Category Archives: States

Health care law will let states tailor benefits

By doris | Published: December 22, 2011

Full Story at msnbc.com WASHINGTON — In a major surprise on the politically charged new health care law, the Obama administration said Friday that it would not define a single uniform set of “essential health benefits” that must be provided by insurers for tens of millions of Americans. Instead, it will allow each state to [...]

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Haley Opens Dangerous Can of Worms Over GOP Primary Funding Refusal

By doris | Published: June 22, 2011

Full Story at news.Yahoo.com COMMENTARY | South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has decided there is no room in the state budget to help with the funding of the Republican primary. Even though the Haley is a Republican, she does not believe it should be the responsibility of the state to come up with funding for [...]

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Colorado Senate passes civil unions bill

By doris | Published: March 24, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com (CNN) — The Colorado Senate on Thursday approved a civil unions bill that would allow same-sex couples the right to inherit property, apply for family leave and share medical decisions. The bill, approved 23-12, now goes to the House. In Colorado, only a man and woman can marry. The bill would [...]

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State budget deficits

By doris | Published: February 28, 2011

Full Story at CNN.com Thousands of protesters in Madison, Wisconsin, have demonstrated against the governor’s proposed budget that includes a provision to limit collective bargaining for public employees. See what other states are facing a budget shortfall in the table below.

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High expectations? States eye marijuana reform

By doris | Published: December 28, 2009

Full Story at msnbc.com OLYMPIA, Washington – Washington is one of four states where measures to legalize and regulate marijuana have been introduced, and about two dozen other states are considering bills ranging from medical marijuana to decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the herb. “In terms of state legislatures, this is far and away [...]

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Reid backs health care public option

By doris | Published: October 27, 2009

Full Story at CNN.com Washington (CNN) — The contentious debate over health care took a new twist Monday as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced his decision to craft legislation including a public insurance option allowing states to opt out. Reid’s decision is a major victory for the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party. [...]

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Schwarzenegger: No borrowing to keep California running

By doris | Published: June 12, 2009

Full Story At CNN.com (CNN) — Unless lawmakers agree on how to close the budget gap, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he refuses to borrow money to keep the state running in the face of a $24.3 billion budget deficit and a new fiscal year on the horizon. “We need to just basically cut off [...]

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California voters reject budget crisis measures

By doris | Published: May 20, 2009

Full Story At  CNN.com Californians in Tuesday’s special election voted down five of six propositions aimed at closing the state’s budget deficit, according to partial returns. State leaders conceded defeat based on those returns. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had said that, if the propositions failed, he would have to make drastic cuts to education and health [...]

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Lawmakers approve same-sex marriage in N.H., Maine

By doris | Published: May 7, 2009

Full Story At  CNN.com Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed his state’s same-sex marriage bill less than an hour after the legislature approved it. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage,” Baldacci, a [...]

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