Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas Senate Approves Insurance Department ‘Sunset’ Bill
Apr 21 2009 // The Texas Senate has approved a measure that allows the continued operation of the Texas Department of Insurance, but would slightly reform its operations, according to a Senate new release. The bill’s author Senator...
Colorado Senate Panel Looks at Workers’ Comp to Fund Higher Ed
Apr 20 2009 // Colorado lawmakers are looking at a plan to take $500 million from the state-created workers’ compensation insurance company to reverse deep cuts in higher education. The Senate Appropriations Committee reviewed the...
Colo. Democrats Offer Alternate Budget Cuts
Apr 17 2009 // Democratic legislators in Colorado are offering an alternate package of budget cuts to avoid eliminating $300 million in funding to state colleges and universities, according to plans obtained by The Associated Press. The...
Colorado Senate Votes to Take $500 Million from Workers’ Comp Insurer
Apr 15 2009 // The Colorado Senate has backed two measures aimed at taking $500 million from a state-created workers compensation insurance company to balance next year’s budget over the objections of Pinnacol Assurance and the...
Oklahoma Senate Votes to Lengthen Statute of Limitations for Arson
Apr 10 2009 // The Oklahoma Senate has approved by unanimous vote a measure that would lengthen the statute of limitations for prosecuting felony arson cases. Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, co-author of House Bill 1088, said that improved...
Texas Senate Dems Block Insurance Department Sunset Legislation
Apr 10 2009 // Democrats in the Texas Senate have moved to block key insurance legislation as they push for more consumer protections and lower homeowner rates. Using filibuster rules, Democrats refused to allow debate on a measure...
Colorado Senate Panel Looks at Workers’ Comp to Fund Higher Ed
Apr 9 2009 // Colorado lawmakers are looking at a plan to take $500 million from the state-created workers’ compensation insurance company to reverse deep cuts in higher education. The Senate Appropriations Committee reviewed the...
Florida Cap on Workers’ Compensation Lawyers’ Fees Goes to Senate
Apr 2 2009 // A bill that would trump a Florida Supreme Court ruling and restore a cap on attorneys’ fees in workers’ compensation cases passed the Florida House after some mild debate. Following a second round of discourse...
Florida Senate Postpones Vote on Catastrophe Funding Bill
Apr 2 2009 // A Senate committee searching for ways to improve Florida’s shaky property insurance situation and lower the state’s risk recommended borrowing money from the state retirement system to obtain some short-term...
Texas Senate Approves Anti-DWI Bills
Mar 31 2009 // The Texas Senate has approved two measures aimed at reducing drunk-driving fatalities in Texas. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas was second only to California in 2007 in...
Missouri Senate Repeals Fire Marshal Inspection Rule
Mar 27 2009 // On March 25, Missouri Senators endorsed legislation that would repeal a requirement that fire safety inspections in Missouri long-term care facilities be performed by local fire departments or the state fire...
North Dakota Senate Advances Fire-Safe Cigarette Bill
Mar 26 2009 // North Dakota smokers may have to get used to puffing more frequently to help prevent accidental fires. The state Senate voted 41-0 this week to approve legislation that says North Dakota tobacco merchants may sell only...
Democrats’ Bills Would Create U.S. Financial Product Safety Commission
Mar 26 2009 // Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday introduced legislation that would create a financial products watchdog to crack down on unsafe lending practices. Bill Delahunt of Massachusetts and Brad Miller of...
Senate Push Over AIG Bonuses Appears to Lose Steam
Mar 24 2009 // U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed Monday to push to recoup millions of dollars in executive bonuses at taxpayer-funded insurer American International Group, but the legislation appeared to be losing momentum in...
Lobbyist, Former Democratic Lawmaker Squires to Run for Georgia Insurance Post
Mar 23 2009 // Mary Squires, a former Democratic state lawmaker who now lobbies for the self-insurance industry, is running to be Georgia’s next insurance commissioner. Squires is the first candidate to enter the race to succeed...
New York Republicans Demand Probe into AIG Campaign Donation
Mar 23 2009 // New York’s Republican Party says the Democrat-controlled state government is ignoring calls for an investigation into a $100,000 donation to the state Democratic Party from American International Group days before...
Democrats Agree Health Reform Must Include Medical Liability Changes
Mar 18 2009 // Medical malpractice overhauls have died many deaths in Congress over the years, often at the hands of Democratic lawmakers backed by trial lawyers. Attempts to change the system may be getting new life. As they search for...
Texas Senate Committee Considers DWI Breath Test Bill
Mar 18 2009 // Drunk driving suspects in Texas would no longer be allowed to refuse a breath or blood test under certain circumstances, under a bill being considered by the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Texas already allows...
Oklahoma Senate OKs Tax Credits for February Storm Victims
Mar 16 2009 // A bill introduced into the Oklahoma State Senate that provides tax credits for victims of the Feb. 10, 2009, storms that destroyed dozens of homes and businesses and caused multiple fatalities is now headed to the House of...
Oklahoma Senate Bill Lowers Legal Alcohol Limit for Boaters
Mar 13 2009 // Legislation that would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the offense of boating under the influence from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent has been approved by the Oklahoma Senate. The measure would also...
