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Nixon: Voters at a Crossroad.

Missouri – Attorney General, Jay Nixon believes Missouri voters are at a crossroad. “I think it’s fundamentally wrong that health care funding is being slashed and college is less affordable to students,” he said. “Our government has the wrong priorities right now, and it’s up to the voters to change that.” Nixon, who is running for governor, spoke to about 40 people at the Best Western State Fair Inn as a part of a daylong tour of campaign stops that also included Harrisonville, Nevada, Collins, Butler and Warsaw. Health care, public education and the economy were the top three priorities of his campaign, Nixon said. “I believe it’s wrong to live in a state where children have no health care,” he said. “We need to begin restoring those health care cuts; it will make a remarkable difference.”
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GENERAL NEWS

IL – Blagojevich Reports More Aid For Homeowners Facing Foreclosure. Refinancing funds in a state program to help homeowners avoid foreclosure by accessing fixed-rate mortgages has grown from $200 million to $310 million, according to Gov. Blagojevich. In February, the state launched the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Initiative to provide fixed-rate mortgages for Illinois borrowers with moderately good credit. The program has no income requirements and is open to homeowners regardless of their current mortgage product. Interest rates are between 5.75 percent and 8 percent. Illinois also recently received a $1.5 million grant from NeighborWorks America to boost foreclosure prevention counseling efforts.
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MD – Senate Gives Initial Approval to O’Malley’s Energy Bills. The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to three energy measures proposed by Gov. Martin O’Malley, who wants to reduce energy consumption in Maryland 15 percent by 2015 because of concern about a potential energy crunch. One of the energy bills requires utilities to create programs to reduce electricity bills by providing rebates for customers who buy energy-efficient appliances. The measure also is designed to create incentives for people to build more energy efficient homes. Supporters say the measure aims to boost the use of renewable energy so that at least 20 percent of the state’s power comes from renewable energy by 2022.
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MI – Granholm Tax Incentives to Lure Film Industry. A Hollywood film company is considering opening a production office in the Ann Arbor area with plans to film a movie here. The news comes a week before Gov. Jennifer Granholm is expected to sign a package of economic incentives designed to lure movie companies to film their movies in Michigan. The incentives would include a 40 percent to 42 percent cash rebate on money spent in Michigan in addition to tax credits and rebates in exchange for training Michigan residents.
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OH – Strickland to Boost Foreclosure Resources. Central Ohio is in the midst of record-high foreclosure filings, and state leaders are joining forces to keep families in their homes. In an unprecedented statewide initiative, Gov. Ted Strickland, along with the Ohio Supreme Court chief justice, attorney general, state treasurer and the Ohio Bar Association, will announce a partnership to boost legal resources for families in or threatened by home foreclosure.
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OR – Kulongoski Meets with European Officials on Cap and Trade. Gov. Ted Kulongoski began his business development mission with a meeting with APM Terminals executives in Amsterdam to advance the container terminal development project in Coos Bay, and then traveled to Brussels to meet with European Union officials and industry representatives to discuss carbon cap and trade. “This meeting was a good opportunity to learn first hand the successes and challenges of the EU cap and trade program,” the Governor said. “These lessons learned will help us as we shape a better program for Oregon that works for industry and the citizens of our state.”
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WA – Gregoire Signs Anti-Gang Legislation. Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the criminal street gang measure. In addition, she and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs announced that community involvement in gang prevention and intervention program planning will be a required component of all grant applications for enforcement funds. The anti-gang law will convene community meetings statewide to develop a plan to combat criminal street gangs.
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WV – Editorial: Manchin Health Plan Protects Uninsured. A new public-private partnership announced by Gov. Joe Manchin should help more than 500,000 West Virginians without prescription drug coverage. The program, called West Virginia Rx, would allow uninsured residents to get free prescription medication by mail. It will be administered by Health Right free clinics in Charleston and Beckley. The drugs will be donated by pharmaceutical companies. Manchin announced the launch of the state’s first no-cost prescription drug program during a ceremony in Charleston. The program ultimately aims to get more medications to more patients in need.
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WI – Doyle Pushes for Renewable Energy. Gov. Jim Doyle launched a new program to join state leaders in hopes of increasing use of renewable energy in Wisconsin communities by 25 percent before 2025. The plan aims to pair individual communities with the state Office of Energy Independence to increase the capacity for clean energy that would clean up the environment and reduce Wisconsin’s reliance on foreign oil. Doyle’s program would create strategies unique to different communities by focusing on the local geographical and sociological context.
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