Washington Lawmakers approve legislative records exemption

Rowland Thompson, right, executive director of Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington, testifies during a joint work session of the Senate and House State Government Committees, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. The session was held to discuss a bill filed Wednesday by lawmakers who want to circumvent a recent court ruling finding them fully subject to the state's public disclosure laws.

Kasich panel to give gun proposals; gov. supports arming teachers, opposes ‘stand your ground’

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he is hoping that a group he's quietly convened to find solutions to gun violence in the state will be able to deliver something by the end of next week to the General Assembly. Kasich, in Washington, D.C., for a meeting of the National Governors Association, declined to lay out what the group is considering, but said they've reached agreements on four different issues.

Pence rallies conservatives with call to fight hard in 2018

Vice President Mike Pence rallied thousands of conservative activists on Thursday to fight back against a Democratic drive to take over the U.S. Congress in 2018 elections, calling a Republican victory at the midterm votes crucial to advancing President Donald Trump's agenda. A Christian conservative, Pence spoke at the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference, a traditional venue where the grassroots of the Republican Party makes itself felt.

Perdue to food box critics: Give the idea a chance

Perdue is defending a proposal that would cut food stamp benefits in half and replace them with a pre-ass... WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Thursday defended a proposal that would replace a portion of food stamp benefits with pre-assembled boxes of shelf-stable goods delivered to recipients' doorsteps - an idea one lawmaker called "a cruel joke." The idea was first floated last week in the Trump administration's 2019 budget proposal, tucked inside a larger plan to slash the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, by roughly $213 billion - or 30 percent- over the next 10 years.

Single higher ed board may sound good, but it’s a long shot

But if recent history is any indication, Hewitt will have a tough time getting traction for her idea. Three governors in as many decades, including Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal, explored the single board concept in earnest but never could make it happen.

Legislative funding bill clears first hurdle at conference committee

Minnesota legislators could vote Thursday to restore the House and Senate operating budgets, after Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed them in May. A conference committee approved a bill Wednesday night that would designate more than $64 million for both the House and Senate, allowing them to keep functioning for two years. The funding would be retroactive to July 1. Both chambers need to vote on the measure, and Dayton must sign off on it.

Half of Senate Republicans urge Trump to reconsider TPP

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue attends a Farmer's Roundtable where President Donald Trump signed the Executive Order Promoting Agriculture and Rural Prosperity in America on April 25, 2017, at the White House in Washington, D.C. Twenty-five Republican senators wrote to President Donald Trump on Feb. 21, encouraging him to "work aggressively" to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership . "We write in support of your recent comments expressing interest in reengaging with the Trans-Pacific Partnership to bring about a stronger agreement for the United States," they wrote.

Shooting town hall: Rubio on the defensive on gun control

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio was put on the defensive Wednesday by angry students, teachers and parents who are demanding stronger gun-control measures after the shooting rampage that claimed 17 lives at a Florida high school. One of those confronting the Florida senator at a CNN's "Stand Up" town hall Wednesday night was Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed on Feb. 14 with 16 others.

Anne Hathaway Elected to Republican National Committee

Members of the Indiana Republican State Central Committee today elected Anne Hathaway, the 7th District Chair of the committee, to represent them and their fellow Hoosier Republicans on the Republican National Committee as Indiana's National Committeewoman. Hathaway, who is president and chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Hathaway Strategies, previously served as chief of staff of the Republican National Committee, as assistant to the vice president and director of scheduling and public liaison to Vice President Dan Quayle, and is currently the executive director of the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series.

Florida Lawmakers Vote Against Taking Up Bill to Ban Assault Weapons

Students who survived the Florida school shooting began a journey Tuesday to the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to prevent another massacre, but within hours the gun-friendly Legislature had effectively halted any possibility of banning assault-style rifles like the one used in the attack. The legislative action further energized the teens as they prepared to confront legislators who have quashed gun-control efforts for decades in a state where 1.3 million people have concealed carry permits.

Louisiana quietly loses its place in teacher rankings

Average public school teacher salaries in Louisiana finally reached the regional average in 2007, a breakthrough that was celebrated by politicians, education groups and others. But now teachers are paid $1,705 less than their peers in the region, another casualty of Louisiana's seemingly endless cycle of budget problems.