Wednesday. Harris announced his plans Tuesday evening after stepping down as commissioner.

It was no surprise that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, decided against seeking a third term, but his announcement last week was earlier than expected, leaving some better-known Democrats unprepared to take the first formal steps toward entering what is likely to be a crowded race in both parties.

Middletown Mayor Dan Drew, a Democrat, opened an exploratory committee in January. Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo is expected to soon follow, with state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. among the list of other potential Democratic candidates.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and Attorney General George Jepsen have not ruled out running for the Democratic nomination. Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, who returned to office in 2015, recently asked the State Elections Enforcement Commission if his felony conviction would bar him from the states public financing program should he run.

By entering politics via a statewide race, the 38-year-old Mattei is following a difficult path typically taken only by wealthy self-funders. He will test the appeal of an outsider to Democratic delegates in a time when Republicans will work to tie Democratic candidates to the unpopular Malloy.

What we need now more than ever is a peoples campaign built by us for us in every city and town in this state, Mattei said. If we are willing to work for it, we can build a just and growing economy. We can create jobs that last and pay a decent wage. We can create an open and effective government that puts the interests of average, working families at the center of every decision we make.

Mattei, who is married and the father of three, lives in Hartford. Since leaving the U.S. attorneys office as the chief of its financial fraud and public corruption unit in 2015, he has been in private practice with Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder.

In 2014, he helped convict Rowland ofconspiring with Lisa Wilson-Foley, a congressional candidate, and her husband, Brian Foley, to violate campaign finance laws.

Another corruption case may have left him with enemies in Democratic circles: He helped oversee an investigation that derailed the 2012 congressional campaign of former state House Speaker Chris Donovan, D-Meriden.

Donovans campaign manager pleaded guilty and another top aide was convicted at trial on charges related to a conspiracy to bribe Donovan with illegal campaign contributions.

Donovan was not charged and was never shown to have knowledge of the scheme.

A half-dozen Republicans have formed exploratory or candidate committees.

Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, R-Glastonbury, has raised $138,944 since forming a candidate committee in December. Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti formed a candidate committee two weeks ago.

Republicans with exploratory committees include: Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, making his third attempt; Tim Herbst, the Trumbull first selectman and 2014 nominee for state treasurer;Peter Lumaj, the 2014 nominee for secretary of the state; and Steve Obstinik, the 2012 nominee for Congress in the 4th District.

See more here:
Mattei becomes 3rd Democrat to explore run for governor - The CT Mirror

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersSanders: I dont know if Ossoff is a progressive Five takeaways from the Georgia special election Sanders: I don't consider myself a Democrat MORE (I-Vt.) said Tuesday night that he still does not consider himself a Democrat despite taking part in a Democratic National Committee (DNC) unity tour with the party's new chairman, Tom Perez.

"No, I'm an Independent," Sanders said when asked by MSNBC's Chris Hayes whether he now identifies as a Democrat.

"If the Democratic Party is going to succeed and I want to see it succeed it's gonna have to open its door to independents," he continued. "There are probably more independents in this country than Democrats or Republicans. It's got to open its doors to working people and to young people, create a grassroots party. That's what we need."

Sitting alongside Perez during a joint interview, Sanders said that he wants the Democratic Party to focus on key issues for progressives, such as the decline of the middle class, the "need" to take on wealthy interests and unite around "Medicare for all."

When asked whether the party supports the idea of "Medicare for all," Perez argued that the party believes "healthcare is a right, not a privilege."

"I think the unity that we've shown in the recent efforts by [President] Trump to repeal the Affordable Care Act has been an energizing force for Democrats, independents and others who share the values of inclusion and opportunity," he added.

"We have shared values. We all believe America works best when everyone has a chance to succeed, when we have shared prosperity and not just prosperity for a few."

The pair are traveling the country this week on a "Come Together and Fight Back" tour to rally grassroots enthusiasm and focus on bringing the party together after a difficult presidential campaign last year that created divisions between progressives, led by Sanders, and the more moderate wing of the party, led by its eventual nominee, Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonChaffetz decision stuns Washington Putin-linked think tank crafted plan to swing election for Trump: report Trump draws parallels between Patriots and his White House win MORE.

Some establishment Democrats have criticized Sanders for not joining the party, while he has tried to assert his influence on it. But progressives have argued that the Democratic Party needs independents to expand and should open its arms to those new voters who may not fully identify with the party.

Visit link:
Sanders: I don't consider myself a Democrat - The Hill

AUGUSTA, Maine Democrat Adam Cote has made his long-contemplated 2018 run for governor official, becoming the first well-known Democrat to enter the race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

Cote, a 44-year-old Sanford attorney and Army veteran, has been out of politics since he finished second in the 2008 primary in Maines 1st U.S. House District. The seat was won by Chellie Pingree, who still holds it.

But Cote impressed as a moderate in the field, raising more than $650,000 and beating former legislators Michael Brennan and Ethan Strimling, who have since been Portland mayor. In a statement, he admitted he might not have the political pedigree of some other candidates but brings valuable experience to the campaign.

I have not spent much time in Augusta, but I have learned leadership through 20 years as a soldier in places like Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and 16 years in the private sector as both a small businessman and a renewable energy attorney, he said.

Cote said in an interview that politics in Augusta need more civility, focus and leadership including a Democrat with the ability to unite his own party following fractures that opened in recent elections.

If ever theres a reason for folks to say look, elections have consequences and we have to be able to win and govern, I think that message is very clear to us now, he said. We have a lot more important things to be done and that is getting back the Blaine House and having a strong and aggressive economy to grow our agenda.

Cote has long been running behind the scenes and has been publicly mulling a run since December. Other potential Democratic candidates include Attorney General Janet Mills, former Maine Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland and Lee Auto Malls Chairman Adam Lee of Cumberland.

He joins independent Maine State Treasurer Terry Hayes of Buckfield, a former Democratic legislator, as the only candidates to file who are likely to mount serious bids the 2018 after her filing last week. Cote will run as a privately financed candidate, according to the Maine Ethics Commission.

Three other candidates Republican Deril Stubenrod of Clinton, Democrat Patrick Eisenhart of Augusta and Libertarian Richard Light of Liberty have also filed to run, but theyre seen as longshots.

Cote, a Sanford native, lives with his wife, Pauline, and their five children. He is a graduate of Colby College and the University of Maine Law School and won the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Afghanistan and the Combat Action Badge for his role in caring for fellow soldiers after a December 2004 suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq.

In 2013, he received the White House Champion of Change award from former Democratic President Barack Obamas administration for his work as a veteran working to advance clean energy and climate security.

More here:
Democrat Adam Cote to run for governor in Maine as political outsider - Bangor Daily News

Prince William County has long been friendly territory for Republicans when it comes to off-year special elections. Not this time.

Democrat Jacqueline Smith beat long odds and big money today when she emerged victorious in the special contest for Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk, a low-profile, eight-year post that rarely gets much attention amid other races in Virginias off-off-year local elections.

Smiths opponent, Republican Del. Jackson Miller, was widely favored to win todays election both because he had the name recognition of elected office and a lot more cash.

Miller pulled in $200,000 in campaign donations, including about $175,000 from his existing campaign war chest, outraising Smith six to one.

No matter.

Smith won with more than 53 percent of the vote, according to unofficial election results released by the Virginia Department of elections tonight.

It was the second try at the post for Smith, 34, who ran against the late Michele McQuigg in 2015.

McQuigg won that race by about 2,000 votes but would serve only one year of her second, eight-year term. McQuigg died of cancer on Feb. 16.

As she watched the results come in tonight, Smith was surrounded by what local Democratic Committee Chairman Harry Wiggins said was an ecstatic crowd at their gathering-turned-victory-party at Blu restaurant.

Oh, it feels great, Smith said of her win. Smith and her husband, Jonathan Francis, are both attorneys who own their own law firm in Dumfries.

Miller, 49, spent the evening at a Republican gathering in Old Town Manassas earlier in the night but was already retrieving campaign signs when he returned a reporters phone call.

Jackie ran a great campaign and I called her and congratulated her, Miller said.

Miller said he was glad for a solid win in the City of Manassas where people know me best, but added: We really knew we knew we were going to have a hard time in the county. From the very beginning, we thought it would be a really tough fight.

Im actually more disappointed for the people who supported me more than anything else, he added. A lot of people worked really hard.

The special election was the first opportunity area voters had to return to the polls since President Donald Trumps win last fall.

The election energized activists in both parties who worked to raise awareness of the April 18 vote and coax voters to the polls.

Despite those efforts, turnout was predictably low for an election that took place only two days after Easter.

Fewer than 10 percent of Prince William, Manassas and Manassas Park voters made it to the polls, according to the unofficial results.

Smith said it was her supporters energy that pulled Democrats to the polls.

I think the difference was people being on the ground, our grassroots movement, Smith said. We had 15,000 doors knocked. We had a ton of small-dollar donors who were willing to support our race.

Still, Smith raised only about $35,000 for her campaign, according to campaign finance records listed on the Virginia Public Access Project.

Smith apparently made up the difference in the efforts of those who walked Prince William Countys larger neighborhoods to talk to voters directly.

Prince William County School Board Chairman Ryan Sawyers, a Democrat who recently announced his campaign for the 1stDistrict congressional seat now held by Rep. Rob Wittman, was among them.

Sawyers canvassed for about five hours yesterday, much of the time with Tom Perriello, the surprise Democratic candidate in this years governors race.

Sawyers said he was thrilled but not surprised to hear the news of Smiths win. The result, he said, proves that Prince William County really is blue.

We cant even pretend that Prince William County is purple anymore, Sawyerssaid tonight.

Smith will make a great clerk, he said. Her win, Sawyers added, was not about luck but rather the result of her being well-qualified and a great candidate.

Jackie is just a genuine person. She genuinely cares and she deserves this victory, Sawyers said.

Wiggins, the chairman of the local Democratic Committee, said he knew things looked good for Smith when his precinct in Lake Ridge swung two to one for Smith.

Im not surprised and the reason Im not surprised is because of the number of people Ive never seen before who cameout tovolunteer and hand out sample ballots, Wiggins said.

Wiggins said local Democrats were no doubt energized by the chance to return to the polls after Trumps election. He called the contest a referendum on Corey Stewart and Donald Trump.

People realize Stewart is head of the local Republican Party and as much as anything its voters outrage with them, Wiggins said.

D.J. Jordan, spokesman for the local Republican Committee, called Smiths win a little bit of a surprise.

But, Jordan, too, said local Democrats are upsetwith his partys leadership.

I do think Corey Stewart and Donald Trump both might have something to do with that, Jordan said.

The Democrats are really, really energized, he added. I think the people who were engaged in the presidential race are still energized, and that translated into a win for their side.

Reach Jill Palermo at jpalermo@fauquier.com

Read the original here:
Democrat Jacqueline Smith beats long odds, big money in special ... - Fauquier Times