Following successful citizen-led ballot measures on issues like abortion, Medicaid expansion, and minimum wage, Republican legislators in several states are now seeking to make such initiatives significantly more difficult to pass.

New York legislators are facing delays in passing the state budget as they weigh significant issues including potential tax increases on the wealthy and proposed changes to laws protecting immigrants and the environment.

In Shimla, India, cooks are resorting to traditional 'char' cooking methods to prepare meals for legislators, as the region faces an ongoing LPG crisis. This highlights local adaptation to fuel shortages.

They displayed placards in the name of “debt cards” with slogans on the unkept promises made as part of the Six Guarantees and a large number of other promises made by the Congress party before the…

• Parliamentarians issued form to choose salary donation • Say cuts acceptable for national causes, but not by ‘dictation’ ISLAMABAD: Some parliamentarians from both sides of the aisle are branding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent order regarding the forgoing of their two months’ salaries as “direct interference in constitutional matters”, creating a divide among lawmakers over the announced deduction. A senior legislator, who did not wish to be named, told Dawn on Sunday that parliamen...

The Congress shifted some of its legislators to a resort near Bengaluru amid the cross-voting fears and disagreements over its strategy

Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre says a meeting of Bengaluru legislators to be convened to discuss the issue shortly

Legislators in Kenya are pushing for the Ministry of Education to allocate sufficient resources to make guidance and counselling services mandatory in schools.

On lecturers’ petitions, K. Vivekananda raises the issue in the Council, seeks details on the criteria followed to identify surplus lecturer posts in colleges; Minister Madhu Bangarappa says the issue will be discussed with legislators representing the teachers’ and graduates’ constituencies before taking a decision

The Railway Safety Act would impose costly mandates with no proven links to safety.

A workshop for legislators will be held in Bengaluru on March 9, aiming to educate them on revenue mobilization, budget types, fiscal responsibility, and grant distribution, according to Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader.

Nigeria's First Lady, Mrs. Tinubu, inaugurated the National Assembly Christian Fellowship Chapel, emphasizing accountability for legislators.

China has removed 19 officials, including nine from the military, from its list of legislators ahead of the Communist Party's most important annual political meeting next week. Among those dismissed are the commanders of the Navy and Army.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar emphasized the chief minister's role in managing ministers amid leadership speculation, stating he reports to the party's central leadership.

An undated letter, reportedly signed by 31 first-time Congress legislators, has surfaced, demanding at least five Cabinet berths during a proposed reshuffle, adding to the Congress government's internal leadership crisis.

REPORTS on the attendance of parliamentarians during sessions almost invariably evoke much interest among citizens. Although the average attendance in the National Assembly has been hovering around 60 per cent for the last many years and the citizenry seems to have made its peace with that, there are statistics which sometimes shock the people. For example, a Fafen report on parliamentarians’ attendance during the 23rd National Assembly session held from Jan 12 to Jan 22 this year indicates that 47 or 14pc members remained absent throughout the session and didn’t attend even a single sitting; 276 or 83pc of the total 332 members skipped at least one session. Similar statistics about the 22nd session indicate that about 70pc of the absent members didn’t seek prior leave from the House. The system of taking attendance is such that a person marked present might not have been there throughout the sitting and his/her presence for even a fraction of the sitting may be marked as present. Given the fact that the average duration of a sitting ranges from two to three hours (it was two hours during the first year of the present National Assembly), a member attending the sitting may have been present only for a few minutes. The absence of members from a sitting significantly impacts parliamentary proceedings. Our parliamentary system requires the presence of at least 25pc of the total members which constitutes the quorum. The Assembly proceedings are stopped after a member points out a lack of quorum and the subsequent head count confirms that the minimum required members are not present. A Pildat report indicates that during the past (15th) National Assembly, lack of quorum was pointed out in 105 (23pc) of sittings, and subsequently, 72 or 16pc of the sittings had to be adjourned on this basis. The abrupt termination of a day’s proceedings impacts the productivity of the Assembly as the day’s agenda (order of the day) is left incomplete. During the five years of the 15th National Assembly, on average, less than 50pc (49.47pc to be exact) of the agenda items could be taken up by the Assembly. Ministers’ absence also impacts the quality of proceedings and some of the agenda items have to be deferred because the relevant minister is not present. During the 23rd session of the current Assembly, for example, 29 federal ministers were supposed to answer members’ questions but a majority (19) of them did not show up on the day allocated for answering questions relating to their ministries. In most cases, the absence of the minister concerned deprives members of the opportunity to ask supplementary questions. Simi­larly, adjournment motions, privilege moti­ons and call-attention notices also require the presence of the minister concerned. The Speaker has repeatedly expressed displeasure at the frequent absence of ministers. Sometimes, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries do not show up either to fill in for the minister concerned. Pakistan’s parliament is not the only one which faces issues of low attendance. Ministers generally take their cue from the prime minister and they are more likely to show up in the House if the PM is particular about his presence. During the life of the 15th Assembly, the attendance of the PM was a mere 13pc (11pc for Imran Khan and 17pc for Shehbaz Sharif). The attendance becomes more known through the media in the case of plenary sittings but the status of attendance is no different in the case of parliamentary committees. Many meetings are adjourned by the chair because the minister concerned and senior officials of the ministry do not show up at the meeting, leading to a wastage of financial resources spent on convening the meetings. However, one may add that Pakistan’s parliament is not the only one which faces issues of low attendance. Many parliaments face a similar situation and a number of parliaments have waived the condition of the presence of a minimum percentage of members for the validity of the proceedings. For example, the UK parliament and US Congress do not have a quorum requirement. The proceedings of the legislatures continue in these countries even if a single member is present in the House. In the case of the UK parliament, many parliamentary committees hold their meetings concurrently with the plenary. The proceedings of the plenary are watched by the members on CCTV while sitting in their offices or in meeting rooms. Members’ presence is required when a motion or a bill has to be voted on. Bells are rung at that time and members available within parliamentary precincts rush to the chamber to vote. The absence of a member from the precincts during the time of the plenary is, however, rare and frowned upon. A major reason for our legislators to be casual about their presence during the Assembly sittings has a lot to do with the preferences of a majority of their voters. Most voters are not so keen about their legislators’ performance in the Assembly. A member who works very hard on his parliamentary speeches and, for example, scrutiny of the annual budget, is seldom appreciated by the constituents. People want their elected representatives to attend to their personal issues, which need an influential legislator’s support for resolution due to poor governance. Finding jobs for constituents and their family members is one of the top expectations from legislators. Interceding with the local administration and police on behalf of the constituents to sort out their day-to-day problems is also among the informal responsibilities of legislators. Attending the weddings and funerals of voters’ extended families, too, is a strong preference of constituents. These informal chores are likely to be of greater help to a legislator in his re-election than making a speech in the House. The weak attendance of legislators is, therefore, not because of their lethargy. Instead, it is a reflection of the ground realities of our own governance and culture. The writer is president of the Pakistan-based think tank Pildat. X: @ABMPildat Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has acknowledged traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s island and meeting him on another occasion.

An opinion piece discusses the dangers of foreign legislators criminalizing ethnic groups, using the Fulani as an example, and warns against systemic inequity.

All but unnoticed last month, a bipartisan group of legislators introduced a resolution calling for Congress to keep budget deficits at no more than 3% of gross domestic product. Though not enough by itself to solve America’s fiscal problems, the proposal is a rare step in the right direction. It deserves strong support.

Ohio legislators are introducing bills aimed at significantly restricting sports betting, citing concerns over predatory advertising and gambling practices.

Kenya's UDA and ODM parties are in a fresh clash over the issue of zoning, with ODM legislators vowing to champion it as non-negotiable in any coalition discussions.

A photoshoot involving Karnataka Speaker U T Khader and several legislators has ignited fresh speculation and rumors about an impending cabinet reshuffle in the state.

The presence of toxins in infant formula has exposed structural weaknesses in the food industry, prompting calls for legislators to implement stricter controls and information duties.

In the list of candidates announced on March 17, Trinamool Congress has dropped around 74 legislators and shifted another 15 MLA to different constituencies

Electoral agency warns that failure to settle the bills on time could affect its operations...

BJP MLAs convened for a strategy meeting that also included a training session for first-time legislators, indicating preparations for upcoming political activities or legislative sessions.

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol— Local legislators in this city have called on the national government to suspend excise taxes on petroleum products to ease the burden of rising fuel prices on consumers. In a set of resolutions authored by Councilor Fausto Budlong, the city council urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Congress to take immediate action,

The European Parliament has greenlighted updated rules on package travel, strengthening consumer protections on refunds, vouchers and cancellations, with legislators drawing on lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and high-profile tour operator bankruptcies. The directive, already provisionally agreed with EU member states, was adopted on Thursday by 537 votes in favour and two against, with 24 […]

An estimate presented to Congress suggests initial US attacks on Iran would cost $4.8 billion, alarming legislators and prompting the Pentagon to shift strategy towards cheaper laser-guided bombs due to dwindling weapon reserves.

D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to host a dinner meeting for legislators today, though further details about the agenda were not provided.

The clamour for the introduction of state police in Nigeria took a brighter turn last week when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called on the national assembly to give the clamour a legal backing. In a chat with federal legislators last Wednesday, Tinubu said, “what I am asking for tonight is for you to start thinking […] The post Gains of state police in Nigeria, by Tonnie Iredia appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Chief Minister stayed overnight at the protest site, surrounded by senior Trinamool Congress leaders, legislators and party workers, turning the busy Esplanade stretch into a makeshift political camp

Nineteen deputies, including nine military officers, have been removed from China's legislature ahead of its annual meeting, signaling internal political shifts.

Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that city legislators will meet soon to address air pollution in Bengaluru, aiming to prevent it from reaching critical levels similar to Delhi.

Dozens of first-term Congress MLAs urge leadership to include them in the cabinet, advocating for young leadership to boost government effectiveness.

Billions of Party Funds & Legislators’ Perks, Privileges Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka

Doing so would be good for members of Congress, and for democracy

Sri Lanka’s parliament abolished pensions for all legislators and their widows on Tuesday, in line with a government pledge to prune the perks of politicians. “When people see the quality of debate and what members say in this House, they don’t think MPs deserve a pension,” Justice Minister Harsana Nanayakkara told parliament as it voted to stop pensions with immediate effect. The leftist government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake repealed the 49-year-old Parliamentary Pensions Act just...

Oklahoma's proposed 'SAVE Act' voter identification bill is advancing to the Senate, prompting reactions from state legislators.

Legislators are reportedly facing an imminent vote regarding their parliamentary immunity.

The Himachal Vidhan Sabha has passed an amendment Bill that will prevent legislators disqualified under the anti-defection law from receiving pension benefits, a move termed 'ill-motivated' by the Opposition.

The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators have applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja for leave to amend their originating summons in a suit seeking the deregistration of some political parties.

Following a power outage on April 28, European experts are urging all stakeholders, including legislators, renewable energy providers, distributors, and system operators, to implement changes to prevent future blackouts.

The opposition BRS party plans to challenge the government in the Assembly over unfulfilled pre-poll promises and the six guarantees, with legislators paying tribute to martyrs.

Two legislators speak on the need to shun political rivalry after elections and join hands, even with arch rivals, to take the State forward in terms of development

The three former governors of Abia State, on Saturday, inaugurated a technical committee charged with securing a comprehensive win for the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections. The committee, comprising former legislators and appointees from the administrations of Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, was inaugurated in Umuahia on Saturday. Inaugurating Read More: https://punchng.com/2027-three-ex-govs-unveil-committee-for-apcs-victory-in-abia/

The Pentagon reportedly told legislators in a closed-door briefing that the estimated cost of the war against Iran during the initial six days was over $11.3 billion.

Legislators questioned the competence of some nominees.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a budget training program for legislators and used the occasion to criticize the Central government for the state's revenue deficit.

MANILA, Philippines — Female lawmakers are set to lead the House sessions on Monday in observance of the National Women’s Month and as part of the lower chamber’s recognition of the “vital role women…

Duo likely to address a public meeting together in Bagdogra; RJD’s Rabri Devi says Nitish Kumar should not leave Bihar; Nishant Kumar meets JD(U) legislators on the eve of formally joining the party

The Speaker has reserved a verdict on a disqualification petition filed against Srihari, while Danam Nagender has requested more time to appear for the final hearing in a related matter concerning BRS legislators.

The Jharkhand Assembly experienced an uproar over reports of children testing HIV positive in Chaibasa, with legislators accusing authorities of attempting to protect the guilty parties.

Chinese legislators are hearing reports amid a legislative session, indicating ongoing governmental activities and policy discussions.

West Virginia state legislators have introduced a bill, authored by Gun Owners of America, that would authorize the sale of machine guns to American citizens within the state.

Purdue University is reportedly rescinding dozens of offers to Chinese students following warnings from legislators, despite the university's claim that no ban on Chinese students exists, amidst a broader Trump administration crackdown.

Legislators in states like Kansas, Idaho, Utah, and Oklahoma are proposing more extensive restrictions on transgender rights, moving beyond previous focuses on healthcare and sports for minors.

A foreign tour by Congress legislators aligned with CM Siddaramaiah has intensified a power struggle with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar over a rumored leadership transition. While legislators claim the trip is routine, insiders view it as a tactic to counter Shivakumar's push for a CLP meeting to discuss a change in leadership.

In South Carolina and 16 other predominantly Republican states, legislators are actively working to limit the power and scope of state regulatory agencies.