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GrassCatcher

Today's Top Policy News Clippings

Today's Top Policy News
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More State and Policy Issues

Washington legislator receives national publicity for gay marriage speech
A 51-year-old widowed Republican representative from Washington is receiving national publicity following a touching speech she gave Wednesday night in support of the gay marriage bill that passed the House. The Oregonian (Portland)

FL House approves $69 billion state budget
Divided along party lines, the state House passed a $69.2 billion budget Thursday that raises college tuition by 8 percent and pays for a $1 billion increase in education by cutting health programs for the needy. The Miami Herald

Virginia would allow deadly force in self defense
Citizens of Virginia could legally use deadly force in self defense against a home intruder under a proposed law approved on Thursday by the state House of Delegates. Chicago Tribune

Links to the articles in GrassCatcher are provided for informational purposes only. NCSL does not endorse the views expressed in any of the articles linked to from this page.

News Magazines

The Economist:
Glass half empty: Why businesspeople are so gloomy about America. More

TIME:
Military spending: Disappearing into thin air. More

BBC:
Urban affairs: Space for growth in Detroit. More

NCSL in the News

New Mexico House OKs bill to require legislators to contribute more for pensions
No other state offers a similar pension system for its legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That's because New Mexico lawmakers don't receive an annual salary and instead get a daily payment intended to offset their expenses.  The Republic/AP

Virginia would allow deadly force in self defense
A number of states enacted what became known as "make my day" laws in the 1980s, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.  Laws on self defense, property and premises vary, but most states have some form of legal protection, according to an NCSL research paper.  Chicago Tribune/Reuters

West Virginia House OKs governor's plan for retiree costs
Before it was issued, government employers had followed a pay-as-you-go approach. At least three-fourths of the states continue to do so, said Ronald Snell, a senior fellow at the National Conference of State Legislatures.  Herald-Mail

Read more NCSL in the News

The links to the articles in GrassCatcher are provided for information purposes only. NCSL does not endorse the views expressed in any of the articles linked to from this page.

Press Releases
    • “Big Seven” Associations Announce State and Local Legal Center Executive Director. More

    • Policymakers Can Track State Responses to Federal Health Reform Requirements. More

    • NCSL Tells President and Congress: “Go Big” on Deficit Reduction. More

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State Legislatures
The National Magazine of Policy and Politics

February 2012 coverFebruary 2012

A FOGGY FISCAL FUTURE
State budget forecasts call for clearing skies, but no one is breaking out the champagne just yet. More

ONLINE EXTRA
Matthew Morse of Pew discusses digital solutions in elections. More

The Thicket: A Blog: Chutzpah Defined. More

 

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