Florida’s new restrictions on pre-registering to vote could hurt youth turnout

The More…

States moving ahead with teacher evaluation policies

States are making strides in teacher evaluation systems, a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality finds.

Some states cutting costs by limiting Medicaid coverage of hospital visits

Same-sex marriage legislation from both ends of the spectrum in states across the country

The Washington Post reports that Maryland is poised to legalize same-sex marriage, possibly in the next few weeks. A bill on the Senate floor, SB 116 (PDF), would revise Maryland’s marriage code, changing the phrase, “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid in this State” More…

While office says she’s focusing on her district, Bachmann visits Hawaii, going to Mont. and S.C. soon

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s office told Bloomberg on Tuesday that she wouldn’t be giving interviews this week as she was committed to working in her district. Bachmann’s office made the statement, however, while the Sixth District Republican was on a visit to Hawaii to raise money for Republicans and ahead of More…

Lunchtime Links

Changes to Social Security see support from both parties.

Senate candidate Alvin Greene’s job-creation idea is to make action figures of himself.

Michele Bachmann’s challenger raises $910,000 in the second quarter.

Arizona’s immigration law could derail the 28th annual conference of border More…

Djou Faces Hawaiian Electorate That’s More Pro-Democrat Than Pro-Incumbent

Even before Rep. Charles Djou (R-Hawaii) was sworn in Tuesday, less than a week after his special election victory against a pair of feuding Democrats, pundits were already debating whether he would be able to win a full term in November. One thing some More…

Hawaii’s 1st District Becomes Unlikely Battleground

Since its inception, Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District has elected only one Republican to represent it in the U.S. House. But an upcoming special election for the seat is drawing national attention, as Democrats risk losing the seat and are being forced to spend money on defense.

Oh yeah, one More…

GOP Candidate in Hawaii Doesn’t Call for Repeal of Health Care Reform

Charles Djou, a Honolulu city councilman who’s mounting a strong — and lucky* — campaign for Hawaii’s first congressional district, doesn’t sound like he’s joining the “repeal health care reform” bandwagon. B.J. Reyes reports on a candidate forum in Honolulu:

Although Djou said he would have voted against the

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Hawaii’s 2007 Tax Cut Turned Into a 600 Percent Increase in 2010

In 2007, under the stewardship of Republican Gov. Linda Lingle, Hawaii reduced the unemployment tax rate on employers under the guise of encouraging job growth — despite the fact that, at the time, Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent.

Now that the unemployment rate is 6.9 percent, and More…