TheRepublic.com - Constitutions News

Mo. lawmakers give mixed results on business aid

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:58:28 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Missouri lawmakers revamped four of the state's main business incentives on the final day of their legislative session, but failed Friday to pass a broader measure that would have scaled back costly tax credits for developers.

Kan. moves to enact law on lobbying on gun issues

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:22:30 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - Kansas legislators are close to approving restrictions favored by the National Rifle Association on the use of state tax dollars to promote or oppose gun-control measures or to lobby local, state or federal officials on the issue.

Minnesota House passes lawmaker pay hike panel

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:35:25 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - The Minnesota House voted Friday to take the politically charged decisions about their salaries out of their own hands, approving a constitutional amendment that would ask voters if there should be an independent state council to set legislative pay.

Mo. lawmakers OK measure aimed at child sex abuse

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:29:17 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Prosecutors in Missouri could use evidence of past criminal behavior in child sex abuse prosecutions under a proposed state constitutional amendment approved Friday by the state Legislature.

Arkansas lawmakers formally adjourn session

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:33:11 -0400

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - The Arkansas Legislature wrapped up this year's legislative session Friday, passing a $4.9 billion budget and a package of $140 million in tax cuts as well as approving $125 million to help land a major employer for northeast Arkansas.

Zimbabwe PM confident he'll oust Mugabe in vote

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:04:32 -0400

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said Friday he is poised to sweep to victory in upcoming presidential elections and return the nation to the world community after years of isolation.

Iranian cleric says women can't be president

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:16:26 -0400

TEHRAN, Iran - A member of Iran's constitutional watchdog group insists that women cannot be presidential candidates, a report said Thursday, effectively killing the largely symbolic bids by about 30 women seeking to run in the June 14 election.

Texas budget deal still elusive despite confidence

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:59:48 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - Compromise on a new Texas budget remained elusive late Wednesday as House and Senate negotiators worked deep into the night with no word of a deal after earlier confidence that one was imminent.

Texas House defeats term limits referendum

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:25:35 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - A proposed constitutional amendment that would have let voters decide whether to limit statewide officeholders to two consecutive terms ran into a buzz saw in the Texas House late Wednesday, with lawmakers voting overwhelming to defeat it despite none voicing opposition from the floor.

New court overhaul plans surface in Kansas House

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:59:31 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - An influential Kansas House member outlined three new proposals Wednesday for overhauling the state's two highest courts.

Court denies US asylum to German home-schoolers

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:35:24 -0400

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - A federal appeals court has denied asylum to a Christian family that fled Germany so they could home-school their children, after ruling that U.S. immigration laws do not grant a safe haven to people everywhere who face restrictions that would be prohibited under the Constitution.

Ga. groups say IRS asked invasive questions

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:00:26 -0400

ATLANTA - Leaders of two conservative political groups in Georgia say they say faced invasive questioning from the Internal Revenue Service.

Kan. court plan founders; backer faces allegation

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:28:27 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - A plan to change how Kansas fills vacancies on its two highest courts foundered Tuesday when the Kansas Bar Association's board decided to oppose it.

For Minnesota gay marriage sponsors, it's personal

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:24:30 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - As a crowd of thousands roared from the lawn of the state Capitol, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday that makes gay marriage legal here come Aug. 1.

Officials say gay marriage movement unlikely in ND

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:09:23 -0400

FARGO, North Dakota - North Dakota is not likely to join neighboring Minnesota in allowing gay marriages anytime soon, some political and legal experts say.

Arizona House passes bill to fight federal actions

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:12:30 -0400

PHOENIX - The Arizona House of Representatives has passed a bill that would prohibit state officials from recognizing unconstitutional federal actions if voters approved a proposed change to the state constitution.

Gitmo prisoner: Obama has 'abandoned' detainees

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:24:36 -0400

WASHINGTON - A Guantanamo Bay detainee says he feels abandoned by President Barack Obama and the world after more than 10 years at the U.S. prison.

Mo. lawmakers pass farm constitutional amendment

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:38:29 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Missouri lawmakers are asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would protect the rights of farmers.

Colin Quinn has fun with the US Constitution

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:28:16 -0400

NEW YORK - There aren't that many jokes in the U.S. Constitution and it's never really been a big generator of belly laughs. Unless, that is, you are Colin Quinn.

Some Minn. senators went own way on marriage vote

Tue, 14 May 2013 05:07:35 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - The capstone vote to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota put some state senators crossways with public opinion back home.

Details about Minnesota gay marriage bill

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:05:58 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - Minnesota's Senate is scheduled to debate and vote Monday on a bill to add the state to the growing list of those that allow gay marriage. It's the last step before Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who has promised to sign legislation.

Zimbabwe lawmakers approve new draft constitution

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:18:15 -0400

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe lawmakers have voted unanimously in the lower house to approve a new draft constitution that will enshrine democratic reforms.

Abbott says constitutional amendment needed

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:52:03 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Attorney Greg Abbott is advising lawmakers that they likely need a constitutional amendment to use $2 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund for water projects if they want to stay within a constitutional spending cap.

Repeal of literacy test headed to NC House floor

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:41:02 -0400

RALEIGH, North Carolina - A bipartisan group of North Carolina lawmakers want to repeal a portion of the state constitution linked to the days of white supremacy.

Ala. lawmakers debate gun bills as session ebbs

Tue, 07 May 2013 20:05:12 -0400

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - With their annual session nearing its end, Alabama lawmakers have yet to settle on changes to the state's gun laws, even as leaders of both chambers say they want to relax restrictions on gun possession.