WATCH: Democrats respond to Gov. Pence #39;s RFRA comments
The minority leaders of the Indiana Senate and House responded Tuesday to earlier comments from Gov. Mike Pence about Indiana #39;s controversial Religious Freedom act. RTV6 News brings...
By: RTV6 | The Indy Channel
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WATCH: Democrats respond to Gov. Pence's RFRA comments - Video
Democrats call on Pence to go further on RFRA changes
While Gov. Mike Pence continues to say that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has simply been misunderstood and mischaracterized, Indiana Democrats say the governor #39;s attempt to clarify...
By: WTHR
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Democrats call on Pence to go further on RFRA changes - Video
Here's something you might have missed while following every jot and tittle of the Indiana religious freedom story: Two of the top Democrats in the Senate are in the midst of a veryunusual public spat over whether they had a deal (or not) when it came to the succession battles set off by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) retirement last week.
This, from Politico:
A feud between Sens. Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer escalated further on Tuesday, with spokesmen for the two Democratic leaders offering sharply different on-the-record accounts of whether the two men reached a power-sharing deal.
Durbins office insists Schumer agreed last week to support him as the partys whip when current Minority Leader Harry Reid retires at the end of 2016.
But Schumers office is denying any such deal was struck.
The on-the-record quotes are even better/worse.
"The two senators agreed to support each other Schumer for leader, Durbin for whip," Durbin spokesman Ben Marter told The Post. "They shook hands. That was the interaction."
Or not.
"That never happened, and they know it," responded Schumer spokesman Matt House.
Pretty fascinating, right? Democrats spent the end of last week and this weekend crowing about the bloodless succession of Reid: Schumer quickly wrapped up the top spot with the backing of Durbin. That, they argued, stood in direct contrast to Republicans especially in the House who couldn't seem to unite behind anyone up to and including Speaker John Boehner. Democrats were united, Republicans were divided. Done and done.
Link:
The Fix: Democrats bloodless succession is getting a little bloodier
Majority Democrats in the House of Representatives tried Tuesday afternoon to get their arms around the daunting deficits facing state finances.
But after two hours behind closed doors, they left still trying.
Sources said many members of the caucus, which controls 87 of 151 House seats, are seeking to add hundreds of millions in spending to the $40 billion, two-year budget Gov. Dannel P. Malloy proposed on Feb. 18.
That could be a problem, though, given that the governors plan already fails to comply with the constitutional spending cap.
And even if that legal obstacle can be resolved, Democrats also havent reached consensus on an even bigger question: How to pay for the budget the legislature must pass.
I dont think theres any consensus yet on most of the big budget questions, House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said afterward.
And though the speaker declined to talk about specifics discussed during the closed-door meeting at the Capitol, he did predict that the final plan lawmakers will send Malloy later this spring will start with our core Democratic principles.
We have to protect those who need protecting, Sharkey said.
The plan Malloy delivered to lawmakers spends hundreds of millions less on social services and health care than is necessary to maintain current services.
We have to be able to see the long term in the new budget, Sharkey said. This, he said, means ensuring proper investments in education, economic development, saving adequately to meet retirement benefit obligations for workers, and maintaining a tax policy that encourages job growth.
Read more:
House Democrats step off on long, difficult road to a state budget
Colorado Capitol Dome (Denver Post file photo)
DENVER (AP) Colorado House Democrats advanced measures to raise the minimum wage over objections from Republicans who say it's a costly idea.
Democrats gave initial approval Monday to asking voters to raise Colorado's minimum wage from $8.23 an hour to $12.50 by 2020. They also gave preliminary approval to letting municipalities set their own minimum wage.
The measures are temporary victories for Democrats. They don't have the two thirds support needed during a final vote later in the House to get the referred question to voters. The measure letting local governments set a minimum wage can pass the House, but will likely die in the GOP-led Senate.
Still, Democrats want to set the stage for a ballot question later.
Republicans say increasing the minimum way will drive up business costs and the price of consumer goods.
Read more:
Partial victory for Colorado Democrats on minimum wage