9/17: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

Southern Political Report: Hastings Wyman: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

"The AFL-CIO and other unions began a major lobbying push earlier this month to pass the Employee Freedom of Choice Act (EFCA), which would make it easier for unions to organize non-union concerns. However, EFCA’s chief backer, US Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), has since told a union audience that the bill will not likely come up for a vote this year. The death of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who supported the measure, as well as the opposition of at least one Democratic senator -- Blanche Lincoln (AR) -- means that Harkin doesn’t have the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster against the measure.

"But even that is not a sure thing. On September 15, recently minted Democrat Arlen Specter (PA) told a national AFL-CIO meeting in Philadelphia that a compromise is in the works which will be “totally acceptable to labor” and will pass Congress before the year is out. The revised bill will reportedly omit the controversial “card check” provision which would allow unionization of a company without an actual election. If the card check is deleted, some wavering Democrats might decide to support the bill." More...

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Infant mortality rate declines during 2008 in Alabama

ARKANSAS: State's workers won't be affected by federal takeover of pension plans

FLORIDA: State criticized again for ignoring suggestions on fixing death penalty

GEORGIA: Tax breaks draw film industry to Georgia, boosting economy

KENTUCKY: 47 jobs eliminated by state judicial branch

LOUISIANA: Tom Baxter: It's no easy task, tackling corruption in New Orleans

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour defends budget cuts to statewide audience

NORTH CAROLINA: State educators to vote on immigrant policy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report says state could gain jobs, revenue with offshore drilling

TENNESSEE: State AG fights misleading 'notario publico' ads aimed at Hispanics

VIRGINIA: Another 200 state workers face layoffs

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

9/16: Florida's health insurance program has no clients

St. Petersburg Times: Florida's health insurance program has no clients

Florida Health Choices, a program touted as a solution to the state's high rate of uninsured last year by the GOP House leaders, still has no insurers or businesses signed up.

A program created by Gov. Crist at the same time, "Cover Florida," has only 4,130 policies while the number of uninsured in the state has grown to 3.6 million.

These results mean neither Gov. Crist nor Marco Rubio, his opponent in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, can use these programs as campaign fodder.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Poultry industry in Alabama closely watching trade battle with China

ARKANSAS: Problem gambler program sets up in state as lottery gears up for first day

GEORGIA: President Carter comments on Rep. Wilson's outburst: "(It's) based on racism"

KENTUCKY: Electric vehicles to be built in state by Global Green Cars

LOUISIANA: Federal health officials say state owes $362 million for Medicaid overpayments

MISSISSIPPI: Proposed $43 million program could create 4,800 jobs in state

NORTH CAROLINA: State expands foreclosure prevention program

SOUTH CAROLINA: Rep. Wilson's son defends dad's outburst

TENNESSEE: State solar project gets federal approval

VIRGINIA: Tax collections down 6.6% in August

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org