West Virginia on Monday May 05, 2008

Archive of West Virginia on Monday May 05, 2008

Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
By Kim Mendelsohn, Special to Stateline.org
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state.
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Teacher pension transfer faces several hurdles
By The Associated Press, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington)
Members of West Virginia's only public 401(k)-style retirement plan face several hurdles in their quest to join another state-run pension program.
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WVU hopes scandal won't drive donors away
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
MORGANTOWN, W.Va - With one major donor revoking an offer of $2 million worth of donations, West Virginia University hopes the furor over an unearned master's degree won't plague its fundraising efforts.
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Rally for health-care reform draws 200 people to Capitol
By Alison Kenzevich, Charleston Gazette (registration)
More than 200 people from a diverse coalition of groups rallied Saturday at the Capitol to call for "health care for all."
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With 8 days to W.Va. primary, Obama looks to burnish coal credentials
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
Barack Obama's campaign is looking to teach West Virginians a little something about coal.
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Lawyers give most money to Maynard
By Paul J. Nyden, Charleston Gazette (registration)
Chief Justice Elliot "Spike" Maynard says it's the "worst hypocrisy" to focus on campaign donations from business interests while ignoring big money from lawyers.
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GOP banking on repeat of last 2 presidential elections in W.Va.
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Although the Democratic presidential candidates are getting all the attention right now, the other major party is quietly planning for a repeat of the last two elections in West Virginia.
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Teacher pension transfer plan hits key date today
By The Associated Press, Charleston Gazette (registration)
Today marks D-Day in the campaign to allow teachers and others to leave West Virginia's only public 401(k)-style retirement plan for another state-run pension program.
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Latest ad in Supreme Court race sparks controversy
By Justin D. Anderson, Charleston Daily Mail
Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship called a new television ad sponsored by the Affiliated Construction Trades Foundation a childish poke at Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard in what is a serious political race.
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Greenpeace report labels carbon capture 'false hope'
By Ken Ward Jr., Charleston Gazette (registration)
Coal operators and their supporters are offering the public false hope when they promote pumping carbon dioxide underground to solve the global climate change problem, a new report from an environmental group says.
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Repeat offenders a large part of drunken driving problem
By The Associated Press, Charleston Daily Mail
HUNTINGTON. W.Va. - Repeat offenders may be the most frustrating component of the drunken driving problem: no matter what sanctions they face, they continue to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
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Rockefeller wants to help poor buy gas
By Jake Stump, Charleston Daily Mail
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller has proposed legislation that would provide low-income families with a monthly stipend of $100 to $165 to offset soaring gasoline costs.
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WVU law school to get $8 million from settlement
By The Associated Press, The Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
West Virginia University's College of Law is getting an $8 million windfall.
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Money gap yawning in W.Va. governor's race
By The Associated Press, Charleston Gazette (registration)
Gov. Joe Manchin maintains a considerable money edge over fellow Democrat Mel Kessler as the May 13 primary approaches.
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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views.
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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in.
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Parents turn to states for autism help
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs.

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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
By Daniel C. Vock and John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writers
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say.
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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As some states tumble into what they fear is a recession, state lawmakers from across the country are pushing Congress for relief from impending federal rules that would force states to pick up more Medicaid costs and spend billions to make drivers’ licenses more secure.
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More states offer choice in long-term care
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
More states are poised to offer a successful alternative to traditional Medicaid plans that allows elders and the disabled to avoid moving to a nursing facility by hiring friends, neighbors or family members to look after them in their own homes.
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Credit crunch hits states' college loans
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 23, 2008)

The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.

'Don't forget us,' PA candidates tell voters
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer
As Pennsylvanians prepare to go to the polls tomorrow to cast ballots in the April 22 presidential primary, experts wonder how the surge in registered voters will affect little-noticed state legislative races, particularly those in the House, where Democrats cling to a one-seat majority.
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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

For the past several election cycles, the Democrats have been on a roll in legislative elections. This year, the party is well-positioned to hold its majority of chambers — but greatly expanding Democratic control may not be in the cards.

Partisan mix in R.I., Conn. poses challenges
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The blue states of Connecticut and Rhode Island have had a long tradition of electing Republican governors. But in both states, the combination has led at times to difficult — even chaotic — policymaking.
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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

The national polls point to a tight presidential race in November. But Democrats have a bit more to cheer about than Republicans do, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary, according to the latest state-by-state electoral-vote projections by “Out There.”
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W.Va. projects a split personality
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 2008 presidential election will test whether Republican George Bush’s victories were a fluke in the Mountain State, where Democrats continue to dominate in state and local contests.
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Gay marriage decisions ripe in Calif., Conn.
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

(Updated March 6, 2008)

More than four years after its historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Massachusetts stands alone in blessing gay marriages — more than 10,000 to date — and its example has spurred no imitators but lots of backlash. All eyes now are on the highest courts in California and Connecticut.
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
By Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org Staff Writer

Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.

Summary of the State of the State Address

Gov. Joe Manchin III (D) used his Jan. 9 speech to announce a campaign to stop student bullying, a first-in-the-nation health-screening program for kindergarten pupils and a free prescription-drug program for uninsured workers. He also asked the Democratic-controlled Legislature for better mental-health counseling for returning Iraq soldiers and a tougher anti-drug program.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
By Gene Gibbons, Stateline.org Executive Editor

This column was published simultaneously by The Politico.

It took a while for most of the presidential candidates to figure out that voters want “change” and action on a variety of issues that affect their lives. They might have gotten it sooner if they had noticed the way that many states, led by innovative governors, are moving forward in areas like health care, immigration and global warming.
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AG contests attract serious attention
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Once, races for state attorney general were quiet affairs. No longer. Attorneys general can wield enormous power in such areas as consumer protection and criminal prosecutions – and can use the job to vault into higher office. Here's how this year's 10 state races for attorney general are shaping up.
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org Columnist

Not a single governor or state legislator wields authority over the conduct of the Iraq War, yet a broad range of party strategists and political analysts agree that state races in 2008 will be shaped, mostly indirectly, by public attitudes towards that conflict. Unless there’s a sea change in public opinion, that’s bad news for Republicans.
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
By Louis Jacobson, Stateline.org columnist
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. California corrections officials install “flushometers” to control wasteful toilet flushing in prisons. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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Embryonic stem cell research divides states
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
President Bush’s second veto of a bill to allow federal funding of stem cell research puts the ethical issue squarely in states’ hands. So far, seven states have moved to fund the research, six have banned it, three have affirmed its legality but do not fund it and a handful of others continue to debate the issue.
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States outpace feds on minimum wage
By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer
When the new federal minimum wage takes effect July 24, 30 states will require employers to pay hourly workers more than federal law requires.
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