• Black Voter Turnout Passed Whites for 1st Time in 2012
• Source: AP/Politico   |   Nation   |   April 29, 2013
• America’s blacks voted at a higher rate than other minority groups in 2012 and by most measures surpassed the white turnout for the first time, reflecting a deeply polarized presidential election in which blacks strongly supported Barack Obama while many whites stayed home.

• Tennessee's Welfare Drug Testing Program Faces Hurdles
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 29, 2013
• Tennessee is plunging ahead with a plan to drug test some welfare applicants even though a Florida judge stopped a similar program over constitutional issues and Arizona authorities caught only one welfare-receiving drug abuser in three years.

• Will the Detroit Mayor Run for Re-Election?
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Detroit   |   April 26, 2013
• Detroit's Dave Bing has taken the first steps towards exploring a bid for reelection. An already crowded field will mean an uphill battle for the unpopular mayor, who has taken blame for the city's financial meltdown that led to a state-takeover.

• Georgia Quietly OKs Immigration Crackdown
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Georgia   |   April 26, 2013
• As Congress considers immigration reform, Gov. Nathan Deal signed sweeping legislation that bars undocumented immigrants from obtaining state driver's licenses, grants, public housing and retirement benefits.

• Feds' Medicaid Announcement Could be Game-Changer in Arizona
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   April 26, 2013
• Federal health officials dealt a blow to opponents of Medicaid expansion, saying they’re unlikely to fund a slimmed-down version of the state’s indigent-health-care program as the political battle over the issue intensified.

• Gun-Control Package in New Jersey Senate May Not Get Consideration
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 26, 2013
• Senate President Stephen Sweeney’s push to stiffen the state’s gun laws got off to a rocky start as the Assembly majority leader warned the package of measures was dead on arrival because it wasn’t tough enough, and a national group of mayors abruptly put off its endorsement.

• The 5 States Facing Gay Marriage Battles Next
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   April 26, 2013
• As Rhode Island is set to become the 10th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, gay marriage supporters are shifting their focus to other states.

• Christie Vetoes Bill to Create Oversight of Sandy Aid
• Source: Newark Star-Ledger   |   New Jersey   |   April 26, 2013
• Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill requiring oversight of billions of dollars in federal aid for Hurricane Sandy, despite Democratic objections, calling the measure redundant and wasteful.

• Indiana Gov. Pence Wins 5% Income Tax Cut
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   April 26, 2013
• After months of arm-twisting and campaigning, Gov. Mike Pence will get half the tax cut he wanted from the Indiana General Assembly — a 5 percent reduction in the individual income tax that he’s calling a great victory.

• Washington's Marijuana Law Impairs All Pot Prosecutions
• Source: AP/Seattle Times   |   Washington state   |   April 25, 2013
• Prosecutors and crime-lab scientists say a little-noticed provision in Washington’s new law legalizing recreational marijuana has jeopardized their ability to go after any pot crimes at all, and they’re calling for an immediate fix in the Legislature.

• Gov. Jerry Brown Promises Opponents 'Battle of Their Lives' over Education Funding
• Source: Sacramento Bee   |   California   |   April 25, 2013
• Brown is seeking to give local school districts greater flexibility in how they spend state money by eliminating most of California's "categorical" funding – pots of money that can be used only for certain purposes.

• Tennessee's Annexation Ban Puts Cities in Limbo
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 25, 2013
• The yearlong ban, awaiting Gov. Bill Haslam’s signature, is the end result of considerable debate in the General Assembly this year.
• 1 Comments

• Pennsylvania Plan to Stop Government-Funded Abortions Wins Bipartisan Support
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   Pennsylvania   |   April 25, 2013
• The state House gave bipartisan support to a bill that would block insurance plans offered through the state’s new health insurance exchanges from covering abortions.
• 1 Comments

• Michigan Seeks to Redirect Film Tax Credits to Road Repairs
• Source: Detroit News   |   Michigan   |   April 25, 2013
• The Republican-controlled state House wants to eliminate tax incentives for making movies in Michigan so the money can be shifted to repairing roads.

• GOP Businessman Enters Minnesota Governor's Race
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   April 25, 2013
• Businessman Scott Honour became the first high-profile Republican to challenge DFL Gov. Mark Dayton’s bid for re-election.

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