First Read : States

3 states report record unemployment

firstread — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:08:00 GMT

From NBC's Ali Weinberg
Twenty-three states reported unemployment-rate increases in September, with three registering record job losses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly employment summary.

Nevada (at 13.3%), Rhode Island (at 13.0%), and Florida (11.0%) all posted their HIGHEST unemployment rates since 1976, when the BLS began monitoring the rates.

Despite Nevada's record rate, the chief ecnomist in the state's Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation said the over-the-month increase was the smallest since March 2008. In Florida, however, economists predicted unemployment would not reach 11% until mid-2010, which means the rate could still increase further.

Michigan again had the highest unemployment rate in the country, at 15.3%, up a tenth of a percent from last month. New York lost the most jobs last month (81,700), followed by Texas (44,700), California (39,300), Wisconsin (21,700), and Michigan (21,500).
...(read more)

Patrick to pick Kirk

Mark Murray — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:04:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark MurrayOther media outlets are reporting -- and First Read has now confirmed -- that Gov. Deval Patrick (D) will select Paul Kirk to temporarily fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. ...(read more)

SC speaker wants Sanford to resign

Mark Murray — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:27:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark Murray
Bobby Harrell, the Republican speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives, has become the latest state GOP officeholder to call for embattled Gov. Mark Sanford (R) resign from office.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who would succeed Sanford in office, also has asked for the governor's resignation.

"It was with much thought and trepidation that I came to this conclusion," Harrell said in a statement. "I did so only after I spoke with colleagues in the Legislature, talked with leaders in our communities, heard from numerous citizens from across the state and carefully reviewed the facts surrounding the situation."

*** UPDATE *** Read Harrell's full letter to Sanford after the jump.

...(read more)

George LeMieux to replace Mel Martinez

Mark Murray — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:20:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark MurrayFirst Read has confirmed that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has chosen George LeMieux to fill Mel Martinez's (R) Senate seat. The pick of LeMieux -- who had formerly served as Crist's campaign manager in 2006 and then Crist's chief of staff -- is the clearest sign yet that this person would be a caretaker of the Senate seat, which Crist is running for next year. Crist is competing in a GOP primary against Marco Rubio. Florida Rep. Kendrick Meek is running on the Democratic...(read more)

If there's a will, there's a way

Mark Murray — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:31:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark MurrayIf Massachusetts Democratic lawmakers want to change their state's succession law to enable a caretaker senator to serve in Kennedy's seat until next winter's special election, they certainly have the math on their side. Per data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, 89% of the Massachusetts Senate and House is Democratic -- 35 out of 40 senators and 143 out of 160 House members. Talk about a supermajority......(read more)

Bauer to call for Sanford's resignation

Mark Murray — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:55:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark MurrayOn a day when all other political news is going to be buried by Ted Kennedy's passing, South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R) is going to make a statement at noon ET -- in which he'll call for Gov. Mark Sanford (R) to resign, the AP reports. "South Carolina's lieutenant governor will ask embattled Gov. Mark Sanford to resign at a news conference Wednesday, a spokesman said. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer will agree to stay out of next year's governor's race if Sanford steps down,...(read more)

Mark Sanford's wife moves out

Mark Murray — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:35:00 GMT

From NBC's Mark MurrayThe State reports, "First Lady Jenny Sanford announced Friday she is moving with her four sons to Charleston and will no longer live in the Governor’s Mansion." From a statement she released: "It is with this support, and after much careful and prayerful consideration, that I have decided to move back to our home in Charleston with our sons for the upcoming school year. From there, we will work to continue the process of healing our family. While we will be...(read more)

Mel Martinez leaving the Senate

Mark Murray — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:59:00 GMT

From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark MurrayFirst Read has confirmed that Florida GOP Sen. Mel Martinez , who already announced he is not running for re-election in 2010, is resigning from the Senate by the end of the month -- possibly announcing this early as today. It'll be official at some point this month, with the hope of having a replacement in office when the Senate comes back.Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- who is already running for Martinez's seats -- will now have to appoint a replacement...(read more)

IL Senate race shapes up

Mark Murray — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:35:00 GMT

From NBC's Danielle WeisbergIllinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias yesterday officially entered the Senate race for President Obama's old seat. Giannoulias called Obama his “friend, mentor, and inspiration," according to the Chicago Sun-Times, despite the White House's unsuccessful effort to recruit Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for the seat. When asked about an endorsement from the White House, Giannoulias replied, “You’d have to ask the president that.” Other...(read more)

Ohio Dems blast Boehner on stimulus

Mark Murray — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:33:00 GMT

From NBC's James RankinPresident Obama’s stimulus package has faced growing criticism recently for its slow implementation and inability (so far) to reduce unemployment and kick-start the economy. House Minority Leader John Boehner added to the narrative this weekend with an appearance on Fox News Sunday, in which he claimed that the stimulus money had yet to lead to a single infrastructure contract in his home state of Ohio. In fact, as the Cleveland Plain-Dealer pointed out, 52 projects had already...(read more)