• Is Maryland the New Massachusetts or California?
• Source: Washington Post   |   Maryland   |   April 5, 2013
• Over the past two years, Maryland has enacted laws that represent a dramatic liberal shift, even for a state long dominated by Democrats.

• Another New York Lawmaker Accused of Bribery
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   April 5, 2013
• Two days after a political corruption scandal rocked Albany, a new, unrelated bribery scheme emerged.

• Massachusetts Governor Vows to Veto Scaled-Back $500M Transportation Plan
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   April 5, 2013
• The bill was significantly more modest than a proposal Gov. Deval Patrick made in January that called for major investments in new transportation projects.

• Bill Linking Welfare to Grades Passes Tennessee House
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 5, 2013
• After a lengthy and passionate debate, a House committee approved legislation that would reduce welfare benefits for families whose children are failing school.

• Washington Governor Switches Stance on Grading Schools
• Source: Seattle Times   |   Washington state   |   April 5, 2013
• Gov. Jay Inslee told Republican lawmakers he thinks their proposal to grade schools A-F needs further study, a blow to a concept Inslee fully embraced during the campaign.

• In Case Gay Marriage Bill Fails, Minnesota Lawmakers Offer Civil Unions Bill
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minnesota   |   April 4, 2013
• Opponents of gay marriage in the state have proposed a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions instead of marriage.

• Arizona Presses Ahead on Border Fence Despite Obstacles
• BY: Stateline   |   Arizona   |   April 4, 2013
• After nearly two years of preparation, an Arizona state senator says a plan will be unveiled in a few weeks to build a fence along the border with Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants.

• Florida Gov. Scott Raising Piles of Cash for Re-Election Campaign
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   April 4, 2013
• The Florida governor's poll numbers remain stubbornly low, but he's raising mountains of cash for his re-election campaign.

• Tennessee Gov. Haslam Drops School Voucher Plan
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 4, 2013
• Gov. Bill Haslam abruptly withdrew his proposal for school vouchers after he and the bill’s sponsor in the state Senate failed to get guarantees from fellow Republicans that they would not try to expand the measure.

• Voter ID Bill Sent to North Dakota Governor
• Source: Inforum   |   North Dakota   |   April 4, 2013
• North Dakota voters may have to present identification before they can cast a ballot at the next election.

• Boston Mayor's Race Heats Up as Longtime DA Joins
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Boston   |   April 4, 2013
• Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley dove into the Boston mayor’s race with a massive fund-raising advantage and the muscle of almost 20 years in elected office.

• Detroit City Council Continues to Meet Despite Pending Lawsuit
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Detroit, Mich.   |   April 3, 2013
• Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr, in the face of a new lawsuit that challenges the City Council's ability to hold session, has told the council to continue meeting as usual even though it cannot take any official action without his approval.
• 3 Comments

• Utah Governor Delays Guest-Worker Law from Taking Effect
• Source: Salt Lake Tribune   |   Utah   |   April 3, 2013
• The program was scheduled to take effect in July, but it's now postponed for two years, due to optimism for immigration reform at the federal level.

• 6 New York Lawmakers Tied to Bribery Plot in Mayor's Race
• Source: New York Times   |   New York City   |   April 3, 2013
• The charges immediately reverberated in the New York political world, especially in Albany, where, despite the efforts of government watchdogs and prosecutors, new scandals and criminal charges seem to surface every legislative session.

• In Atlanta Cheating Scandal, All But 4 Turned Themselves In
• Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Atlanta   |   April 3, 2013
• Some of the educators spend several hours in jail before posting bond amounts starting at $40,000.

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