Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
N.Y. Senate Confirms Dinallo as Insurance Superintendent
Apr 19 2007 // The New York State Senate has confirmed Governor Eliot Spitzer’s nomination of Eric Dinallo as the new superintendent of the New York State Insurance Department. He has been serving as acting superintendent since...
Bush Administration Rejects Pleas for Federal Disaster Plan
Apr 13 2007 // Warning of another looming hurricane season, lawmakers including Florida Gov. Charlie Crist pleaded this week in Washington for a national catastrophe fund to help stabilize an insurance industry that they say has gone...
Ark. Commissioner Speaks to Senate Committee on State of P/C Industry
Apr 12 2007 // Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on April 11 on the overall state of the property/casualty insurance market...
Tenn. Senate Votes to Repeal Motorcycle Helmet Requirement
Apr 11 2007 // The Tennessee Senate voted 18-12 to rescind the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law for adults. Any licensed motorcyclist at least 21 years old could opt not to wear a helmet under the bill sponsored by Sen. Tim...
Delaware Senate Votes to Repeal Time Limit on Sex Abuse Suits
Apr 10 2007 // The Delaware Senate this week unanimously approved a bill allowing victims of child sexual abuse more time to file civil lawsuits against their alleged abusers. Senators approved the bill on a 19-0 vote after 31/2 hours of...
Nebraska Senate Advances Bill Shielding Cities from Injury Lawsuits
Apr 6 2007 // Nebraska lawmakers broke a filibuster and gave first-round approval to a bill that could open parks that have closed following a state Supreme Court decision. State Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha fought the bill (LB564) that...
House Republicans in N.D. Back Party Fund for Workers’ Comp Agency
Apr 5 2007 // North Dakota’s workers’ compensation agency should have $50,000 set aside for employee gifts, parties and training, House Republicans decided, ignoring Democratic complaints that the kitty was a “slush...
R.I. Ethics Panel Nixes Settlement with Former Senate President Irons
Apr 5 2007 // The Rhode Island Ethics Commission has rejected an offer by former Senate President William Irons to settle conflict-of-interest charges related to his business dealings with CVS Corp. After a closed-door meeting,...
Miss. Democrats Ask for Trial Over Primary Ballot Control
Apr 4 2007 // Attorneys for plaintiffs wanting to keep non-Democrats from voting in Democratic Party primaries have asked a federal judge to let a trial go on, as scheduled. There is disagreement within the Democratic Party about the...
Tenn. House Leader Blames Republicans for Med Mal Failure
Mar 29 2007 // Tennessee House Judiciary Chairman Rob Briley on Tuesday said a compromise over medical malpractice lawsuits will not be passed because Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris reneged on part of the agreement. Briley,...
Pa. Republicans Question Payroll Tax for Expanded Health Coverage
Mar 28 2007 // Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania expressed reservations this week about imposing a new business payroll tax to help expand state-subsidized health insurance in the first public hearing on Gov. Ed Rendell’s plan...
Idaho Senate passes bill to require underinsured motorists coverage
Mar 26 2007 // A bill to require Idaho insurers to offer coverage for accidents involving underinsured drivers passed the Senate, overcoming objections from two insurance agents who said it could increase costs. The measure was scheduled...
Minn. Senate Okays Insurance for Same-sex Partners of State Workers
Mar 26 2007 // The Senate on Saturday voted to allow same-sex partners of state workers to buy into the state’s health insurance program, even as opponents charged it was a stealth attempt to clear a path for legalized gay...
Congressional Democrats Call for Improved Bus Inspections
Mar 23 2007 // House Democrats called for better inspections and tougher standards for bus operators this week after the recent crash in Atlanta that left five college baseball players dead. In a House hearing that highlighted partisan...
Md. Senate Committee Nixes Bill Forcing Insurers to Write on Coast
Mar 22 2007 // Maryland has decided not to require home insurers to cover all areas of the state, even coastal areas. The state Senate was considering a bill to require the insurance after state’s second-largest home insurer —...
Dale Says He’ll Fight Removal from MIss. Democratic Ballot
Mar 21 2007 // Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale says he’ll take legal action to fight the Mississippi Democratic Party executive committee’s decision to remove him from the ballot. “I intend to continue to...
Miss. Commissioner Dale Blocked from Running as Democrat
Mar 19 2007 // Insurance Commissioner George Dale has run as a Democrat eight times in his political career. But this year to his frustration, he won’t be allowed to do so. The Mississippi Democratic Executive Committee denied...
Ark. Senate Passes Teen Driving Rules; Highway Bond Measure
Mar 16 2007 // Teenage drivers in Arkansas would have more restrictions on their driving privileges under Senate Bill 196, which recently passed the state Senate. According to the Senate announcement, teens with a learner’s permit...
Lawsuit Reform Bills Advance in Okla. Senate
Mar 15 2007 // The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate recently passed three key lawsuit reform measures, according to a Senate announcement. Senate Republican leaders said they are negotiating with Senate Democrats and leaders of the House...
Oregon Senate Passes Workers’ Comp Bill for Farmworkers
Mar 14 2007 // The Oregon Senate has approved a bill to provide protection for farmworkers. Senate Bill 202 requires farm labor contractors to provide workers’ compensation insurance for workers, and requires applicants for farm...
