Latest Politics Headlines

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

House Passes Flood Insurance Extension; Senate Must Still Vote

Jun 23 2010 // The House of Representatives has passed another temporary extension of the National Flood Insurance Program until Sept. 30, 2010. The program has been suspended from issuing new policies since May 31. Reauthorization...

Congressional Panel Criticizes Government Over AIG Bailout

Jun 21 2010 // A watchdog panel says it’s still unclear whether U.S. taxpayers will ever fully recoup the $182 billion they plowed into American International Group Inc., and the government should have used up all its options...

Primary Nears for Republicans Running for Georgia Insurance Post

Jun 18 2010 // A crowded field of candidates is battling it out to become the state’s next insurance commissioner, with several vowing to fight the new federal health care law. Nine Republicans and one Democrat have entered the...

Senate Again Rejects Bill Containing Flood Insurance Program Restart

Jun 18 2010 // The U.S. Senate yesterday again voted down a legislative package on jobless benefits, Medicare payments to doctors and business tax breaks that also contains reauthorization of the nation’s flood insurance...

Only Republicans Running for Kansas Insurance Post

Jun 15 2010 // Voters in Kansas’ Aug. 3 Republican primary will probably decide the insurance commissioner’s race. No Democratic, Libertarian or Reform Party candidates filed for the office before the June 10...

Congressional Panel Criticizes Government Over AIG Bailout

Jun 11 2010 // A watchdog panel says it’s still unclear whether U.S. taxpayers will ever fully recoup the $182 billion they plowed into American International Group Inc., and the government should have used up all its options...

Float-Builder Liability Exemption Rejected in Louisiana Senate

Jun 10 2010 // A proposal to shield Mardi Gras float-builders from some liability claims for accidents on the parade route was scuttled by a Louisiana Senate committee after opponents argued the state shouldn’t give such...

Senate Approves Financial Reform Bill

May 21 2010 // The U.S. Senate approved a sweeping Wall Street reform bill Thursday night, capping months of wrangling over the biggest overhaul of financial regulation since the 1930s. By a vote of 59-39, the Senate approved S. 3217,...

Arkansas Insurance Agent Wins GOP Nomination for Lt. Gov.

May 20 2010 // A Springdale, Ark., insurance agent has won the Republican nomination in Arkansas for lieutenant governor. Mark Darr will face state Sen. Shane Broadway in the fall to take over the No. 2 spot vacated by Bill Halter,...

Senate Republicans Balk at Raising Oil Companies’ Spill Liability

May 19 2010 // President Barack Obama said Tuesday he was disappointed that a measure to lift limits on oil firm liability for spills had stalled in the U.S. Senate, and blasted Republicans he said had stopped it. “I am...

Democrats Considering Unlimited Oil Spill Liability

May 18 2010 // Democrats in the U.S. Senate are considering pushing legislation that would place no limits on the liability oil industry companies would face if they are responsible for oil spills, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez said...

Obama Administration Defends Healthcare Law in First Court Test

May 13 2010 // The Obama administration has urged a court to reject an attempt to block a controversial new law overhauling the U.S. healthcare system, saying it is constitutional and any challenge is premature. The reforms, a top...

Tornado Shelter Legislation Killed in Oklahoma Senate

May 12 2010 // The Oklahoma Senate has killed a bill that would have required owners of mobile and RV parks to provide tenants with a plan to seek shelter. The bill’s author, State Rep. Pat Ownbey, praised a mobile home park south...

Bill for Seat Belts on Connecticut Buses Clears Senate

May 6 2010 // A bill that provides Connecticut school districts with a financial incentive to buy school buses with seat belts is heading to the governor. The Senate gave the bill final legislative approval late Tuesday night. The...

U.S. Senate Bank Reform Fight Turns to Consumers, Fed

May 6 2010 // The U.S. Senate’s debate on Wall Street reform shifted Thursday to a running battle over consumer protection and an impending challenge to Federal Reserve secrecy, with small banks also scoring a win. In the second...

Democrats Garner More Votes in U.S. Senate for Financial Reform Bill

May 5 2010 // Democrats fought to push their Wall Street reform forward in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, slating more votes despite Republican resistance on a bill that is expected to pass within weeks. The chief negotiators for both...

Senate Ends Stalemate Over Financial Reforms; Debate to Begin

Apr 29 2010 // A three-day U.S. Senate standoff over efforts to overhaul financial regulation ended on Wednesday as Republicans dropped efforts to block a Democratic bill in exchange for a handful of concessions. A deal to proceed came...

Republicans Release Own Financial Services Regulation Proposal

Apr 28 2010 // Senate Republicans have proposed an alternative to Democrats’ financial regulation legislation, according to a document obtained by Reuters on Tuesday. Below are their key proposals. ORDERLY LIQUIDATION No resolution...

Louisiana Senate Passes Ban on Insurance Cancellations Due to Drywall

Apr 28 2010 // The Louisiana Senate has passed a measure that would ban against property insurers dropping or changing coverage for homes or businesses that contain Chinese-made drywall, which has been blamed for home corrosion and...

Financial Reform Bill Stumbles in U.S. Senate

Apr 27 2010 // The most sweeping overhaul of U.S. banking rules since the Great Depression stumbled in the Senate Monday as Republicans united to prevent action on the bill. The vote gives Republicans leverage to extract more concessions...