Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Missouri Senate Passes Bill Expanding Workers’ Comp to Diseases
Feb 21 2012 // In a move that Republicans contend will make Missouri more attractive to businesses, the state Senate has approved legislation to expand the workers’ compensation program. The measure, SB572, approved with a largely...
Washington Senate Passes $100 Annual Electric Car Fee
Feb 20 2012 // The Washington state Senate has passed a bill to charge electric car owners a $100 annual fee to compensate for the lack of gas taxes they pay. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the Camano Island Democrat who sponsored the bill,...
Washington Senate Passes $100 Annual Electric Car Fee
Feb 14 2012 // The Washington state Senate has passed a bill to charge electric car owners a $100 annual fee to compensate for the lack of gas taxes they pay. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, the Camano Island Democrat who sponsored the bill,...
Arizona Senate Panel Votes to Bar ‘Wrongful Birth’ Lawsuits
Feb 9 2012 // A Senate panel voted 3-2 to overturn an Arizona Supreme Court to rule that set a precedent in “wrongful birth” lawsuits. The panel said doctors and medical professionals can be held liable only for the cost of...
Florida Senate Panel Clears PIP Fraud Bill But House Showdown Looms
Feb 5 2012 // Florida lawmakers are heading to a showdown over the state’s no-fault automobile insurance law with state Senate lawmakers seeking to reform current law as opposed to a House plan that would repeal the law in favor...
Senate Bill on Iran Sanctions Targets Banks, Subsidiaries, Insurers
Feb 3 2012 // Banking transactions with Iran and financing for its oil shipments could come under tougher scrutiny after a bipartisan sanctions bill easily passed a key U.S. Senate Committee on Thursday. The Senate Banking Committee...
Missouri Democrats Vow to Oppose Discrimination Bill
Feb 1 2012 // Black lawmakers in Missouri, fearful of reversing decades of hard-fought civil rights gains, said they will try to prevent votes in the House and Senate on a measure that would change the state’s workplace...
Oregon GOP Pushes Limits on Medical Malpractice Liability
Jan 31 2012 // Republicans in the Oregon Senate say they’ll fight Gov. John Kitzhaber’s proposed overhaul of the Oregon Health Plan unless it includes limits on medical malpractice claims, injecting a hot-button issue into...
Missouri Senate Debates Workplace Discrimination Bill
Jan 25 2012 // Democrats in the Missouri Senate say a bill revising workplace discrimination laws would make it harder for people to prove the claim against employers. Senate Bill 592 would require workers who fight firings or other...
Senate, House Scuttle Online Piracy Bills
Jan 20 2012 // Senate and House leaders have put their online piracy bills on the back burner after a week of heavy lobbying by technology industry critics of the bills. “It is clear that we need to revisit the approach on how best...
Bill to Make Highways Safer on Fast Track in Missouri Senate
Jan 12 2012 // Legislation is on a fast track in the Missouri Senate to make the state comply with federal standards for commercial truckers and drunken driving sentences in an effort to avoid penalties that could dock tens of millions...
Republican Causey To Run for North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Post
Jan 11 2012 // A three-time candidate for North Carolina insurance commissioner said he’s running again for the job. Republican Mike Causey kicked off his campaign in Dare County to draw attention to challenges facing coastal...
Federal Risk Retention Law Needs Clarification: Congressional Report
Jan 10 2012 // The federal law governing risk retention groups should be clarified to reduce the number of disagreements between RRG managers and state regulators and to clarify the coverage RRGs may offer, a Congressional report...
Insurance Agent Rowland Gets Kentucky GOP Nomination
Jan 9 2012 // Tompkinsville independent insurance agent Bart Rowland will be the Republican nominee for a Kentucky House seat left vacant when former Rep. James Comer was elected state agriculture commissioner. Rowland was nominated...
Obama Administration Decides Against Lowering Trucker Daily Hours
Dec 27 2011 // The Obama administration decided against a cut in truckers’ daily hours behind the wheel, to the dismay of safety advocates, but made other changes aimed at fighting driver fatigue. The rule issued last Thursday...
Michigan Republicans to Continue Economic Focus
Dec 19 2011 // Republicans in firm control of the state Legislature say they’re setting the stage for an economic turnaround in Michigan after passing sweeping tax and policy changes over the past year. Business tax cuts that will...
Michigan Senate Approves Workers’ Compensation Changes
Dec 8 2011 // Workers’ compensation reform legislation that supporters say will help reduce employer costs for helping injured workers has advanced in Michigan. The state Senate has passed a bill that was previously approved in...
Senate Approves Flood Insurance Extension to May 2012
Dec 7 2011 // The U.S. Senate passed an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through May 31, 2012. The legislation, introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., passed the Senate by unanimous consent and must now be taken...
Senate Asked to Renew Flood Program Until Sept. 2012
Dec 5 2011 // U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging him to allow a one-year extension of the National Flood Insurance Program to pass the Senate by unanimous consent. The NFIP is...
North Dakota Senate Approves $600M Disaster Package
Nov 15 2011 // North Dakota’s Senate unanimously approved a $639 million disaster relief measure that includes money for low-interest home loans, road construction and repairs to public works. The measure’s centerpiece is a...
