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  <channel>
    <title>Stateline.org RSS - Commentaries</title>
    <link>http://www.stateline.org/live/issues/Commentaries</link>
    <description><![CDATA[Commentaries]]></description>
    <ttl>15</ttl>

          <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.stateline.org/StatelineorgRss-Commentary" /><feedburner:info xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" uri="statelineorgrss-commentary" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               US:                What Proposition 8 ruling means for California, other states
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Proposition 8, the initiative passed by voters in 2008, is unconstitutional, a violation of the rights of gay and lesbian people who want to get married. No -- not yet.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Jeffrey Toobin]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/07/toobin-what-proposition-8-ruling-means-for-california-other-states/?iref=obnetwork]]></link>
            <source url="http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/07/toobin-what-proposition-8-ruling-means-for-california-other-states/?iref=obnetwork"><![CDATA[CNN]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               CA:                Proposition 8 ruling was just but wobbly
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Is it unconstitutional to forbid same-sex couples from calling their unions a "marriage" if &mdash; as is the case in California &mdash; they enjoy the same legal rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex partners in the state?]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/proposition-8-decision-was-just-but-wobbly/2012/02/08/gIQApOh1zQ_story.html?hpid=z3]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/proposition-8-decision-was-just-but-wobbly/2012/02/08/gIQApOh1zQ_story.html?hpid=z3"><![CDATA[The Washington Post]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               AZ:                Abortion opponents lack follow-up
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[I got a call from a reader Wednesday who remembered seeing me at the state Capitol in 1988 on the day the Arizona House voted on a bill to ban abortion. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By E.J. Montini]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/02/08/20120208montini0209-abortion-opponents-lack-follow-up.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/02/08/20120208montini0209-abortion-opponents-lack-follow-up.html"><![CDATA[The Arizona Republic (Phoenix)]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               CO:                Court made right call on medical pot for criminals 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Can a criminal on probation be barred from smoking pot &mdash; even if he has a state certificate granting him the right to medical marijuana? The state Court of Appeals says the answer is yes, and we think it made the right call. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_19922649]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_19922649"><![CDATA[The Denver Post]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               MT:                Right to know wins again- Montana Policy Institute sued for data on state employee pay  
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[An organization based in Bozeman that counts government transparency among its key issues recently struck a blow for freedom of information throughout Montana - namely, the public's right to access detailed information about state employees' pay.

]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/editorial/right-to-know-wins-again-montana-policy-institute-sued-for/article_e9746d70-5266-11e1-a13a-001871e3ce6c.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/editorial/right-to-know-wins-again-montana-policy-institute-sued-for/article_e9746d70-5266-11e1-a13a-001871e3ce6c.html"><![CDATA[Missoulian]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               MO:                How a 'job creator' would actually help state of Missouri 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Some time ago, as the economy was tanking, a focus group paid for by a political consultant must have reacted to the word "jobs" like children on Christmas morning.
]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-how-a-job-creator-would-actually-help-state-of/article_79c07a46-b202-5415-a026-0ded29c959bb.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/editorial-how-a-job-creator-would-actually-help-state-of/article_79c07a46-b202-5415-a026-0ded29c959bb.html"><![CDATA[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               PA:                Lost opportunity- Corbett's choices will hurt Pennsylvanians
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Last year, at his inauguration, Tom Corbett took office with a desire to "unleash a new common prosperity to benefit all Pennsylvanians." Two budget proposals later, it's hard to see how the governor is doing his part.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12040/1208994-192.stm]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12040/1208994-192.stm"><![CDATA[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               VA:                Virginia GOP shows its hypocritical side on abortion
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Virginia Republicans, always quick to condemn overreaching government intrusions into people's lives, are themselves becoming the High Priests of the Nanny State. In driving a singularly obnoxious abortion measure through the state legislature &mdash; one that substitutes their own medical expertise for that of doctors &mdash; they are setting new standards for official arrogance and meddling.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-gops-abortion-bill-reeks-of-hypocrisy/2012/02/07/gIQAYiU1zQ_story.html?hpid=z3]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginia-gops-abortion-bill-reeks-of-hypocrisy/2012/02/07/gIQAYiU1zQ_story.html?hpid=z3"><![CDATA[The Washington Post]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               FL:                Small jolt for Florida energy policy
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[The Florida Legislature has never been serious about renewable energy, or conservation for that matter, and pending bills in the House and Senate would only modestly advance the discussion. However weak, though, the legislation is a start in a tough political and economic climate. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1214566.ece]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1214566.ece"><![CDATA[Tampa Bay Times]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               TX:                Abbott, others must keep negotiating Texas political maps 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[It's maddening that Texans still have no finalized congressional or state legislative districts that would allow for an April 3 primary. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20120208-editorial-abbott-others-must-keep-negotiating-texas-political-maps.ece]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20120208-editorial-abbott-others-must-keep-negotiating-texas-political-maps.ece"><![CDATA[The Dallas Morning News]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               AL:                Immigration the 'must see' political fight of 2012 session
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[There will be conflict over charter schools, a rumble over redistricting and a battle royale over the state budget. But perhaps no debate in the new session of the Alabama Legislature involves bigger stakes than the effort to revise the state's immigration law.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By George Talbot]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://blog.al.com/live/2012/02/immigration_the_must_see_polit.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://blog.al.com/live/2012/02/immigration_the_must_see_polit.html"><![CDATA[Mobile Register]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               AL:                Lawmakers need to reel in idiots and school boards 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Darn that Mark Twain.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By John Archibald ]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://blog.al.com/archiblog/2012/02/lawmakers_need_to_reel_in_idio.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://blog.al.com/archiblog/2012/02/lawmakers_need_to_reel_in_idio.html"><![CDATA[The Birmingham News]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               CA:                Time for a truce on tax-hike initiatives
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[If the California Capitol were a classic movie, the governor would be telling his consigliere to arrange a meeting with the heads of the five families. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By George Skelton]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-cap-brown-taxes1-20120209,0,308168.column?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GeorgeSkelton+(L.A.+Times+-+George+Skelton)]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-cap-brown-taxes1-20120209,0,308168.column?track=rss&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GeorgeSkelton+(L.A.+Times+-+George+Skelton)"><![CDATA[Los Angeles Times]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               CA:                A ruling for equal rights
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[This nation still has a long way to go to overcome one of the great remaining barriers to full equality and fairness, but a federal appeals court panel brought it a big step closer with a well-grounded ruling on Tuesday striking down a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage in California.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/a-ruling-for-equal-rights.html?ref=todayspaper]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/opinion/a-ruling-for-equal-rights.html?ref=todayspaper"><![CDATA[The New York Times]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               CA:                Proposition 8 ruling is aimed at U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has a hard-won reputation for issuing sweeping, precedent-setting and liberal rulings that are often overturned by the more conservative U.S. Supreme Court.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Dan Walters]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4247118/dan-walters-proposition-8-ruling.html#mi_rss=Dan Walters]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4247118/dan-walters-proposition-8-ruling.html#mi_rss=Dan Walters"><![CDATA[The Sacramento Bee]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               FL:                Ethics shortage in Florida Senate
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[You know the Florida Senate is in trouble when it has less regard for ethics reform than Congress does. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1214395.ece]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1214395.ece"><![CDATA[Tampa Bay Times]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               GA:                Frye -- Rep. Heard scheming with redistricting
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[I never thought I'd see the day when my so-called Democratic state representative, Keith Heard, was conspiring with a Republican &mdash; Doug McKillip, no less &mdash; to redraw Athens-Clarke County Commission districts (or gerrymander them, depending on who you ask), behind voters' backs.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2012-02-07/frye-rep-heard-scheming-redistricting]]></link>
            <source url="http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2012-02-07/frye-rep-heard-scheming-redistricting"><![CDATA[The Athens Banner-Herald]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               ID:                Our View, Idaho taxes- A simple majority is good enough
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Idaho legislators can certainly come up with more than their share of home-grown and ill-conceived ideas.
]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/08/1985255/a-simple-majority-is-good-enough.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/02/08/1985255/a-simple-majority-is-good-enough.html"><![CDATA[The Idaho Statesman (Boise)]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               MN:                Arming our prosecutors raises big questions
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Inspired in part by a Dec. 15 courthouse shooting in northern Minnesota, the Legislature is revisiting the state's right-to-carry laws.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120208/OPINION/102080011/Our-view-Arming-our-prosecutors-raises-big-questions?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Umbrella|p]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.sctimes.com/article/20120208/OPINION/102080011/Our-view-Arming-our-prosecutors-raises-big-questions?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Umbrella|p"><![CDATA[St. Cloud Times]]></source>
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          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               MO:                Discrimination to one is discrimination to all
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Picture the point of a pin. Now cut that into a billion-billion pieces and you have something so small that it is pure energy. Inside is a vibrating "string," also of pure energy. It is this little entity, a billion-billionth the size of the pinpoint that holds the entire universe together.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By David Rosman]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/02/08/david-rosman-discrimination-one-discrimination-all/]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2012/02/08/david-rosman-discrimination-one-discrimination-all/"><![CDATA[The Columbia Missourian]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               MS:                No fight over hospital tax
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Looks like Gov. Phil Bryant will be spared the all-out war that greeted former Gov. Haley Barbour when it came to imposing a state hospital tax to help fund Medicaid.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff ]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120208/OPINION/202080302/No-fight-over-hospital-tax?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120208/OPINION/202080302/No-fight-over-hospital-tax?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p"><![CDATA[Hattiesburg American]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NC:                App tracking sex offenders a valuable tool for public
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Child sexual abuse is one of the few crimes in which the penalty outlives the sentence.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/08/2993362/app-tracking-sex-offenders-a-valuable.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/08/2993362/app-tracking-sex-offenders-a-valuable.html"><![CDATA[The Charlotte Observer]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               ND:                Continue to look forward, plan
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[North Dakotans should pay attention to Vision 2020, a statewide planning process about to get under way. The past teaches us that the policies and legislation resulting from the plan will affect the state well beyond the 20-year objective. Those speaking now will help shape the state's future. 
]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://bismarcktribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/continue-to-look-forward-plan/article_fc62a58c-5270-11e1-9de8-0019bb2963f4.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://bismarcktribune.com/news/opinion/editorial/continue-to-look-forward-plan/article_fc62a58c-5270-11e1-9de8-0019bb2963f4.html"><![CDATA[The Bismarck Tribune]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NE:                Still losing at casinos?
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[If Sen. Paul Schumacher wanted to stir discussion about the possibility of casino gambling in Nebraska, the bill he introduced this year ought to do just that.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-still-losing-at-casinos/article_55a15649-62d8-5e29-b40f-300e82fe2659.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-still-losing-at-casinos/article_55a15649-62d8-5e29-b40f-300e82fe2659.html"><![CDATA[Lincoln Journal Star]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NJ:                N.J. higher education reorganization- An opinion round-up
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[A proposed reorganization of New Jersey's higher education system, released last month by a special state task force and supported by Gov. Chris Christie, has set tongues wagging across New Jersey. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.nj.com/njvoices/index.ssf/2012/02/nj_higher_education_reorganiza.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.nj.com/njvoices/index.ssf/2012/02/nj_higher_education_reorganiza.html"><![CDATA[The Star-Ledger (Newark)]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NJ:                N.J. water quality rule changes delay actions to limit sprawl
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[A measure recently signed into law that will delay implementation of the 2008 water quality management planning rules not only opens up 300,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands to sprawl and high-density development, it changes the whole water quality planning process in New Jersey. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Jeff Tittel]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/opinion_nj_water_quality_rule.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/opinion_nj_water_quality_rule.html"><![CDATA[The Star-Ledger (Newark)]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NJ:                Prop 8 decision in California has weight in N.J. 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[While the court decision striking down California's ban on gay marriage was narrowly framed, it's still pertinent to the underlying issue in states such as New Jersey. It speaks to the reasons that civil unions are not adequate.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/02/prop_8_decision_in_california.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/02/prop_8_decision_in_california.html"><![CDATA[The Star-Ledger (Newark)]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NJ:                Gender gap in N.J. women's pay deserves attention
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[It's no secret that women are paid less than men for doing similar work. And any college grad who thought her higher degrees shielded her from the inequities in the salary structure, think again. The more education you have &mdash; and the older you are &mdash; the wider the pay gap with male counterparts. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/02/gender_gap_in_nj_womens_pay_de.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/02/gender_gap_in_nj_womens_pay_de.html"><![CDATA[The Star-Ledger (Newark)]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NJ:                N.J. water quality management has been strengthened by revamped rules
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[New bipartisan legislation signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie last month will enhance New Jersey's ability to protect some of the state's most environmentally sensitive lands and better safeguard the state's water quality. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Bob Martin]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/opinion_nj_water_quality_manag.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/opinion_nj_water_quality_manag.html"><![CDATA[The Star-Ledger (Newark)]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NM:                Don't let PRC reform die
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Congratulations to the New Mexico House of Representatives. Understanding the need for urgency, House members unanimously passed legislation to reform the troubled Public Regulation Commission. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/Our-view-Don-t-let-PRC-reform-die]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/Our-view-Don-t-let-PRC-reform-die"><![CDATA[Santa Fe New Mexican]]></source>
              </item>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NV:                Caucus follies
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA["Caucus" might as well be a four-letter word. Nevada's presidential nomination system is about as popular as traffic jams and the stomach flu, given last weekend's lousy execution by the Republican Party.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/caucus-follies-138998374.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/caucus-follies-138998374.html"><![CDATA[Las Vegas Review-Journal]]></source>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               NV:                The Nevada GOP embarrasses itself &mdash; again
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[The Democrats could not have planned the Republican presidential caucus any better if they actually had planned it (no, Ron Paul crazies, they really didn't).]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Jon Ralston]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/08/nevada-gop-embarrasses-itself-again/]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/feb/08/nevada-gop-embarrasses-itself-again/"><![CDATA[Las Vegas Sun]]></source>
              </item>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               OH:                Buckeye booster
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Gov. John Kasich's State of the State speech on Tuesday ensured at least one thing: He will go down in history as one of the great cheerleaders for the Buckeye State, perhaps rivaling Gov. James A. Rhodes.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/02/08/buckeye-booster.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/editorials/2012/02/08/buckeye-booster.html"><![CDATA[The Columbus Dispatch]]></source>
              </item>
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            <title> <![CDATA[
               OK:                Shake, rattle ... earthquake drill provides practice for Oklahomans 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[It was only fitting that a small earthquake followed an earthquake drill this week. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://newsok.com/shake-rattle-...-earthquake-drill-provides-practice-for-oklahomans/article/3647254?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials]]></link>
            <source url="http://newsok.com/shake-rattle-...-earthquake-drill-provides-practice-for-oklahomans/article/3647254?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials"><![CDATA[The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               OK:                Solid policy is the key to improving Oklahoma's fortunes 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Oklahoma got the kind of positive publicity that money can't buy with the top editorial in Tuesday's Wall Street Journal. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://newsok.com/solid-policy-is-the-key-to-improving-oklahomas-fortunes/article/3646971?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials]]></link>
            <source url="http://newsok.com/solid-policy-is-the-key-to-improving-oklahomas-fortunes/article/3646971?custom_click=pod_headline_opinion-oklahoman-editorials"><![CDATA[The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City)]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               PA:                Santorum the spoiler- Just as Romney looked set, the ex-senator revives 
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Unless America is visited by biblical plagues -- and maybe not even then -- Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and perpetual moral scold, is unlikely to be the next president. But politicians often have a highly inflated opinion of themselves and some voters will always indulge them.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12040/1208995-192.stm]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12040/1208995-192.stm"><![CDATA[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               PA:                No-frills budget- Corbett holds line on taxes, but education and transportation remain big concerns
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Pennsylvanians are getting what they voted for in Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget: no tax increases and reduced state spending. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/02/no-frills_budget_corbett_holds.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/02/no-frills_budget_corbett_holds.html"><![CDATA[The Patriot-News (Harrisburg)]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               SC:                Columbia must address health-care costs
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Columbia City Council has little alternative but to make changes to control costs in its health-care program for employees and retirees.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/07/2142909/columbia-must-address-health-care.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/07/2142909/columbia-must-address-health-care.html"><![CDATA[The State (Columbia)]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               TX:                Get past politics and fight breast cancer
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Battling breast cancer in Central Texas and across the country requires an all-out effort. ]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.statesman.com/opinion/get-past-politics-and-fight-breast-cancer-2157546.html]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.statesman.com/opinion/get-past-politics-and-fight-breast-cancer-2157546.html"><![CDATA[The Austin American-Statesman]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               US:                A terrible transportation bill
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[The list of outrages coming out of the House is long, but the way the Republicans are trying to hijack the $260 billion transportation bill defies belief. This bill is so uniquely terrible that it might not command a majority when it comes to a floor vote, possibly next week, despite Speaker John Boehner's imprimatur. But betting on rationality with this crew is always a long shot.
]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/opinion/a-terrible-transportation-bill.html?ref=todayspaper]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/opinion/a-terrible-transportation-bill.html?ref=todayspaper"><![CDATA[The New York Times]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               US:                Now it's Santorum time
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Let's start with the obvious: It was a terrible night for Mitt Romney, proving once again that, as the kids say, many Republicans are just not that into him.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Mike Littwin]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.denverpost.com/littwin/ci_19915895]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.denverpost.com/littwin/ci_19915895"><![CDATA[The Denver Post]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               WI:                State can't afford GAAP accounting yet
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[This is a story about two kinds of accounting. One kind uses "generally accepted accounting principles" and is the kind used by publically traded companies. The other is the kind the state uses and is called "cash accounting."]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120207/APC0602/202070381/Editorial-State-can-t-afford-GAAP-accounting-yet?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|Politics]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120207/APC0602/202070381/Editorial-State-can-t-afford-GAAP-accounting-yet?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|Politics"><![CDATA[The Post-Crescent (Appleton)]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               WV:                Health inspections need to say something
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[Charleston and Kanawha County have many fine restaurants, some of which are unique to the area. They are an important part of the quality of life in this community.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/201202080140]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/201202080140"><![CDATA[Charleston Daily Mail]]></source>
              </item>
          <item>
            <title> <![CDATA[
               WV:                Consumers deserve total cost information
            ]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[On Jan. 26, the U.S. Department of Transportation began requiring airlines and ticket agents to quote honest fares - prices that include all the taxes and fees travelers will face as well.]]></description>
        <author><![CDATA[By Staff]]></author>
                    <link><![CDATA[http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/201202070113]]></link>
            <source url="http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/201202070113"><![CDATA[Charleston Daily Mail]]></source>
              </item>
                <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Visit the Stateline.org Commentaries Page]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.stateline.org/live/issues/Commentaries]]></link>
      </item>
        </channel>

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