Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Senate Push Over AIG Bonuses Appears to Lose Steam
Mar 24 2009 // U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed Monday to push to recoup millions of dollars in executive bonuses at taxpayer-funded insurer American International Group, but the legislation appeared to be losing momentum in...
Lobbyist, Former Democratic Lawmaker Squires to Run for Georgia Insurance Post
Mar 23 2009 // Mary Squires, a former Democratic state lawmaker who now lobbies for the self-insurance industry, is running to be Georgia’s next insurance commissioner. Squires is the first candidate to enter the race to succeed...
New York Republicans Demand Probe into AIG Campaign Donation
Mar 23 2009 // New York’s Republican Party says the Democrat-controlled state government is ignoring calls for an investigation into a $100,000 donation to the state Democratic Party from American International Group days before...
Democrats Agree Health Reform Must Include Medical Liability Changes
Mar 18 2009 // Medical malpractice overhauls have died many deaths in Congress over the years, often at the hands of Democratic lawmakers backed by trial lawyers. Attempts to change the system may be getting new life. As they search for...
Texas Senate Committee Considers DWI Breath Test Bill
Mar 18 2009 // Drunk driving suspects in Texas would no longer be allowed to refuse a breath or blood test under certain circumstances, under a bill being considered by the state Senate Criminal Justice Committee. Texas already allows...
Oklahoma Senate OKs Tax Credits for February Storm Victims
Mar 16 2009 // A bill introduced into the Oklahoma State Senate that provides tax credits for victims of the Feb. 10, 2009, storms that destroyed dozens of homes and businesses and caused multiple fatalities is now headed to the House of...
Oklahoma Senate Bill Lowers Legal Alcohol Limit for Boaters
Mar 13 2009 // Legislation that would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the offense of boating under the influence from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent has been approved by the Oklahoma Senate. The measure would also...
Okla. Dems Oppose Bill Calling for Senate Approval of Work Comp Judges
Mar 13 2009 // State Senate confirmation of judges in Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system would be required under legislation approved by the state House of Representatives that was quickly condemned by a spokesman for...
Oklahoma GOP Squeezing Opponents of Lawsuit Reform
Mar 10 2009 // Republicans lawmakers eager for new civil justice guidelines that would change the way Oklahomans file and litigate lawsuits are putting the squeeze on their opponents with a flurry of legislation that offers a variety of...
New York Insurance Chief Dinallo’s U.S. Senate Testimony on AIG
Mar 5 2009 // Testimony by New York Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Hearing on “American International Group: Examining What Went Wrong, Government...
Oklahoma Democrats: GOP Is Protecting Insurance Companies
Mar 2 2009 // Oklahoma Senate Democrats are charging that Republicans are taking the side of insurance companies over the needs of their constituents. Democratic leaders held a news conference Feb. 26 to decry decisions by GOP leaders...
Wyo. Senate Kills Bill to Make Small Business Fund
Feb 27 2009 // The Wyoming Senate has voted down a bill to create a multimillion dollar investment fund to foster small business growth. House Bill 291 would have created a $20 million fund with contributions from insurance companies,...
U.S. Senate Panel Sets March 5 Hearing on AIG
Feb 26 2009 // The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a hearing on March 5 to examine government aid to insurer American International Group Inc, a source familiar with the hearing said Wednesday. Federal Reserve Board Vice...
Texting While Driving Ban Passes Virginia Senate
Feb 26 2009 // OMG! Texting your BFF while driving could soon cost you. The Senate voted 33-6 Tuesday to pass Del. John Cosgrove’s bill to ban sending or reading text messages or e-mail while driving. The House passed the...
Arkansas Senate OKs Restricting Crash Report Access
Feb 23 2009 // A proposal to temporarily restrict access to traffic-accident reports that’s working its way through Arkansas’ Legislature has raised concerns from at least one opponent that it could open the state up to a...
Oklahoma Boating Under the Influence Measure Goes to Full Senate
Feb 20 2009 // The Oklahoma Senate Appropriations Committee has approved legislation that would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for the offense of boating under the influence from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. Senate...
Okla. Bill Requiring Senate to OK Work Comp Judges Moves Ahead
Feb 20 2009 // A resolution calling for a vote of the people to determine if gubernatorial Workers’ Compensation Court appointments in Oklahoma should require Senate confirmation passed a House Committee, the state House of...
Insurance Coverage for Autism Passes Montana Senate Panel
Feb 18 2009 // A bill requiring insurance companies to cover autism treatments has been approved by a Montana Senate committee and sent to the Senate floor for debate. Senate Bill 234 passed out of the Business, Labor and Economic...
Washington Senate Democrats Want More Transparency in Rebates
Feb 18 2009 // Senate Democrats proposed increasing oversight of a Washington State business insurance rebate program, citing rebate overpayments of at least $150 million. Last week, the state Department of Labor & Industries...
Oregon Senate Panel Approves Higher Liability Caps
Feb 17 2009 // Lawsuits against Oregon state and local governments could get bigger under a bill approved by the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee. The proposal, Senate Bill 311, would increase government liability caps to boost the...
