• 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.
• 5 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.

• 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.

• Oregon Governor Signs Bill Giving Driver Cards to Undocumented Immigrants
• Source: Oregonian   |   Oregon   |   May 2, 2013
• Hours after the bill was signed, leaders of Oregonians for Immigration Reform said they plan to file paperwork to place a referendum challenging the law on the November 2014 ballot.

• Camden Schools Won't Fight State Takeover
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   Camden, N.J.   |   May 2, 2013
• The Camden Board of Education voted to endorse a state takeover of the school district, saying it was in the "best interest of the children."

• Madigan Predicts Pension Overhaul Will Pass Illinois Legislature -- and Court
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   May 2, 2013
• The house speaker suggests taking 2 percent more from worker paychecks over two years, raising the retirement age to 67 for younger workers and scaling back cost-of-living increases.

• Minnesota Gov. Dayton Lobbies for Gay Marriage
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   May 2, 2013
• Gov. Mark Dayton is intensifying pressure on legislators to legalize same-sex marriage this year.

• Gov. Corbett's Drug-Test Remark Raises Complex Issues
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer   |   Pennsylvania   |   May 2, 2013
• Was Gov. Corbett correct when he said Pennsylvania employers "can't find anybody that . . . has passed a drug test"?

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Comments

• U.S. AG Holder, Gov. Brownback Spar over Kansas' New Gun Law
  
  "RE: your response to me - I understand your confusion. Our tendency to devalue historical..."
• Felons' Voting Rights Could Impact 2012 Election
  
  "well that exulated quickly......"
• Colorado Becomes 14th State to Offer Undocumented Immigrants In-State Tuition
  
  "Finally, while I do agree with you that people who cheat the system should not be given..."
• Motorcycle Deaths Rise as States Rethink Helmet Laws
  
  "How many more lives would be saved if automobile riders would wear helmets. We are talking..."
• GOP-Controlled Wisconsin Legislature Targets Milwaukee
  
  "A residency requirement may be limiting the standards and expectations of civil servants...."

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