en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Tue, 18 Jun 16:32:15 PDT http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-gov-signs-fracking-regulations-into-law.html Tue, 18 Jun 9:35:00 PDT Gov. Pat Quinn has signed signed sweeping legislation to regulate horizontal hydraulic fracturing, better known as "fracking," in Illinois. The legislation includes some of the tightest restrictions on companies in the nation. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-states-go-different-directions-on-the-death-penalty.html Tue, 18 Jun 9:25:00 PDT Supporters and opponents of capital punishment agree: The current death penalty is expensive, inefficient, and arbitrary. Some state legislatures have reacted to those faults by abolishing the death penalty, while others are trying to speed it up. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-florida-blocks-local-votes-on-mandatory-paid-sick-time-measures.html Tue, 18 Jun 9:0:00 PDT Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday that would block local governments from enacting mandatory paid-sick-time measures, such as the one pending in Orange County. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Garcetti-Aims-to-Be-Different-Kind-of-LA-Mayor.html Tue, 18 Jun 8:6:00 PDT Since his victory last month, Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti has set himself to the task of being a more low-key public official than his predecessor. He is not using a transition team studded with big names and has scraped plans for a black-tie inaugural ball, opting instead for a public party in Grand Park with music and food. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Florida-Governor-Signs-Bill-to-Speed-Up-Executions.html Tue, 18 Jun 8:4:00 PDT Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Friday aimed at accelerating the pace of the death penalty process in Florida, which could make the governor the most active executioner in modern state history. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Choice-of-Health-Plans-to-Vary-Sharply-By-State.html Tue, 18 Jun 8:1:00 PDT Under President Obama’s health care law, it is becoming clear that the millions of people purchasing policies in the exchanges will find that their choices vary sharply, depending on where they live. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-enacts-unemployment-drug-testing-law.html Mon, 17 Jun 9:30:00 PDT Gov. Rick Perry has signed a bill that will subject Texans applying for unemployment benefits to a drug test if their responses to a screening questionnaire indicate possible drug use. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Some-GOP-Lawmakers-Refuse-to-Answer-Constituent-Questions-on-Obamacare.html Mon, 17 Jun 8:6:00 PDT Constituents frequently contact their Congress members with questions or requests for help with Medicare, Social Security and other government programs. But when it comes to Obamacare inquiries, some GOP lawmakers say they won't assist constituents or will forward the calls to the Obama administration. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Washington-Congressional-Delegation-Not-Attempting-Reconciliation-of-Pot-Laws.html Mon, 17 Jun 8:2:00 PDT Seven months after Washington voters legalized recreational pot, supporters are growing increasingly aggrieved over the dearth of effort by the state’s congressional lawmakers to reconcile the state law with the federal prohibition against marijuana. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Indianas-Gay-Marriage-Fight-Could-Continue-Beyond-Supreme-Court-Ruling.html Mon, 17 Jun 8:1:00 PDT The state legislature has delayed debate on an amendment banning gay marriage in the state while it waits to see the outcome of the pending Supreme Court ruling. But barring a sweeping decision by the court, both sides expect the fight over the proposed change to the state constitution to continue.