Delaware Corrections Officer Dies in Prison Standoff; Oregon’s Potential Pension Reforms
Geoffrey Klopp, center, president of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware, speaks about a prison uprising Thursday in Dover. Brian Witte / AP Photo
Connecting state and local government leaders
Also in our State and Local Daily Digest: Wyoming budget cuts; Alaska’s potential major gas tax hikes; and Texas, Florida legislation targets sanctuary cities.
CORRECTIONS | A corrections officer was left dead after a standoff with inmates of the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware, ended. Four prison workers were taken hostage by inmates upset over President Trump’s policies and fearing “the institution is going to change for the worse,” according to their manifesto. Hostage-takers sought education, a holistic rehabilitation program, better medical care, and budget reform. [The Washington Post]
STATE LEGISLATURES | Oregon lawmakers are planning to consider public pension reforms during this year’s legislative session. The state’s pension system for retired public employees now faces a roughly $22 billion shortfall. "All bills will be treated equally, and all will be brought out into the public light so everyone can see what we're grappling with," state Sen. Kathleen Taylor said. [The Oregonian / OregonLive]
Budget legislation Wyoming lawmakers are considering would deepen $245 million in cuts recommended by Gov. Matt Mead and the state’s judicial branch by $29.8 million. The state’s two-year operating budget is about $3 billion. Among other measures, the legislation calls for cutting 135 full-time and 10 part-time state positions. [Casper Star Tribune]
In Juneau, Alaska state lawmakers on Tuesday held their first hearing regarding Gov. Bill Walker’s proposal to triple the state’s gas tax, which hasn’t been raised since 1970. The proposed tax increase, which would implemented in phases and also include marine and aviation fuels, could generate $80 million in revenue. [KTUU; Bloomberg BNA]
IMMIGRATION | Taking a page out of President Trump’s playbook on immigration policy, two Republican state lawmakers in Florida want to crack down on so-called “sanctuary” cities. State Sen. Aaron Bean said he and Rep. Larry Metz are drafting legislation to do so. “We’re looking at financial penalties, yes,” Bean said. [The Miami Herald]
State lawmakers in Texas on Thursday held their first hearing on Senate Bill 4, pending legislation introduced by Republicans to target local governments that have sanctuary city or county policies. The bill was changed this week to include even tougher penalties for local governments that refuse to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, to extend immigration enforcement requirements to university police departments, and to make it easier to sue local governments over their immigration policies. According to State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Republican from Houston, the GOP support in the Senate is strong enough for SB 4 to pass. [Austin American-Statesman]
A Bexar County judge demanded the federal government reimburse $22 million it cost the Texas jurisdiction over 12 years for jailing undocumented immigrants, in letters to the Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “We have decided to be compliant in working with immigration services, and so we turn over all that data to them,” said Judge Nelson Wolff. “But the fact of the matter is they don't pick them up right away and we continue to incur that cost.” Even without payment, Wolff indicated the county would continue to cooperate with the federal government. [KSAT-TV]
EDUCATION | A 90 percent reduction in timber payments to 700 counties and 4,000 school districts is expected with Congress unlikely to renew the federal Secure Rural Schools program. Douglas County, Oregon is one jurisdiction that will be hit hard by the loss in U.S. Forest Service funding—dropping from $7 million to several hundred thousand—stemming from trees logged in national forests. Republicans in the U.S. House instead want to pass a timber management plan for counties. [The News-Review]
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