Stateline Stories

Delay in Implementing Sequester Forces Deeper Unemployment Cuts

Unemployment benefits were already on the chopping block thanks to sequestration. But in three-dozen states, the pain for the long-term unemployed is even greater because states have been slow to enact the across-the-board federal cuts.

NFL Plays Offense to Get Public Money for Stadiums

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

States Rack Up Victories in Bids to Collect Online Sales Taxes

After more than a decade of trying, state officials think they may get to collect billions of dollars of taxes on online sales soon. Find out why.

Should States Get Out of the Booze Business?

Pennsylvania is as close as it has ever come to privatizing liquor sales following a House vote in March. Tricky questions await the Senate as it considers whether to modernize or dismantle the state’s multifarious system.

Sequester Cuts at Justice Department Threaten Local Drug Investigations

The partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. threatens to curb drug investigations in rural communities.

Which States Tax Your Travel the Most?

Your vacation dollar won’t go as far in some destinations because of state and local travel taxes.

Next Wave of State Minimum Wage Proposals Would ‘Index’ To Inflation

Nineteen states and D.C. already offer an hourly wage higher than the current federal $7.25 rate, and that could go even higher as several states weigh increases.

Automatic Defense Cuts Will Deal Blow to States

A Stateline analysis shows automatic defense spending reductions will hit defense contractors hard. This sector comprises as much as 8 percent of some state economies.

States in Recovery: Manufacturing

After decades of decline, American manufacturing is on the upswing: advanced technology is a reason why.

States in Recovery: Housing

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

States with Heavy Military Presence Hurt Hardest

The White House published a 50-state list of potential impacts from the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration. States that rely heavily on military spending would be hurt worst.

In State of the Union Speech, Obama Targets Jobs, Energy

With much of his focus on jobs and the economy, the president called for policies aiming to spur a “rising, thriving middle class” and quicken the country’s slow climb from recession. But in the wide-ranging speech, he left plenty more for states to chew on — particularly in energy and environmental issues.

States Hope for Rebound in Construction

Construction jobs are slowing coming back to the states hit hardest by the recession and that includes states you might not think of, like Idaho.

‘Cliff’ Deal Answers a Few Questions for States

Congress averted the much-feared “fiscal cliff” late Tuesday, passing a legislative package to be signed promptly by President Obama. The deal answered a few burning questions for state governments, but many still linger.

Economic Development Agencies Face New Scrutiny

When Wisconsin partially privatized its Department of Commerce last year, the hope was to create a less bureaucratic job creation organization. Since then, though, the new entity has faced a series of setbacks.

Texas Cancer Agency Fights Controversy

The state’s $3 billion effort to attack cancer is under fire for the way some awards have been made.

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

Activists Aim to Bolster Rhode Island’s Homeless Bill of Rights

After passing the nation’s first Homeless Bill of Rights this year, Rhode Island activists are looking to defend its provisions and expand their campaign to other parts of the country.

Voters Approve More State Debt

Voters in New Jersey and Alabama heed their governors’ call and approve bond issues as a way to boost their states’ economies.

Bond Measures Put Some Governors’ Clout on Line

Some governors are urging voters to approve bond issues as way to boost their states’ economies.

Montana’s Oil Boom Reshapes Race for Governor

BILLINGS, Montana — Montana’s next governor must capitalize on the current oil boom, build infrastructure to keep it going and develop industries that will make Montana less susceptible to market highs and lows.

States Struggle With Unemployment Funds Still in the Red

More than $26 billion in lingering debt and billions in mounting interest have forced a number of states to scale back unemployment benefits, raise taxes, tap general funds and even turn to the private bond market.

Provo Stars in Utah’s Economic Recovery

Utah’s recovery has been driven by construction projects and high-tech start-ups with Provo, Forbes’ top pick for business and career opportunities, a driving force.

Sequestration: How a Spending Stalemate Would Affect the States

There is still time for Congress to avoid the “fiscal cliff” that would force billions of dollars in spending cuts and tax increases at the start of next year. But whatever happens, the states run the risk of being big losers.

Redevelopment in California: The Program That Disappeared

One of the oldest urban redevelopment programs in the country went out of existence this year. Cities in California have yet to recover from the blow.

GOP Targets State Construction Labor Projects

Nearly a dozen Republican governors have already made good on a promise that the GOP laid out as a national priority in Tampa last month: to end a policy that businesses say gives labor unions an unfair advantage when bidding on state construction projects.

Welfare Waiver Proposal Hits Potential Roadblock

It took less than a month for the Obama administration’s move in July to grant states more flexibility in handling their welfare programs to shift from low-profile policy proposal to hot-button political issue that quickly permeated the presidential race.

One of Five Americans Struggling To Afford Food, Survey Finds

Despite record food stamp enrollment around the country and an economy considered to be on a modest upswing, the Great Recession is continuing to take its toll on many Americans, a Gallup survey found.

Losing Your Home to a Small Tax Debt?

When a little old lady is thrown out of her home two weeks before Christmas because she didn’t pay a $496 sewage bill, people take notice.

Continuing U.S. Trend, North Carolina Helps Military Spouses With Licensing

Governor Bev Perdue signed into law Tuesday (July 24) legislation aimed at helping military spouses land jobs after they arrive at North Carolina military bases, continuing a trend in statehouses to reduce barriers of entry into the workforce for military spouses across the U.S. Under the law, military spouses tr

Art for the Economy’s Sake

After years of budget cuts, state funding for the arts is making a comeback.

Report: Without Major Overhauls, State Budget Crises Will Linger

A lack of government transparency and a focus on federal budget woes have masked state budget crisis, leaving them largely unaddressed, according to a report released Wednesday. Without major change, the report warns, soaring costs of Medicaid and shrinking tax collections will only worsen the problem.

Rhode Island Faces an Investment Gone Awry

After an investment many questioned from the beginning, Curt Schilling’s 38 Studios bankruptcy has left Rhode Island with a significant debt to pay, and facing questions over the future of economic development efforts.

States Bolstered by GlaxoSmithKline Settlement

The country’s largest health-care fraud settlement will send millions of dollars back into state Medicaid programs.

Illinois Gov. Quinn Unveils $1.6 Billion in Transit Projects

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn set in motion more than $1.6 billion in new transportation projects, which he says will create 20,000 jobs and relieve both vehicle and rail traffic congestion across his state.

Gov. Haley’s Budget Vetoes Shutter Arts, Science

Two state agencies that oversee arts and coastal conservation funding in South Carolina were shuttered on Monday, putting 40 state employees out of work after Governor Nikki Haley vetoed $9.5 million in funding for them.

States Loosen Up on Fireworks Laws

In amateur hands, fireworks are as dangerous as ever. But states have a hard time passing up the revenue they bring in.

New Food Laws Go Into Effect, Others Blocked

Some new food and tobacco laws went into effect July 1, but others have been blocked.

What Happens to Health Law Money Already in State Coffers?

If the high court overturns all or part of the health law, Congress could seek refunds of the nearly $14 billion in federal money already sent to states to implement it.

North Dakota Surplus to Hit $2 Billion Within a Year

You can stop talking about North Dakota’s $1.5 billion surplus. It is expected to hit $2 billion.

Will Utah Loosen Liquor License Quota?

It might be easier to get a cocktail or beer in Utah after the Legislature finishes its special session today (June 20). Lawmakers are expected to consider increasing the number of liquor licenses available statewide, an issue that has divided the GOP leadership there. Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert says a shortage

Competing Globally: Governors Give, Get Ideas

Politicians in hyper-partisan Washington may shun any proposal from across the aisle, but some governors aren’t shy about stealing a neighboring state’s idea and giving credit, regardless of their counterpart’s political party.

Post-Recall Wisconsin Open for Business, Governor Says

The recent recall election in Wisconsin that let Governor Scott Walker keep his job was apparently also good for businesses in the state, or so says the governor.

Facing Off Over Funerals

A Federal judge last month ordered the Pennsylvania state board of funeral directors to rewrite their “outmoded” regulations that limited the numbers of funeral homes any one director could own, restricted the naming of homes, and prohibited funeral homes from serving food. Industry experts say the ruling could have broad implications for other states.

Is Federal Red Tape Tying Up Innovative Job Programs?

The federal government has made money available for a new approach to unemployment, but states have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to get it.

Interactive: Job Gains and Losses 2007-2012

While most states posted modest gains, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and New Hampshire were among seven states that lost jobs.

States Seek Help With Exports

States want Congress to renew the charter of a bank that many people may not have heard of, but many businesses have.

Insurance Changes Explained: Why State Officials Are Nervous About New Federal Rules

Traditionally, the federal government has left most regulation of insurance to the states. But passage of the Dodd-Frank law two years ago inserted the federal government deeper into the mix.

New Jersey's Waiver Wars

Governor Chris Christie is seeking to make New Jersey’s tough regulatory climate more business-friendly, but environmental groups say his new waiver rule goes too far.

Pew Studies Economic Mobility in the States

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states lead the way as places where people can improve their economic status. Many Southern states are falling behind.

Should States Be in the Liquor Business?

Several states that tightly control liquor sales are debating whether to turn them over to the private sector.

The Spending That Isn’t Counted

Most spending programs are easily traceable in state budgets. But tax incentives are not. Some legislators think they should be.

Homebrewing Laws Tapped for Change

An estimated 1 million Americans brew beer and make wine at home at least once a year. But that is still illegal in two states, and in some others, they can make it, but can't share it outside their homes. Efforts are under way to change that.

Trade with Brazil on the Minds of States

The presidents of the United States and Brazil talked of trade and the environment when they met at the White House yesterday (April 9) and a few states in particular hope to cash in. That includes Massachusetts, which is to host the Brazilian president today.

California Pension Move Could Cost Both State and Localities

The largest public pension fund in the United States is likely to lower its projection of investment gains today. If it does, agencies will pay more to support the fund.

Labor Shortages Lead Businesses to Support Help for Undocumented Workers

Business groups, especially in agriculture, are pushing several state measures to aid immigrant laborers who are in the country illegally. But many of those efforts are treading on uncertain legal ground.

Jobless in 15 States to Lose Extended Benefits

Lower state unemployment rates are usually a cause for celebration. But in as many as 15 states, that good news also has triggered the loss of unemployment benefits for thousands of workers starting next month.

Citing Risks of Cancer, States Seek to Limit Teen Tanning

HEALTH BEAT: Concerned by research linking indoor tanning to skin cancer, legislators are trying to restrict teens use of tanning beds.

Tennessee Republicans See Threat in U.N. Plan

Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives say a 20-year-old United Nations program for sustainable development is “destructive and insidious.”

Connecticut's Pro-Worker Measures Leave Business Feeling Resentful

HARTFORD - Last year, Democrats in Connecticut required private companies to give paid sick days to thousands of mostly low-wage employees. This year, they are considering raising the minimum wage from $8.25 to $9.75 an hour. Business interests are crying foul.

Wyoming Governor to Decide on Cap for ATM Fees

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead must decide whether his state will remain the only one in the nation to impose a cap on ATM fees, the Casper Star Tribune reports. Mead is deciding whether to sign or veto legislation that would

Laffer's Supply-Side Economics Staging a Comeback

Arthur Laffer, who helped Ronald Reagan write federal tax policy in the 1980s, is a force to be reckoned with these days at the state level. A large group of Republican governors is listening to him.

Stockton Tests New Municipal Bankruptcy Law in California

TODAY'S TAKE: Stockton, California, could become the largest city ever to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy. But California officials hope a new state law will prevent that.

Job Numbers Show Nevada Economy Finally Turning a Corner

TODAY'S TAKE: For the first time in five years, Nevada added more private-sector jobs than it lost in 2011, according to figures the state released Tuesday (February 28).

Election Is About Economics, Governors Say

Governors of both parties say the presidential contest will be determined by the economic climate that prevails throughout the country in the weeks leading up to November.

In South Dakota, Plenty of Jobs, Not Enough Workers

South Dakota has so many open private-sector jobs that its governor recently signed a contract with Manpower, the international staffing firm, to recruit 1,000 workers from other states to fill them.

Will States Use Foreclosure Money for Other Purposes?

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: The vast majority of the $25 billion foreclosure settlement that state attorneys general finalized with big banks on Thursday (February 9) will go to distressed homeowners. But states could use as much as $2.6 billion of it in other ways.

States Try to Help Veterans Find Jobs

With U.S forces out of Iraq and combat troops slated to leave Afghanistan in 2013, states are readying for an influx of returning troops who will be looking for work.

In Oil-Rich Alaska, Will the Good Times Last?

High oil prices are a boon for Alaska, whose credit rating recently went up to the coveted triple-A level. But waning oil production, unpredictable prices and looming pension costs remain challenges.

Creating jobs: What Can a Governor Do?

Job creation once again is dominating talk in statehouses as governors propose sweeping plans to jumpstart state economies. The proposals often illustrate the philosophical differences between the two parties.

Minimum Wage Set to Rise in Eight States

TODAY'S TAKE: Workers in eight states will see slightly larger paychecks beginning January 1, thanks to laws requiring minimum wages to rise with inflation.

D.C. Outpaces States in Population Growth

TODAY'S TAKE: The nation's capital grew faster than any state between April of last year and July of this year, according to new figures from the Census Bureau.

Infographic: How a European Recession Could Hit State Economies

As Europe's economic woes deepen, what's the potential impact on U.S. states? A new report looks at export data to answer part of that question.

Will Nevada Diversify Its Boom-and-Bust Economy?

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: The state that leads the nation in unemployment and foreclosures is doing some soul-searching over how to control its volatile economic cycles.

Detention Center Fails to Help Impoverished Rhode Island Town

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: A struggling Rhode Island community hoped a facility for federal prisoners would be a boost to local finances. After 18 years, things have only gotten worse.

Census: Weak Economy Limited Mobility in 2010

TODAY'S TAKE: A record-low percentage of Americans moved last year, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The sluggish economy takes the blame.

'Enterprise Zones' Expand, Draw Scrutiny

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: For decades, states have singled out blighted areas within their borders and offered tax credits to businesses that invest in them. But critics say such "enterprise zones" have expanded too sharply, at too great a cost to taxpayers.

Special Sessions: A Calculated Risk

The legislative year ended for most states during the summer, but special sessions are bringing many lawmakers back to their capitals. The success of such sessions can depend on the behind-the-scenes deal-making that precedes them.

North Dakota Up, North Carolina Down in Growth Index

TODAY'S TAKE: A Bloomberg evaluation of how states are faring in the aftermath of the Great Recession shows North Dakota powering forward and North Carolina lagging behind, in part because of Bank of America's woes.

Connecticut Approves Bipartisan Jobs Plan

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: State lawmakers in Connecticut eased business regulations, created new tax credits and authorized infrastructure improvements in an overwhelmingly bipartisan, $626 million job-creation effort.

Government Employment Grew in 22 States, Analysis Finds

TODAY'S TAKE: An analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that 22 states added government jobs between September 2007 and September 2011, a period that has been known for public worker layoffs.

Pittsburgh and Harrisburg: A Tale of Two Deep-in-Debt Cities

Pennsylvania's capital city has filed for bankruptcy and is poised for a state takeover. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh continues to struggle to fill its pension fund. What lessons can localities learn from Pennsylvania?

Study: California Is Best at Retaining Skilled Workers

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: Despite its well-known fiscal and economic problems, California is best at preventing "brain drain," according to a new report.

Perry Outscores Romney, Huntsman in Jobs Analysis

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas Governor Rick Perry has a stronger track record on job creation than two fellow Republican presidential candidates with gubernatorial experience, a new study finds.

States Await Outcome of Wrangling Over Obama Jobs Plan

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama's $447 billion jobs bill lacks the votes needed to pass the Democratic Senate, let alone the Republican House of Representatives. Lawmakers now will consider individual parts, including aid to states.

Florida Governor Revises Goal of 700,000 New Jobs

TODAY'S TAKE: When he campaigned for Florida governor last year, Rick Scott said he would create 700,000 jobs in seven years - on top of the million that state economists were already projecting during that period. Scott now says his job target was always 700,000, not 1.7 million.

In California, a State and Local War Over Revenue and Responsibilities

PART THREE OF THREE: At a desperate fiscal moment, California's state legislators and city officials are barely on speaking terms. Governor Jerry Brown lacks the power to bring the feuding factions into line.

Michigan Bucks National Trend on Tech Jobs

TODAY'S TAKE: The United States lost 116,000 high-tech jobs between 2009 and 2010, but Michigan countered the trend by gaining 2,700 positions - more than any other state, according to a new study.

New Momentum Seen for Free Trade Deals

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: One of the job-creation proposals that President Obama is calling for - passage of long-stalled free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea - is also a top priority for a bipartisan group of governors.

Criticism May Ground Missouri 'Aerotropolis'

The dream of subsidizing a costly new air cargo hub at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis is coming up against skeptical state lawmakers, who see it as a potential boondoggle.

White House Offers Details of American Jobs Act

TODAY'S TAKE: As President Obama tries to gather support for his jobs bill, the White House is pointing out how the legislation would benefit residents in each state.

Obama Pitches American Jobs Act: What's in It For the States?

TODAY'S TAKE: Though dominated by cuts in federal Social Security taxes, the $447 billion jobs plan President Obama introduced on Thursday night (September 8) includes proposals with great significance to the states.

Car Insurance by the Mile Debuts in California

A six-month old policy in California allows auto insurers to base premiums on the number of miles customers drive, rather than on who owns the car or on rough estimates of how the car is used. Insurance officials say it is a sign of a growing national movement toward rethinking the way that carriers set their rates.

Harrisburg's Crisis Tests Pennsylvania

TAX & BUDGET BEAT: Pennsylvania appears likely to take control of the finances of its capital city, but as a result of a new state law, Harrisburg won't be filing for bankruptcy any time soon.

Georgia Work$ Jobs Program Holds Lessons for Obama

President Obama next week is expected to propose a national version of Georgia Work$, an eight-year-old state program that places Georgia residents receiving unemployment checks into unpaid training positions in an effort to get them full-time jobs. The program is popular on both sides of the aisle, including with congressional Republicans, but it comes with its own set of challenges.

Special Legislative Sessions to Focus on Jobs

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: Deficit reduction may be the talk in Washington, but job creation is the priority in the states. Connecticut and Missouri are planning special sessions on economic development.

Pennsylvania's Successful Mortgage Relief Program Falls to Budget Axe

Pennsylvania's HEMAP program for troubled homeowners has helped more than 40,000 of them over nearly 30 years. But the state chose not to fund it in the fiscal 2012 budget.

Infographic: Underwater Mortgages Still a Drag on Housing

More than three out of five Nevada homeowners with mortgages owe more on that loan than their property is worth. Although the problem with "underwater" mortgages has been incrementally improving, it remains a drag on the housing market and economies of many states.

Summer Jobs Programs Get Private Fund Infusion

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: States and cities may not have money to fund summer job programs, but the country's largest employer does. Walmart has committed $25 million on youth programs this summer.

Republicans Reward Business With Lawsuit Limitations

Legislators in at least six states - mainly in the GOP South - have approved significant restrictions on lawsuit filers, seeking to reduce the number of costly payouts that businesses and doctors consider unfair.