• Medical Marijuana Regulations Finalized in Massachusetts
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   May 9, 2013
• Companies hoping to sell marijuana for medical use in Massachusetts will be required to hire an independent lab to test their products for contaminants, under final rules that regulators approved by unanimous vote.

• Bills to Increase Oversight of Oil and Gas Industry Fail in Colorado
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   May 9, 2013
• The administration of Gov. John Hickenlooper, as well as the oil and gas industry, opposed several of the bills.

• Oregon Secretary of State Tweaks Automatic Voter-Registration Bill in Search of Support
• Source: Oregonian   |   Oregon   |   May 9, 2013
• Kate Brown said she has agreed to changes to address privacy concerns, as well as worries from minor political parties faced with rapidly increasing their numbers to keep their ballot status.

• Arizona May Join States Offering Foster Kids Free Tuition
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   May 9, 2013
• Seventeen other states have tuition waivers for foster children.

• Minimum-Wage Battle Waged Among Minnesota House, Senate
• Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune   |   Minnesota   |   May 9, 2013
• The Minnesota Senate narrowly approved a modest increase to the state’s minimum wage that directly contrasts with the higher wage hike approved by the House and endorsed by Gov. Mark Dayton.

• Voter ID Bill Rejected in Iowa Senate
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Iowa   |   May 9, 2013
• The effort failed on a 26-24 vote with Democrats against and Republicans in support.

• North Carolina Carefully Weighs Fracking Options
• BY: Stateline   |   May 8, 2013
• As the legislature considers lifting a decades long ban on unconventional drilling which would allow hydraulic fracturing the state's unique geography is prompting concerns about disposal of the wastewater the drilling produces.
• 1 Comments

• Food-Stamp Bill to Encourage Healthy Purchases Advances in Wisconsin
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Wisconsin   |   May 8, 2013
• The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill requiring recipients of food stamps to spend at least two-thirds of their assistance money on state-defined healthy foods. A separate bill re-addressing food stamp fraud was also passed.

• Voucher Funding Unconstitutional, Rules Louisiana Supreme Court
• Source: New Orleans Times Picayune   |   Louisiana   |   May 8, 2013
• Act 2, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2012 package of education reforms, diverts money from each student's per-pupil allocation to cover the cost of private or parochial school tuition.

• Marijuana Driving Limits Pass Colorado Legislature After Several Attempts
• Source: Denver Post   |   Colorado   |   May 8, 2013
• The bill approved was the sixth try in the past three years to pass a stoned-driving limit, which supporters say will give prosecutors a tool to combat an increase in stoned-driving cases.

• Obama's Cigarette Tax to Fund Preschool Up in Smoke
• Source: Politico   |   Nation   |   May 8, 2013
• Presidential budgets are all about theater. But this year’s was more theatrical than most: Its biggest single new proposal — the sin tax to generate $78 billion to fund a preschool education program — vanished almost as soon as Obama announced it four weeks ago.

• Ex-South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford Makes a Political Comeback
• Source: The State   |   South Carolina   |   May 8, 2013
• Mark Sanford is headed back to Congress after trouncing Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch with 54 percent of the votes, a 9 percentage point victory that dashed predictions of a close race.

• Gay Marriage Approved in Delaware as Lawmaker Comes Out
• Source: Delaware News Journal   |   Delaware   |   May 8, 2013
• Delaware is the 11th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

• Indiana Gov. Pence Signs School Resource Officer Bill
• Source: Indianapolis Star   |   Indiana   |   May 8, 2013
• The bill sets aside $10 million in state money to allow public schools to apply for matching grants to hire police officers for schools that don’t already have them.

• Public Hearing in New York Held Without the Public
• Source: New York Times   |   New York   |   May 8, 2013
• Something was missing at a public hearing held by the State Senate to examine New York City’s campaign finance system: the public.

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• 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..."
• Motorcycle Deaths Rise as States Rethink Helmet Laws
  
  "How many more lives would be saved if automobile riders would wear helmets. We are talking..."
• 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..."
• Felons' Voting Rights Could Impact 2012 Election
  
  "well that exulated quickly......"
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  "There is everything in the constituation that says laws may not be written such that your..."

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