Who Said That
Jihun Han, chief of staff for the federal Department of Labor. Han sent a memo to all department staff warning that they may face criminal charges if they speak to journalists, former employees or others about department business. The memo warns that employees who “engage in unauthorized communications with the media may face serious legal consequences,” including criminal charges. (ProPublica)
Jason Mercier, vice president and director of research at the Mountain States Policy Center, a think tank. After midnight on Tuesday, the Washington House passed three measures that would raise taxes on properties, electric vehicles and businesses. The state faces a $16 billion budget shortfall but legislators and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson have yet to agree on the size and scope of any tax increases. (The Center Square)
Iowa Republican state Rep. John Wills. He was floor manager for a bill that passed the House on Monday that would legalize psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, for medical purposes. Although he has no personal interest in the drug, Wills said he’s learned that it can be effective for treating individuals prone to post-traumatic stress disorder, including veterans. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
California state Sen. Scott Wiener. Wiener, a Democrat, said that one of the lessons of last year’s elections is that Democrats have to demonstrate effectiveness rather than constantly worrying about process. As a case in point, he’s looking to amend a law that has blocked a good deal of housing construction in the state. (Bay Area News Group)
Missouri state Sen. Rick Brattin. The Republican was speaking in favor of a measure that would overturn a ballot initiative approved by voters to create a paid sick leave mandate. The measure passed with 57 percent support, but Brattin said “the problem with direct democracy” is that most voters don’t run small businesses so don’t understand how the mandate would hurt employers. (Missouri Independent)
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, referring to Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio was once an aide to Cuomo but the two Democrats feuded openly while de Blasio was mayor and Cuomo was governor of New York. Cuomo is leading in the polls in this year’s race for mayor, ahead of the June Democratic primary. (NY1)
Andrea Jakious, a teacher at Seven Oaks Elementary School in Eagle, Idaho. Idaho’s West Ada School District has been mired in controversy in recent weeks for firing a teacher who displayed a sign that said, “everyone is welcome here.” The district claimed it was contentious because it displayed hands with different skin tones. At its first public meeting since the controversy broke out, the school board heard plenty of complaints, but members said they were trying to keep politics out of classrooms. (Idaho Statesman)
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. Speaking to legislators, the Republican was referring to both trial attorneys and the insurance industry. Dealing with insurance and finding ways to bring down premium prices will be a key concern during this year’s legislative session, which began Monday. (Louisiana Illuminator)
Doug Ruch. Having been diagnosed with terminal cancer in January, he decided he wanted to spend as much of his remaining time as possible volunteering in all 50 states. He has worked in nearly a dozen states so far, volunteering at food banks, senior centers and other charitable organizations. (Washington Post)
Colorado state Sen. Tom Sullivan. The Democrat’s bill to ban rapid-fire conversion devices such as bump stocks was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis last week. Sullivan’s son was killed in a theater shooting in Aurora in 2012. The bill initially would have banned most sales of semiautomatic rifles that take detachable magazines but was amended to allow sales to buyers who take safety courses. (The Center Square)
Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, referring to a state law that allows politicians to circumvent limits on campaign donations. The state caps donations but lifts those caps when self-funded candidates give themselves $100,000, or $250,000 for statewide races. Some leaders will reach those self-funding limits even when they have no opponent, allowing them to raise millions to support other candidates. (Chicago Tribune)
Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, referring to felony charges against Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson. Fernandes Anderson agreed to plead guilty to two of the six federal corruption charges against her. She also agreed to resign her seat on the City Council. A formerly undocumented immigrant, she is now a citizen but her plea deal states that her conviction could lead to her deportation. (Boston Herald)
California state Sen. Scott Wiener. The Democrat’s AI safety bill was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year but he said he’s fine with using AI at the state’s sole nuclear power plant. Currently, AI is being used there only to scan millions of pages of federal regulations and compliance documents. But Wiener is concerned about the possible growing use of AI in such a sensitive facility.
David Fleming, chair of the advisory committee to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty percent of the personnel at CDC are being let go. Fleming suggests the fallout could be larger than that number suggests because among those being let go are a disproportionate number of leaders. Some programs are being wiped out entirely. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Washington state Rep. Jim Walsh. During a radio interview, Walsh praised Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson for saying he would reject legislative budget proposals that rely too heavily on tax increases, including a tax on wealth. Walsh, who chairs the state GOP, welcomed Ferguson’s stance but warned that Democrats might still push to raise taxes. (KIRO)
New York Mayor Eric Adams. On Thursday, Adams announced he would run for re-election as an independent. He said corruption charges against him, which the Department of Justice has sought to drop in exchange for his help promoting Trump administration policies, are “bogus” but made it impossible for him to mount a successful campaign in time for the June primary. (New York Post)
CaMia Jackson, chair of the Fayette County, Ga., Democratic Committee. As in other states, Georgia Democrats are arguing amongst themselves about whether the party needs to do more to call out perceived failures of the Trump administration or allow the GOP to keep digging its own hole deeper. This week, those who favor a more aggressive approach forced out Congresswoman Nikema Williams as state party chair. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Clayton Holland, superintendent of the Kenai Peninsula School District in Alaska, referring to the decision to send out “pink slip” notices to 160 teachers and staff warning them they might be laid off. Along with other educators, Holland testified before legislators that districts are having to plan now without knowing what the level of state support will ultimately be. (Alaska Beacon)
Louisiana GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, referring to the defeat of four constitutional amendments he’d put before voters on Saturday. The measures would have changed state practices in areas including budgeting, taxation, juvenile justice and court structure. His package drew heavy spending in opposition and all four measures were rejected by about two-thirds of voters. (Louisiana Illuminator)
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers. He was criticizing Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for vetoing a slew of bills last week. Republicans control both legislative chambers with supermajorities, but in Kentucky only a simple majority is required to override vetoes. Beshear criticized GOP legislators for moving “shell” bills and voting on final versions without sufficient transparency. (Kentucky Lantern)
Amite Dominick, founder of Texas Prison Community Advocates. That group was among the plaintiffs that won a ruling from a federal judge who found that lack of air conditioning in Texas prisons is “plainly unconstitutional.” In Texas, 85,000 prisoners reside in facilities that lack air conditioning in most living areas. About a dozen die per year due to heat. The state says that installing air conditioning in all living units would cost more than $1 billion. (Texas Tribune)
Jack Ciattarelli, describing Bill Spadea, his opponent for the GOP nomination for governor in New Jersey. The candidates both seek to win over Republican primary voters by claiming to be the most aligned with President Donald Trump. Both men have criticized Trump in the past and each now characterizes the other as jumping on the Trump bandwagon opportunistically. (New Jersey Monitor)
Eric Lundberg, a pastor in Pierce County, Wash. He was testifying against a bill that would amend a “parents’ bill of rights” passed by voters last November, which requires schools to notify parents about mental health and medical decisions, as well as gender-related counseling. Sponsors said the bill is necessary to clear up confusion about implementing the ballot measure. (The Center Square)
Frank Chopp, the longest-serving speaker in Washington state history. Chopp died on Saturday at 71. After serving as speaker for nearly 20 years, the Democrat stepped aside from that role in 2019. Chopp, who was known for his work on housing issues, made the comment last year in announcing he would not seek another term in the state House. (Washington State Standard)
Gwinnett County, Ga., resident Lisa Hall. Her husband died two years ago after she couldn’t get through to 911 operators for more than five minutes, emblematic of problems with 911 delays in the Atlanta area. Many agencies have since made significant improvements. Atlanta and Gwinnett and Fulton counties have all made substantial strides, with nearly all emergency calls now answered within 20 seconds. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Kansas state Rep. Susan Humphries. The Republican lawmaker from Wichita was speaking in favor of a proposal, placed by legislators on the ballot next year, to change the state’s method of selecting judges from gubernatorial appointment to direct elections. Democratic governors have appointed a majority of current justices. Gov. Laura Kelly and other Democrats say judicial elections are a recipe for dark money and more partisanship. (New York Times — March 20, 2025)
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. He recently signed a law requiring localities to comply with federal immigration efforts and said that the “days of inaction are over.” Florida’s governor has the ability to remove elected local officials from office. State Attorney General James Uthmeier warned members of the Fort Myers City Council that their decision not to enroll in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program could lead to penalties, including removal from office. (Tampa Bay Times)
John Roberts. The U.S. Supreme Court’s chief justice issued a rare response to a statement from President Donald Trump, who called for lawmakers to impeach “crooked” judges who lacked the sort of political mandate Trump won in November. Articles of impeachment were filed Tuesday in the House against U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who ruled Saturday the administration could not deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. ( POLITICO — Feb. 16, 2025)
(The Louisiana Illuminator — March 14, 2025)
Republican Brad Hudson, who joined the Missouri Senate this year after serving in the state House. After years of infighting that frequently blocked legislation despite the GOP’s supermajorities, Missouri Republicans this year have passed major bills, including the repeal of a half-century-old energy consumer protection law and the state takeover of the St. Louis police. (Missouri Independent)
