Latest Politics Headlines

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

Massachusetts Senate Approves Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights

May 12 2014 // The Massachusetts Senate has unanimously passed legislation to create a “bill of rights” for nannies, caregivers and other domestic workers by establishing labor standards and other worker protections.The bill...

Republicans Fear U.S. ‘Surrender’ to International Group on Systemic Risk Designations

May 12 2014 // A group of Republican lawmakers demanded documents on Friday from U.S. regulators, voicing concerns that decisions about whether to designate large financial companies as systemically risky are unduly influenced by an...

N.Y. Senate OKs Bill Mandating Alcohol Tests After Bad Car Crashes

May 7 2014 // New York State senators have voted to require blood-alcohol tests of all drivers following serious accidents.The Senate passed the legislation on Monday. It would mandate that police test the alcohol levels of all drivers...

Louisiana Senate Panel OKs Bill to Derail Oil & Gas Lawsuit

May 5 2014 // Another bill pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration to undermine a lawsuit filed by a south Louisiana flood protection board against oil and gas companies is advancing in the state Senate.Senate Bill 469 by...

Senate Cybersecurity Bill Gives Firms Liability Protection for Sharing Data

Apr 30 2014 // U.S. administration officials, private sector executives and privacy advocates are reviewing a draft of a bill that would encourage sharing of cybersecurity data between the government and companies, two key Senators said...

Surplus Lines Insurers Could Pick Up Citizens Policies Under Senate Bill

Apr 28 2014 // Homeowners seeking coverage from Citizens Property Insurance could wind up getting policies from out-of-state insurers that are exempt from many of the state regulations other insurers must honor.The Florida Senate on...

Arizona Senate Takes Side of Uber, Lyft Ridesharing Services

Apr 24 2014 // Calling Uber a cutting-edge concept, the Arizona Senate approved a bill that exempts it and other rideshare companies from the same regulations that traditional taxi and limo companies have.The amended bill exempts...

Mining Industry Vows to Fight Obama Administration Coal Dust Rule

Apr 23 2014 // The Obama administration ordered a 25 percent cut in the levels of coal dust in U.S. mines to reduce deadly black lung disease, a move that drew criticism from the mining industry and the threat of a lawsuit.The rule...

Democrats Seize on Koch Brothers, Republican Opposition to Flood Insurance

Apr 20 2014 // 17 Apr 2014 09:00Democrats are exploring a new attack line against the Koch brothers and Republican allies, telling voters the billionaire energy executives want to let home flood insurance premiums soar to help corporate...

Republicans to Use Burwell HHS Hearings to Question Affordable Care Act

Apr 14 2014 // Republican lawmakers said hearings on Sylvia Mathews Burwell’s nomination as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary provide a fresh opening to raise questions about President Barack Obama’s health-care...

Minnesota Governor Lashes Out at GOP Critics of Health Insurance Exchange

Apr 10 2014 // Gov. Mark Dayton lashed out at critics of Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, accusing them of waging a propaganda campaign to destroy it.The Democratic governor spoke to reporters a day after GOP members of the...

Florida Senate Passes Parasailing Insurance Bill

Apr 7 2014 // Parasailing in Florida moved closer to becoming a regulated industry lat week, with the Senate approving a bill that would place safety guidelines on companies.The legislation details insurance, equipment and license...

Maryland Senate Approves Compromise Bill on Liability for Dog Bites

Apr 4 2014 // The Maryland Senate has approved a compromise bill on liability for dog bites.The House has already passed the bill, so it will go to the governor’s office for a signature. The bill would hold dog owners liable for...

Oklahoma School Storm Shelter Proposal Passes Senate Committee

Apr 4 2014 // An Oklahoma Senate committee has passed a measure calling for a public vote to allow school districts a one-time increase on bonding capacity to pay for school safety upgrades like storm shelters and safe rooms.The Senate...

Ag Tourism Liability Bill Passes Wisconsin Senate

Apr 3 2014 // Farmers wouldn’t be financially liable for the death of someone participating in an agricultural tourism activity under a bill that has cleared the Wisconsin Senate.Agricultural tourism is growing in popularity as...

Bill to Make Cancer Drugs More Affordable Passes Wisconsin Senate

Apr 2 2014 // Chemotherapy pills that cancer patients can take at home would be more affordable under a bill that the Wisconsin Senate passed on April 1 – the last planned meeting day of its two-year session.The oral chemotherapy...

Republican Bill Targets ‘Bailout’ of Health Insurers

Apr 2 2014 // U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent Republican critic of President Barack Obama’s healthcare law, unveiled legislation on Tuesday to make sure Obamacare would not add to the deficit by compensating insurance...

Republicans Vying for Georgia’s Senate Debate Flood Insurance, Port Development

Mar 31 2014 // Republican candidates for Georgia’s open U.S. Senate seat debated Saturday whether Congress has pushed hard enough for deepening the Savannah harbor and whether the federal government should keep giving homeowners a...

Kentucky Senate Debates Mine Safety Budget

Mar 28 2014 // Coal mines in Kentucky would be subject to fewer state inspections under the Senate’s budget proposal — a change that safety advocates say would raise the risk for miners, but one the plan’s proponents argue...

Florida Senate Passes Measure to Encourage Private Flood Insurance

Mar 28 2014 // The Florida Senate is backing a bill to entice private insurance companies to sell flood policies in the state that’s the most vulnerable to storm surge.The Senate this week unanimously passed the bill (SB 542)...