Virginia: Northup gets GOP praise. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Norment, Jr., House Speaker Kirkland Cox and state Sen. William Stanley, Republicans all, praised newly inaugurated Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, reports the Washington Post. “I can trust Ralph… it’s going to be a breath of fresh air around here,” said Stanley, a similar sentiment expressed by Cox and Stanley. Northup is a veteran of the legislature and, unlike Terry McAulifffe (D), his predecessor, does not have a history of ardent partisanship ……. Florida: Morgan rules out independent race. Orlando mega-bucks plaintiffs’ attorney John Morgan, who once led the polls for the Democratic nomination for governor, last November abruptly changed his party registration to independent. Now, however, he has tweeted that he will not run for governor as an independent. “Independents never win and only act as a spoiler,” he said, reports Sunshine State News ……. Kentucky: First state allowed to adopt Medicaid work rules. In a move compatible with the political stances of both President Trump and Gov. Matt Bevin (R), federal officials allowedKentucky to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. “Why should a working-age person not be expected to do something in exchange for what they are provided?” asked Bevin, reported the Washington Post …….
