Editor’s Picks From Around The Web

By: - June 23, 2014 12:00 am

US: Google’s states of play

The Internet giant quietly has planted its political roots in places far beyond the Beltway — in state legislatures and city councils that have become hotbeds for tech policy fights.

NJ: Christie’s pension maneuver would cost nearly twice as much in five years

Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to cut pension funding by .4 billion could wind up costing taxpayers almost twice as much over five years — an estimated .2 billion according to the governor’s own financial team.

US: Crashes mount as military flies more drones in US

At least 49 large drones have crashed during test or training flights near domestic bases since 2001, according to a yearlong Washington Post investigation, and airspace around 110 bases in 39 states will soon open up to drones.

IL: Quinn signs measure to put minimum wage increase on fall ballot

Flanked by activists and elected officials, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn led a chant of “raise that wage” on Sunday before signing an advisory measure that will ask voters this fall if they think the state’s minimum wage should be increased to an hour.

MD: Troubled health exchange must continue to serve

Health exchange officials decide to ditch the website that never worked properly after its disastrous Oct. 1 launch, but they must continue to make do with the old system even though the enrollment period ended in March and the new one doesn’t start until November.

WI: For Walker, jobs count may be headache

Wisconsin ranked 35th of 50 states in private sector job growth between 2010 and 2013, trailing all its closest Midwest neighbors — even Illinois, the state Gov. Scott Walker has repeatedly bashed for a hostile business climate.

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