Latest Politics Headlines

All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.

New Limits on Lawsuits a Goal for Louisiana Republicans

Dec 27 2019 // After an election season in which conservative Republicans made Louisiana’s high car insurance rates a campaign issue, GOP lawmakers expect efforts to try to limit damages awarded in car wreck lawsuits to be front...

Democrats Pass Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors

Dec 13 2019 // The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation aimed at driving down the prices that seniors pay for prescription drugs, but the bill’s future is clouded by President Donald Trump’s threat...

FTC Democrat Tells States: ‘BalI Is In Your Court’ on Facebook Privacy Compliance

Dec 10 2019 // A Democratic member on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission urged states investigating Facebook Inc. to examine whether the company disregarded earlier promises to protect privacy in order to perpetuate its dominance in...

Senate Democrats’ Bill Would Establish Consumer Rights Over Internet Data, Privacy

Nov 27 2019 // Democratic senators proposed legislation on Tuesday that would set penalties for online companies like Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. if they mishandle users’ personal data.The measure comes at a time...

Senate Banking Committee Advances Terrorism Reinsurance Renewal

Nov 20 2019 // Legislation to renew the federal terrorism reinsurance program advanced another step today when it was passed by the Senate Banking Committee.The Senate legislation (S.2877) is identical to the bill (H.R. 4634) that passed...

House Passes Terrorism Reinsurance Renewal; Senate to Take Up Measure

Nov 19 2019 // The House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill reauthorizing the federal terrorism reinsurance program by a vote of 385-22.The vote came on the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 (H.R....

Privacy Law Favored by Tech Firms Gains Support Among House Democrats

Oct 17 2019 // A group of more than 100 centrist Democratic House lawmakers is throwing its weight behind a privacy bill that has been praised by alliances of software and internet giants.The move is one of the first large-scale...

Former Head of North Carolina GOP Pleads Guilty in Insurance Commissioner Bribery Case

Oct 4 2019 // The former chairman of North Carolina’s Republican Party admitted Wednesday that he broke the law by lying to federal agents about his role in an alleged effort to bribe the state’s top insurance regulator to...

Analysts See Senate Joining House on Marijuana Banking Law

Sep 29 2019 // A stronger-than-expected 321-103 vote in the House in favor of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, which allows banks to service the cannabis industry, sets the stage for likely passage in the Senate, according to...

Arkansas Senate Leader Proposes New Regulations, Tax on Vaping

Sep 18 2019 // Arkansas’ Senate president has proposed a new tax and regulations on vaping products, and said he hopes the governor will call lawmakers back to the Capitol to take up the issue.Republican Sen. Jim Hendren proposed...

Bill to Tighten “Gig” Worker Rule Passed by California Senate

Sep 11 2019 // The California State Senate voted on Tuesday to pass a bill that would make it much more difficult for gig economy companies like Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. to classify workers as independent contractors rather...

Trump Administration Appoints Aviation Safety Advisory Panel

Aug 23 2019 // U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Thursday named 22 people to a new panel that will advise the department on aviation safety oversight and certification programs as the Federal Aviation Administration continues...

Trump Administration Moves Ahead with Revised Truckers’ Hours Rules

Aug 19 2019 // The Trump administration took a key step last week toward relaxing federal rules that govern the length of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel, a move long sought by the trucking industry but opposed by safety...

Democrats File Bills in House, Senate to Legalize, Tax Marijuana

Jul 25 2019 // Bills that would legalize and tax marijuana at the national level, and provide opportunities for people convicted of federal pot crimes to clear their records, were introduced Tuesday in Congress.The companion legislation...

Senate Vows to Vote This Week on Sept. 11 Victims Fund

Jul 22 2019 // The Senate will vote Tuesday on a bipartisan bill to ensure a victims’ compensation fund related to the Sept. 11 attacks never runs out of money, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday.The announcement...

N. D. Insurance Commissioner Urges U.S. Senate to Tackle Surprise Air Ambulance Bills

Jul 16 2019 // In a letter sent to U.S. Senate leaders in early July, North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, urged lawmakers to take action on the issue of surprise bills from air ambulance providers.Godfread wrote to Senate...

House Democrats Eye Possible Ban on Big Tech Firms Offering Financial Services

Jul 15 2019 // A proposal to prevent big technology companies from functioning as financial institutions or issuing digital currencies has been circulated for discussion by the Democratic majority that leads the House Financial Services...

Trump Administration Halts Plan to Sideline Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Jul 11 2019 // The White House abandoned a push to end rebates paid to middlemen who negotiate drug prices on behalf of health insurers, a move that could turn scrutiny back on how drugmakers themselves set prices.President Donald Trump...

Trump Administration to Ease Rules on Truckers’ Maximum Hours on Road

Jul 3 2019 // Truck driver Lucson Francois was forced to hit the brakes just five minutes from his home in Pennsylvania.He’d reached the maximum number of hours in a day he’s allowed to be on duty. Francois couldn’t...

Michigan Democratic Leader Says Businesses, Heavy Trucks Must Fix Roads

Jun 27 2019 // With Republicans firmly opposed to a 45-cents-a-gallon fuel tax hike, Democratic lawmakers want businesses to do more to help fix the roads.A new $1.2 billion proposal from House Democrats would raise the state’s...