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US: States try to tax more services as coffers deflate

By Conor Dougherty, The Wall Street Journal

Will plumbers, lawyers and hot-air balloon operators be forced to pitch in to solve state and local government revenue shortfalls? Read More

US: With federal stimulus money gone, many schools face budget gaps

By Sam Dillon, The New York Times

Federal stimulus money has helped avoid drastic cuts at public schools in most parts of the nation, at least so far. But with the federal money running out, many of the nation's schools are approaching what officials are calling a "funding cliff." Read More

ADDITIONAL HEADLINES

RECENT STATELINE.ORG STORIES


	TN: TN labor law penalizing employers of undocumented workers nets few violators Proponents heralded passage of a state law to penalize employers of undocumented workers as the moment Tennessees allure to illegal immigrants began to fade. But two years after the Illegal Alien Employment Act went into effect, state officials have closed 12 complaints involving 19 companies, and only one business was formally charged.
	FL: Casinos the future of Florida's beaches? Picture a Vegas-style Bellagio on the beach. Rows of neon-lit slot machines, blackjack dealers and craps dice. In Florida? It might not be as unlikely as it seems. For the first time, the Florida Legislatures conservative, anti-gambling façade is showing cracks.
	HI: Hawaii charges ahead with electric vehicles The state is driving the adoption of electric and alternate vehicles through a variety of mandates and grants, but the push could add to costs at government agencies and businesses already grappling with the worst economy in decades.
	LA: A Landrieu back at New Orleans helm NEW ORLEANS — In an event-packed weekend here that included the New Orleans Saints first-ever trip to the Super Bowl and seven Mardi Gras parades, Mitch Landrieu, the states lieutenant governor and scion of a well-known Louisiana political family, captured enough attention to become the citys 61st mayor.
	MO: Limits on lobbying discussed There are 56 former state legislators registered to lobby members of the Missouri General Assembly, and the number is growing as term limits turn more out of office.
	TX: Duel over gun safety in Texas Capitol Lawmakers in firearm-friendly Texas are embroiled in a debate over how to make the state Capitol safer: get rid of guns or encourage even more.
	OH: Leader of Ohio State, biggest U.S. campus, takes on tenure The leader of the countrys largest university thinks its time to re-examine how professors are awarded tenure, a type of job-for-life protection virtually unknown outside academia.
	MN: Pawlenty -- Don't touch my budget-cutting power In a preemptive warning to lawmakers, Gov. Tim Pawlenty threatened on Friday to veto any attempt to limit his ability to balance the budget himself.
	NH: Rocky road for low-cost NH insurance The states low-cost, high deductible insurance program, HealthFirst, is running into some bumps. It turns out the program Gov. John Lynch launched in October is not so low-cost after all.
	ME: Bill on potential hazards of cellular phone use attracts national attention It wont get a public hearing until next month, but lobbyists already are working a bill that would require cell phones sold in Maine to have stickers warning of the possibility of brain cancer.
	TN: Hospitals may ask TN to tax them Some Tennessee hospitals are floating the idea of paying more taxes to head off steep cuts to TennCare that could take more than $1.5 billion from the states medical system.
	RI: Funding battle looms between state, cities The drastic cuts of the past two years and the talk of still more left little doubt that Rhode Island was struggling to keep its commitments to help cities and towns.
	NE: Stimulus funds for jobless? Complaints about higher unemployment insurance rates are prompting some officials to take another look at accepting a controversial portion of the federal stimulus package that would give Nebraska $43.6 million to soften the rate increases.
	VA: Medicaid cuts to further pinch ailing providers Local hospitals are bracing for a round of Medicaid spending cuts that executives say could be the worst in decades and lead to more cutbacks in their organizations.
	NC: Republicans buoyant as candidate filing opens Rarely have N.C. Republicans seen so much interest in running for office. Dozens of prospective candidates have come to orientation sessions put on by House Republicans. Interest in congressional and local races also is high.


	Weekly wrap: Fed report doubts energy states will recover first Revenues down in gas-producing states; Obama snubs Las Vegas—again; and economist Mark Zandi predicts start of economic expansion.
	Quinn survives — for now CHICAGO — The governor of Illinois has nine months to win over a clearly frustrated state electorate.See also: Primary season starts, and govs could fall
	Governors talk energy with Obama TODAYS TAKE: President Obama on Wednesday (Feb. 3) told a group of 11 governors — including those from coal-friendly states — that the United States must move aggressively toward a clean energy economy.
	Making IT work As states struggle to close historic budget gaps, potential new responsibilities — including national health care reform and government downsizing — will force many to overhaul outmoded computer systems over the next two years. Though notoriously difficult to pull off, major Information Technology upgrades can save states millions in personnel and other operating costs.
	Primary season starts, and govs could fall Although primary season is typically safe for sitting governors, six of the 15 governors running for re-election in 2010 could face strong competition from within the ranks of their own party.
	Quinn declares win, but results not final TODAY’S TAKE: Gov. Pat Quinn declared victory in the Democratic primary for Illinois governor on Tuesday (Feb. 2), but challenger Dan Hynes refused to concede. State Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard were neck-and-neck for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, and recounts are possible.
	Va. Senate bans health insurance mandate TODAY’S TAKE: The Democratic-led Virginia Senate sent a strong message about health care reform efforts in Washington, D.C., on Monday (Feb. 1), passing a bill that makes it illegal for Virginians to be required to buy health insurance. Similar legislation is being debated in more than two-thirds of the states.
	Obama budget includes aid for states TODAY’S TAKE: The federal budget proposal that President Obama will send to Congress today (Feb. 1) includes $25 billion in emergency Medicaid funding for states, even as it freezes other domestic spending.
	Weekly wrap: Govs seek to prop up budget reserve funds Depleted rainy day funds prompt review; Toyota’s temporary sales suspension could impact state revenue; Ohio loses an iconic employer; and new studies released on recession, state stimulus web sites.
	High-speed rail funds en route TODAYS TAKE: A day after delivering his first State of the Union address, President Obama heads to Florida to showcase $8 billion in federal funds for high-speed rail projects in the Sunshine State and 30 others.
	Ore. voters approve $727 million tax hike TODAY’S TAKE: For the first time since 1930, Oregon voters approved a general tax increase on Tuesday (Jan. 26), signing off on a plan to raise $727 million by targeting corporations and the wealthy.
	Oregon tax vote poses fresh test for Dems A week after Massachusetts voters delivered a stunning blow to Democrats’ legislative agenda in Washington, D.C., Oregonians on Tuesday (Jan. 26) will decide the fate of Democratic-led efforts to raise taxes on corporations and the wealthy in the state by $727 million.
	Health care wrangling could delay state aid TODAY’S TAKE: Federal health care reform has been a divisive issue for states, but for some governors seeking immediate budget relief from Capitol Hill, the wrangling over the legislation is causing uncertainty.
	State campaign finance laws in crosshairs TODAY’S TAKE: The full effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to allow limitless corporate spending in candidate elections remains to be seen. But already, 24 states’ campaign finance laws seem likely to be nullified because of the controversial ruling.
	2010 speeches are bleak for most governors With nearly three-quarters of their seats up for election this year, the nation’s governors are setting the stage for 2010 by warning that the economic downturn is far from over in the states, where tax collections are weak, unemployment is surging and the likeliest outcomes will be unpopular tax hikes and sharp budget cuts.
	Bold proposals in first gov speeches The governors of California, Kentucky and New York on Wednesday (Jan. 6) became the first to deliver state of the state speeches to their legislatures this year, using the occasion to push policy proposals aimed at helping their states gain jobs and emerge from fiscal crisis.

DAILY STATE NEWS

IL: Cohen quits race for lieutenant governor
Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen, a Chicago pawnbroker whose surprise primary win last week was followed by scandalous revelations about his troubled past with a prostitute ex-girlfriend, said Sunday night he would quit as nominee.
Chicago Tribune
Read More

NY: Will he, won't he, and just what is it?
A state Capitol already prone to rumor has spent much of the past week humming in anticipation of a possible New York Times report on Gov. David Paterson -- a story that as of Sunday night had not run in the paper or appeared on its Web site. See also NY: Push to force Monserrate expulsion vote in the Senate
Times Union (Albany)
Read More

GA: Perdue influence shows in GOP governors' strategy
The national Republican Governors Association is taking a Georgia-style approach to this year's gubernatorial elections, largely because of the influence of Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Read More

Elections headlines from Stateline.org

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The seventh annual Hal Hovey Award was presented Feb. 3 to Marc Perrusquia, an enterprise and investigative reporter for The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis Tenn. The award is made jointly by Stateline.org, which is part of the Pew Center on the States, and Governing Magazine for outstanding coverage of state and local government.

Links to daily news and summaries of the governors' speeches

Full text of governors’ addresses going back to 2000

Dates for state of the state speeches

Read the latest news, analysis and research on the economic crisis in the states in Stateline.org's new Recession and Recovery special section.

The Stimulus and the
States
Follow how states are managing the stimulus money and which programs are receiving funding as part of the recovery effort using Stateline.org's stimulus special section.

Click here for a calendar of legislative sessions in 2010.

Click here to read summaries of action in all 50 states and major trends of the 2009 legislative session.

Stateline.org has compiled an extensive list of state issue political blogs to make it convenient for you to follow state government.

If a blog you find interesting and informative is not on our list, tell us about it by sending an email to editor@stateline.org.

Blogs organized by Issue

Blogs organized by State

Stateline.org has put together a list of state public policy resources organized by issue. Here, you will find useful links to essential information from government, academia, and think tanks. If you have a link to add, please email us.

Go to the state public policy resources page

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