11-21-11... New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, who heads one-stop shopping business services in the state and who oversees elections, completed her ‘100 Business Initiative,’ a visit to 100 of the state’s businesses NJ Biz   Colorado Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, who heads the higher education department, travelled 25-cities and 2,000 miles leading a literacy campaign with United Way aimed at getting kids to read by third grade Denver Post

11-20-11… Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, who presides over senate and chaired the Marcellus Shale Commission, says ‘energy = jobs’ in his state Philly Burbs

11-18-11… Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, who oversees federal health reform implementation, among other duties, says work will move forward while the US Supreme Court Hears the case against the law Gazette

11-17-11… Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who chairs several commissions including riverways, Main Street, education, and rural affairs, testified to a field hearing of a state EMS task force recommending more online training for emergency medical service providers in rural areas Star Courier   Arkansas Lt. Governor Mark Darr, who presides over senate, attended a rural listening tours hearing held by the Rural Community Alliance KAIT8

Newly elected West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler also serves as lieutenant governor Life News   California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, who statutorily sits on several college boards, among other duties, asked university officials to vote again on a tuition increase, citing the closed door nature of the vote and the absence of some regents Mercury News

Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell, who oversees elections among other duties, launched the Political District Maps which displays interactive maps of the State House, State Senate, State Board of Education and Congressional Districts Utah Pulse - He also co-chairs the state’s Agriculture Sustainability task Force which asked the Legislature to recognize in statute that prime agricultural lands must stand on a footing with other land uses, such as highway corridor decisions Utah Pulse

11-16-11…West Virginia Lt. Governor Jeffrey Kessler is elected to the post saying tackling public retiree health costs and regulating Marcellus shale drilling are the Legislature's top priorities The Republic; while Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, who presides over senate and is the governor’s Small Business Advocate, lauds a state agricultural coalition which will provide state beef jerky sticks to deployed servicemen and women Edmond Sun

11-15-11… Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll says the federal trigger cuts in federal defense spending if a budget deal is not reached are the wrong way to go Times Union

11-14-11… Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, the governor’s jobs ambassador, told business leaders the administration is focused on bringing stability and security to the business atmosphere noting at one point during the summer the state was creating jobs at twice the national rate Walworth Today

11-13-11…Louisiana Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, who oversees state tourism, requested a study of a program which gives overseas visitors a chance to recoup some sales tax paid on purchases made while visiting the state; the study showed that since not all purchases are eligible for exemption the state garnered $73.7 million from the program NOLA

Washington Post:  Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling will be “Tie-Breaker-in-Chief” casting tie-breaking votes in a tied state senate; the paper says he’s likely to singlehandedly decide the fate of some of the most contentious and consequential statewide policy issues in Virginia for the next two years Wash Post and Oregon Sec. of State Kate Brown, who is first in line of gubernatorial succession and who oversees elections, says a small pilot program allowing the disabled to use an ipad for voting appears to be blazing a trail nationally in regard to elections UPI  

Op – Ed   Massachusetts Lt. Governor Tim Murray, who chairs the Governor's Advisory Council on Veterans' Services along with other commissions, promotes service to and employment of veterans in an optional-editorial Patch and Former West Virginia Lt. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is sworn in as governor Canadian Business

The Wichita Eagle says the Medicaid plan spearheaded by Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer will improve, not hamper, the health of the state in part because it implements managed care rather than instituting across-the-board cuts Kansas, while Alaska Lt. Governor Mead Treadwell, a national Arctic expert who is first in succession & who oversees elections, said the announcement of a private Arctic investment fund to invest in Arctic infrastructure and endeavors is welcome news for Alaska, the sole U.S. Arctic state AK Dispatch

11-12-11… Connecticut Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, who presides over senate and who chairs the Governor's Health Care Cabinet and the office of health reform and innovation, unveils web site designed to assist veterans in getting employment Patch   The governor is seeking a Constitutional change to the rule that she gives up power of the governorship when she is out of state to New Mexico Lt. Governor John Sanchez; some legislative leaders say such a proposal would face long odds in the Legislature ABQ Journal

11-11-11... A NLGA webinar (click on webinar) featuring Easter Seals is now available for viewing at your convenience on patient protections for special needs populations as Medicaid and health care transition from fee for service to managed care (or click Special Feature below) 

11-10-11...Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling plans to cast the deciding vote to allow Republicans to organize as the majority and control the tied state senate Washington Post

11-09-11…Lieutenant governors increase their trend to governorships.  In 2012, fourteen sitting governors will have served first as lieutenant governor NLGA Press Room

11-08-11... Kentucky Lt. Governor-elect Jerry Abramson says he’ll work with the governor immediately on economic development and jobs; and he indicates he may have a role in education helping kids stay in high school and enroll in and graduate from college Kernel, while Mississippi Lt. Governor-elect Tate Reeves prepares to assume a position the Clarion-Ledger calls “one of the most powerful posts in state government;”  Reeves says he’ll now build a leadership team in preparation for the position which presides over the senate, names committee chairmen and sets the agenda for legislation.  He says will emphasize setting a climate for economic development for jobs WAPT

11-07-11… Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki, who chairs the Commission on Tourism and the Economic Development Commission, presides over senate and sits on the Transportation Commission, announced a $239,000 grant which will help small businesses offset marketing costs regarding exports and fund a state-directed trade mission on renewable energy targeting companies in Spain and Germany that might invest in the solar, geothermal and wind-power industries in Nevada NNBW

11-06-11… Guam Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio, with governor and senior staff, takes 10% pay cut Guam PDN and Oklahoma Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, who presides over senate and is the governor’s Small Business Advocate on the cabinet, says unmanned aircraft systems could be a boom to the state’s future economy News OK

If Republicans see a net gain of two seats in elections this week, the result is a 20-20 senate split tie with Virginia Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, who is also Chief Jobs Creation Officer, holding a tie-breaking vote VA Pilot

11-05-11… Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll is leading a 9-day, 40-person delegate trade mission to South Africa featuring the state’s manufacturing & aerospace sectors;  she says the goal is to get South Africa to turn to Florida instead of China and Russia to meet their equipment needs Miami Herald   Colorado Lt. Governor Joseph Garcia, who oversees the department of higher education, said marginalized populations in the state, whether ethnic or with physical disabilities, must not be discouraged from pursuing their dreams, and the state could better support them in those endeavors Chieftain

Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who heads several water commissions, rural affairs, the Main Street program and who chairs the Classrooms First Commission, says the state's multi-billion dollar deficit is forcing leaders to consider more effective ways to manage its money by moving toward a more performance based budgeting WJBD

South Dakota Lt. Governor Matt Michels, who sits on the Governor's Executive Committee, oversees the Bureau of Personnel, the Department of the Military, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and the Department of Tribal Relations, presides over senate, and is in charge of implementing federal health care reform, says since federal funding for a veterans home was eliminated the state will  propose a public-private partnership with a private long-term care provider who would construct the facility, then lease the facility back to South Dakota under a long-term 20-year lease Argus Leader

11-04-11… The state Attorney General says any Wisconsin recall petition must for one official and be separate and complete for both the governor and Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch;  the recall question arose in requesting clarification of possible conflicts in election law, recall law, and gubernatorial success law.  The opinion says while the officials are elected jointly in the general election, recall language clearly says any recall applies to one official per each petition Post Crescent

Utah Lt. Governor Greg Bell touts the administration’s new goal of 66% of Utahans having a college degree or certificate by 2020 Utah Pulse and Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman was Acting Governor while the governor was anesthetized for surgery WTHR

Hawaii’s standing as an elite destination for business meetings and conventions continues to grow in stature and will be fully realized with the hosting of the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting (APEC), with Hawaii Lt. Governor Brian Schatz co-chairing the host committee Hawaii247   Vermont Lt. Governor Phil Scott, who presides over senate, organized “Wheels for warmth” which featured a two-day used tired collection, followed by a one-day sale of road-worthy tires benefitting  home heating assistance funds BFP

USVI Lt. Governor Gregory Francis, who oversees the insurance and finance departments, says the territory implemented the State Based Systems for its regulatory business needs Ins News, while Massachusetts Lt. Governor Tim Murray, who chairs councils on veterans, the homeless, seaports and more and who is liaison to localities, promotes Hire a Veteran month WB Journal

Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki chairs the Commission on Tourism, the Economic Development Commission, and is on the Transportation Commission, as well as presiding over the senate Ely News   Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, who oversees BRAC, federal health care implementation, and other items, said in hearing that he expects the administration may soon propose a framework for public-private partnership deals to make the state a better, more predictable partner for private investment Baltimore Sun

California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom says the failure of federal drug policy is reflecting in the tripling of the prison population which is straining the state’s budget Huffington Post and Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, who presides over state senate, told an Atlanta group that “Great regions require bold visions and intentional plans,” in promoting the idea of regionalism for successful strategic progress Neighbor News

Oregon Sec. of State Kate Brown, who is first in line of gubernatorial succession,  in a set of speeches said youth continue to vote in low numbers and she supports a web site to help businesses understand regulations KLCC; KEZI

11-03-11… When the governor leaves the state, Arizona Sec. of State Ken Bennett, second in line of gubernatorial succession, becomes Acting Governor;  as such, he signed a the paperwork completing the legislature’s removal of the redistricting chairwoman from her post  Huffington Post   Kansas Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, a surgeon, said, under the governor’s direction, is leading Medicaid reform that focuses results – specifically for the severely disabled; he noted Kansas may do better and be more accountable with a global waiver from federal health care reform Wash Times

Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who chairs commissions on water and rural affairs and who leads the Main Street Program, will chair the last public hearing of the education commission charged to have reform proposals out by Summer of 2012 WJBD