• Thousands Denied Food Stamps When Tied to Assets
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Pennsylvania   |   May 3, 2013
• Advocates for the poor now say that by weeding out a relatively small number of people with too many assets, the Department of Public Welfare made getting food stamps so complicated that deserving low-income people became inundated by paperwork and lost their benefits.
• 2 Comments

• U.S. AG Holder, Gov. Brownback Spar over Kansas' New Gun Law
• Source: AP/Wichita Eagle   |   Kansas   |   May 3, 2013
• U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has told Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback that a new state law attempting to block federal regulation of some guns is unconstitutional and that the federal government is willing to go to court over the issue.
• 22 Comments

• As Amtrak Aid Ends, States Face Funding Decisions
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   May 3, 2013
• Under pressure from Congress to reduce its dependence on federal subsidies, Amtrak is looking at either closing 28 short-haul routes or getting 19 states to cover the costs. Most of the states have already agreed to pick up the costs.

• Most Bike-Friendly State is Washington for 6th Year
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   May 3, 2013
• The rankings are bestowed by the League of American Bicyclists and are based on funding for biking legislation, bike programs and policies, infrastructure, education and planning.

• Arizona Gov. Brewer Vetoes Gold Currency Bill
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 3, 2013
• Gov. Jan Brewervetoed a bill that would have made Arizona the second state to allow gold and silver coins to be used as legal tender.

• Rhode Island Becomes 10th State to Legalize Gay Marriage
• Source: Providence Journal   |   Rhode Island   |   May 3, 2013
• The bills allow same-sex weddings and also allow couples who joined in civil unions to change their status to married.

• Colorado Offers 23 Recommendations to Improve Child Welfare
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   May 3, 2013
• The summary report — released by the Colorado Department of Human Services, the first required under a law passed last year — examines cases of child fatalities, near fatalities and incidents of egregious abuse or neglect from 2012.

• California Tax Revenue Yields Multibillion-Dollar Surplus
• Source: Los Angeles Times   |   California   |   May 3, 2013
• After years of budget cuts, and after voters approved Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike in November, the pressure on the governor will be intense from lawmakers and advocates eager to restore money to programs that were sliced to close deficits.

• Wisconsin Jobs Agency Failed in Tracking Taxpayer Money
• Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel   |   Wisconsin   |   May 3, 2013
• A stinging audit has found that the state's flagship jobs agency repeatedly failed last year to follow basic standards in state law for ensuring the clear and proper use of millions of dollars in taxpayer money, prompting lawmakers of both parties to call for immediate changes.

• Detroit Schools Emergency Manager to Step Down
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Detroit   |   May 2, 2013
• After two years as the emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools, state-appointee Roy Roberts will retire in the next two weeks from his job at the helm of the state's largest school district.

• Study: Medicaid Improves Mental But Not Physical Health
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   Nation   |   May 2, 2013
• A new study reveals that uninsured adults who receive Medicaid coverage experience negligible effects on their physical health, but substantially improve their mental well-being. It previews how the federal law could impact poor, childless adults who get coverage through the Medicaid expansion.
• 8 Comments

• Minnesota House Abandons Vote on Gun Legislation
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minnesota   |   May 2, 2013
• With a deeply divided Democratic caucus and no sign of compromise in sight, Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen announced there would be no floor vote on gun control legislation this year.
• 1 Comments

• California Increases Funding to Seize Illegally Held Guns
• BY: McClatchy News   |   California   |   May 2, 2013
• Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation providing $24 million to clear the backlog of weapons known to be in the hands of people who purchased them legally but were then disqualified from owning one. The funds will be used to hire 36 additional special agents.

• Florida Gov. Scott Signs Ethics Bill to Crack Down on Legislators' Lobbying
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   May 2, 2013
• Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed an emotionally charged bill that would have ended permanent alimony in divorce cases, but signed into law ethics and campaign finance measures that were important to legislative leaders.
• 1 Comments

• Maryland Becomes 18th State to Repeal Death Penalty
• Source: Baltimore Sun   |   Maryland   |   May 2, 2013
• With a stroke of a pen, Gov. Martin O'Malley removed the death penalty from state law Thursday -- making Maryland the 18th state in the nation to have abolished capital punishment.

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Comments

• Supreme Court to Reexamine Church-State Separation at Government Meetings
  
  "There is everything in the constituation that says laws may not be written such that your..."
• Texas Enacts Unemployment Drug-Testing Law
  
  "How about testing for alcohol too?
  How about testing for smoking too? People on unemployment..."
• Report: U.S. Teacher Training System is Broken
  
  "The education establishment is an industry unto itself. Between insular teacher "training&quot..."
• Maine Gov. LePage Vetoes Medicaid Expansion Bill
  
  "It's frustrating when politicians (and demagogues)avoid explaining their rationale. So,..."
• Bill to Keep Dead, Imprisoned People Off Welfare Becomes Michigan Law
  
  "Snyder should also make sure to sign a law restricting dead people from getting driver's..."

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