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Texas Chief Justice: Parties Stand in the Way of Judicial Election Reform

By 1875, Reconstruction was coming to a halt and the Democrats were beginning to take power in Texas. The much hated measures of radical Republicans resonated in the minds of many Texans and prompted the drafting of the Texas Constitution of 1876.

The document rolled back many of the big government policies supported by the Republican Party, resulting in a decrease in the power, salaries, and terms of most government officials.

Special Election to Replace Sex Offender Produces Conflicting Poll Results

The special election to replace San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned after being the subject of a series of bizarre sex scandal charges, is producing conflicting polling results right out of the 2012 partisan playbook.

Christie Todd Whitman Supports Open Primaries, Inclusive Politics

Two-term New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman has never been a typical Republican. As one of the most recognizable faces in the GOP during the 1990s, she was a speculated

Vice Presidential candidate, who made a name for herself as an advocate of fiscal conservatism, minus the socially restrictive policies that often accompany monetary responsibility.

Republican and Democrat Appointees Join Federal Election Commission

A full complement of commissioners presided over the Federal Eelection Commission's open meeting on Thursday, marking the first time the regulatory body was fully staffed since Cynthia Bauerly stepped down in February. Lee E.

Florida Supreme Court to Consider Medical Marijuana Initiative

On December 5, 2013, the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in their republic.

The court announced the hearing a mere two days before devotees of the measure and their opponents were to meet at the Lake Worth campus of Palm Beach State College for a 90-minute debate titled, “The Great Debate! Marijuana Legalization: Make An Informed Decision.”

U.S. to Spend over $600 Billion More on Health Care in 2014

The cost of healthcare in the U.S. is widely discussed right now due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also called 'Obamacare.' Under the ACA, Americans will pay an average premium of $328 monthly for a mid-tier insurance plan (before government subsidies).

USA Freedom Act Introduced to Limit NSA Surveillance

Reports of National Security Agency surveillance capabilities and oversight continue to surpass previous assumptions. Dragnet data collection lie at the center of legal and privacy concerns. This week, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin)

introduced the USA Freedom Act.

According to the bill, the act's stated purpose is,

Billions for California Education Funding in Jeopardy Due To Testing Reform

The California legislature passed AB 484 and Governor Jerry Brown signed the legislation for reform in the state's standardized testing. The current testing method (STAR) will be abandoned for a year to transition to a new test aligned with Common Core standards and more indicative of student performance. However, the US Department of Education says it will withhold up to $3.52 billion in education funding to California.

New York Makes It Harder for Adults to Buy Cigarettes

In their continued efforts to make New Yorkers healthier through local ordinances, the New York City Council voted on Wednesday to make it more difficult for New Yorkers to buy cigarettes in the city limits.

Not only does this apply to young people, who will have to be 21 years old to buy cigarettes when the law takes effect in 6 months, but smokers throughout the city as they now will have to pay at least $10.50 for a pack of cigarettes or little cigars.

Approval Voting and The Effect on Partisanship with Mark Frohnmayer

What originally began as a way to weaken the power of political machines such as Tammany Hall, primary elections gradually became a way for the two mainstream political parties to control the electoral process while creating a clearer divide between the parties.