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Webinar: A marquee SCOTUS case you might now know about + WIN some data from Ballotpedia + KY attorney general sues governor over pension law Webinar: A marquee SCOTUS case you might not know about Lucia v. SEC represents the first case in nearly 30 years to consider the parameters of the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. But in a broader sense, the case reflects the current public debate about the breakdown of constitutional principles such as separation of powers and the rule of law. Join our 30-minute webinar on Thursday to learn more about Lucia v. SEC. [Register now]( [Forward This](mailto:?&cc=info@Ballotpedia.org&subject=Check out this info I found from Ballotpedia&body= style=) [blank][Tweet This]( [blank][blank][Send to Facebook]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [blank] Kentucky attorney general sues governor over pension law A lawsuit filed Wednesday challenges recently-signed legislation that would change state employee pensions. The legislation, signed by Governor Matt Bevin (R) April 10, moves future teacher plans from a defined benefit plan to a hybrid cash balance plan. Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear (D), the Kentucky Education Association and the Kentucky State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police filed the lawsuit. Beshear asked the court to declare the legislation unconstitutional and to prevent its enforcement through a restraining order, temporary injunction, and permanent injunction. Elizabeth Kuhn, communications director for Gov. Bevin, issued a statement in response to the lawsuit, stating that former Gov. Steve Beshear (D), the attorney general's father, underfunded pension systems while he was in office. [Learn more→]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Maryland becomes 11th state to enact automatic voter registration On April 5, 2018, SB1048, a bill establishing an automatic voter registration system in Maryland, became law after Governor Larry Hogan (R) declined to either sign or veto it. The legislation provided for the automatic registration of eligible voters when they complete transactions at the following state agencies: Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, local departments of social services, the Mobility Certification Office, and the Maryland Transit Administration. The law was set to take effect by July 1, 2019. The Maryland State Senate approved the bill by a vote of 31-13 on March 16, 2018. The Maryland House of Representatives followed suit on March 28, 2018, by a vote of 93-46. Senator William Smith (D), who sponsored SB1048, said, "The state of Maryland has taken a profound step forward in expanding access to the ballot. Creating an automatic registration program that links voting to everyday activities, like getting a driver’s license or collecting health benefits ensures greater voter participation which is the essential ingredient for any thriving democracy." Delegate Joe Cluster (R) questioned the necessity of the legislation: "We already ask people if they want to register to vote or not. I hope people would vote red on this bill. We pass so many bills down here and I just don't understand why we're doing this." Amelia Chasse, a spokeswoman for Hogan, said that the governor believed there were more important issues before the legislature that should have taken precedence: "As the governor said, he hoped the General Assembly would prioritize the policy initiatives that are most important to Marylanders, such as making schools safer, increasing accountability in education, creating jobs, providing relief to taxpayers and fighting violent crime. Unfortunately the bills that [the legislature] chose to send to the governor early do not reflect those priorities." Maryland becomes the 11th state to enact an automatic voter registration policy. The first states to enact such policies were California and Oregon, both of which adopted automatic voter registration bills in 2015. [Learn more→]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Calling all CSV lovers, map makers, and political news junkies! Ballotpedia is offering the chance to win a file with the names and offices of all 2018 state and federal candidates we've collected as of April 30, 2018. [Learn more→]( --------------------------------------------------------------- How can we help you stay informed? Would you like this email to be:Â Â ‚ Â Â Â Â Â ‚ Â Â Â Â Â Ballotpedia depends on the support of our readers. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. [Please click here to support our work→]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Follow on Twitter]( [Friend on Facebook]( Copyright © 2018, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Ballotpedia 8383 Greenway Blvd Suite 600 Middleton, WI 53562 Decide which emails you want from Ballotpedia. [Unsubscribe]( or [update subscription preferences](.