http://www.mail.com/subjects/2778-legislature.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.20/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/subjects/2778-legislature.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1765724-michigan-senate-oks-emergency-manager-bill.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Republican-led Michigan Legislature cleared the way Thursday for GOP Gov. Rick Snyder to sign a replacement for an emergency manager law struck down by voters, delivering another punch to Democrats still reeling from this week's rapid passage of right-to-work legislation limiting unions' power. On the final day of the legislative... Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:09:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1765724-michigan-senate-oks-emergency-manager-bill.html 2012-12-14T00:09:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764982-ark-republicans-consider-unusual-health-stand.html LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Like their counterparts in other southern states, Arkansas Republicans denounced "Obamacare" during this year's election campaign and called for its repeal. But now that they've won control of the Legislature for the first time in 138 years, GOP lawmakers are considering something that would be anathema to conservatives elsewhere -- expanding governm... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:05:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1764982-ark-republicans-consider-unusual-health-stand.html 2012-12-13T19:05:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764776-apnewsbreak-colo-gov-time-to-talk-gun-laws.html DENVER (AP) — Colorado's Gov. John Hickenlooper said "the time is right" for state lawmakers to consider gun control measures, offering his firmest stance in the aftermath of several high-profile shootings, including a movie theater rampage in suburban Denver, that have shocked the nation. The Democratic governor upset some in his party for not taking a s... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 17:45:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1764776-apnewsbreak-colo-gov-time-to-talk-gun-laws.html 2012-12-13T17:45:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763112-bank-repossessions-hit-9-month-high-november.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. home repossessions rose to a nine-month high in November, even as the number of homes starting on the path to foreclosure declined to the lowest level in six years. Banks completed foreclosure on 59,134 homes last month, an increase of 11 percent from October and up 5 percent from November last year, foreclosure listing firm Realty... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:52:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1763112-bank-repossessions-hit-9-month-high-november.html 2012-12-13T04:52:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760378-court-ruling-ill-gun-ban-sets-stage-fight.html CHICAGO (AP) — Backers of Illinois' ban on concealed weapons vowed Wednesday to fight for continued controls on gun possession, a day after a federal appeals court struck down the nation's last such prohibition as unconstitutional and ordered the state to craft a law allowing it. Chicago aldermen joined gun control advocates in urging state Attorney Gener... Thu, 13 Dec 2012 01:35:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760378-court-ruling-ill-gun-ban-sets-stage-fight.html 2012-12-13T01:35:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762476-right-to-work-law-michigan-unions-task.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Now that Michigan has become a right-to-work state, unions in this stronghold of organized labor confront a new and urgent problem: convincing members to continue paying for their services instead of taking them for free. Brushing aside protests from thousands of labor supporters, the Republican-controlled state House approved measur... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 22:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1762476-right-to-work-law-michigan-unions-task.html 2012-12-12T22:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760382-mich-right-to-work-despite-protests.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In a dizzyingly short time span, Republicans have converted Michigan from a seemingly impregnable fortress of organized labor into a right-to-work state, leaving outgunned Democrats and union activists with little recourse but to shake their fists and seek retribution at the ballot box. The state House swiftly approved two bills redu... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1760382-mich-right-to-work-despite-protests.html 2012-12-12T16:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759658-americans-finding-dozens-ways-to-mark-12-12-12.html A Michigan sixth-grader will put aside her nerves and get her ears pierced on her 12th birthday. Two law-enforcement officials will exchange wedding vows at 12:12 p.m. in Pittsburgh's federal courthouse. And gamblers can take advantage of promotions some casinos are using to lure in patrons who want to test their luck. With a once-a-century date arriving ... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1759658-americans-finding-dozens-ways-to-mark-12-12-12.html 2012-12-12T00:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1758844-michigan-lawmakers-approve-right-to-work-bills.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Over the chants of thousands of angry protesters, Republican lawmakers made Michigan a right-to-work state Tuesday, dealing a devastating and once-unthinkable defeat to organized labor in a place that has been a bastion of the movement for generations. The GOP-dominated House ignored Democrats' pleas to delay the final passage and in... Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1758844-michigan-lawmakers-approve-right-to-work-bills.html 2012-12-12T00:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1757598-mich-house-approves-right-to-work-limiting-unions.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan House approved the first of two right-to-work bills Tuesday that would weaken union power in the historical labor stronghold as hundreds of protesters rallied at the Capitol. The Republican-dominated chamber passed a measure dealing with public-sector workers 58-51 as protesters shouted "shame on you" from the gallery an... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1757598-mich-house-approves-right-to-work-limiting-unions.html 2012-12-11T16:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756440-solid-evidence-elusive-right-to-work-debate.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Rick Snyder says one reason he supports right-to-work legislation in Michigan is the economic boost a similar law has given Indiana, although officials have provided no conclusive evidence that the policy by itself has drawn new businesses to the state next door. It's an example of the flurry of claims supporters and opponents w... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756440-solid-evidence-elusive-right-to-work-debate.html 2012-12-11T00:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756720-oregon-lawmakers-to-vote-nike-expansion-plan.html SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Athletic footwear and apparel giant Nike Inc. plans to expand its operations in Oregon and hire hundreds of workers but wants the government to promise that tax rules won't change, prompting a special session of the Legislature. Gov. John Kitzhaber said he'll call lawmakers together Friday in Salem to create a new law authorizing him to... Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1756720-oregon-lawmakers-to-vote-nike-expansion-plan.html 2012-12-11T00:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1756420-fiscal-cliff-stalemate-spurs-anxiety.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A plunge over the federal "fiscal cliff" may sound like a terrifying risk for many state officials anxiously watching as Washington struggles to avert automatic tax hikes and spending cuts set to start with the new year. Yet their greatest angst may stem not from the potential loss of billions of dollars, but the confusion surrounding it all. ... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1756420-fiscal-cliff-stalemate-spurs-anxiety.html 2012-12-10T19:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1756438-fiscal-cliff.html As Congress and the White House negotiate over ways to avoid a "fiscal cliff" at the start of the new year, governors and state lawmakers are watching anxiously because of the potential effect on state budgets. Here are five things to know about the political stalemate: CLIFF NOTES The term "fiscal cliff" refers to the potentially negative economic effect... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:46:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1756438-fiscal-cliff.html 2012-12-10T17:46:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755758-ap-source-obama-to-help-unveil-factory-expansion.html DETROIT (AP) — President Barack Obama will help announce expansion of a truck engine plant when he visits a Detroit suburb on Monday. The president is visiting the area to build support for his plan to avoid the "fiscal cliff," the combination of tax hikes and spending cuts that are to take effect in January unless a budget deal is reached. ... Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1755758-ap-source-obama-to-help-unveil-factory-expansion.html 2012-12-10T14:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1754480-unions-vow-political-payback-right-to-work-law.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — With defeat in the Michigan Legislature virtually certain, Democrats and organized labor intend to make enactment of right-to-work laws as uncomfortable as possible for Gov. Rick Snyder and his Republican allies while laying the groundwork to seek payback at the polls. Shellshocked opponents of the laws spent the weekend mapping stra... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1754480-unions-vow-political-payback-right-to-work-law.html 2012-12-09T23:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1753614-unions-prepare-protest-michigan-capitol.html DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — More than 200 activists attended training Saturday in preparation for a protest at the Michigan Capitol, where lawmakers are putting the final touches on legislation that would allow workers to stop paying union dues. Between chants, cheers and applause, organizers warned those at the training to be prepared for insults and obstruct... Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:03:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1753614-unions-prepare-protest-michigan-capitol.html 2012-12-09T00:03:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1750906-gop-senate-group-aided-akin-despite-disavowal.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Despite publicly disavowing candidate Todd Akin after his "legitimate rape" remark, the National Republican Senatorial Committee quietly sent $760,000 to Missouri in a last-ditch attempt to aid Akin's unsuccessful bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. The long-suspected money shuffling, which had never previously been ... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1750906-gop-senate-group-aided-akin-despite-disavowal.html 2012-12-07T17:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749306-michigan-gop-approves-to-work-amid-protests.html LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republicans slammed right-to-work legislation through the Michigan House and Senate Thursday, drawing raucous protests from throngs of stunned union supporters, whose outnumbered Democratic allies were powerless to stop it. Just hours after they were introduced, both chambers approved measures prohibiting private unions from requirin... Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1749306-michigan-gop-approves-to-work-amid-protests.html 2012-12-07T01:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1748434-sen-demint-resigning-to-head-conservative-group.html COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a tea party favorite known for bucking party leaders to back challenges to centrist veterans he didn't view as conservative enough, said Thursday he was resigning to take the helm of a conservative think tank. The South Carolina lawmaker said in a statement he was stepping down to become president of ... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1748434-sen-demint-resigning-to-head-conservative-group.html 2012-12-06T20:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1748662-neb-sen-flood-exits-2014-governors-race.html LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's outgoing Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood is bowing out of the governor's race less than a month after he declared he was running. Flood said Thursday that he is withdrawing from the 2014 race to care for his family because his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer this week. Flood is a respected Republican lawmaker wh... Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:21:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1748662-neb-sen-flood-exits-2014-governors-race.html 2012-12-06T16:21:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1743950-longtime-texas-us-rep-jack-brooks-dead-89.html HOUSTON (AP) — Jack Brooks hounded government bureaucrats, drafted President Richard Nixon's articles of impeachment and supported civil rights bills in a congressional career spanning 42 years. But for most of the country the Southeast Texas politician is frozen in a photograph, standing over the left shoulder of Jacqueline Kennedy as Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as presid... Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:15:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1743950-longtime-texas-us-rep-jack-brooks-dead-89.html 2012-12-05T19:15:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1736092-signal-problems-preceded-nj-train-derailment.html PAULSBORO, N.J. (AP) — A signal may have malfunctioned on a southern New Jersey bridge where a train derailed, causing a hazardous chemical to spew into the air and leading to health problems, an evacuation, tricky cleanup decisions and broader questions about the condition of railway infrastructure. No serious injuries were reported in the Friday morning... Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:44:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1736092-signal-problems-preceded-nj-train-derailment.html 2012-12-02T00:44:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1731066-sd-gov-rounds-announces-us-senate.html PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Former Republican Gov. Mike Rounds announced plans Thursday to seek South Dakota's U.S. Senate seat, setting up a 2014 battle between two men who have never lost an election — a campaign that figures to draw widespread national attention as Republicans and Democrats jockey for control of the chamber. A few minutes after Rounds announce... Fri, 30 Nov 2012 00:07:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1731066-sd-gov-rounds-announces-us-senate.html 2012-11-30T00:07:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1729036-ex-treasurer-to-democrats-receives-8-year-sentence.html SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A former Democratic campaign treasurer was sentenced Wednesday to more than eight years in federal prison for defrauding high-profile clients such as U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a case that a judge said tampered with the electoral process. Kinde Durkee, who has been described by prosecutors as the Bernie Madoff of campaign trea... Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1729036-ex-treasurer-to-democrats-receives-8-year-sentence.html 2012-11-28T22:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1727114-suit-targets-locator-chips-texas-student-ids.html AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — To 15-year-old Andrea Hernandez, the tracking microchip embedded in her student ID card is a "mark of the beast," sacrilege to her Christian faith — not to mention how it pinpoints her location, even in the school bathroom. But to her budget-reeling San Antonio school district, those chips carry a potential $1.7 million in classroom f... Wed, 28 Nov 2012 03:01:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1727114-suit-targets-locator-chips-texas-student-ids.html 2012-11-28T03:01:00Z http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1725420-sweeping-changes-suggested-pa-child-abuse-law.html HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania should enact sweeping changes to its child abuse laws, including stronger penalties for failing to report the crime, a legislative commission concluded Tuesday after a year of study prompted by Jerry Sandusky's arrest on molestation charges. The Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Protection recommended rewriting state law... Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/sports/football/1725420-sweeping-changes-suggested-pa-child-abuse-law.html 2012-11-27T20:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1723772-blow-states-anti-eavesdropping-law.html CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday delivered another blow to a 50-year-old anti-eavesdropping law in Illinois, choosing to let stand a lower court finding that key parts of the hotly debated law run counter to constitutional protections of free speech. In that critical lower-court ruling in May, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found tha... Mon, 26 Nov 2012 22:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1723772-blow-states-anti-eavesdropping-law.html 2012-11-26T22:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1723272-disabled-parents-face-bias-loss-kids-report.html Millions of Americans with disabilities have gained innumerable rights and opportunities since Congress passed landmark legislation on their behalf in 1990. And yet advocates say barriers and bias still abound when it comes to one basic human right: To be a parent. A Kansas City, Mo., couple had their daughter taken into custody by the state two days afte... Mon, 26 Nov 2012 05:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1723272-disabled-parents-face-bias-loss-kids-report.html 2012-11-26T05:37:00Z