The Pew Charitable Trusts - State and Consumer Initiatives from Florida

Foreign Law Bans: Political Statement or Unconstitutional?

State lawmakers are focused on keeping U.S. courts away from the influence of foreign law. But does banning all foreign law go too far?

Attorneys General Seek Warning Label Cautioning Pregnant Women Against Using Pain Pills

State attorneys general are hoping to protect the littlest victims of prescription drug abuse.

Cities, States Face Off on Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

Stateline - NYC and Portland will require businesses to provide paid sick leave. But many states are less than enthusiastic.

Obama Administration Poised to Approve Arkansas-style Medicaid Expansions

The Obama Administration is inviting states to apply for Arkansas-style Medicaid expansions in an effort to woo those balking at traditional Medicaid expansion.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty

Maryland has executed five people since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. But nobody else will be sentenced to death in the Old Line State.

States That Skip Medicaid Expansion May Favor New Immigrants Over U.S. Citizens

The law of unintended consequences will strike states that decline to expand Medicaid.

NFL Plays Offense to Get Public Money for Stadiums

Why are so many teams asking taxpayers to build new pro football stadiums this year?

Drone Limits Become Law

Police agencies in five states already have drones, and lawmakers want to make sure protections are in place before more agencies spend more money. Which cities already have drones?

WLRN Public Radio: Florida Is Looking at a Budget Surplus Next Year

Florida lawmakers are doing something they haven't done in years: adding money to state programs.

Florida Governor Knocks Obama for Unpaid Port Bill

Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants more than just a presidential visit to Miami’s port; he wants the federal government to pay its share of the bill for big improvements under way at Florida’s biggest ports.

State Higher Ed Funding Support Continues Decline

Per-student funding has declined in 48 states over the past five years, with New Hampshire and Florida reducing support the most.

Florida State of the State Address 2013

Following is the preparded text of Flordia Gov. Rick Scott's (R) 2013 State of the State Address

30 Cities: An Introductory Snapshot

Pew recently updated its 30-city snapshot interactive, with new data on population, home values, income and unemployment. Pew's American Cities Project focuses on the biggest city in the nation's 30 largest metro areas.

Backlash for Red-Light Cameras Hasn’t Slowed Spread

Throughout the country, state legislatures are considering how broadly to use traffic cameras, but the number of communities using them keeps growing.

States in Recovery: Housing

The housing crisis that threw states into economic free fall is helping them climb back out.

States Seek Legal Limits on Domestic Drones

Lawmakers in nearly half the states are working to set legal limits on the use of drones, before they become a key part of domestic policing.

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

Far fewer people are working for state governments than before the recession began, but those who remain may get modest salary increases this year.

States Struggle To Keep Online Schools Accountable

As concerns grow about performance in the booming online education sector, some states are working to define their oversight role.

St. Lucie County, Florida, Election Costs Double

St. Lucie County, Florida, which had a number of problems this past Election Day, paid twice as much for elections in 2012—$760,000—as they did in 2004 and 2008—approximately $375,000 per year.

Governing: How Can States Eliminate Medicaid Fraud?

Eradicating Medicaid fraud has become a central focus for states in recent years, especially as the low-income insurance program has consumed more and more of state budgets.

After Chaotic Election, Florida Governor Backs Voting Changes

The Republican governor said he is backing three major changes: adding early voting days and extending hours, including the Sunday before Election Day; opening more early voting locations; and shortening a wordy ballot that last year ran six pages long, confusing voters and increasing wait times.

Absentee Voting in Miami-Dade County, Florida

Miami-Dade County, Florida’s largest election jurisdiction, which attracted attention on Election Day for long wait times at the polls, also experienced a dramatic rise in the number of absentee voters in November 2012 as compared with 2008.

Falling Short on Dental Sealants: Florida

How well is Florida protecting kids from tooth decay?

Florida Hires Outgoing Indiana Ed Chief

When Indiana voters chose last month not to renew the tenure of the state’s top education official, Tony Bennett, it was seen as a blow to the so-called “Education Reform” community nationally.

Long Lines in Florida

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, election officials were concerned about the potential for long lines at the polls in Florida. These concerns proved valid, and some voters in Miami-Dade County waited in lines as long as seven hours.

Best of #StateReads: United States of Subsidies

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Oklahoma Among States Limiting Property Taxes

Lowering property taxes is always popular, and results from the November 6 elections show this year was no exemption

The Impact of the Fiscal Cliff: Florida

Federal and state finances are closely intertwined, and the fiscal cliff’s tax and spending provisions will have consequences for states.

Best of #StateReads: Why Colorado Children Die of Abuse and Neglect

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

In Iowa and Florida, Judges Survive Expensive Ouster Attempts

Three justices in Florida and one in Iowa held off conservative efforts to remove them from office. In Michigan and North Carolina, conservatives retained power on the Supreme Court following expensive campaigns.

Early Voting in Battleground States

Earlier today, we provided an update on the millions of voters across the country who cast their ballots before Election Day. A look at data from certain battleground states finds significant use of early voting both by mail and in person.

In Some States, Election Season Could Linger Long After Tuesday

Here’s a look at several states whose elections may remain undecided long after Tuesday night.

Do Police Need Search Warrants for Drug-Sniffing Dogs?

States asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to let them use drug-sniffing dogs to investigate homes and cars without warrants.

Best of #StateReads: Michigan Term Limits Encourage Politicians To Go Professional

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Long Ballots, Long Lines in Florida?

272 words in the Gettysburg Address. 1,337 words in the Declaration of Independence. 1,364 words in President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address. Nearly 4,000 words on Duval and Clay County, Florida’s November 6 ballots.

Best of #StateReads: Abuse Suits Against Scouts Hinge on State Laws

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Poll Worker Pay

New research from the Pew Center on the States examines poll worker stipends from the country’s most populous election jurisdictions—Pew researchers looked at these counties’ election websites and contacted their elections offices—and found significant variation.

Best of #StateReads: Special Interests, Politics Delay Changes After Sandusky Scandal

This week’s collection of #StateReads includes an examination at what derailed child advocacy improvements in Pennsylvania following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, an investigation into the 15 percent of homicides in Washington, D.C. that have gone unsolved and a look at a region in Utah that contains as much as 80 percent of the state’s homeless population.

Best of #StateReads: “State Faces Major Doctor Shortage”

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Still Risky: Checking Accounts in Florida

Checking accounts, the most widely used financial product in America, contain hidden risks that can harm consumers. Ten of the 12 largest banks nationwide offer checking accounts in Florida and hold 63 percent of all deposits in the state. Here’s what consumers in Florida may be paying.

New Voter Registrations Decline in Florida

Recent research finds that Florida’s House Bill 1355, which placed new restrictions on organizations conducting voter registration activities in the battleground state, was a factor in a decrease in new voter registrations.

Former Florida Regulators Want Water Funding Boost

A group of 20 former water regulators in Florida is urging Governor Rick Scott to restore funding to the state’s five water management districts, whose budgets have shrunken dramatically under the governor.

Florida Law Requires Public Hospitals to Justify Their Tax-Supported Status

A scandal in one Florida public hospital puts all of them in the spotlight

Religious Liberty Emerges as Sensitive Political Issue

Freedom of religion is a universal American ideal, but there is growing disagreement about just what it means.

How Governors Govern Higher Ed

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett are the latest governors to play a role in resolving crises at their state universities.

Best of #StateReads: N. C. Regulators Miss Catching Cheating Businesses

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Florida Non-citizen Voter Roll Purge

Florida, not a stranger to controversy over election procedures, has been in the news again recently.

Distant Allies: Mitt Romney and Florida Governor Rick Scott

Governor Rick Scott of Florida hosts Republicans in Tampa this week, but he might be more at home at a Tea Party convention.

Obama’s Surprise Supporter: A Former Republican Governor

President Obama notched a surprising endorsement ahead of the GOP convention from Charlie Crist, Florida’s former Republican Governor.

Florida — and the GOP — Brace For Isaac’s Winds and Rain

As Tropical Storm Isaac swirls towards the Florida coast, Republican officials say next week’s party convention in Tampa is still a go.