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Thursday August 21, 2008
Archive of New York on Friday May 09, 2008

Neutral govs to remain on sidelines

In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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One state, one economic development chair

When he was governor, Eliot Spitzer believed Upstate New York needed its own economic development czar. He appointed Daniel Gundersen to focus entirely on helping the Upstate region tackle its unique challenges.
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NY governor says he'll explore police procedures

NEW YORK ? Gov. David Paterson pledged Thursday to examine undercover police conduct in the aftermath of the 50-bullet police shooting of an unarmed man.
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Senate wants state agencies and public authorities to release spending reports

Members of the state Senate are pushing for an "Accountability in Government Spending" plan that they say will save taxpayers money, reduce government waste and ensure greater transparency and accountability.
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Gov. endorses tests for cops involved in shootings

Gov. David A. Paterson met Thursday with Sean Bell's family at his office in Manhattan, where he endorsed a proposal to test officers involved in shootings for alcohol or drugs. The reform has been sought by activists after Bell's 50-shot slaying in 2006.
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Storm over 'power' play

Nervous state Power Authority officials have hired a $400-an-hour private lawyer to handle Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's probe of the destruction of e-mails and other records relating to Daniel Wiese, the authority's suspended inspector general, The Post has learned.
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N.Y. governor vows to examine undercover police procedures

NEW YORK - Gov. David Paterson pledged to examine undercover police conduct on Thursday, a day after more than 200 people were arrested protesting the acquittal of three detectives involved in the shooting death of an unarmed man.
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Statewide wireless emergency network passes key test in two counties

A statewide emergency radio system being first tested in Western New York has passed a key evaluation, just months after an embarrassing first round of tests showed the system failed to work in large sections of Buffalo.
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Local business groups urge Paterson to keep upstate development czar

A number of the region's business organizations are beginning a full-court press to get the governor to change his mind about not having a special staffer dedicated to upstate economic development issues.
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There's hail to pay. New War on illegal livery pickups

The city is launching a major offensive against limos and livery cabs that illegally pick up fares.
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Falls heritage area is signed into law

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Thursday signed a bill creating a national heritage area in Niagara Falls, capping a prolonged effort by Rep. Louise M. Slaughter and other local lawmakers to bring some federal help to the region's tourism promotion efforts.
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Cuomo sees fraud in some lawyers' pensions

Hundreds of lawyers across the state have been illegally granted state pension benefits by school districts, towns and other governmental entities, according to Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who has opened an investigation into the abuses.
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Attorneys general reach Facebook agreement

In an attempt to make the Internet safer for children, all but one of the nation's state attorneys general have turned their attention to another popular social networking site.
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Facebook reaches agreement on sex predators

Facebook, the world's second-largest social-networking Web site, has reached an agreement with state law enforcement authorities across the country aimed at protecting children from sexual predators.
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Facebook safeguards will protect young users

HARTFORD, Conn. - Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking Web site, will add more than 40 safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several states said Thursday.
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Facebook agrees to shield kids from adult content

Social networking giant Facebook has agreed to better protect children on its Web site, including providing automatic warning messages when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an unknown adult.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.
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Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors

(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008)

When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states.

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At-risk gubernatorial seats increase

After a pair of hard-fought primaries, North Carolina joins Missouri, Washington and Indiana on Out There's list of states where partisan control of the governorship could flip this fall.

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Will states fix 2012 primary process?

While voters in Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls today (May 6) to help Democrats pick Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their nominee and Republicans rally behind John McCain, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve the presidential nominating contests for 2012 and beyond.

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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?

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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WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex

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

(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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Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned

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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Legislators prod Congress on Medicaid, Real ID

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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With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead

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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23 states face budget gaps in '09

Like a college student fishing for stray quarters in the sofa cushions, states are tightening their belts, dipping into their rainy day funds and hoping revenues will pick up. But the faltering economy already has punched a $26 billion hole in 23 state budgets for 2009 – and it could get worse, according to a new report issued today (April 25).

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Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?

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.

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'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'

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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Governors pitch ambitious programs

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.

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Summary of the State of the State Address

After a year of partisan battles with the Legislature, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, struck a more conciliatory tone in his Jan. 9 address, outlining an ambitious package to cut property taxes, expand health-care coverage and fund higher education by privatizing the state lottery.
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change

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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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races

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

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

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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