Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
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...
West Virginia Unlikely to Remove Local Guns Laws: Senate President
Mar 28 2013 // West Virginia Senate President Jeffrey Kessler says a bill that would eliminate municipal gun restrictions in four cities is unlikely to proceed. The bill passed the House with overwhelming support and recent rallies have...
Q&A: Congressional Politics and Prospects for Terrorism Insurance Renewal
Mar 26 2013 // The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, which was initially enacted in 2002, and amended by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act of 2005 and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007...
Senate Votes $55M to Avoid Meat Inspector Layoffs
Mar 21 2013 // U.S. Senators agreed to shift $55 million in funds within the Agriculture Department on Wednesday to avert the layoff of all U.S. meat inspectors this summer due to federal budget cuts. On a voice vote, the Senate adopted...
Feds Would Set Florida Health Insurance Rates Under Senate Bill
Mar 21 2013 // A state Senate health committee recommended this week that the state suspend the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s power to set rates for insurers under the Affordable Care Act and instead let the federal...
Florida Senate Medical Malpractice Bill Advances
Mar 20 2013 // A bill that would make it even harder to pursue medical malpractice claims in Florida has cleared a Senate panel. The Senate Judiciary committee voted up the bill (SB 7030) by a vote of 6-3 on Monday. It would require that...
West Virginia Senate Committee Backs Higher Auto Minimum Limits
Mar 20 2013 // A West Virginia Senate committee advanced a bill this week that would likely increase car insurance premiums for drivers who can least afford it, but also expand liability coverage for the highest-risk drivers. The bill...
Senate Committee Approves SEC, Consumer Financial Bureau Chiefs
Mar 19 2013 // A U.S. Senate panel voted to move forward two of President Barack Obama’s choices to lead financial regulatory agencies, but his pick of Richard Cordray to head the new consumer bureau likely still faces a tough path...
Tennessee Senate Panel Advances Seat Belt Fine Increase
Mar 15 2013 // A proposal that would increase the fine for not wearing a seat belt by $40 is advancing in the Tennessee Senate. The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro narrowly passed the Senate...
Oklahoma Senate Votes to Privatize CompSource Agency
Mar 14 2013 // The Oklahoma Senate has approved legislation to privatize the state’s nonprofit workers’ compensation agency. The Senate passed the measure by a vote of 36-11. It heads to the House, where a similar bill is...
Health Insurance Exchange Bill Clears New Mexico Senate
Mar 13 2013 // A proposal to establish a state-run health insurance exchange has passed the Senate with bipartisan support. A federal health care law calls for exchanges to serve as a marketplace for the uninsured to shop for medical...
Florida Senate Bill Would Depopulate Citizens, Raise Rates, Create Clearinghouse
Mar 13 2013 // Lawmakers in the Florida Senate have taken steps to return the state-backed insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to its original purpose of being a market of last resort by requiring it to charge actuarially sound...
Colorado Democrat Defeats Own Assault Weapon Liability Bill
Mar 11 2013 // A divisive proposal to hold sellers and owners of assault weapons liable for damages in Colorado shootings was defeated by the Democratic senator who sponsored it. The bill was among the most controversial proposed by...
Oklahoma Workers’ Comp Bill Passes Senate, House Wants to Make It ‘Stronger’
Mar 11 2013 // House Speaker T.W. Shannon says a Senate bill to overhaul Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system could undergo changes in the House. On Feb. 27, senators voted 34-12 for the Republican-backed bill, mostly...
