Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Louisiana Minimum Auto Insurance Bill Stalls in Senate
Jun 2 2008 // A bill that would raise mandatory minimum auto insurance levels stalled in a Senate committee when its chairman declined to break a tie vote. Louisiana law now requires car and truck owners to have “10-20-10”...
R.I. Senate Weighs System for Tracking Medical Mistakes
May 30 2008 // A Rhode Island Senate committee plans to vote on creating a new system for tracking medical mistakes and near mistakes after brain surgeons at Rhode Island Hospital operated three times on the wrong side of patients’...
Feds to Cover Denver Police Insurance Costs During Democratic National Convention
May 30 2008 // Denver city officials say the federal government will cover $1.85 million worth of insurance the city bought for outside police who help with the Democratic National Convention. Denver officials said Tuesday the insurance...
Arizona Senate Debates Ban on Texting While Driving
May 29 2008 // Arizona legislators are debating whether to ban texting while driving. Supporters say it would “send a message” about safety while critics call it overkill when other distractions such as eating and changing...
Over Protests of Insurers, Businesses, La. Senate OKs Prosthetics Bill
May 29 2008 // Beginning next year, health insurance policies written in Louisiana would have to provide at least $50,000 worth of coverage for those who need artificial limbs, under legislation approved 26-7 by the state Senate. There...
New York Senate Bill Bans Texting While Driving
May 28 2008 // The New York Senate has passed legislation that would prohibit drivers from reading, writing or sending text messages while driving in the Empire State. The law modifies earlier legislation that bans cell phone use while...
Guns in Locked Cars at Workplace OK under Louisiana Senate Bill
May 23 2008 // Employees in Louisiana would have the right to keep a legally owned firearm locked in their car in a parking lot at their place of work, if the House goes along with a bill approved 28-4 in the state Senate. Senator Joe...
Oklahoma Senate Approves Measure to Curb Copper Theft Epidemic
May 20 2008 // The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation intended to curb the growing problem of copper theft. Senate Bill 1856, authored by Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City, would increase fines and punishments for the crime of...
Senate Rejects Adding Wind Coverage to Flood Insurance Program
May 19 2008 // The U.S. Senate officially rejected a bid by Gulf state senators to add wind coverage to the financially strapped federal flood insurance program. Lawmakers from Louisiana and Mississippi cited problems that occurred after...
Congressional Report Finds Civilians Working in War Zones Encounter Claims Hurdles
May 19 2008 // Civilians deployed to war zones often encounter problems receiving medical treatment and are hesitant to seek help for emotional stress caused by their deployment, a new U.S. congressional report finds. Federal policies on...
Report: Bush Administration Rulemaking Limits Consumer Lawsuits
May 15 2008 // Faced with an unfriendly Congress, the Bush administration has found another, quieter way to make it more difficult for consumers to sue businesses over faulty products. It’s rewriting the bureaucratic...
House, Senate Must Work Out Differences in Flood Insurance Bills
May 14 2008 // The Senate voted Tuesday to extend until 2013 a federal program that insures millions of U.S. homes against floods and to forgive $17 billion in debt that the program built up during Hurricane Katrina. In an issue of...
Senate Rejects Adding Wind Coverage to Flood Insurance Program, 73-19
May 12 2008 // The U.S. Senate last week officially rejected a bid by Gulf state senators to add wind coverage to a financially strapped federal program that provides flood insurance. Lawmakers from Louisiana and Mississippi cited...
Senate Advances Renewal of Flood Insurance without Wind Coverage
May 7 2008 // A bill to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) passed a key test vote in the U.S. Senate Tuesday, with aides saying they expected final action on the legislation before the end of the week. The Senate agreed...
House, Senate to Confer on Differing Product Safety Bills
May 5 2008 // U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor will head a conference committee on legislation to strengthen consumer product safety efforts, and says the group will meet soon. The Democrat from Arkansas, who chairs the committee, said the group...
Alabama Coastal Insurance Bill Opposed by Alfa Passes in Senate
May 5 2008 // Legislation aimed at expanding insurance pool coverage for coastal residents in Alabama and opposed by insurance giant Alfa passed in the state Senate after appearing to be doomed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ben...
Colorado Senate OKs Requiring Car Insurers to Offer Medical Coverage
May 2 2008 // Colorado drivers would be nudged into buying medical coverage on their car insurance policies under a proposal backed by the state Senate on April 29. Under the bill, insurance companies would have to include $5,000 in...
La. Senate OKs Regional Deductibles for Homeowners Policies
May 2 2008 // The Louisiana Senate voted to allow insurance companies to set different, “named storm” deductibles on homeowner policies depending on how far a property is from the hurricane-prone Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana is...
Minnesota Senate Approves Tougher Standards for Pools
Apr 25 2008 // Just ahead of swimming season, the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday, April 23rd, embraced new safety standards for more than 4,000 pools at health clubs, parks, apartment buildings and hotels. It is a response to an...
Senate Expected to Pass Genetic Anti-Discrimination Bill
Apr 25 2008 // People seeking genetic testing to learn if they are predisposed to serious diseases would not have to fear losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate was to vote on...
