Despite the misleading title of this amendment – the Health Care Freedom Amendment – would actually deny the citizens of Kansas the freedom to CHOOSE a public health insurance option. Through vague language that is meant to appease a small population of tea party activists within the Republican party, Kansas State-Senator Mary Pilcher-Cook is attempting to deny Kansans the very health care she herself receives. The non-specified intention of this legislation is to ensure that whatever reform the US Congress passes does not take effect in Kansas. This amendment is vaguely worded, designed to prevent the federal government from requiring an employer to provide health insurance benefits for their Kansas employees, and requiring an individual without insurance get it.

California is in deep trouble because it has a dysfunctional system of government. Much of the problem can be change by one sentence. I have sent to the attorney general a ballot proposition for the 2010 ballot called The California Democracy Act, the content of which is the following: All legislative action on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote. It would change two words in the Constitution, turning "two-thirds" to "majority" in two places. It is simple, understandable and it is about democracy. As I see it, democracy is the main issue in the governance of our state. The two-thirds rules have an anti-democratic effect. Our legislature is currently under minority rule. One-third plus one - only 34 percent -of either the Assembly or Senate can block the will of the majority until their demands are met. This is undemocratic. Minority rule is why we have gridlock in the legislature. Minority rule has brought our state to near bankruptcy, causing crises throughout the state. A majority of California voters have elected a majority of the state legislators, and that majority is responsible and, so far as I can tell, overwhelmingly dedicated to sane fiscal management and to serving the needs of our citizens. But they are handcuffed by minority rule.

Compendium of Prop 8-related stories and articles.

During the 2008 campaign, President Barack Obama frequently reminded us that progress is always possible if we walk down the right path and refuse to give up. This has been the motto of House Democrats in the Sunflower State for several years. Outnumbered by Republicans two to one, Democrats in Kansas are forced to do business differently. We take tremendous pride in being the largest voting block of the Kansas Legislature as a result of our inclusive, progressive approach to public policy. We must work harder and smarter, be more open to compromise, and vigilantly watch for vehicles to advance our most important priorities. This is not always easy, but when you are on the right side of the issue, opportunities eventually seem to surface.

While Congress runs out the clock on President Bush’s Iraq War, some Vermont legislators hope to spark a state-by-state movement to quickly withdraw National Guard troops and stanch the flow of blood and treasure. On Jan. 30, state House members, soon followed by state senators, introduced legislation that called on Vermont’s Republican Gov. Jim Douglas to take “all necessary steps” to bring home, as quickly as possible, all members of the Vermont National Guard serving in Iraq.

The cost of legislation in Ohio for 2007? -- "The 132 members of the Ohio General Assembly met a total of 37 days in the House and 43 in the Senate. From a production standpoint...only 27 [bills] have become law. From a cost standpoint, the combination of base salaries for legislators of $58,933 a year and the cost of their staffs – Senate employs about 125 staffers, House employs 190 staffers -- about $12.3 million per year for the Senate .. and $22 million for the House..."

A House Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on "Terrorism and the Internet" held last week, and broadcast on C-Span, featured a panel of "experts", including representatives formerly of the RAND Corporation and the Simon Wiesenthal Center who presented 9/11 truth websites sites alongside sites that celebrate the attacks and offer training in terrorist tactics. --Including websites myspace and youtube as virtual terror training camps.

A Texas State Senator announces that he believes it's high time for the state to regulate the distribution of condoms on the campuses of state universities.

Governor Perry of Texas wants guns in schools, churches and bars

"Two New Mexico lawmakers have introduced a measure calling on Congress to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney."