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Archive of stories on Wednesday July 01, 2009
Financial crisis torments states
(Updated 11:29 a.m. EDT, July 1, 2009) California may begin issuing IOUs this week because of the state’s unresolved budget crisis. But government disruptions were averted at least temporarily in five other states that missed a July 1 deadline for closing billion-dollar budget gaps. Read More
Furloughs cut into state services
With states facing a $121 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year, a growing number of them have turned to squeezing their workforce for savings, and effects both great and small will be felt. Read More
An overdue breakout from 'silos,' borders
WASHINGTON — For at least a half century, “silos” and borders have been tripping up effective governance in America. Read More
Tracking the recession: Budget deadline looms
Unlike the federal government, states have to balance their budgets. But several states still have not completed spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Read More
Weekly wrap: Feds release long-awaited stimulus job guidelines
The Obama administration tells state officials to take "a simple headcount" of jobs saved or created by the stimulus program. Meanwhile, the demand for some special jobs is soaring. Officials also warn states not to shortchange education when balancing budgets. Read More
Ga. hotline aims to cut mental health costs
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Tracking the recession: States target jobs
Though unemployment is rising in nearly every state, aggressive efforts to create jobs are paying off — modestly — in many states. Read More
Obama picket policy sets dangerous precedent
Usually sure-footed politically, the Obama administration last week erred seriously by letting a local picket line trigger the withdrawal of Vice President Biden and some 100 federal officials from the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Providence. R.I. Read More
Weekly wrap: Sales tax fight splits GOP in Arizona
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) sues her own party over the budget. The U.S. labor department releases May unemployment data, and Illinois says it can’t afford to pay for indigent burials. For a quick update on the top recession news in the states, read Stateline.org's "Weekly wrap." Read More
Reports: State income levels plunge
States racing to cobble together new budgets for their July 1 deadline could find themselves sinking back into red ink sooner than they think, as Americans’ income and the taxes they pay on it shrink, new data show. Read More
New courts tailored to war veterans
Twenty years after local officials in Miami opened the nation's first drug court — a specialized "treatment court" aimed at rehabilitating low-level drug offenders instead of locking them up — state lawmakers in Illinois and Nevada are applying the same idea to a different population: war veterans who have had run-ins with the law. Read More
Recession ushers in more tobacco taxes
In a double-whammy for smokers, the federal government and seven states raised taxes on cigarettes this year. But the new taxes plus President Obama's vow to sign a bill imposing sweeping regulation of the tobacco industry threaten to shrink cigarette sales — and revenues for state coffers. Read More
Federal stimulus dollars, state deficits -- and federalism
Even with well-timed help from the economic stimulus package, state governments will face a rough three years ahead, warns Raymond C. Scheppach, an economist and executive director of the National Governors Association, in his latest commentary for Stateline.org. With state budgets through 2011 expected to face shortfalls of $200 billion to $250 billion, the federal government should take care not to heap more costs on states with new legislative initiatives, Scheppach writes. Read More
California's agony can't be ignored
Everyone knows public finances in California, America’s once-fabled Golden State of opportunity, are in shambles. But should the rest of us care? The state’s ever-rising deficit has hit $24.3 billion as the legislature’s liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans remain in constant deadlock. Voters in May overwhelmingly rejected five “budget reform” ballot measures. Read More
Politically Uncorrected: Giant killer
Joseph A. Sestak!
A household name across Pennsylvania he is not. Yet Congressman Sestak, who represents Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional district (largely Delaware County), is set to challenge a veritable political legend, Arlen Specter, for the 2010 Democratic U.S. Senate nomination. In doing so he is also taking on the collective Democratic establishment including President Obama, Vice President Biden, Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey, and state party Chair T.J. Rooney. And equally important he is going up against what is inarguably the most formidable money machine ever mobilized by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) address to open the legislative session April 28 was short on specifics, but he made it clear his biggest concern is dealing with a looming budget shortfall. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Unveiling a budget that for the first time in 35 years is smaller than the previous year, Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D) called on lawmakers to create thousands of green jobs, launch new health care programs, and revamp the state’s groundbreaking school laptop program. Read More
Outreach to immigrants: A suburb's exciting new way
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Perched on the northside of the Nation’s Capital, Montgomery County, Md., has long been as one of America’s wealthiest jurisdictions. It might be one of the last places you’d look for breakthroughs in helping poor immigrants. Read More
Three sticking points could stunt stimulus education reform
President Obama is asking states to make education reforms in exchange for almost $40 billion in stimulus funds for schools. But his aspirations may be on a collision course with competing realities, such as pressures to use the money to save teachers' jobs, writes Allison Armour-Garb with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in a commentary for Stateline.org. Read More
'Decriminalizing' drugs: Sensible halfway stop?
The criminal factor is being lifted from marijuana use in California. The other 12 states where marijuana is now permitted for medical use can’t be far behind. Read More
Politically Uncorrected: Corruption - no longer an iffy proposition for Pennsylvania
The question is no longer a speculative one. No longer can we ask “if” corruption, widespread and systematic, is returning full bloom to Pennsylvania. Instead, it is now time to ask “why” – why after an absence of a quarter of a century, the blight of public corruption has returned to the Keystone State. Read More
Agencies collaborating: Affair of the year
Two federal departments collaborating? An unnatural act? Maybe. But if you care what kind of neighborhood you live in, or whether you or your kids will be able to make ends meet, then check out this burgeoning departmental romance. Read More
Politically Uncorrected: The Specter Toomey race — why so close?
The dust is still settling after Tuesday’s obstreperous Republican primary for US Senate. Pat Toomey’s insurgent campaign succeeded in pushing four-term incumbent Arlen Specter closer to defeat than had any of his previous opponents. Though the election is over, the debate continues about how Senator Specter managed to sneak past Toomey, the three term congressman from the Lehigh Valley. Read More
New York: harbinger of how the stimulus works?
New York is the first state to approve a budget that incorporates federal economic stimulus funds, and the Rockefeller Institute’s David Shaffer says the example it set may portend a troubling state approach to the worst recession in modern times. Read More
Water crises–global but close to home too
Top-level global attention is shifting to the world’s waters: Will supplies and quality be enough to sustain the world’s growing billions of people in this flood- and drought-challenged century? Read More
Prisons, drugs in America: A turning point?
An historic turning point in criminal justice and drug policy in America? Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
While the Illinois General Assembly greeted newly installed Gov. Pat Quinn (D) warmly at his joint state of the state and budget address March 18, Quinn knew his budget would be a tough sell with an agenda that included hiking the state income tax by 50 percent. Read More
Politically Uncorrected: A specter to behold
It’s a specter to behold. Pennsylvania’s most successful politician in modern times is on the ropes and engaged in what looks like the fight of his life. Read More
The economy, the stimulus package and the states
What are the prospects that the $275 billion being sent to states by the federal stimulus package will help turn the nation’s economy around? In his latest commentary for Stateline.org, Raymond C. Scheppach, an economist and executive director of the National Governors Association, dissects the stimulus package and shows piece-by-piece how states can play a role in the national recovery.
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Summary of the state of the state address
North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue (D) called for an increase in education funding, despite the state’s $3 billion budget gap, in her March 9 state of the state address.
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Summary of the state of the state address
Facing a $5 billion deficit and unemployment at a 16-year high, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) March 3 called on lawmakers to put partisanship aside and quickly use the billions of dollars from the federal stimulus plan as “a bridge to better economic times.” Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Though Oklahoma faces a $600 million budget hole, Gov. Brad Henry (D) urged lawmakers to resist the temptation to raid the state’s rainy day fund. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Facing a $500 million projected revenue shortfall over two years, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch (D) proposed spending cuts in nearly every sector of state government. The governor asked the Democratic-led legislature in his Feb. 12 budget address to “re-think everything state government does.” Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) warned the Democratic-controlled General Assembly that the state’s economic condition is “more fragile, more perilous” than last year. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) told lawmakers the federal stimulus package would not be “a panacea or silver bullet” for the state’s economic troubles and that major cuts would still be needed. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
In West Virginia, one of the few states experiencing economic growth and low unemployment rates, Gov. Joe Manchin (D) said he will plan for tougher economic times ahead by freezing state workers’ salaries. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Less than a week after devastating snow and ice storms shut down power and cut off drinking water across Kentucky, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) presented his plans for erasing the state’s $456 million budget shortfall while praising relief workers. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) announced his long-awaited proposals for overhauling the state’s education system during his state of the state speech Jan. 28. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) struck a somber note in his state of the state address Jan. 29 as he described how the national economic downturn has hurt Wisconsin residents. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
In her annual state of the state speech, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) tried to sell her vision of a revived Michigan economy built on the success of environmentally friendly industries. But in the meantime, Granholm spoke of a pared-down and shaken-up state government. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
In a state that is faring much better than most in this recession, Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer called for reduced business taxes, incentives for the film industry and pay raises for teachers, in his Jan. 28 state of the state address.
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Summary of the state of the state address
Pennsylvania has far too many school districts and local governments, Gov. Ed Rendell (D) told the politically divided General Assembly in his executive budget address Feb. 4. Consolidation, Rendell said, would help the state save key funds during an economic crisis. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Boasting an economy more stable than most, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) focused on maintaining a small and thrifty government, while promoting job growth, ethics reform and education. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) raised eyebrows in his state of the state speech Jan. 29 by listing two reasons why he expected Read More
Summary of the inaugural address
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) called for an overhaul of how the state funds education in his fourth inaugural address Jan. 8 before a Democratic-controlled legislature. His ideas included a freeze on school spending next year and possibly merging the University of Vermont and the Vermont State College system. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. (R) surprised members of the Republican-dominated Legislature when he announced in his state of the state speech Jan. 27 that he would reinstate up to $3.9 billion in road projects that were put on hold over budget concerns in November. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Hours after President Barack Obama was sworn in on Jan. 20, Gov. Bill Richardson (D) asked the Legislature to take action on the state’s financial crisis but also to embrace his proposals for alternative energy, education, health care, ethics reform and rights for domestic partners. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Rick Perry, saying Texas is “in better shape than most other states,” proposed freezing college tuition rates, expanding job training, beefing up anti-gang efforts and increasing energy incentives including a $5,000 payment to people who buy plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Calling for a reduction in wages and benefits for some state workers, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle asked Hawaii’s Democratic-controlled Legislature to tighten its fiscal belt while paving the way to greater energy and food independence. Read More
MO: Summary of the state of the state address
First year Gov. Jay Nixon (D) offered a plan Jan. 27 to balance the state's budget through a combination of spending reductions, job cuts and using anticipated money from the federal economic stimulus plan. Read More
SD: Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Mike Rounds (R) said Jan. 12 he would balance the state budget with spending cuts but not tax increases. He did, however, call for eliminating certain sales tax exemptions and raising fees. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Back to the business of running Alaska after a failed bid for vice president, Republican Gov. Sarah Palin announced a state hiring freeze and called for a 7 percent cut in state expenses. In her Jan. 22 address to the state’s politically split legislature, Palin stressed the need to develop The Last Frontier’s vast energy resources while developing a more diverse economy. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) called for a $1.2 billion stimulus package, to be funded by bonds, to pay for building projects that he estimates would create 20,000 construction jobs. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Tim Kaine (D), who this month was appointed to head the Democratic National Committee, emphasized environmental preservation and job creation in his Jan. 14 address to Virginia’s politically split legislature. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Facing a legislature overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats, Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty delivered a state of the state address Jan. 15 chock-full of GOP standards: tax cuts for businesses, performance incentives for schools and streamlined local government. Read More
Summary of the condition of the state address
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) focused on two major challenges during his annual condition of the state address Jan. 13: recovering from devastating floods this summer and dealing with a national fiscal crisis which belatedly hit Iowa last year. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Fresh from winning re-election in November, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) challenged lawmakers in the Democratic-held Legislature to step up to the challenge of the nation’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and the worst state budget crisis in history. Read More
Summary of the state of the commonwealth address
Closing the state’s $1 billion budget gap will be painful, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said, but he held out hope that the federal government will approve a stimulus package that will help put Bay Staters back to work.
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Summary of the state of the state address
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) challenged lawmakers to spend state money more wisely and not to raise taxes as they write a new budget for tough economic times. But Daniels also reminded legislators Indiana’s problems were minor compared to those of other states. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
With California only weeks away from running out of money and issuing IOUs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vowed not to pursue any new policies until the state budget crisis is resolved.
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Summary of the state of the state address
In a speech before the Democratic-controlled Legislature Jan. 15, Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) rejected tax increases and instead proposed dramatic cuts to education and state workers’ salaries — including his own — as a way for struggling Nevada to bring its spending in line with revenues. The governor said his new budget is $2.2 billion smaller than the one he introduced two years ago. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) targeted taxes, education, state spending and protecting vulnerable state residents in his Jan. 15 state of the state address. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R), who has clashed with the Republican-controlled Legislature in the past over what he saw as its reckless spending, told lawmakers Jan. 14 that with the recession the state needed to rein in spending. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Wyoming, which so far has avoided the dire fiscal straits facing more than 40 other states, typically enters a recession late — “and that pattern is being repeated in Wyoming today,” Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) warned lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature in his state of the state speech Jan. 14. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Facing a tough re-election fight in November, Gov. Jon Corzine (D) departed from the blunt assessments he has delivered in past state of the state speeches to focus instead on his administration’s accomplishments. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) said education and health care — areas that escaped an initial round of budget cuts in November — will feel the pain this next time around. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe (D) challenged lawmakers to expand social services and increase funding for education despite the recession, saying the state’s careful budgeting in the past has put it on better financial footing than other states. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), facing a projected $186 million shortfall in the current budget, delivered the grim message that she would have to propose eliminating programs, closing buildings and freezing government hiring but would try to protect education, health care and some social services. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D) delivered a somber state of the state speech to the Democratic-controlled Legislature Jan. 12, warning of a prolonged “winter of economic discontent” and pushing new spending as a way forward. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled Legislature received a shock when Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter (R) announced Jan. 12 that he would seek to cut K-12 education funding by more than 5 percent as part of efforts to trim state spending amid a bleak budget picture. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano's last state of the state speech amounted to a farewell. She is set to join President Barack Obama's Cabinet as director of Homeland Security. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
Acknowledging Colorado faces “tough choices,” Gov. Bill Ritter (D) voiced his commitment to clean energy production and education as ways to bolster the state’s economy. Read More
Summary of the state of the state address
After a year of belt-tightening, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) warned that more cuts are in store as the state grapples with the national recession. “The sacrifices will not be easy or painless,” Rell said in her Jan. 7 state of the state address to the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.
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Summary of the state of the state address
Facing a “a historic economic challenge” not seen since Great Depression, New York Gov. David Paterson (D) Jan. 7 called on Congress to enact a large fiscal stimulus package by the end of January, while asking lawmakers to expand health care coverage at the state level.
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Summary of the state of the state address
Gov. John Hoeven (R) is one of the few state leaders around the country with a budget surplus. In his Jan. 6 state of the state speech, he called for boosting spending on local schools, state colleges and universities, child-care subsidies and the health insurance program for children from low income families. Read More
Gay marriage legal in six states
With the exception of Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal throughout New England, and neighboring New York could be next. On June 3, New Hampshire became the sixth state, including Iowa, to legalize gay nuptials. But despite these gains by the gay rights movement, the United States is still a nation divided over whether to redefine marriage. Read More
2008 state elections: What's at stake?
The historic battle for the White House may be grabbing most of the headlines, but plenty of state races and major ballot measures also could be nail-biters this November — and the results could have national implications. Stateline.org today is launching a new 2008 interactive guide to help voters keep track of the 11 gubernatorial, 11 attorneys general and seven secretary of state races and some 130 statewide ballot measures. Read More
Calif. gay marriage ruling sparks new debate
(Updated 5 p.m EDT, June 12, 2008) The California Supreme Court reignited a political wildfire with its ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in the most populous state in the union, but the issue already has burned out in more than half the states. Read More
Getting U.S. regions past sleepwalking
BOSTON – Far too many of America’s metro regions have been sleepwalking into the 21st century, only mistily aware of how severely global economic competition and climate change may hit them. Or if aware, so splintered politically they’re dangerously slow to respond. Read More
Second Term Troubles
There’s good news and bad news these days for the Bush Administration. The bad news is that President Bush’s anemic approval rating is hovering around 30 percent. The good news is that it probably can’t go much lower. But, what may be news to the Bush administration isn’t new in American politics. In fact, Bush’s slow but inexorable erosion of political support is a depressingly old pattern in modern American politics. Read More
'Green' Wal-Mart: An Oxymoron?
Wal-Mart has been harvesting kudos for its dramatic ``green'' promises. Even Environmental Defense and the Natural Resources Defense Council have gone on record praising the massive retailer's intentions to reduce electricity usage in its stores 20 percent by 2013 and to double the fuel economy of its trucks by 2015. Read More
A Detroit charter school's amazing '90-90' pledge -- and success
In 1999 Doug Ross and his colleagues made an outrageous “90-90" promise. In 2007, they would graduate at least 90 percent of ninth graders going through their brand new Read More
Politically Uncorrected: The next big one
Pennsylvania has conducted some big elections lately: big presidential races, big gubernatorial races, and big congressional races. Indeed, big, important, and eventful elections have become a regular feature of the State’s political landscape. Read More
Global warming: A state and local rescue?
Thirty-one states representing 70 percent of the country's population announced on May 8 that they had signed on to a new Climate Registry to measure, track, verify and publicly report the greenhouse gas emissions by major industries. Read More
Bloomberg's Climate Initiative Points to a Big Capitalist Solution
Global praise has been rolling in for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's remarkably encompassing ``green'' climate agenda and goals for New York's future, which he unveiled on Earth Day. Read More
Bloomberg's Pathbreaking "PlaNYC": A Model for Urban America?
NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg's revolutionary proposal for "congestion pricing" -- road fees for private vehicles entering Manhattan's business district during business hours -- has dominated news coverage of the "PlaNYC" for "A Greener, Greater New York" that he unveiled in a major Earth Day address. Read More
Corporate Location Subsidies: Do they feel the sprawl too?
Are government subsidies to job-promising corporations the waste of taxpayers’ money that critics have long claimed -- a zero-sum city-to-city and state-to-state shell game? Read More
City Bikes: Clean, Healthy, Fun -- And Faster Than Cars?
Are we ready to go bicycling? Could these times of climate change, gas price inflation and bulging waistlines be prepping us for new waves of weekend biking adventures? Maybe even to leave cars parked and cycle to work daily? Read More
Can 'Gentrifying' Cities Create New Bridges To Wealth?
WASHINGTON - Love, social equity and shelter. With those ideals, the Rev. Jim Dickerson in 1982 founded Manna Inc. to provide housing for people in crime-ravaged, sometimes burned-out neighborhoods of this capital city. Read More
James Webb's Equity Challenge: What If We Got Serious?
Cheers for Sen. James Webb. His Democratic rejoinder to the State of the Union address provided a blast of fresh politics we hear all too rarely, either in Washington or the state capitals. Read More
Congress' Minimum Wage Vote: Prelude to a Better Politics?
Are we truly on a swing back to centrist and pragmatic politics? Like a first robin of spring, the House’s fast vote to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 in a phased two-year process, up from the $5.15 figure at which the Republican-controlled Congress left it frozen for the past decade, is a good omen. Read More
Could a farm bill serve us all?
No big surprise: As Congress girds to debate a 2007 farm bill, the big commodity interests -- cotton, rice, corn, wheat, soybeans -- are lining up to protect their rights to billions in future subsidies, notwithstanding recent market prices increases that should hearten them all. Read More
Farm bill - candidate for a bipartisan breakthrough?
WASHINGTON -- Could the farm bill give the new Democratic Congress a chance for dramatic reform -- and perhaps even a way to collaborate with President Bush? Read More
Untitled
Stateline.org has also compiled ongoing coverage of the statewide elections in one place, our 2006 elections page is the place to go to find every Stateline.org election story and reference guide. Read More
State data resources
Stateline.org has put together a comprehensive list of state data available online. Organized by issue, you will find useful links to essential information from government, academia, and think tanks. Read More
State-oriented blogs
Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue and state political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow different aspects of state government. These sites are not affiliated in any way with Stateline.org or the Pew Center on the States, and the opinions expressed on them are theirs alone. Neither Stateline.org nor the Pew Center on the States bears any responsibility for the content of these sites - they are listed solely as a public service. Read More
Issue-oriented blogs
Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue and state political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow different aspects of state government. These sites are not affiliated in any way with Stateline.org or the Pew Center on the States, and the opinions expressed on them are theirs alone. Neither Stateline.org nor the Pew Center on the States bears any responsibility for the content of these sites - they are listed solely as a public service. Read More
Medicaid: Biggest insurer is a budget buster
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2006 interactive elections guide
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Katrina paradox: Calamity but fresh ideas
Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in American history; it remains daily pain and misery for hundreds of thousands. But calamity has begun to unleash some inventive ideas. Read More
School choice: Besting the lobbies
Can a single state bring off a reform that sways a nation -- even in an era of extraordinarily tenacious lobbying by entrenched interests? Read More
Managing our borders: Not another 'war,' please!
Hundreds of new Border Patrol and immigration agents. Gigantic, double-layer steel fences along the California and Arizona borders. Infrared and daylight cameras. Stadium lighting. A new surveillance drone. Expanded detention facilities. Read More
Post-hurricane gleams of light?
A few gleams of light are appearing in the paths of families made homeless and communities devastated by the monster hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast. Read More
Katrina's Opportunity - A New New Federalism
WASHINGTON -- If the nation's heart in responding to the challenges of Hurricane Katrina is even half as large as President Bush now says it is, we face a set of perplexing "how?s." Read More
Post-Katrina super-manager: Great idea, time is wasting
Former House speaker Newt Gingrich's suggestion that President Bush appoint a powerful super-manager to oversee the federal government-wide efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina's ravages is logical -- if not imperative. Read More
Purging pop from the schools: Wake-up call for the states
It's time for state governments to take tough action to cut down their young citizens' sugar and fat intake. For the kids' sake -- and the state's sake. Read More
Katrina aftermath: Tears of a civic warrior
WASHINGTON - "I got out at the last moment, driving 16 straight hours to Birmingham with Evelyn Cox, my 96-year-old neighbor, and Coco the French cat. We are very fortunate to have made it." Read More
Energy bill strikes out: What can we do?
A fervid wave of criticism has followed Congress' new omnibus energy bill -- and who's to say it's not deserved? Read More
Addictive, expensive, dangerous: "The Great American Jobs Scam"
Call it, if you will, the crack cocaine of state and local governments' economic development practices -- their endless flow of tax breaks and outright gifts to private corporations they want to land, or figure they have to pay off to stay put. Read More
Communities by smart design: Mayors' effort spreads to the Governors
"Gee, I wish my colleagues back home could see this," Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. of Charleston, S.C., recalls thinking as he admired the handsome old urban forms and new design initiatives of European cities on a 1984 trip organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Read More
Medicaid reform -- A new race to the top
Last month, the National Governors Association released a set of policy recommendations to reform Medicaid. This latest package of reform proposals differed significantly from previous governors? recommendations since the focus was not only on making the Medicaid program more efficient, but also on slowing the growth rate of Medicaid eligible populations. Read More
Privatized neighborhoods - the future we want?
Don't let the recent Supreme Court decision on the New London, Conn., eminent domain case fool you -- the powers of local governments aren't expanding, they're actually receding. Read More
Britain's focus on its cities: Painful contrast for U.S.
Britain cares about its cities; the United States does not. It was tough for Americans, attending the Urban Land Institute's World Cities Forum here last week, to reach any other conclusion. Read More
A new local food scenario: wave of the future - or chimera?
How you feel about food is how you feel about the world. Read More
Medical marijuana decision: Bad news all around
There are three big reasons to believe the Supreme Court made a big mistake in its June 6 ruling that the laws in California and 10 other states allowing medical use of marijuana are no protection against federal raids and prosecutions. Read More
New federal transportation bill: Bloated, full of earmarks, no national strategy
WASHINGTON - It's a standard Washington story of clashing forces. The president threatens a veto if Congress passes a new multibillion-dollar transportation bill costing more than his budget allows. The House goes along with the $283.9 billion he recommends, but the Senate adds an extra $11 billion. The measure heads for conference. Will Congress dare defy the president? If it does, will the president veto -- or flinch? Read More
A small Conn. hospital leads a health care revolution
DERBY, Conn. - From Main Street merchants to U.S. senators, health care and its ballooning costs qualify as the new century's worst fiscal migraine. Now the problem is hitting not just government and employer budgets, but millions of people forced into big co-payments or unable to get coverage at all. Read More
Metro food policy: Is the time right?
Is America ready for a metropolitan agriculture policy? Read More |
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