• Bill Linking Welfare to Grades Passes Tennessee House
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 5, 2013
• After a lengthy and passionate debate, a House committee approved legislation that would reduce welfare benefits for families whose children are failing school.

• Oregon May Be 1st with Automatic Voter Registration
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   April 5, 2013
• Secretary of State Kate Brown wants to make Oregon the first state to instantly register voters when they apply for a driver's license.
• 12 Comments

• In Case Gay Marriage Bill Fails, Minnesota Lawmakers Offer Civil Unions Bill
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Minnesota   |   April 4, 2013
• Opponents of gay marriage in the state have proposed a bill to legalize same-sex civil unions instead of marriage.

• Florida Gov. Scott Raising Piles of Cash for Re-Election Campaign
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Florida   |   April 4, 2013
• The Florida governor's poll numbers remain stubbornly low, but he's raising mountains of cash for his re-election campaign.

• Connecticut Governor to Sign Gun Bill
• Source: Hartford Courant   |   Connecticut   |   April 4, 2013
• After more than 13 hours of debate that was at moments impassioned and agonized, the General Assembly approved an historic and far-reaching gun-control bill that proponents said was their toughest-in-the-nation response to the Newtown school massacre.
• 3 Comments

• Maryland House OKs Strict Gun Bill
• Source: Baltimore Sun   |   Maryland   |   April 4, 2013
• The House of Delegates voted to give Maryland one of the toughest gun laws in the nation, passing a bill that would ban the sale of assault-type weapons, set a 10-bullet limit on magazines and require fingerprints and a license to buy a handgun.

• Virginia Lawmakers Give Final OK to Landmark Transportation-Funding Plan
• Source: Washington Post   |   Virginia   |   April 4, 2013
• The Virginia General Assembly, reconvening Wednesday for a one-day session to consider legislation vetoed or amended by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, gave its final approval to a landmark transportation-funding plan that the governor said would raise nearly $6 billion over five years.

• Partially State-Funded Preschool Wins Final Approval in Mississippi
• Source: AP/Hattiesburg American   |   Mississippi   |   April 4, 2013
• Mississippi government would directly fund a limited preschool program for the first time under a bill on its way to Gov. Phil Bryant.

• Tennessee Gov. Haslam Drops School Voucher Plan
• Source: Tennessean   |   Tennessee   |   April 4, 2013
• Gov. Bill Haslam abruptly withdrew his proposal for school vouchers after he and the bill’s sponsor in the state Senate failed to get guarantees from fellow Republicans that they would not try to expand the measure.

• Voter ID Bill Sent to North Dakota Governor
• Source: Inforum   |   North Dakota   |   April 4, 2013
• North Dakota voters may have to present identification before they can cast a ballot at the next election.

• Detroit City Council Continues to Meet Despite Pending Lawsuit
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Detroit, Mich.   |   April 3, 2013
• Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr, in the face of a new lawsuit that challenges the City Council's ability to hold session, has told the council to continue meeting as usual even though it cannot take any official action without his approval.
• 3 Comments

• Utah Governor Delays Guest-Worker Law from Taking Effect
• Source: Salt Lake Tribune   |   Utah   |   April 3, 2013
• The program was scheduled to take effect in July, but it's now postponed for two years, due to optimism for immigration reform at the federal level.

• Controversial Abortion Restrictions Sent to Alabama Governor
• Source: Montgomery Advertiser   |   Alabama   |   April 3, 2013
• Abortion rights groups have already threatened to sue to block the bill if it becomes law.

• Bisbee Becomes 1st Arizona City to Legalize Same-Sex Civil Unions
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Bisbee, Ariz.   |   April 3, 2013
• The City Council pushed aside legal warnings from the state’s attorney general and a conservative advocacy group in this historic vote.

• Georgia Town Votes to Require a Gun in Every Home
• Source: AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution   |   Nelson, Ga.   |   April 2, 2013
• Backers of the newly adopted ordinance requiring gun ownership in a small north Georgia town acknowledge they were largely seeking to make a point about gun rights.
• 7 Comments