Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Details of Democrats’ Health Care Reform Plan Emerging
Jun 10 2009 // Leading Senate Democrats unveiled Tuesday a plan to reshape U.S. healthcare that calls for sweeping insurance market reforms and prohibits insurers from denying coverage or charging more due to medical history. The measure...
Texas GOP Vows to Keep Insurance, Transportation Departments Open
Jun 5 2009 // Republican leaders in the Texas Legislature have promised that insurance regulation, roadbuilding and other government functions will continue in Texas despite lawmakers’ failure to pass a measure preserving the...
Obama Administration Steps Up Financial Reform Drive
Jun 4 2009 // The Obama administration stepped up its push for tougher bank and financial firm rules Thursday, scheduling a briefing for lobbyists, with a focus on insurance oversight, and sending a top regulator to a Senate hearing to...
Republicans Introduce Health Care Reform Plan
Jun 1 2009 // Congressional Republicans unveiled a health care reform plan they hope will compete with what Democrats are planning to offer. U.S. Sens. Tom Coburn, M.D., of Oklahoma, and Richard Burr of North Carolina, along with U.S....
California Senate Passes Insurance Fraud Bill
Jun 1 2009 // The California Senate has passed SB 156, a bill that would authorize the Department of Insurance or a district attorney to convene meetings with an insurance company to discuss a specific insurance fraud and would provide...
Oregon Senate Votes to Toughen Anti-Bullying Policy
May 29 2009 // A bill intended to reduce the amount of bullying in Oregon schools is headed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski for his signature. The Oregon Senate followed the House’s lead in approving a bill that requires school districts to...
Texas Senate Moves to Pass TWIA Reforms
May 29 2009 // Hoping to avoid a special legislative session this summer, the Texas Senate passed legislation that would restore Texas’ depleted windstorm insurance fund. Gov. Rick Perry has warned he could call a special session...
Oregon Senate Extends Period of Product Liability
May 28 2009 // The Oregon Senate has approved a bill that would give Oregonians harmed by defective products more time to take legal action. Currently, Oregon residents must sue within eight years of when the product was originally...
Massachusetts Senate Budget Bans Texting while Driving
May 26 2009 // The Massachusetts Senate approved an amendment banning all Internet use while driving as part of its version of the state’s upcoming budget. Drivers would be banned from sending text messages, e-mailing or reading...
Oklahoma Senate Approves Workers’ Compensation Judge Plan
May 21 2009 // Republicans have pushed another issue to a statewide vote to counter a gubernatorial veto – this time a plan to require Senate confirmation of Workers’ Compensation Court judges. The Oklahoma Senate gave final...
Republican Senate President to Run for Florida CFO Post
May 20 2009 // Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater says he’s running for chief financial officer (CFO). The North Palm Beach Republican filed as a candidate Monday with the Department of State. Just about a week ago, incumbent...
Republicans Explain Their Health Care Reform Plan
May 20 2009 // While President Obama may believe the stars are aligned for major health reform this year it is far from certain whether Congress will pass a bill that works. The groups that are most likely to unravel this effort are not...
Republican Health Care Reform Nixes Public Option, New Taxes
May 20 2009 // Congressional Republicans today unveiled a health care reform plan they hope will compete with what Democrats are planning to offer. U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D., of Oklahoma, and Richard Burr, of North Carolina, along...
Delaware Senate Committee Rejects Anti-Discrimination Bill
May 15 2009 // The Delaware state Senate once again has blocked passage of a bill outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation in Delaware. The bill, which passed the House in March, was the subject of a hearing Wednesday by the...
Insurance Exchange, Mandate, Public Option Among Democrats’ Health Ideas
May 15 2009 // House Democrats are looking at big health care changes, including federal aid to help families earning up to $88,000 pay for insurance and a requirement that all must carry coverage. A document obtained by The Associated...
Texas Senate Passes Driver Education Bill
May 14 2009 // Drivers in Texas over the age of 18 but younger than 21 would have to take a driver’s education course before they could get a license, under a bill approved by the state Senate. Currently in the state, an adult...
AIG Leaders Grilled on Bailout Repay at Congressional Hearing
May 13 2009 // American International Group Inc. CEO Ed Liddy met some harsh criticism at a congressional hearing on Wednesday as lawmakers demanded answers on the taxpayer bailout of the giant insurer. Rep. Dennis Kucinich wagged his...
New Jersey Senate Tackles Two More Insurance Bills
May 8 2009 // The New Jersey Senate’s Commerce Committee is in the midst of vetting two key bills that would have significant impact on the Garden State’s insurance industry. One bill would create a create a financial...
TWIA’s Chair Langford Honored by Texas Senate
May 5 2009 // The Texas Senate honored James Langford, vice president of compliance, regulatory and government affairs for Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies, in a Senate Resolution. The Resolution was read on the Senate floor...
Texas Senate Passes Insurance Department ‘Sunset’ Bill
May 4 2009 // After a temporary block by Democrats in the Texas Senate, a bill allowing continuation of the Texas Department of Insurance passed the Senate and headed to the House of Representatives for deliberation. Sen. Glenn Hegar of...
