PHOENIX, Arizona, Feb. 23 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following news release: Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to engage in meaningful debate and reform of the current practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). In a letter sent this week, the attorneys general demand Congress take decisive action to reform the way PBMs conduct business and bring more transparency to  more

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, Feb. 23 -- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement regarding a letter sent on behalf of himself and 12 other state attorneys general urging Congress to pass the bipartisan Stephen Hacala Poppy Seed Safety Act introduced by Senators Tom Cotton (AR), John Boozman (AR) and Richard Blumenthal (CT), and Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03): "Stephen Hacala was a 25-  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, Feb. 23 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis issued the following analysis on Feb. 22, 2024, by research assistant Haley Chinander: * * * Revenue fell and hiring slowed for many firms amid ongoing price pressures and high interest rates, according to a January survey of businesses * * * High prices and elevated interest rates have continued to put pressure on businesses, according to a recent survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. The January survey  more

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Feb. 23 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis issued the following analysis on Feb. 22, 2024, by senior economist Charles S. Gascon and research associate Joseph Martorana: * * * Tight labor market conditions over the past few years have been advantageous for workers. Many have benefited from plentiful job opportunities and strong wage gains as the U.S. economy experienced a strong recovery from the COVID-19 recession. For example, the unemployment rate went from a mor  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 23 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following statement on Feb. 22, 2024: * * * Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) belatedly announced a final rule authorizing year-round sales of E15, with additional delays, in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin: "EPA's final rule authorizing year-round E15 sales i  more

AUGUSTA, Maine, Feb. 23 -- The Maine House Democrats issued the following news release on Feb. 22, 2024: The Legislature's Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday to advance legislation sponsored by Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, that would improve access to social work services in Maine by enacting an interstate social work licensure compact. Currently, social workers must seek a separate license in each state and territory where they wish to practice, whi  more

BALTIMORE, Maryland, Feb. 23 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a bipartisan coalition of 39 Attorneys General in urging the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to engage in meaningful debate with a view towards reforming the way that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) conduct business and bringing more transparency to their work. A PBM is a third-party company that acts as an intermediary be  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 23 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a letter to congressional leaders advocating for legislative action to reform Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices. The letter, sent by the National Association of Attorneys General, was led by Arkansas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. According to the bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, the "original purpose [of] the Pharmacy Benefit Managers  more

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb. 23 -- Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued the following news: Attorney General Sean D. Reyes joined a comment letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its proposed rule, "National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for Lead and Copper." The letter, which was led by the State of Kansas, urges the federal agency to withdraw the rule. On December 6, 2023, the EPA released the proposed rule. According to the attorneys general, the rule "requires no  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 21 -- Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares issued the following news release on Feb. 20, 2024: Attorney General Jason Miyares today joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 other attorneys general in urging Congress to take decisive action to reform the way pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) conduct business and bring more transparency to their work. A PBM is a third-party company that functions as an intermediary between insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufactu  more