Wal-Mart Executives Sweat Slow February Start in E-Mails Bloomberg ...Wal-Mart and discounters such as Family Dollar Stores Inc. are bracing for a rise in the payroll tax to take a bigger bite from the paychecks of shoppers already dealing with elevated unemployment...
Warren terrifies bankers Politico ...Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) generated serious fireworks in her first big Senate Banking Committee hearing, asking tough questions of regulators, repeatedly peppering them to identify the last time they brought a big Wall Street institution to trial rather than settling. There were no real answers...
Media campaign against windfarms funded by anonymous conservatives The Guardian ...Secretive funding network channelled millions to stop state governments moving towards renewable energy...
Big Corporations Put Up Seed Funding For Republican Dark Money Group Pro Publica ...Some of the nation's biggest corporations donated more than a million dollars to launch a Republican nonprofit that went on to play a key role in recent political fights...
Florida's prison privatization isn't paradise (opinion) Hernando Today ...when I think of privatizing prison health care, I visualize Robert Boggon — naked, strapped to a chair, alone and not realizing during his last few hours alive where he was...
No funds after '13 for right-to-work law hires Detroit News ..."I think it just goes to prove the point that we were making throughout that the appropriation was there for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to make the policy referendum-proof," said Whitmer, D-East Lansing...
Michigan man launches petition to change state Constitution The Times-Herald ... Detroit-area man plans to launch a petition drive to amend Michigan’s Constitution, aiming to close a loophole that allows laws — like right-to-work — to be immune from a repeal by voters...
Missouri proponents of right-to-work bills get set to strike in General Assembly Kansas City Business Journal ...Backers of right-to-work legislation in Missouri are confident they can strike down compulsory union membership by the end of the year...
Missouri voter photo ID requirement clears House Kansas City Star ...A renewed effort to force Missouri voters to show photo identification cleared the Republican-controlled House on Thursday, but its chances of swiftly advancing beyond that appeared uncertain after the GOP Senate leader said the issue isn't a top tier priority...
Legislature OKs Raise For State Employees Associated Press ... Tens of thousands of (Minnesota) state employees will soon get a 2 percent raise...
Secret organization infiltrated Montana Legislature Hungry Horse News ...Republican Reps. Scott Reichner and Mark Blasdel are attempting to influence the Montana House of Representatives in the 2013 session of the Montana Legislature by advancing model bills that have been crafted by ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council...
Minimum wage question goes to voters in November over Republican objections Newark Star-Ledger ...If voters approve the increase, the wage floor would rise from $7.25 an hour to $8.25. A yes vote would also amend the state constitution to trigger automatic cost-of-living increases every year...
Kane’s rejection of Corbett’s lottery plan sets off fireworks philly.com ...Her decision set off a scramble by the administration to find ways to salvage its first major attempt at privatizing state services. It also offered a glimpse of what life for Corbett could be like for much of the next two years...
Grover Norquist cautions Wisconsin's GOP lawmakers The Cap Times ...It is imperative that Wisconsin lawmakers continue to take proactive steps to keep the state competitive. A new tax on mining is something the state simply cannot afford."...
