Highlights: PA: Corbett to address pro-voucher group...; Recall petition targets Sen. John Moolenaar over emergency financial manager, tax votes; CO: Governor Hickenlooper signs budget cuts into law; Local Public Employees To Hold Conference Around Ohio Senate Bill 5; WA: Workers' comp stalls Legislature, Florida legislators pass H.M.O. plan for Medicaid; full Scrooge Alert at http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/

All Around

New Hampshire and Missouri

Bills Try to Curb Reach of Unions
Ohio and Wisconsin didn't pass specific right-to-work legislation but did adopt laws allowing public-sector employees to opt out of paying dues. The laws generally are backed by business groups and Republicans, opposed by Democrats and denounced by

New Hampshire

Public still not confident in NH economic recovery
Seacoastonline.com
So historically, there haven't really been concerns in New Hampshire about the impacts of unions, but now the new Legislature is promoting "right-to-work" legislation, and trying to remove public sector bargaining from public sector unions.

Michigan

Recall petition targets Sen. John Moolenaar over emergency financial manager, tax votes

MIDLAND — A Gladwin County man has asked to take out a recall petition against GOP state Sen. John R. Moolenaar, citing his vote to expand the powers of emergency financial managers and support of tax increases.

Gov. Rick Snyder finding some GOP resistance to school cuts

Republican majorities in the House and Senate have largely gone along with the sweeping tax and spending changes being proposed by Michigan GOP Gov. Rick Snyder.

Wisconsin

Recount for state Supreme Court race hits 78 percent

The recount for the state Supreme Court race reached 78 percent of the votes cast on Friday, according to the Government Accountability Board.

Wisconsin Republicans rush agenda before recalls

Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP leaders have launched a push to move several years' worth of conservative agenda items through the Legislature this spring before recall elections threaten to end the party's control of state government.

Challenger emerges in potential recall race for Sen. Robert Wirch

KENOSHA - A longtime Kenosha County Board supervisor wants to run against state Sen. Robert Wirch if a recall election is scheduled in his district.

As voter ID bill heads toward passage, the only certainty is a high price tag

This week the state Legislature will debate a controversial measure requiring voters to show a photo identification before they can cast a ballot. The legislation, which proponents say will prevent people from voting illegally, would give Wisconsin arguably the most restrictive voter identification law in the country.

Maine

Budget Woes, Class Wars
International Viewpoint
... after another — stripping collective bargaining rights and dues checkoff, ... In an act of symbolic vandalism, Maine's governor proposes has removed the ...

Poll: NH residents support workers rights
Foster's Daily Democrat
The WMUR Granite State Poll asked two questions related to union organizing and collective bargaining in New Hampshire. Both questions essentially asked respondents if they thought workers in New Hampshire should have the right to form unions and

Ohio

Local Public Employees To Hold Conference Around Ohio Senate Bill 5
WTOV Steubenville
The conference is an effort to gear up local employees to defeat Ohio Senate Bill 5, a highly controversial bill which limits the collective bargaining powers of public employee unions. “I'd like to see a lot of support from police, fire departments

Ohio police, firefighters plan to honor fallen officers, object to collective ...
Daily Journal
AP COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio police and firefighters are planning events around the state to honor officers killed in the line of duty and simultaneously reaffirm their opposition to a law limiting collective bargaining rights for public workers

Pennsylvania

Corbett to address pro-voucher group...

Activists pour millions into the fight for school vouchers...

Corbett, GOP lawmakers aim to meet June 30 budget target

Pennsylvania's state budget process will accelerate sharply in a day or two, when state House Republicans take the wraps off a budget bill.

Marcellus Shale drilling can harm archaeological sites with no repercussions

PITTSBURGH — An excavation at a Westmoreland County site once occupied by Monongahela Indians produced abundant evidence of two villages and allowed researchers to piece together the violent end of the later settlement at the hand of invaders who sacked it, massacred its inhabitants and burned houses and food stores.

House GOP balks at use of surplus to reduce cuts

Despite a projected $506 million surplus this year, House Republicans don't want to add a dime to the governor's proposed $27.3 billion budget for next year.

Florida

Florida lawmakers approve deep cuts in jobless benefits

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A bill that would establish some of the deepest and most far-reaching cuts in unemployment benefits in the nation is heading for the desk of Gov. Rick Scott.

Florida legislators pass H.M.O. plan for Medicaid

MIAMI — In a sweeping overhaul of its $21 billion Medicaid program, the Florida Legislature approved a bill Friday to shift nearly three million Medicaid recipients into managed-care programs in the hope of saving money and improving services.

FL: With small victories, Scott calls session a success
Florida Gov. Rick Scott came into his first legislative session with goals as specific as they were bold on tax cuts, spending cuts, state workforce reductions and pension contributions. He failed to reach his targets, but a powerful Republican Legislature approved portions of each, allowing him now to embark on a statewide victory lap to sign bills in front of TV cameras.

Colorado

CO: Governor Hickenlooper signs budget cuts into law
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed into law a state budget for next year that trims spending and will likely force teacher layoffs and the closure of some schools and state parks.

Utah

UT: Utah Legislature overrides veto of bill requiring state offices to reopen on Fridays
The Senate voted 21-6 Saturday night to override Gov. Gary Herbert's veto of a bill eliminating the state's four-day work week, ending a rare override session that began a day earlier.
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City)

Washington

WA: Workers' comp stalls Legislature
Washington state lawmakers grappling over how to fill a projected budget shortfall of $5 billion may first have to end a stalemate on a more contentious issue: workers' compensation.