Inside Politics: Democratic lawmakers seek end of blood ban on gays

Mr. Obama has faced questions about why he didn’t spend time campaigning in the state on behalf of Democratic challenger Tom Barrett. In response, Mr. Obama said: “I’ve got a lot of responsibilities.”

“I was supportive of Tom and have been supportive of Tom. Obviously, I would have loved to see a different result,” he said. “But the broader principle is that we want an economy that is not focused on a few at the top. And we´re going to be fighting very hard in Wisconsin, just like we have in the past, to make sure that´s the kind of government people get.”

Mr. Walker faced a recall after pushing through legislation eliminating most public employees’ collective-bargaining rights.

NEW YORK

State leaders agree to deny spouse killers burial rights

ALBANY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders say they’ve agreed on a bill that will deny murderers control over the burials of the spouses they killed.

The issue had ignited outrage in western New York. The legislation is part of a package of domestic violence bills that also will toughen sentences and allow judges to set higher bail in the cases.

The burial measure is fueled by the case of Constance Shepherd. Her husband slashed her throat, then refused to release his wife’s body to her family in 2009. Eventually, Shepherd had his lawyer arrange to bury her remains hundreds of miles from her western New York home, near his favorite fishing hole.

SENATE

Key lawmaker wants tax overhaul to boost economy

The Senate’s top tax writer says he wants to overhaul the nation’s tax code to help make the economy stronger and raise additional revenue to reduce budget deficits.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said in a speech Monday that a rewritten tax code should also promote more innovation and opportunity.

Many Republicans say a tax overhaul should involve lower rates and fewer tax loopholes but should have no net impact on the deficit.

The Montana Democrat provided little detail about how he would change tax laws.

He said a tax overhaul would likely have to wait until after lawmakers deal with a year-end “fiscal cliff,” when billions in tax cuts will expire and billions in automatic spending cuts will start taking effect unless Congress acts.

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