TheRepublic.com - Legislation News

House votes to delay food safety rules

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:45:28 -0400

WASHINGTON - The House voted late Wednesday to delay sweeping food safety rules that would require farmers and food companies to be more vigilant about guarding against contamination.

Compromise among senators eyed on border security

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:09:42 -0400

WASHINGTON - After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to dramatically toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers a path to citizenship to millions living in the country illegally.

Maine lawmakers fail to override Medicaid veto

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:31:23 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine will not accept federal dollars to expand health care coverage to 70,000 more state residents after the House failed for a second time on Wednesday night to override a veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage.

Mueller: FBI uses drones for surveillance

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:27:09 -0400

WASHINGTON - The FBI uses drones for surveillance of stationary subjects, and the privacy implications of such operations are "worthy of debate," FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday.

Bill seeks to reduce health care exchange secrecy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:46:15 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California - A state legislative committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would require California's health insurance exchange to make more contract information publicly available, even as advocates for open government urged lawmakers to go further.

Senate panel votes to ease landfill restrictions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:31:07 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - A state Senate committee voted Wednesday to ease some landfill restrictions imposed six years ago by reducing the distances that dumps must be from protected lands and narrowing the reasons why permit applications can be rejected.

Bill banning OHV enforcement on fed lands signed

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:20:04 -0400

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer has signed off on a mini-sagebrush rebellion by signing a bill barring state and local law enforcement officers from enforcing off-highway vehicle laws on closed federal lands.

Legislature creates confusion over records bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:13:20 -0400

SACRAMENTO, California - The Legislature's Democratic leaders on Wednesday pledged to address a budget bill that threatens public access to information held by local governments, but to do so in different ways.

Oregon panel OKs medical pot dispensaries

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:11:03 -0400

SALEM, Oregon - A legislative budget committee has signed off on a bill that would legalize medical marijuana dispensaries in Oregon.

Bill allowing new Coconino College taxes vetoed

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:01:03 -0400

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer has flexed her fiscal conservative muscles by vetoing a bill that would have allowed Coconino Community College to seek voter approval to permanently increase its primary property tax rate.

Snyder ends trade trip to push Medicaid expansion

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:52:35 -0400

LANSING, Michigan - Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday cut short his trade trip to Israel to return home and lobby reluctant fellow Republicans to expand Medicaid to more Michigan adults, as the clock ticked before lawmakers break for the summer.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes adoption bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:46:11 -0400

PHOENIX - Republican Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have allowed foster children to be adopted while their birth parents were still fighting to keep them.

Gov. Jan Brewer vetoes religious property tax bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:46:04 -0400

PHOENIX - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed a bill that would have expanded property tax exemptions for religious organizations, while also signing another bill that blocks unemployment benefits for church workers.

Arizona Gov. Brewer signs election overhaul bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:11:13 -0400

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer signed a sweeping election bill Wednesday that will overhaul the early voting process in Arizona and make it more difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballot.

Ark. panel accepting comments on voter ID rules

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:05:12 -0400

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - Arkansas' law requiring voters to show photo identification faced questions Wednesday about who would resolve disputes when people don't look like their ID photos, as the state's top election panel began finalizing rules for its enforcement.

Jindal signs bill criminalizing release of permits

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:54:20 -0400

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Despite criticism it would violate the First Amendment, Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday signed into law a bill that makes it a crime for journalists or anyone else to publicly identify concealed handgun permit holders or applicants.

Ore. legislature approves vaccine education bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:40:18 -0400

SALEM, Oregon - Oregon has the highest rate of kindergarteners with nonmedical vaccine exemptions in the country, and a bill passed by the state Legislature on Wednesday aims to bring that number down by making it harder for parents to refuse the shots.

Legislative mistake could gut pension fix

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:27:03 -0400

HELENA, Montana - A retirement board was told Tuesday that a mistake in the Legislature's proposed pension fix for public employees could undo plans to balance the system in less than 30 years.

Cuomo, legislative leaders announce deals

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:21:29 -0400

ALBANY, New York - New Yorkers could see some new high-technology employers enjoying a decade of tax-free living and five Las Vegas-type casinos under deals announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders.

NC first lady urges Senate action on breeder bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:20:50 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - North Carolina's usually reticent first lady Ann McCrory continued her push to prevent animal cruelty by operators of large dog breeding facilities as she urged the state Senate on Wednesday to take action.

Wanted: Committee compromise on Ill. pensions

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:15:21 -0400

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois - Illinois lawmakers didn't solve the state's pension crisis Wednesday but saved themselves from embarrassment over an ill-fated special session by taking steps toward a House-Senate compromise through a bipartisan committee.

Possible impeachment of Wyo. schools chief raised

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:59:54 -0400

CHEYENNE, Wyoming - The prospect of impeaching state schools Superintendent Cindy Hill is being discussed by some lawmakers in the wake of an inquiry into state Department of Education operations during her two-year administration of the agency.

Immigrant activist gets boost from Vt. delegation

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:51:20 -0400

MONTPELIER, Vermont - All three members of Vermont's congressional delegation now have written letters supporting the efforts of immigrant activist Danilo Lopez to avoid deportation and stay in the United States.

Maine lawmakers OKs gun background check bill

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:50:25 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine lawmakers have approved a bill designed to encourage gun sellers to perform background checks.

Brewer vetoes bill changing bail agents' rules

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:42:03 -0400

PHOENIX - Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed a bill that made numerous changes to state law governing bail agents, saying the changes would make it harder to regulate agents and allow them to pocket more money from clients.