• Virginia GOP Launches Tea Party Ticket
• Source: Politico   |   Virginia   |   May 20, 2013
• Rejuvenated by a Democratic scandal in Washington and a tea party conservative atop their ticket, Virginia Republicans nominated a trio of statewide candidates whose fate will be closely watched as an indicator of the health of the national GOP.

• Arkansas' Early Abortion Ban Blocked -- for Now
• Source: Politico   |   Arkansas   |   May 20, 2013
• The law was briefly the earliest abortion ban in the nation. But later the same month, North Dakota went even further, passing a ban on abortions after six weeks.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer Looking to Leave Legacy with Medicaid Expansion
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 20, 2013
• Gov. Jan Brewer, one of the state’s conservative firebrands who has attracted a national following with her messages of states’ rights and border security, is walking a political tightrope as she pushes to reshape how the state provides health care to the poor.

• Bill to Make Illinois 19th State to OK Medical Marijuana on Gov. Quinn's Desk
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   May 20, 2013
• The Democratic governor must weigh not only the merits of the bill but also the politics, given his re-election campaign next year.

• New York Lawmaker Lopez Set to Resign Amid Sexual Harassment Accusations
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   May 20, 2013
• While the resignation of Assemblyman Vito Lopez, a veteran Brooklyn Democrat accused of sexually harassing several women, ends an effort to expel him from the legislature, the scrutiny is not over for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

• California is 1st to Use Health Exchange for Voter Registration
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   May 17, 2013
• In a move that other states are expected to follow, California is giving people who contact the state's new health exchange to buy insurance the opportunity to register to vote at the same time.

• Brewer's Immigrant-License Policy Upheld in Court
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 17, 2013
• A federal judge refused to suspend Gov. Jan Brewer’s policy denying driver’s licenses to young undocumented immigrants who receive work permits through President Barack Obama’s deferred-action policy.

• LAPD Freed from Federal Oversight After 12 Years
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   Los Angeles   |   May 17, 2013
• In a brief, three-line order, a judge formally lifted the binding agreement the U.S. Department of Justice imposed on the LAPD in 2001, which spelled out dozens of major reforms the police agency had to implement and frequent audits it was required to undergo.

• Minimum-Wage Increase Hits Roadblock in Minnesota
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   May 17, 2013
• Once a top priority, a hike in the minimum wage is falling off the agenda as the House and Senate disagree on how much it should rise.

• Illinois to Allow 17-Year-Olds to Vote in Primaries
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Illinois   |   May 16, 2013
• The Illinois legislature has passed a bill allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they are going to turn 18 by the November general election. In doing so they become the 13th state to allow this group of teens to vote in primaries.

• Oklahoma Law Bucks Trend in End-of-Life Care Debate
• BY: Stateline   |   Oklahoma   |   May 16, 2013
• A new law in Oklahoma severely restricting end-of-life options for patients raises a number of questions for doctors and is adding fuel to the national debate about end of life care.
• 2 Comments

• Texas GOP Donor Releases Anti-Obamacare Songs
• BY: The Texas Tribune   |   Texas   |   May 16, 2013
• Houston physician and Republican campaign donor Steve Hotze has written two songs about his opposition to federal health reform.
• 1 Comments

• 6 States Have No Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws for Outside Groups
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Nation   |   May 16, 2013
• A 50-state analysis by the National Institute on Money in State Politics found that Indiana, Alabama, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota and South Carolina don’t have a single law on the books to require super PACs and nonprofits to disclose their finances,

• House Farm Bill Cuts Food-Stamp Funding
• Source: AP/Des Moines Register   |   Nation   |   May 16, 2013
• The House bill would cut about $2.5 billion a year — or a little more than 3 percent — from the food stamp program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans.

• Tavenner is 1st New CMS Leader in Nearly a Decade
• Source: Politico   |   Nation   |   May 16, 2013
• Marilyn Tavenner on Wednesday was easily confirmed by the Senate to run the agency in charge of Medicare, Medicaid and setting up much of the health care law.

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