Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
N.H. Senate Amendment Would Change Who Polices Public Risk Pools
May 26 2015 // The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office could lose its ability to oversee a public risk pool it’s had issues with for years, if a last-minute amendment to the state Senate budget remains in place. The New...
Senate Committee Passes Dodd-Frank Relief Bill Without Democrats
May 22 2015 // A bill to ease regulations across the U.S. financial sector passed a Senate committee on Thursday with no support from Democrats, in a setback to the largest overhaul of 2010 banking reforms since the rules were put in...
Massachusetts Senate Removes Insurance Surcharge From Headlights Law
May 20 2015 // The Massachusetts Senate has voted to join the House in softening the impact of the new state law that requires motorists to turn their headlights on whenever they are operating their windshield wipers. Under a state...
Senate Bill Would Raise Amtrak Liability Limit
May 20 2015 // U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has filed legislation aimed at helping victims of the deadly May 12 Amtrak derailment. Nelson’s bill would raise the current $200 million cap on the amount a passenger rail company is...
Texas Senate Passes Property Claim Litigation Bill
May 18 2015 // The Texas Senate on April 30 passed a bill aimed at stemming the onslaught of property claim litigation that has been occurring with increasing frequency in the state following natural catastrophes. Advocates of Senate...
Senate Now Expected to Pass Fast-Track Authority
May 14 2015 // U.S. Senate leaders agreed on a deal to move forward with President Barack Obama’s legislation to speed approval of trade agreements following a one-day rebellion by Democrats. The Senate will hold votes Thursday on...
N.J. Senate Panel Passes Bill Aimed at Transparency in Sandy Aid
May 14 2015 // New Jersey residents affected by Superstorm Sandy would be owed a timeline detailing when state aid would be distributed under a bill advancing in the New Jersey Legislature. The state’s Senate budget committee on...
More Vetting for Uber Bill After Rocky Trip Through Nevada Senate
May 14 2015 // Nevada Assembly members aired their concerns this week about a bill that would regulate ride-hailing companies such as Uber, a day after the measure finished its rocky trip through the Senate with an 18-1 vote. The...
Senate Democrats Derail Fast-Track Trade Authority Bill
May 12 2015 // U.S. Senate Democrats delivered a major blow to President Barack Obama’s trade agenda on Tuesday, blocking debate on a bill that would have smoothed the path for a Pacific trade pact. The stunning outcome cast doubt...
Senate Banking Chair Shelby Unveils Financial Regulation Reform Bill
May 12 2015 // The head of the Senate Banking Committee unveiled his long-awaited bill to toughen oversight of the Federal Reserve and ease the regulatory burden on dozens of banks, setting off what could be intense negotiations with...
Today’s Senate Vote First Test for Fast-Track Trade Authority Obama Wants
May 12 2015 // The Pacific trade agreement faces its first test in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday in a knife-edge vote that may hold the key to President Barack Obama’s diplomatic pivot to Asia. The Senate vote is one of a likely...
Republican Senate Bill on Dodd-Frank, Insurance Changes Expected Next Week
May 7 2015 // The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee is pushing ahead with a bill to ease rules across sections of the financial industry after the first round of efforts to work with his Democratic counterpart failed. Alabama...
Uber Pulls Out of Kansas After Senate Imposes Stricter Regulations
May 6 2015 // Ride-hailing service Uber said it ceased operations in Kansas after the state legislature decided to override Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of a bill that will impose stricter regulations on ride-hailing services. Uber...
Property Claim Litigation Bill Passed by the Texas Senate
May 1 2015 // The Texas Senate on April 30 passed a bill aimed at stemming the onslaught of property claim litigation that has been occurring with increasing frequency in the state following natural catastrophes. Advocates of Senate...
Louisiana Senate Committee OKs Medical Marijuana Bill
Apr 30 2015 // Louisiana law enforcement associations have previously blocked efforts to get medical marijuana to patients who suffer, despite a 1991 state law allowing its medicinal use. That changed on April 29. Michael Ranatza, head...
Felony DUI Bill in Colorado Passes Key Senate Test After Changes
Apr 30 2015 // A measure to add penalties for habitual drunken drivers has advanced in the state Senate after weeks of delay. The felony DUI bill would make a fourth DUI a felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of as...
Dismantle of Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange Fails in Senate
Apr 27 2015 // Governance of Minnesota’s health insurance exchange could be in for a change, but MNsure won’t go away entirely. The Democratic-led Minnesota Senate defeated GOP attempts to dismantle MNsure. Several...
House, Senate Committees Pass Trade Authority Bills
Apr 23 2015 // Legislation to speed trade deals through the U.S. Congress cleared through a key committee on Thursday, but low Democratic support signaled a looming battle over a Pacific trade pact central to President Barack...
Nevada Uber Regulation Bill That Failed Senate Shows Signs of Life
Apr 22 2015 // A bill that would allow for ridesharing companies such as Uber in Nevada is showing signs of life after failing a vote of the Nevada Senate. SB439 was granted a deadline waiver on Monday, meaning it can be reconsidered at...
Michigan Auto Insurance Bills Passed by Senate
Apr 20 2015 // A divided state Senate approved revisions to Michigan’s auto insurance law that backers said would curtail costs in the only state to require unlimited medical benefits for those severely injured in crashes and that...
