Bill Kramer
@bkramer.bsky.social
State policy nerd. https://www.multistate.us/resources/morning-multistate
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Virginia House Democrats advance four constitutional amendments — including redistricting — on opening day of 2026 session virginiamercury.com/2026/01/14/v...
Virginia House Democrats advance four constitutional amendments on opening day of 2026 session • Virginia Mercury
Virginia House Democrats wasted little time flexing their new majority on the opening day of the 2026 General Assembly, pushing through four proposed constitutional amendments Wednesday aimed at resha...
virginiamercury.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Virginia House Democrats advance four constitutional amendments — including redistricting — on opening day of 2026 session virginiamercury.com/2026/01/14/v...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential lobbies in the country. It's apparently now asking all potential federal endorsements for their position on banning state-level AI laws via federal preemption.
x.com/reed_showal...
x.com/reed_showal...
January 13, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential lobbies in the country. It's apparently now asking all potential federal endorsements for their position on banning state-level AI laws via federal preemption.
x.com/reed_showal...
x.com/reed_showal...
Unintended consequences of policymaking: Way back in the 2010s, voters in 6 red states enacted "health care freedom amendments" as a reaction to Obamacare. Last week, Wyoming's high court struck down the state abortion ban for violating that right to health care. mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
January 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Unintended consequences of policymaking: Way back in the 2010s, voters in 6 red states enacted "health care freedom amendments" as a reaction to Obamacare. Last week, Wyoming's high court struck down the state abortion ban for violating that right to health care. mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
After Gov. Walz's announcement, at least half of the 36 governor elections this year will be open seats. This is important because of the growing success rate that incumbent governors have enjoyed at the ballot box (90+%). mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
January 7, 2026 at 5:13 PM
After Gov. Walz's announcement, at least half of the 36 governor elections this year will be open seats. This is important because of the growing success rate that incumbent governors have enjoyed at the ballot box (90+%). mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Utah is the first state to allow AI to renew prescriptions without doctor involvement
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Artificial intelligence begins prescribing medications in Utah
Pilot program will test how far patients and regulators are willing to trust AI in medicine.
www.politico.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Utah is the first state to allow AI to renew prescriptions without doctor involvement
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
A heck of a chart: in every single one of the 10 major US cities that built the most housing between 2017 and 2023, rents for older, existing units fell—often by quite a bit.
January 6, 2026 at 5:18 PM
A heck of a chart: in every single one of the 10 major US cities that built the most housing between 2017 and 2023, rents for older, existing units fell—often by quite a bit.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Big: Wyoming supreme court just struck down abortion ban.
And get this: The reason is a constitutional amendment codifying a right to make health care decisions... passed in 2012 by conservatives who thought it'd screw Obamacare!
Quite the backfire. We explained this lawsuit a few years back:
And get this: The reason is a constitutional amendment codifying a right to make health care decisions... passed in 2012 by conservatives who thought it'd screw Obamacare!
Quite the backfire. We explained this lawsuit a few years back:
How Attacks Against Obamacare Turned Into Tools to Protect Abortion Access - Bolts
Explore our ongoing Bolts series, Abortion Rights in State Constitutions. A decade ago, when conservatives were attacking President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act as government encroachment in hea...
boltsmag.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Big: Wyoming supreme court just struck down abortion ban.
And get this: The reason is a constitutional amendment codifying a right to make health care decisions... passed in 2012 by conservatives who thought it'd screw Obamacare!
Quite the backfire. We explained this lawsuit a few years back:
And get this: The reason is a constitutional amendment codifying a right to make health care decisions... passed in 2012 by conservatives who thought it'd screw Obamacare!
Quite the backfire. We explained this lawsuit a few years back:
Reposted by Bill Kramer
This was a very chilling read... worth reading in full if you have the nytimes subscription. A summary wouldn't do it justice. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/o...
Opinion | When A.I. Took My Job, I Bought a Chain Saw
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
This was a very chilling read... worth reading in full if you have the nytimes subscription. A summary wouldn't do it justice. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/28/o...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Wyoming, which has been projected to lose $115M in federal rural Medicaid funding in the next decade will receive $205M from the rural health fund for FY2026.
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Small states and states that adopt policies favored by the Trump admin (such as restrictions on SNAP) got a much bigger windfall from the fund Congress created to "transform" rural health care.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
Trump admin doles out billions for rural health
Montana and California will receive near equal amounts in 2026, despite their massive size disparity.
www.politico.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Wyoming, which has been projected to lose $115M in federal rural Medicaid funding in the next decade will receive $205M from the rural health fund for FY2026.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Circa 1900 winter scene in front of the Capitol. Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Circa 1900 winter scene in front of the Capitol. Happy Holidays!
Reposted by Bill Kramer
The Trump admin has started to realize batteries are an important general purpose technology. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/c...
December 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Trump admin has started to realize batteries are an important general purpose technology. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/c...
My thoughts on the AI EO: I anticipate this order resulting in a lot of lawsuits but not much policy change. mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
December 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My thoughts on the AI EO: I anticipate this order resulting in a lot of lawsuits but not much policy change. mailchi.mp/multistate/m...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Exclusive: The geothermal company Fervo Energy has privately raised $462 million from investors including Google to scale a major project in Utah and fund new developments.
Fervo Energy Raises $462 Million, Lands Google as Investor
The company, also backed by Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has emerged as a leader in advanced geothermal energy.
on.wsj.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Exclusive: The geothermal company Fervo Energy has privately raised $462 million from investors including Google to scale a major project in Utah and fund new developments.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Just in: Missouri organizers have turned in ≈300,000 signatures to block the GOP's new gerrymander there.
That's an impressive haul in the very compressed window they had. They need roughly 110,000 signatures to succeed, though the GOP will now throw everything it has to disqualify them.
That's an impressive haul in the very compressed window they had. They need roughly 110,000 signatures to succeed, though the GOP will now throw everything it has to disqualify them.
Campaign to put gerrymandered Missouri map on the ballot turns in 300,000 signatures • Missouri Independent
Roughly 300,000 signatures demanding Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map be placed on the 2026 ballot were submitted.
missouriindependent.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Just in: Missouri organizers have turned in ≈300,000 signatures to block the GOP's new gerrymander there.
That's an impressive haul in the very compressed window they had. They need roughly 110,000 signatures to succeed, though the GOP will now throw everything it has to disqualify them.
That's an impressive haul in the very compressed window they had. They need roughly 110,000 signatures to succeed, though the GOP will now throw everything it has to disqualify them.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Trump just completely selling out the national interest on this chip export question — China has way more electricity generating capacity than we do. But we have the good chips and he’s throwing it away.
December 9, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Trump just completely selling out the national interest on this chip export question — China has way more electricity generating capacity than we do. But we have the good chips and he’s throwing it away.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
With D.C.'s 2026 election cycle just around the corner, local officials are preparing to roll out ranked-choice voting – and start educating the city's voters on the new way of voting. Is the D.C. Board of Elections up to the task? For @51st.news: 51st.news/dc-ranked-ch...
Is D.C. ready for ranked-choice voting?
Educating voters will be a big task ahead of the 2026 local elections.
51st.news
December 4, 2025 at 6:27 PM
With D.C.'s 2026 election cycle just around the corner, local officials are preparing to roll out ranked-choice voting – and start educating the city's voters on the new way of voting. Is the D.C. Board of Elections up to the task? For @51st.news: 51st.news/dc-ranked-ch...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
Missouri organizers have just one week left to collect the signatures they need to block the GOP's gerrymander.
(All while facing an extraordinarily aggressive campaign by state officials to make them stumble, including the AG calling ICE on these groups.) www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
(All while facing an extraordinarily aggressive campaign by state officials to make them stumble, including the AG calling ICE on these groups.) www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
‘Constitutional hardball’: National gerrymander battle turns the heat up in Missouri
Allies of both parties are pouring money into the fight over a referendum to bring the state’s new congressional maps in front of voters.
www.politico.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Missouri organizers have just one week left to collect the signatures they need to block the GOP's gerrymander.
(All while facing an extraordinarily aggressive campaign by state officials to make them stumble, including the AG calling ICE on these groups.) www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
(All while facing an extraordinarily aggressive campaign by state officials to make them stumble, including the AG calling ICE on these groups.) www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Bill Kramer
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Bill Kramer
I refuse to let my chances of dying in a car crash stay higher to satisfy people’s reactionary technophobia
Waymos in every city
Spread the tech to all cars
Make human drivers rare
Waymos in every city
Spread the tech to all cars
Make human drivers rare
November 20, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I refuse to let my chances of dying in a car crash stay higher to satisfy people’s reactionary technophobia
Waymos in every city
Spread the tech to all cars
Make human drivers rare
Waymos in every city
Spread the tech to all cars
Make human drivers rare
Gemini 3 Pro
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Gemini 3 Pro
Reposted by Bill Kramer
A Virginia judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block Alexandria from allowing duplexes and small apartment buildings — aka, "missing middle" housing stock — in areas currently zoned for single-family housing.
Plan to kill single-family zoning in Va. suburb survives legal challenge
A lawsuit in the city of Alexandria that sought to reverse a 2023 policy adding density to residential areas was part of a broader backlash against such efforts to add affordable housing.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
A Virginia judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to block Alexandria from allowing duplexes and small apartment buildings — aka, "missing middle" housing stock — in areas currently zoned for single-family housing.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
JUST IN: Katie Wilson is now ahead of Mayor Bruce Harrell in the Seattle mayoral race.
Stay tuned for details on today's count.
Stay tuned for details on today's count.
November 10, 2025 at 11:54 PM
JUST IN: Katie Wilson is now ahead of Mayor Bruce Harrell in the Seattle mayoral race.
Stay tuned for details on today's count.
Stay tuned for details on today's count.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
At least 15 incumbents lost in the state legislative elections in New Jersey & Virginia, with 6 New Jersey contests still uncalled as of 5:30 pm EST on 11/5. That’s the most general election incumbent defeats in an odd year since 21 were defeated in 2011. All 15 defeated incumbents were Republicans.
November 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
At least 15 incumbents lost in the state legislative elections in New Jersey & Virginia, with 6 New Jersey contests still uncalled as of 5:30 pm EST on 11/5. That’s the most general election incumbent defeats in an odd year since 21 were defeated in 2011. All 15 defeated incumbents were Republicans.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
What's happening in TX-18 is more obscene than not seating Grijalva during pro formas. Turner died in March. Abbott delayed the special election until yesterday, and now it goes to a runoff early *next year.*
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
November 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
What's happening in TX-18 is more obscene than not seating Grijalva during pro formas. Turner died in March. Abbott delayed the special election until yesterday, and now it goes to a runoff early *next year.*
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
Reposted by Bill Kramer
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Mississippi Democrats Break Republican Senate Supermajority, Flipping 3 Legislative Seats
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats broke the Republican Party's supermajority in the Mississippi Senate, flipping 3 legislative seats.
www.mississippifreepress.org
November 5, 2025 at 7:33 AM
After 13 years, Mississippi Democrats have broken the Republican Party’s supermajority in the Mississippi Senate.
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI
Democrats flipped two GOP-held Senate seats and one House seat in the special elections.
buff.ly/nTvLlFI