en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Sun, 19 May 18:12:24 PDT http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-calif-uses-hix-for-voter-registration.html Fri, 17 May 9:35:00 PDT In a move that other states are expected to follow, California is giving people who contact the state's new health exchange to buy insurance the opportunity to register to vote at the same time. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Facing-a-Strike-UC-Medical-Centers-Cancel-Elective-Surgeries.html Fri, 17 May 8:7:00 PDT Facing a possible two-day strike next week by patient care and technical workers, the five large University of California medical centers are starting to cancel elective surgeries. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Proposal-to-Raise-Legal-Cigarette-Age-to-21-Catches-on-in-New-Jersey.html Fri, 17 May 8:5:00 PDT New Jersey and New York are both considering raising the minimum age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products to 21. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-oklahoma-law-sparks-end-of-life-care-debate.html Thu, 16 May 9:30:00 PDT A new law in Oklahoma severely restricting end-of-life options for patients raises a number of questions for doctors and is adding fuel to the national debate about end of life care. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-gop-donor-releases-anti-obamacare-songs.html Thu, 16 May 9:25:00 PDT Houston physician and Republican campaign donor Steve Hotze has written two songs about his opposition to federal health reform. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Farm-Bill-Cuts-Food-Stamp-Funding.html Thu, 16 May 8:8:00 PDT The House bill would cut about $2.5 billion a year — or a little more than 3 percent — from the food stamp program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/Tavenner-is-1st-New-CMS-Leader-in-Nearly-a-Decade.html Thu, 16 May 8:7:00 PDT Marilyn Tavenner on Wednesday was easily confirmed by the Senate to run the agency in charge of Medicare, Medicaid and setting up much of the health care law. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Couple-Sues-South-Carolina-Agency-over-Childs-Sex-Assignment-Surgery.html Thu, 16 May 8:3:00 PDT In a legal first, a couple is suing the state Department of Social Services for removing their child’s penis and testicular tissue in an effort to “assign” him to the female sex while in foster care. http://www.governing.com/news/state/North-Carolina-Officials-Pitch-Medicaid-Managed-Care-to-Doctors.html Thu, 16 May 8:2:00 PDT In a national address earlier this month, Gov. Pat McCrory called on President Barack Obama to approve the state’s Medicaid request, but it’s clear that the state’s doctors and other health care professionals aren’t convinced that managed care is the best course. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Child-Welfare-Bills-Signed-by-Colorado-Gov-Hickenlooper.html Wed, 15 May 8:4:00 PDT The bills address a number of issues within the child welfare system, including expanding the number of case-specific child fatality reviews and creating a statewide hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.