Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Republicans Renew Push for Repeal of Obamacare
May 10 2013 // The White House announced a new $150 million initiative on Thursday to get uninsured Americans covered under President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law, as Republicans raised the volume on their calls for...
Senate Farm Bill Draft Boosts Southern Crop Subsidies
May 10 2013 // In a concession to Southern lawmakers, the new U.S. farm law would set sharply higher support prices for rice and peanut crops under a draft prepared for a Senate Agriculture Committee vote next week and released on...
Oklahoma Senate Sends Workers’ Comp Bill to Governor
May 2 2013 // The Oklahoma Senate has approved a Republican-backed plan to overhaul the state’s workers’ compensation system and to cut more than $100 million annually from injured worker benefits, sending the proposal to...
Senate Panel to Investigate Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion
May 1 2013 // U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer said on Tuesday she plans to investigate the explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant earlier this month that killed 15 people and injured scores more. California’s Boxer, the head of the...
Florida Senate Approves Citizens Reform Bill; Path Ahead Remains Uncertain
Apr 26 2013 // Florida lawmakers have taken the first step towards reforming the state-backed property insurer, but not before significantly scaling back its impact on policyholders while the chances for final legislative approval remain...
North Carolina Senate Bill Aims to End Local Building Design Standards
Apr 25 2013 // Some North Carolina lawmakers are pushing legislation that forbids local governments from adopting their own building design standards in most cases. The Senate bill that passed the Commerce Committee on Tuesday says that...
North Carolina Senate OKs Insurance Laws That Could Mean Savings
Apr 23 2013 // A pair of automobile insurance bills doesn’t overhaul how premiums are set in North Carolina but could provide some cost savings for consumers. The North Carolina Senate approved the legislation by wide margins last...
Nevada Senate Approves Cellphone Tracking Bill
Apr 22 2013 // The Nevada Senate has approved a bill designed to give law enforcement quicker access to cellphone locations in times of emergency. SB268 gives cellphone carriers protections for providing information during certain...
Senate Bill Would Require Approval of Large Louisiana Citizens Rate Hikes
Apr 18 2013 // Large rate hikes for customers of Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort would require legislative approval, under a bill that received Senate Insurance Committee backing. St. Mary Parish Sen. Bret Allain...
Missouri Senate Backs $15M of Aid After Joplin Tornado
Apr 18 2013 // Missouri senators have backed a plan that could provide $15 million to Joplin to rebuild street curbs and gutters damaged as a result of a deadly 2011 tornado. The legislation given initial approval would create a disaster...
Senate Democrat Criticizes Healthcare Law Education; Sebelius Cites Lack of Funding
Apr 18 2013 // A Democratic senator who helped craft President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law gave the administration “a failing grade” on Wednesday for its efforts to educate the public and small employers...
Obama Administration Vows Veto of Cybersecurity Bill Over Privacy Provisions
Apr 17 2013 // The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto a House of Representatives bill aimed at improving U.S. cybersecurity, citing among other things concerns about privacy protections. In a repeat of last year’s events,...
Analysis: Private Health Plan Option Tough Sell for Arkansas GOP Voters
Apr 15 2013 // For Arkansas Republicans elected on a vow to defeat the federal health care overhaul, a proposal to expand subsidized insurance relying on a key part of that law has been far from an easy pitch. Here comes the toughest...
Florida Senate Passes Bill on Medical Malpractice Expert Witnesses
Apr 15 2013 // The Florida Senate is making it harder to pursue medical malpractice claims. The Senate last week voted 27-12 for the bill and sent it to the House. The legislation (SB 1792) requires that expert witnesses called against a...
Arkansas Senate Backs Penalties for Fatigued Drivers
Apr 10 2013 // The Arkansas Senate has approved legislation that would allow prosecutors to charge drowsy drivers with negligent homicide when they cause fatal crashes. By a 23-2 vote, the Senate approved a bill that would allow...
Congressional Aide McCabe Joins Marsh Cyber Security Practice
Apr 5 2013 // Matt McCabe, a former congressional advisor on cyber security, has joined Marsh’s Network Security and Privacy Practice as a senior vice president. In his new role, McCabe will be responsible for advising Marsh...
Texas Senate OKs Tougher Punishment for Fleeing an Accident
Apr 5 2013 // The Texas Senate has has passed a bill that toughens the punishment for leaving an accident that causes an injury. The measure by Austin Democratic Sen. Kirk Watson passed unanimously. Senate Bill 275 makes fleeing the...
Iowa Senate Panel OKs Small Business Health Coverage Tax Incentive
Apr 5 2013 // An Iowa Senate panel approved a bill that would give a new income tax break to small businesses if they cover part of their employees’ health insurance. The measure passed a Senate Ways and Means subcommittee with...
Tennessee Senate Approves Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Claims Change
Apr 3 2013 // Legislation that seeks to change the way injured workers’ claims are considered passed the Senate despite opponents who say it would reduce benefits and remove impartiality from the judgment process. The measure,...
Florida Senate Panel OKs Gilway as Citizens President
Apr 3 2013 // A Florida Senate committee unanimously confirmed Barry Gilway’s appointment as president of the state-backed insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The rare legislative oversight of the Citizens leadership...
