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RandySF's JournalElection denier Tina Peters found guilty -- and could be going to jail
Scandal-plagued Republican former Mesa County, Colorado Clerk Tina Peters has been convicted of obstruction of government operations, reported 9News on Friday.
"Jurors found Peters guilty of obstruction of government operations but acquitted her on a charge of obstruction of a peace officer. She's scheduled for sentencing April 10," reported Janet Oravetz.
"Grand Junction Police approached Peters in a bagel shop in Feb. 8, 2022, to execute a warrant related to her iPad, on which she is suspected of improperly recording a court hearing for her deputy clerk," said the report. "An arrest affidavit says that when officers tried to seize the iPad, people sitting at the table with her started passing around the tablet. Police detained Peters as she allegedly tried to stop an officer from taking the iPad. Video shows Peters yell at and struggle with the officers who detained her." The affidavit claims that Peters then attempted to kick an officer, and shouted when ordered to stop kicking.
The obstruction charge carries a minimum sentence of six months in jail.
https://www.rawstory.com/tina-peters-2659497257/
After people on Medicaid die, some states aggressively seek repayment from their estates
PERRY, Iowa — Fran Ruhl’s family received a startling letter from the Iowa Department of Human Services four weeks after she died in January 2022.
“Dear FAMILY OF FRANCES RUHL,” the letter began. “We have been informed of the death of the above person, and we wish to express our sincere condolences.”
The letter got right to the point: Iowa’s Medicaid program had spent $226,611.35 for Ruhl’s health care, and the government was entitled to recoup that money from her estate, including nearly any assets she owned or had a share in. If a spouse or disabled child survived Ruhl, the collection could be delayed until after their death, but the money would still be owed.
The notice said the family had 30 days to respond.
“I said, ‘What is this letter for? What is this?’” said Ruhl’s daughter, Jen Coghlan.
It seemed bogus, but it was real. Federal law requires all states to have “estate recovery programs,” which seek reimbursements for spending under Medicaid, the joint federal and state health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities. The recovery efforts collect more than $700 million a year, according to a 2021 report from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, or MACPAC, an agency that advises Congress.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/after-people-medicaid-die-some-states-aggressively-seek-repayment-their-estates
MT: Law requiring parental consent before abortion struck down as unconstitutional
A Lewis and Clark County District Court judge has permanently struck down a law that would require parents to give permission if their minor child wants an abortion, saying that law runs contrary to the Montana Constitution and the state’s landmark abortion decision, Armstrong vs. State of Montana.
However, Judge Christopher Abbott also declined to make a ruling on a separate parental notification law until a trial can be set, saying that not all the issues have been fully examined, therefore making a summary judgment impossible.
“Now before the court are two statutes: One, enacted by the people, requiring parental notice prior to an abortion, the other, enacted by the legislature, requiring parental consent. Whether these are popular or wise measures or reflect sound public policy is not for this court to decide, for the legislature (or the people, in the cases of initiative and referendum) holds the power to make law,” Abbott wrote.
At the heart of the case are two bills that govern how and when parents should be notified about a minor who seeks to have an abortion. One law, the Parental Consent to Abortion Act of 2013 required parents to approve an abortion procedure before a doctor could perform it, except in certain limited cases. Abbott ruled that both the case law and state constitution made such an act illegal, and permanently struck it down.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/law-requiring-parental-consent-abortion-struck-down-unconstitutional
Idaho House to vote on bill restricting children from attending drag, burlesque and strip shows
A bill designed to restrict minors from attending drag, burlesque and erotic dancing shows that has been criticized for potentially violating free speech rights is heading to the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives for a vote.
Opponents also said the bill spreads misconceptions about performance art and drag and marginalizes members of the LGBTQ community.
The bill is a replacement for House Bill 231, which was written by representatives from the Idaho Family Policy Center, a conservative Christian policy and research group. The new bill corrects some clerical errors from the original bill, which was introduced on Monday, and will receive its own bill number and be posted on the Idaho Legislature’s website later Thursday or on Friday.
The bill would also prohibit live shows featuring “sexual conduct” from being staged in public venues or facilities, such as city, county or state parks, or city, county or state-owned venues or performing arts centers.
Such shows with sexual conduct could still take place, but only on private property and only when organizers took steps to restrict minors from attending, such as checking IDs.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/idaho-house-vote-bill-restricting-children-attending-drag-burlesque-and-strip-shows
Kansas lawmakers entertain Texas group's plan to penalize homeless
TOPEKA — Eric Arganbright got personal Thursday as he urged lawmakers to reject an out-of-state think tank’s model legislation for criminalizing homeless people.
Appearing before the House Welfare Reform Committee, Arganbright said he experienced homelessness as a child after his father — a Methodist minister — abandoned his mother. The family had lived in the church parsonage in Morganville, a town of about 500 people in Clay County. He was 10 years old when he woke up to find his father was gone.
His mother had never had a job outside of being a preacher’s wife. She found jobs working at a gas station, diner and hotel, each in a different area. They ended up staying along the Republican River and in the back of a car at Milford Lake.
“The problem with this specific bill, and the reason I stand in opposition of it, is specifically because it would have criminalized my mother and people like my mother,” Arganbright said. “Because that’s what rural homelessness looks like in the state of Kansas.”
Arganbright, now the director of community engagement for the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, and dozens of other Kansans who have direct knowledge of homelessness offered a rebuke to House Bill 2430. The only supporter of the bill was Judge Glock, senior fellow at the Texas-based Cicero Institute, which has advocated for the same legislation in other states.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/kansas-lawmakers-entertain-texas-groups-plan-penalize-homeless
Wyoming Legislature passes bills to ban medication abortion and exempt abortion as health care
Wyoming legislators approved two bills related to abortion this week, including a ban on medication abortion and a bill stating abortion is not health care, as a means of skirting the Wyoming Constitution in a court challenge to its abortion ban.
Voters in Wyoming approved adding a new section to the state’s constitution in 2012 amid criticism of the Affordable Care Act, colloquially known as Obamacare. The amendment states, “Each competent adult shall have the right to make his or her own health care decisions. The parent, guardian or legal representative of any other natural person shall have the right to make health care decisions for that person.”
That constitutional provision was the basis for a Wyoming judge to grant a preliminary injunction in August halting enforcement of a trigger law passed by the Wyoming Legislature in 2021 that was set to go into effect following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to return the right to regulate abortion to the states.
The Wyoming Supreme Court is still considering whether to uphold or strike down the trigger law on those constitutional grounds. Until it does, abortion remains legal in Wyoming.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/wyoming-legislature-passes-bills-ban-medication-abortion-and-exempt-abortion-health-care-1
Kentucky House passes controversial anti-transgender bill
FRANKFORT — Amid protesters’ shouts in the hallways and despite pleas from mental health advocates, the Kentucky House on Thursday passed a bill that would ban access to gender-affirming care for youth.
Legislators passed anti-trans House Bill 470 by a 75-22 vote. Two Republicans joined the “no” votes – Reps. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, and Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood.
The two-hour debate unfolded as protestors’ shouts and cries filled the Capitol.
“Y’all should be ashamed,” someone cried from the gallery after the vote. Meanwhile, the crowd outside the doors chanted, “vote them out.”
The latest version of the bill could result in health care professionals losing their licenses, and, when applicable, public funding if they provide “gender transition services” to people under 18 years old. The bill describes such care as “unethical and unprofessional” and the providers as “unfit to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of his or her position or occupation.”
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/kentucky-house-passes-controversial-anti-transgender-bill
New chair of Massachusetts GOP says party 'aware' of ongoing investigation
NEEDHAM, Mass. — While the Massachusetts Republican Party works to solve some serious money issues, the party's new chair said they are aware of an ongoing outside investigation.
Amy Carnevale, who became the party's leader earlier this year, answered questions about the financial troubles during an interview for Sunday's episode of "On The Record."
She said the party is facing $600,000 in debts and is investigating the misreporting of large sums of money. She described that as "a technical issue."
"It's basically just attributing spending in the last campaign cycle to the proper candidates. So it's, you know, whether it was maybe an in-kind contribution for a former gubernatorial candidate and not a party contribution."
https://www.wcvb.com/article/new-chair-of-massachusetts-gop-says-party-aware-of-ongoing-investigation/43183058?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot#
FL: GOP lawmakers move to ban puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapies for minors
Just last month, Florida medical agencies banned minors for receiving gender affirming care. Now, GOP lawmakers want to make those prohibitions state law.
Legislation filed on Friday would make it illegal for minors to receive gender affirming care, such as hormone replacement therapies and puberty blockers to anyone under the age of 18.
The bills come at a time when transgender kids are facing a barrage of attacks and limitations on their medical freedoms.
The House version of the legislation was filed by Rep. Randy Fine, who foreshadowed that a bill banning gender affirming care for minors was just around the corner at a House panel discussion last week. Fine represents part of Brevard County.
Fine’s bill, HB 1421, prohibits what the bill calls “gender clinical interventions,” meaning procedures or therapies “that alter internal or external physical traits” among minors.
The term “gender clinical intervention” includes surgeries that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics, puberty blockers or hormone therapies. The bill has exceptions for minors with ambiguous sex characteristics or those with sexual development disorders.
https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/03/03/gop-lawmakers-move-to-ban-hormone-blockers-hormone-replacement-therapies-for-trans-kids/
MA: Four Candidates So Far for Special Election to Fill 10th Suffolk District Seat
After redistricting, a small part of Jamaica Plain became part of the 10th Suffolk District. The majority of the 10th Suffolk District is in West Roxbury, Roslindale, and a little in Brookline.
The four candidates are Roslindale resident Robert Orthman, Jamaica Plain's Garrett Casey, and West Roxbury residents William MacGregor, and David Giordano. All four are Democrats, so they would face off in a May 2 Democratic primary. The winner would advance to a May 30 special election, to face any other party's nominee or independent candidates.
"This district deserves a bold leader on Beacon Hill. Over these next months, I look forward to listening to my neighbors and discussing my track record and sense of urgency to address the high costs of housing, improve public transportation, invest in public education, and support our small businesses,” said Orthman via press release. Orthman is an attorney with the state Department of Early Education, a member of the Ward 20 Democratic Committee and Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale, and was an aide to former District 6 Boston City Councilor John Tobin.
https://www.jamaicaplainnews.com/2023/03/03/five-candidates-so-far-for-special-election-to-fill-10th-suffolk-district-seat/567126
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