A month after the Vermont legislature approved a bill allowing home care workers to collectively bargain, more than 4,500 home care workers filed an election petition seeking to form a union. Because of the new law, more than 7,000 workers are now eligible to join a union, and many participated in a march to file the petition. Home care workers in the state experience low wages and a lack of sick time, paid vacations and other benefits. The election is expected to be held in mid-July.

Here's a look at some of the key battles in the states over the past week.

While Republican lawmakers like House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) continue their efforts to repeal the new health care reform law, last week Vermont moved a step closer to universal health care coverage when the state House of Representatives passed sweeping health care legislation, Said House Speaker Shap Smith (D):

This bill takes our state one step closer to a system that ensures that all Vermonters have access to the care they deserve and contains costs.