Highlights: AZ: Arizona service-worker law stirs debate; WI: Wisconsin Senate passes voter ID bill, sends to Governor Scott Walker; FL: Gov. Rick Scott signs controversial election bill into law; PA Survey says severe school cuts coming; Maine Senate axes health care study; Budget passed by House would greatly expand exemptions from wage requirements; full Scrooge Alert here http://dailyscroogealert.blogspot.com/

All Around

Right-Wing Media Twist The Facts On Right-To-Work States
Media Matters for America
A 2010 study in the Cato Journal by economist Richard Vedder of Ohio University ... Twenty-two states are right to work. Now, I want to point out something ...

Wisconsin

WI: Wisconsin Senate passes voter ID bill, sends to Governor Scott Walker
The state Senate gave final legislative approval to a bill that would require Wisconsin voters to show photo identification during a ragged session Thursday, clearing the way for Gov. Scott Walker to sign the measure into law next week.

Florida

FL: Gov. Rick Scott signs controversial election bill into law
Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed a controversial overhaul of the election laws that Republicans say is needed to prevent voter fraud and Democrats call a cynical act of partisanship to improve GOP chances in Florida next year.

Arizona

AZ: Arizona service-worker law stirs debate
Real-estate agents, cosmetologists, teachers and tens of thousands of restaurant employees soon will have to hand over a photo ID and proof that they are in the country legally in order to get the government-issued license, certificate or permit required to do their jobs.

Ohio

Budget passed by House would greatly expand exemptions from wage requirements

A party-line vote in the Ohio House had an impact on several promises Gov. John Kasich made during his campaign, including his pledge on prevailing wage rules.

House approves elections changes

Elections officials no longer could send absentee-ballot applications to all Franklin County voters, and the time for in-person early voting would be significantly reduced under an elections-overhaul bill that the Ohio House passed yesterday along party lines.

Politicians argue over the motivation behind collective bargaining reform
WTOL.com
Entertainment News from AP By Rob Wiercinski - bio | email TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - While Ohio lawmakers continue to work on finalizing a 2-year budget plan by July 1, opponents of Senate Bill 5 continue to face a June 30 deadline to collect petition ...

Ohio judge tells staffers to quit FOP over SB 5
Columbus Business First
Muskingum County Judge Mark Fleegle is under fire for ordering members of his staff to quit the local Fraternal Order of Police, which supports repealing Ohio's controversial collective bargaining law, the Associated Press reports

Pennsylvania

Survey says severe school cuts coming

A survey of Pennsylvania school districts released Thursday suggests teacher layoffs, instructional program cuts and tax increases beyond inflation are increasingly likely if Gov. Tom Corbett's cut of more than $1 billion in education subsidies stands.

Policemen and Firemen Collective Bargaining Act | vodzaklegal
Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, No. 11 MAP 2010, 2011 LEXIS 947 (Pa. April 28, 2011). When collective bargaining efforts between the Commonwealth ...

House moving school tax referendum bill...

Maine

Maine Senate axes health care study

The Senate killed a bill yesterday that would have authorized a study into whether government-run health care is feasible in the state, with opponents cautioning against any move toward a new system just days after significant insurance changes were already enacted.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire AFL-CIO: Seven things you need to know about Right ...
If this legislation becomes law, New Hampshire will be the only New England state to regulate collective bargaining rights in this manner. ...

Quandt: Gov. Lynch should speak up in fight versus 'Right to Work'
Seacoastonline.com
John Lynch needs to raise his voice if he wants to garner enough support to sustain his veto of Right-to-Work legislation, a local lawmaker said. "(Gov.) Lynch needs to step up to the plate," said Rep. Lee Quandt, R-Exeter, who voted against the bill ...

Tough decisions remain regarding state budget

The Senate Finance Committee added money for to programs for the mentally ill, the disabled and troubled youth Thursday, but is sticking close to the $4.4 billion in spending the House has approved.

Michigan

MI: Michigan budget deal could mean smaller cut in school aid
Republican leaders in the Michigan Legislature and GOP Gov. Rick Snyder announced a budget deal Thursday that would partially offset some proposed cuts to public schools, bulk up the state's savings account and reduce the amount of concessions sought from state employees.

Bill forcing health care costs on public employees would hit lawmakers, too

Legislators wouldn't escape, as other state employees would, the brunt of a proposed law that would require municipal, county and school employees to pay at least 20% of their health care premiums.

Illinois

Budget cuts bring howls of protest at Capitol

Union members chanted, mayors threatened and nursing home workers delivered petitions Wednesday in hopes of getting Illinois officials to reverse course on proposed budget cuts.

Nevada

Union trade workers protest at Nevada Legislature

About 300 union construction trade workers rallied in front of the Legislature on Thursday against moves by Republican legislators to change the state's prevailing wage laws and cut spending on education.

New Jersey

NJ: Gov. Christie signs bill requiring all new public employees to move to N.J. within year of hire
New Jersey to new public workers: You wanna work here, you gotta live here. Gov. Chris Christie announced today he signed a bill into law that will require public workers hired after Sept. 1 — from teachers and cops to all local, county and state employees — to live in the Garden State.