State Update

A Billion for, a Billion against

South Dakota's referendum on whether to repeal the state's outright abortion ban took a strange turn yesterday. The events illustrated just how divisive the question is. Two brothers, both doctors, split on whether the legislature's  first-of-its-kind  law should stand.  One was Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Billion, who said the law should be rescinded. But then Billion's brother, Stephen Billion, showed up at the news conference to say he thought the law should stand.

Here's how the Argus Leader of Sioux Falls describes it:

"I support this courageous act by our South Dakota Legislature and Governor Rounds, because it recognizes the scientific and moral truth about human life in the womb," Stephen Billion, a Sioux Falls internal medicine physician, read from a prepared statement.South Dakota's current limitations on abortion already are strict, and the bill's lack of a clear exception for rape and incest "further victimizes the women of South Dakota," Jack Billion said.

"This abortion ban shuts the door on the last option for a woman facing serious issues while pregnant," he said.

A crowd of Jack Billion supporters attended the press conference, with a handful of abortion ban supporters also present.

"Mapping our rights"

A coalition of women's rights and gay rights groups recently put out a map showing how much they agree with state policies in those areas. New York and New Mexico came out on top of their list, with Ohio and South Dakota finishing last.

But, as the AP reports, the rankings are a point of pride for politicians opposed to gay marriage and abortion.

Reactions to the report varied. Alexis Blizman, a New Mexico gay-rights activist, said her state deserved its position in part because of its "live and let live attitude." A conservative Republican legislator from South Dakota, Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, described the results as "a badge of honor."

"I'd have been disappointed if we'd finished any higher than last," he said.

The map is here, and you can find more background here.

Two GOP leaders go down

In North Carolina and Indiana, once-formidable Republican legislative leaders lost primary contests yesterday. Richard Morgan, the former speaker of the North Carolina House fell after his own party mounted an offensive against him, upset that Morgan had cut deals with Democrats to remain in power -- even though it meant leaving other Republicans out in the cold. The (Raleigh) News-Observer reports:

Morgan, a 53-year-old insurance agent and cattle rancher, has been a lightning rod in Republican circles since 2003, when he formed a power-sharing arrangement with Democratic House Speaker Jim Black. The move came when the House was deadlocked 60/60 between Democrats and Republicans.

The move resulted in an increasingly bitter feud among House Republicans -- many of whom were locked out of power -- over redistricting, budgets, taxes and even staff.

The importance of the feud potentially reaches far beyond who will represent Moore County. It could affect Republicans' ability to retake the state House, where Democrats now hold a 63-57 margin. North Carolina is one of three Southern states where Democrats control the legislature. And it could affect Democratic Gov. Mike Easley's ability to get his programs through the legislature.

North Carolina Republican leaders had sought to purge legislators they viewed as party renegades.

Meanwhile, Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton was shown the door after 36 years in the chamber after sticking up for a number of unpopular items. He backed the move to daylight savings time, supported Gov. Mitch Daniels' tollway leasing plan and promoted a plan to give legislators life-long health benefits even if they'd only served a single term. Pro-life groups also blamed him for not allowing a fetal pain measure to get to the floor this spring.

The Indianapolis Star says that won't be Garton's only legacy, though, noting that Garton was known for backing legislation promoting civil rights, women's rights and rights for the disabled. While Garton's case was unique, Hoosiers are venting their frustration with lawmakers, the Star notes.

In the Statehouse, Republican incumbent lawmakers faced the toughest elections as they squared off against opponents who seized on unpopular votes cast on daylight-saving time and a proposal to lease the Indiana Toll Road.

Rep. Mary Kay Budak of LaPorte lost, and Reps. Richard McClain of Logansport and Don Lehe of Brookston won close races.

Still, Star columnist Matt Tully doesn't show a lot of sympathy for Garton, saying the senator lost touch with his constituents:

[Garton] ran ads that sought to convince voters he was just Bob, an average guy looking out for his people.

That message was a loser.

Garton made clear months ago, when he dug in on the health-care issue, that his people were the men and women who sat around him in the Senate's leather chairs.

He won't be sitting in his chair much longer. But at least he still has his lifetime health-care benefit.

Who's up, who's down

The latest Survey USA results are in. The vast majority of govs didn't have a lot of movement in their popularity since February's poll. But there are some exceptions.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) took the biggest hit in the nation -- losing 14 percent -- after signing a law to ban abortions in the state, in direct contradiction to Roe v. Wade. That said, his approval rating is still at 58 percent.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) fell 9 points as she and Republicans sparred over how many National Guard troops to send to the Mexican border to deal with illegal immigration. She, too, earned approval among 58 percent of those polled.

Other govs with noticeable drops are:

• Sonny Perdue (R) of Georgia, down 8 points to 52 percent
• Brad Henry (D) of Oklahoma, down 8 points to 66 percent
• Robert Ehrlich (R) of Maryland, down 7 points to 48 percent
• Jodi Rell (R) of Connecticut, down 6 points but still riding high at 75 percent
• John Lynch (D) of New Hamsphire, down 6 points to 64 percent

Both of last month's two most popular governors -- Rell and Joe Manchin (D) of West Virginia -- had fall-offs this month. Manchin lost 5 points. But then again, it's pretty tough keeping approval ratings up near 80 percent.

And, yes, there's good news too.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) leads the pack with most improved ratings. He added 7 points and is now liked by 59 percent of responders. Vilsack was in the throes of a legislative session when the poll was out, pushing for more money for education and promoting his economic development program. But the poll was taken before he signed a law outlawing the video gambling machines the state lottery had rolled out.

In Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour (R) went up 6 points to 54 percent approval. He's received a lot of credit for the Katrina aid package recently passed by Congress, in which Mississippi fared well.

Dirk Kempthorne, the Idaho Republican recently tapped as President Bush's nominee to head the Interior Department, also added 6 points, to arrive at 62 percent approval. The poll was taken before the announcement of his possible promotion.

Other govs with health doses of good news (all going up 5 points):

• Mark Sanford (R) of South Carolina, up to 52 percent
• Michael Easley (D) of North Carolina, up to 55 percent
• Jon Corzine (D) of New Jersey, up to 51 percent