3/26: Ga.'s Gov. Perdue to name special AG for lawsuit

Savannah Morning News: Gov. Perdue to name special AG for health reform lawsuit

Gov. Sonny Perdue says he'll appoint a special attorney general to sue the federal government over the new federal health care reform law. A team of pro bono lawyers will file the lawsuit following the refusal of Attorney General Thurbert Baker to sue.

Baker wrote in a letter to the governor Wednesday that the state doesn't have "a viable legal claim" and that he didn't want to waste state resources in a time of budget crisis.

Following Baker's refusal to sue, the state constitution gives the governor the right to appoint a special attorney general who will have the same power as the state attorney general in this specific matter, Perdue said.

Georgia probably will not join the lawsuit filed by attorneys general in 14 other states who are challenging what they deem an unconstitutional overreach of federal power, but will likely file a separate suit, Perdue said.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Alabama is one of three states to allow controversial judicial override

ARKANSAS: Lawmakers concerned over required flood insurance by FEMA

FLORIDA: Senate approves Florida class size amendment

KENTUCKY: State unemployment rate rose to 10.9% in February

LOUISIANA: Higher education in 'precarious situation' as legislative session set to begin

MISSISSIPPI: State's lawmakers to finish budget in late April

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue wants to lift film incentives gap

SOUTH CAROLINA: Senate agrees on prison sentencing reform

TENNESSEE: Online map tracks census returns, finds Tennessee is lagging behind

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell says no 'rampant discrimination' against gay employees evident

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3/17: TN legislators prepare for a vote to ban an income tax

WDEF: Tennessee legislators prepare for a vote to ban an income tax

A constitutional amendment banning an income tax has now been read twice on the Senate floor. Senators could vote on it as early as Thursday. If it passes, the proposal would then be sent to the House for approval. Then, next year, lawmakers would have to pass it with a two-thirds majority before the public could vote on it in 2014.

State Rep. Eric Watson of Cleveland says Tennessee and an income tax don't mix. "It's very difficult and this is something we don't need. The people are fed up with the government and state agencies wasting money."

The constitutional amendment would allow the state to continue to collect taxes on income from stocks and bonds.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's prepaid tuition plan could be over by fall 2011

ARKANSAS: Lawsuit contests law that bars unmarried couples from adoption/fostering

FLORIDA: FEMA denies Florida's request for Chinese drywall help

GEORGIA: House passes bill to keep crime scene photos sealed

KENTUCKY: Horse racing bill to get revamped before it heads to Senate

LOUISIANA: State a finalist in Race to the Top federal education funds competition

MISSISSIPPI: State Senate boosts education funding by $29 million

NORTH CAROLINA: State Attorney General wants to expand DNA database

SOUTH CAROLINA: State Senate rejects move to ban earmarks

VIRGINIA: Eight state rest-areas to reopen today

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3/4: SC legislators may cut all services for disabled

Times & Democrat: S.C. legislators consider cutting all services to those with disabilities

The nearly 26,000 people in South Carolina with disabilities may soon no longer have access to state services, as legislators struggle over the budget. Parents say the proposed cuts to day care programs and other services would force them to give up much-needed jobs to stay home and care for their young and adult children.

Andrew J. Imparato, chief executive of the American Association of People with Disabilities, said he is hearing horror stories about budget cuts around the country, but South Carolina is the most extreme example. Shutting down everything but federally required residential care is “the most draconian kind of thing I’ve heard,” he said.

Other states have raised taxes to deal with similar problems, but that’s unlikely in South Carolina.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Senate won't allow state vote on e-bingo

ARKANSAS: Thousands of FEMA trailers to head out of state despite legislators' protests

FLORIDA: Another tomato crisis looms for the state, nation

GEORGIA: State's jobless rate is at all-time high of 10.7%

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear wants workers' compensation insurer to cut its rate

LOUISIANA: Pre-K program in the state is safe from budget cuts for now

MISSISSIPPI: Michelle Obama's visit to nation's fattest state (transcript)

NORTH CAROLINA: Think tank releases list of 10 worst stimulus projects in the state

TENNESSEE: State ranked 5th for economic development performance

VIRGINIA: One-gun-a-month law to be considered by Senate

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2/5: Senate likely to be less diverse after elections

Washington Post: Senate likely to be less diverse after elections

In contests in Florida, Texas and North Carolina, black candidates face daunting challenges to joining the Senate, from difficulty raising cash to lack of name recognition to formidable rivals.\\

By next year, the number of black Senators could be zero, despite the fact that 12.2% of the population is black. David Bositis, a senior political analyst with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, noted that blacks don't make up the majority population in any state and in states where there are large numbers of blacks, as in the South, there are racial divisions that make getting elected difficult.

Florida is more likely to produce the next Hispanic senator than it is the next black senator.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Legislation on using Alabama Trust Fund for roads and bridges is withdrawn

ARKANSAS: FEMA to provide federal funding to state for flood damage

FLORIDA: 7.5% drop in property taxes over three years hurts state's budget

GEORGIA: State gets a "D" from voter rights group

KENTUCKY: House approves ban on texting while driving

LOUISIANA: Sen. Landrieu defends $400 million Medicaid deal

MISSISSIPPI: State stops prison growth by releasing more nonviolent offenders

NORTH CAROLINA: Sen. Larry Shaw says he won't seek re-election

SOUTH CAROLINA: Conference to draw 200 to discuss future of state's land use

TENNESSEE: Sen. Alexander introduces bill to reduce mercury emissions

VIRGINIA: Bill to end ban on radar detectors advances

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