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NEWS ABOUT: state senate

NJ Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

But Gov. Chris Christie likely to veto it

(Newser) - New Jersey's state Senate passed a gay marriage bill today, but by a margin too slim to overturn the governor's expected veto, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports. Senators voted 24-16, with two Republicans in favor. "We have some among us who are separate and not equal,"... More »

Control of Virginia's Senate Too Close to Call

Just 86 votes separate Republican and Democrat

(Newser) - Republicans appear poised to take over the Virginia state Senate—by a mere 86 votes. Heading into last night’s election, the Democrats had a 22-18 majority in the chamber, but they lost one seat in a strange race that, thanks to redistricting, pitted two incumbents, one Republican and one... More »

Dems Survive Wisconsin Recall

Runaway lawmakers keep seats; GOP keeps state senate

(Newser) - Two more Democratic state senators have survived recall votes in Wisconsin, ending the state's recall saga with the Republicans still in charge of the legislature—but with only a one-seat majority. Another Democrat survived an earlier recall vote, and four of six targeted Republicans held their seats after recall... More »

Carl Lewis Can't Run for New Jersey State Senate

He will appeal decision that he doesn't meet residency requirements

(Newser) - New Jersey won't let a favorite son run for state office. The lieutenant governor ruled today that Carl Lewis, who has nine Olympic gold medals on his mantle, doesn't meet the four-year residency requirement to run for a state Senate seat, reports the Star-Ledger . The 49-year-old Lewis plans... More »

'Don't Say Gay' Education Bill Advances in Tennessee

Teachers can't talk about homosexuality before high school under bill

(Newser) - A Tennessee state Senate committee has passed a bill to make sure teachers don't mention homosexuality in classes below ninth grade, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The Republican sponsor of the so-called “don’t say gay” bill got it passed 6-3 after some legal wrangling, and it now... More »

California Bill Would Require Gay History in Schools

Would be first state to launch mandate

(Newser) - California could be the first state to require that schools teach gay history. Lessons on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people would be added to social studies classes under a landmark bill passed yesterday by the state Senate, the AP reports. The state Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown must approve... More »

AWOL Dems: We're Not Coming Home

Fleeing Wisconsin senators deny recent reports that they will return

(Newser) - Some Wisconsin Democrats recently seemed to imply they will return to the state even though talks with Gov. Scott Walker have broken down—but now they're now backtracking on those reports. Minority Leader Mark Miller told the Wall Street Journal the senators were considering a return as soon as certain... More »

Georgia Lawmaker Likens GOP to KKK, Then Womanizers

Comments about 'white sheets' stir things up

(Newser) - A Georgia state senator has thrown down against his political rivals, comparing turncoat Democrats to Ku Klux Klan members, Mediaite reports. State Senator Robert Brown, lashing out against his former Dems who'd switched over to the GOP after Republicans made big gains in the election, said that they "put... More »

Palin Pick Parrots Obama

Congressional hopeful rips off 2004 DNC speech

(Newser) - A congressional candidate from Idaho has the backing of Sarah Palin but a taste for the rhetoric of Barack Obama. A fellow Idaho Republican—not even an opponent, but a candidate for state senate—has released an attack ad contrasting Vaughn Ward's announcement of his candidacy with then-state senator Obama's... More »

State Lawmaker Views Porn on Senate Floor

For like 2 seconds, but still

(Newser) - Legislative sessions are really boring affairs, so who could blame state Sen. Mike Bennett of Florida if, during an abortion debate, he decided to sneak a peak at some naked ta-tas? In this video, Sunshine State News catches Bennett doing just that, while another senator drones, “I'm against this... More »

Calif. Senate Gay Rights Foe Comes Out of Closet

Roy Ashburn admits he's gay after DUI arrest, media frenzy

(Newser) - Republican Roy Ashburn has capped a career battling gay rights in the California State Senate by coming out of the closet. "I am gay. Those are the words that have been so difficult for me for so long," Ashburn told a conservative radio host, addressing rumors that he... More »

Paterson Names Lt. Gov to Break NY Senate Standoff

GOP gets court order suspending move

(Newser) - In a desperate play to break the weeks-long deadlock in the New York State Senate, David Paterson last night named a lieutenant governor, who could preside over the hamstrung body and cast tie-breaking votes. But Republicans say they’ve obtained a court order suspending the beleaguered governor's appointment. Richard Ravitch,... More »

Feuding Senate Has NY State Seeing Double

'Farcical' legislators make mayhem; gov blasts proceedings

(Newser) - New York got two state senates for the price of one yesterday as lawmakers held side-by-side sessions, with each party passing its own bills, the New York Times reports. Dems got to the chamber first and locked out Republicans. When the GOP was finally allowed in, members were barred from... More »

Wandering Gov. Sanford of SC Returning to Work

(Newser) - South Carolina's AWOL governor is expected to be back at work tomorrow, the State reports. Mark Sanford has been incommunicado for several days, save for a fleeting cell phone signal picked up near Atlanta. Aides say he's been hiking on the Appalachian Trail, though his political opponents are skeptical. "... More »

Ark. Lawmaker Apologizes for Calling Schumer 'That Jew'

(Newser) - A Republican Senate candidate in Arkansas has apologized for referring to Sen. Chuck Schumer as “that Jew” during a county GOP meeting, reports blogger Jason Tolbert of the Tolbert Report. “I don’t use a teleprompter and occasionally I put my foot in my month,” said state... More »

Del. Moves to Legalize Sports Betting

(Newser) - The Delaware State Senate has approved a bill legalizing sports betting and allowing casinos to operate table games like roulette, the News Journal of Wilmington reports. The governor, seeking to close a gaping budget gap, will sign the bill this week. The measure sailed through the senate after a pitched... More »

NY State Assembly OKs Gay-Marriage Bill

Some change vote from 2007; bill heads to Senate

(Newser) - The New York State Assembly passed a measure last night legalizing gay marriage, setting up a heated battle to the state senate. The 89-52 vote saw several lawmakers who voted against gay marriage in 2007 change sides, the New York Times reports. “That vote just never felt right to... More »

California OKs Long-Delayed Budget

Dems make big last-minute concessions

(Newser) - The California Assembly quickly stamped its approval on a state budget passed by the Senate early this morning, ending a 3-month budget deadlock. The final Republican vote needed to pass the bill came with steep concessions, though billions of dollars in tax hikes and program cuts remain intact, the Los ... More »

Calif. Can't Settle Budget; Guv Will Begin 20K Layoffs

Remaining state public-works projects to be stopped

(Newser) - California’s legislature couldn’t agree on a budget by the time it adjourned last night, so even as legislators trudge back to negotiate this morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will begin proceedings to lay off 20,000 government workers and halt the 275 state-funded public works projects still in action,... More »

Arnold's Health Plan Terminated

State Senate kills governor's 'fairy tale' universal insurance reform

(Newser) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious plans for a near-universal health care insurance system in California have been terminated after a year-long effort to win the support of lawmakers. The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by California's Senate Health Committee, with only 1 of 11 senators voting in favor of the plan, reports... More »

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