Stateline Stories

Not So Fast: Tax Revenue Estimates From Legal Marijuana May Not Materialize

Proponents of legalized recreational marijuana touted millions in taxes that could be collected. But don’t count that money yet.

Democrats, Voting Rights Activists Strike Back on Elections Laws

In 2012 Democrats were focused on fighting against voter ID laws and other measures that restricted voting. Now they are turning the tables.

After Years of Defeats, Immigrants Win Big State Victories in 2013

Arizona’s immigration crackdown is a fresh memory for many, but now many states are passing immigrant-friendly laws. Find out what is driving the change.

Report: No Easy Options for Feds in Legal Marijuana States

The federal government may not have much choice but to continue its mellow attitude toward legal marijuana in Washington and Colorado.

After Expanding Coverage, Health Care Pioneer Seeks to Tame Costs

The Affordable Care Act will extend health care coverage to almost everybody. Now states are moving on to the next frontier in health care reform: containing costs. Once again, Massachusetts is taking the lead by putting its health care industry on an annual budget and requiring all insurers and medical providers to make detailed price lists available to the public.

Backers See Momentum As 6th State Allows Same-Sex Civil Unions

Colorado becomes the latest state to allow same-sex civil unions, as marriage supporters see victories around U.S.

Colorado Governor to Sign Civil Union Law

Colorado becomes the latest state to allow same-sex civil unions, as marriage supporters see victories around U.S.

Colorado Governor Signs New Gun Restrictions

Colorado’s new gun restrictions will limit the size of gun magazines and require a background check for all gun sales, including online purchases. Governor Hickenlooper signed the bill just hours after state Department of Corrections Director Tom Clements was shot and killed in his home.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty, Sixth State in Six Years

Maryland became the sixth state in as many years to repeal the death penalty. But the fate of the state’s five remaining death row inmates is up to Governor Martin O'Malley.

Advocates for Climate Action Urge Insurers to Join Up

Some are pushing the insurance industry to not only to crank up the volume on its longstanding calls for hardier building and safer land use in disaster-prone areas, but also to push for cuts to the carbon emissions.

Governors Ask Lawmakers to Prevent Future Shootings

The recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut reshaped governors’ legislative agendas this year, and many used their once-a-year legislative addresses to ask lawmakers to take up gun control, mental health treatment and school safety.

Issue To Watch: Gun Regulation

Gun legislation moved to the top of the list for many state lawmakers after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December.

Issue To Watch: Immigration

Long-bottled-up bills that address state policies on whether to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students could become law this year, because of changes in party control of legislative chambers and changes in federal policy.

Colorado Preps for Recreational Marijuana

Colorado voters amended the state’s Constitution this November to legalize recreational marijuana use. That’s left the state’s established medical marijuana community apprehensive about its future.

Seniors Are New Target for Tax Increases

Over the years, states have carved out ever more generous tax breaks for the elderly. Now, Kentucky and a few other states are beginning to question whether these policies cost too much.

Colorado State of the State Address 2013

DENVER, Colorado -- Jan 10 -- Following is the prepared tect of Gov. John Hickenlooper's (D) 2013 State of the State Address:

As Sandy Hook Students Return to School, Connecticut Governor to Launch Gun Violence Task Force

Still reeling from the elementary school massacre that shocked the nation, Connecticut has launched an expert panel that will study current policy and make recommendations on school safety, mental health and gun violence prevention, Governor Dan Malloy said Thursday.

State School Funds On Trial, Again

Texas, Colorado, Kansas and others will see action on school finance lawsuits next year, but it could be years before they make a difference in the classroom.

Another Mass Shooting Revives Debate on Gun Laws

Another mass shooting is fueling another debate about the nation’s patchwork of gun laws. But this time some new and prominent faces are calling for the stricter gun measures.

Wildfire Epidemic Leaves States Searching for Answers

The West is getting hotter and drier and stoking more destructive fires. They have left fire control officials looking for ways to fight them more effectively with fewer dollars.

One-Party Control Comes with Power and Peril

Governor John Hickenlooper’s fellow Democrats won majorities in the Colorado House and Senate in November. But some people believe united Democratic control will end up making the governor’s life more difficult.

Openly Gay Lawmakers Selected To Lead Chambers

Oregon Representative Tina Kotek is poised to join openly gay lawmakers in Colorado and Washington as a leader of a state legislative chamber.

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

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

As Layoffs Mount, Governors Seek Support on Wind Tax Credit

With election season politics behind them, several governors are reapplying pressure on Congress to extend a tax credit whose looming expiration is stirring angst within the wind industry.

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

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

States Defend Anti-Terrorism Centers After Harsh Senate Report

Law enforcement agencies and state officials defended regional information-sharing offices known as “fusion centers” as a key part of the nation’s homeland security network. A Senate report questioned the value of the fusion centers, which they found had “not produced useful intelligence.”

Wind Subsidies Raise a Storm in Heartland States

Wind-energy has been a booming industry in many states the past few years. But the federal tax credits that have helped fuel that growth is likely to disappear in a few months.

A Marijuana Revolt?

Colorado, Oregon and Washington voters will decide this November if they want to decriminalize and regulate marijuana production and possession, which could generate millions in state revenue. But any of these initiatives would put the states in conflict with federal law, which classifies marijuana as a controlled substance with no acceptable medical use.

Mississippi Tops List Of Fattest States — Again

For the seventh straight year, Mississippi has claimed a dubious title: the nation’s fattest state. That’s according to the latest estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2011, nearly 35 percent of adult Mississippians were considered obese, according to data released on Monday (Augu

Courts Differ on Police Use of DNA

Taking DNA samples from suspects immediately upon arrest is an increasingly common law enforcement practice. But some courts have ruled it unconstitutional.

Christie Headlines Romney Event With GOP Governors

Ten Republican governors joined Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for a rally and fundraiser in Colorado Thursday (August 3), but most of the attention seemed focused on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Romney gave Christie, who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick

With Drillers at the Door, Some Towns Say ‘Keep Out’

As oil and gas development moves into more populated areas, many municipalities are trying to exert control over where drilling takes place. State regulators and energy companies aren’t happy.

Colorado Theater Shooting Revives Gun Rights Debate

The nation’s latest mass shooting has revived debate over its patchwork of gun laws. But advocates on both sides of the issue expect that public shock and outrage over the killing of 12 people at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater will do little to shift momentum in statehouses and on Capitol Hill toward harsher restri

Teach for America Alums Take Aim at State Office

Some alumni from the teaching program are making runs for state office. Many are facing opposition from teachers’ unions.

Natural Gas Growth Adds Strain to State Regulators

To keep pace with a surge of natural gas drilling, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is looking to triple its staff of well inspectors. In many other states, inspection teams remain small while wells go unchecked.

States Have Second Thoughts About Juveniles in Adult Court

In Colorado, prosecutors have had full power to try juvenile offenders in adult courts. Now the state is restricting that power.

Q&A With Outgoing Colorado Pension Chief: ‘The 401(k) Experiment Is a Failure’

After more than two decades heading public employee pension systems in Colorado and Kansas, Meredith Williams says Americans are woefully underprepared for retirement.

Western States Wary of Federal Fracking Regs

Representatives from several Western states say draft federal rules on hydraulic fracturing on public lands would stymie natural gas development across states that largely depend on the industry for revenue.

Governors Push Natural Gas-Powered Vehicles

With oil prices still high, group of 13 governors on Monday (April 30) asked automakers for input on how states might boost demand for natural gas-powered vehicles.

Water a Concern in Western Oil Shale Expansion

As the Obama Administration moves forward on a scaled-down plan to lease Western lands for oil shale development, some still worry about the industry’s impacts on water supplies.

Federal Credit Downgrade Hurts Colorado Localities

ECONOMY & BUSINESS BEAT: When Standard & Poors downgraded the federal government's credit rating last year, it also caused problems for municipalities in Colorado, where a unique state law governs local investments.

States Push to Shake Up Personnel Practices

Civil service rules that haven't changed in decades are being re-assessed by several governors bent on major changes in the system.

Ten States Join Effort to Buy Natural Gas Vehicles

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Last fall, the governors of Oklahoma and Colorado announced a plan to get states to buy 5,000 vehicles powered by natural gas. So far, 10 states have joined the effort.

In Colorado, All Eyes on One State Lawmaker

TODAY'S TAKE: A political drama has been unfolding at the Colorado statehouse, where a lawmaker is considering a party change that could fundamentally shift the balance of power in the legislature.

Three States to Weigh in on Republican Candidates

TODAY'S TAKE: It's not quite "Super Tuesday," but today (February 7) marks the first day of the 2012 presidential campaign that will see more than one state cast ballots.

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.

Colorado State of the State Address 2012

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 12 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Hickenlooper's (D) 2012 state of the state address: When people think of the West, it's easy to envision wagon trains, Buffalo Bill, the glory days of the Gold Rush. Cowboy hats come to mind … rocks … even beer … but let's talk abo

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.

'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.

Proposition 103 in Colorado to Test Voters' Willingness to Raise Taxes

This year's most high-profile tax measure on the ballot goes to a vote next week. As states grapple with continuing budget problems, the outcome in Colorado will provide clues to the public's mood about raising taxes.

States Retool Food Stamp, Benefits Systems

A number of states used to make food stamp recipients pass a fingerprint test. Now all but one has stopped, to save on staff time and ease the burden on the clients.

States Rewrite Education Rules, With or Without Race to the Top

Six states were near-miss finalists in the first two rounds of a federal competition that rewards changes in state education policy. Most of them are continuing the school reform process with their own money.

Tax Supporters Turn to the Ballot Box

As it becomes more difficult to get state legislatures to pass tax increases, people who think cash-strapped states have cut budgets too much are taking their case straight to voters.

Colorado Redistricting Plan Raises Eyebrows

TODAY'S TAKE: A Democratic redistricting plan in Colorado could hurt the state's Democratic Senate president, who is running for Congress.

Pace Cars Patrol Colorado Highway Tunnel

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: Colorado officials are experimenting with a new way to keep traffic moving through one of the region's busiest and most important tunnels: police cars acting as pace cars.

Colorado Likely to Vote on Income and Sales Tax Increases

TAX & BUDGET BEAT: A Colorado ballot measure would direct more revenue to schools ... Central Falls, Rhode Island's bankruptcy case begins ... Alaska's $40 billion permanent fund, and more tax and budget news.

Business Moves to Center of School Policy Debate

Long counted on mainly as a funder and promoter of K-12 education, corporate America is immersing itself in discussion about the way school systems should be organized and operated.

Judges Uphold Cost-of-Living Cuts to Pensions

TODAY'S TAKE: Colorado and Minnesota lawmakers could legally reduce cost-of-living adjustments for currently retired state employees, judges said. The rulings could prompt more states to try the same thing.

Minnesota Senate Votes to Shrink State Government

MANAGEMENT BEAT: There may be 15 percent fewer workers in Minnesota state government … California Governor Jerry Brown weighs in with a pension overhaul plan … Nebraska looks to compromise on collective bargaining, and other government management news.

Missouri is Toughest on Crack Cocaine

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Missouri punishes crack dealers more severely than those who sell the powder version of the same drug… Police are stretched thin in one of the nation's most dangerous cities… The Colorado probation agency comes under scrutiny, and other public safety news.

Japan Nuclear Accident Raises Fears in States

TODAY'S TAKE: Questions about the safety of nuclear power plants are nothing new, but the disaster in Japan is lending new urgency to those concerns, especially in California, where a group of legislators warned recently that two of the state's nuclear sites could be vulnerable to earthquakes.

Illinois Debates School Consolidation

EDUCATION BEAT: School consolidation plan earns mixed reviews in Illinois ... Georgia's first-of-its-kind HOPE scholarships are in danger of running out of money ... Budget cuts could force some Michigan colleges and universities to close, and more education news from the states.

Governors Target Rules at Businesses' Behest

Newly elected Republicans - and some Democrats - have made rethinking regulations a top priority. That has environmentalists and consumer advocates nervous.

Colorado State of the State Address 2011

DENVER, Colorado - Jan. 13 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Hickenlooper's (D) 2011 state of the state address: Most of us have faced a serious budget problem at some pivotal moment in our lives. Certainly, this is not my first time at the deficit rodeo. Almost 20 years ago to the day, a person who kn

Report Examines Fiscal Problems in Four Western States

TODAY'S TAKE: The fiscal problems facing four western states - Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada - may be deeper than feared, partly because of structural deficits that existed before the recession, according to a new report from a regional think tank. The study highlights another western state, Utah, as having sound budgeting practices.

Secretaries of State Up the Political Ante

In most American states, the job of secretary of state has long been seen as a largely non-partisan post, invested for the most part with administrative and caretaker duties. A new crop of activists is working hard to change that.

In New Year, Seven States to Hike Minimum Wage

Nine to twelve cents isn't a lot, but those small, automatically triggered increases in the minimum wage will provide a modest New Year's present for workers in a minority of states that automatically increase their minimum wage levels at the start of every year.

LePage Struggles to Fill Maine Cabinet Due to Salary Concerns

TRANSITION WATCH: Maine's governor-elect says top choices for key roles have turned him down, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell promises a fight with the feds over Medicaid funding, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Governors-Elect Plan Low-Budget Inaugural Celebrations

TRANSITION WATCH: New governors arrange no-frills inaugurations as acts of symbolism, redistricting roles are reversed in Ohio, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Rhee is Possible Education Commissioner for Florida's Scott

TRANSITION WATCH: Florida's governor may offer a job to one of the best-known figures in public education, Colorado's new governor pledges apolitical appointments and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Cuomo Declines to Back Longtime House Speaker

TRANSITION WATCH: New York's governor-elect sends mixed signals on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Alabama legislators promise to focus on ethics and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Despite Debt Fears, Voters OK Most State Bond Measures

Where borrowing was on the ballot Tuesday, voters usually said yes. Meanwhile, Colorado affirmed its ability to issue debt.

Independents Making Noise on Gubernatorial Scene

With so many independents and third-party candidates for governor making a strong showing this year, now is a good time to ask: How do independents do as governor?

Colorado Republicans Oppose Tax-Cutting Initiatives

TODAY'S TAKE: Even in the year of the Tea Party, a trio of tax-cutting initiatives in Colorado goes too far for some conservatives. Most Republicans in Colorado's General Assembly oppose the measures, which would eliminate billions of dollars in state and local revenue.

In Colorado, Conservatives Rethink Their Candidate

TODAY'S TAKE: Tea Party favorite Dan Maes has encountered some rough sailing in his campaign for governor of Colorado. Just three weeks after winning the GOP primary, a string of missteps has led both high-profile GOP members and some Tea Party groups to call on him to step aside.

Billions on the Ballot

In November, voters in a number of states will consider ballot measures that, if passed, would have enormous fiscal consequences. Some would raise taxes, others would slash them, and still others would impact state spending in dramatic ways.

A Hollow Victory for Colorado's GOP Nominee

TODAY'S TAKE: Nobody disputes that Dan Maes won Tuesday's Republican primary race for governor in Colorado, but the state's Republican leaders have been slow to rally around their new nominee. More ominously for Maes, former Republican congressman Tom Tancredo, now mounting a third-party bid for governor, hasn't blinked in a game of chicken over which candidate should step aside for the November election.

Tuesday's Primary Night is a Nail-Biter

TODAY'S TAKE: Primary elections for governor in four states Tuesday provided plenty of drama. The run-off election between the top two Georgia Republicans still appeared too close to call Wednesday morning, while Minnesota Democrats look to have narrowly avoided a recount. In Colorado and Connecticut, victory went to candidates who, until recently, were largely unknown.

States Test Whether Public Pension Benefits Given Can Be Taken Away

Most changes made to shore up state pension funds have been aimed at new employees. Now, three states are targeting current retirees - a group that has been considered off limits.

Last-Minute Gubernatorial Candidates Enter Races in Nebraska, Colorado

TODAY'S TAKE: The Nebraska Democrat is limited to 100 days of campaigning for the governor's seat. The conservative Colorado candidate joins a race that still has two Republicans vying for a primary victory.

Governor Candidates Bow Out

TODAY'S TAKE: Gubernatorial hopefuls in Arizona and Rhode Island have ended their campaigns, delivering fresh momentum to the front-runners in their respective party primaries. In Colorado, the presumptive Republican nominee for governor is facing calls to drop out amid damaging allegations of plagiarism.

States Ride Broadband Wave

With an infusion of even more funding for planning since the National Broadband Plan was released in March, states are moving ahead with efforts to expand high-quality broadband access, even as a court ruling against the FCC's net neutrality authority leaves them seeking clarity.

Term Limits Will Create Rookie League in Some Legislatures

Many anti-incumbent voters eager to oust their state legislators in 2010 will find term limits doing it for them. Nearly 400 lawmakers in 14 states are being forced by law to retire this year, including a fifth of the nation's house speakers and other key leadership figures. That has raised worries about how newcomers will deal with governing during a budget crisis.

In Colorado, Concern Over Anti-Tax Measures

A package of three measures on Colorado's November ballot would slash state and local revenues and restrict the ability of governments to borrow money. For the state that gave birth to the "Taxpayer's Bill of Rights," it's a new round of an old fiscal fight.

The 'Amazon Tax' War Escalates

Colorado and North Carolina tried a new approach to taxing the sales of internet retailers like Amazon.com. But Amazon is fighting back, both in the courts and by shutting down a key marketing program in those states. How far will the tax war go?

Tea on the Menu

Long-time advocates of limited government hope the anti-tax fervor of the Tea Party movement will breathe new life to initiatives aimed at reining in state spending and will reverse a string of ballot box defeats in recent years. Opponents speculate that tea partiers' influence on ballot measures may be limited since their focus is on Washington. Either way, no one is taking Tea Party activists lightly, and the first big test will come next month in Arizona, where voters will consider a temporary sales tax increase - anathema to Tea Party groups everywhere.

Anthem Rate Hikes Felt Beyond California

TODAY'S TAKE: Sharp rate hikes by health insurer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield are causing ripples in many states amid a well-publicized plan by the company to increase premiums by as much as 39 percent in California. The firm insures hundreds of thousands of people across the country with individual plans that could see double-digit increases in their monthly premiums.

Summary of the Colorado State of the State Address

In his final state of the state address after announcing he would not seek re-election this fall, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) called for an end to "$10 solutions to billion-dollar problems" and asked the Legislature for its help in balancing the state's budget, advancing green energy and creating jobs.

Colorado State of the State Address 2010

DENVER, Colo. - Jan. 14 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.'s (D) 2010 state of the state address: Click here to access the governor's Web page and view or hear the address. I have had the privilege of serving as the governor of Colorado for three years now. And what a privilege it is. After

Republican AGs Probe Health Care Deal

TODAY'S TAKE: The Republican attorneys general of Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas and Washington State are threatening to challenge as unconstitutional a provision written into the U.S. Senate's national health care bill that cuts a special deal for Nebraska.

Weekly Wrap: Tax Panels Focus on States' Long Term Fiscal Health

States are creating commissions to examine the future financing of government. A new Census report highlights foreclosure rates, median housing values in states.

Budget Cuts Drive DMV Changes

Drivers going to the department of motor vehicles will likely face longer lines and higher service fees in several states as recession-ravaged budgets force the shutdown of branch offices, a reduced work force and the need to raise revenue.

At Least 26 States Spend Less on Prisons

The recession is taking a dramatic toll on what had been one of the fastest-growing areas of state government spending: prisons. A new survey says corrections budgets are down in at least 26 states, with prison officials laying off workers or reducing their pay, eliminating vocational and other programs for inmates and granting some prisoners early release.

Weekly Wrap: Report Questions States' Use of Stimulus Road Funds

States are spending too much stimulus money on new road construction and not enough on public transit projects, a national advocacy group claims in a report issued Monday (June 29). Meanwhile, Michigan and California consider teaming up to solve their prison problems and North Carolina and Rhode Island face off with Amazon.com over taxes.

Smart Grid's Growth Now Depends on States

Now that Congress has directed $4.6 billion in stimulus spending toward developing a "smart" electric grid, it will be up to the states to get consumers on board and adjust rates to pay for the technology. The improvements, backers say, will change nearly every part of the nation's aging power transmission system - from how power plants distribute power to how consumers use it at home.

AGs Optimistic on Better State-Fed Relations

State attorneys general, who this month attended their first meeting with new U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, say they are hopeful they can forge better relations with Washington, D.C., on environmental protection, sex offender policy and other subjects that became state-federal battlegrounds during the Bush administration.

Colorado State of the State Address 2009

DENVER, Colo. - Jan. 8 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr.'s (D) 2009 state of the state address: Click here to access the governor's Web page and view or hear the address. Good morning. Two years ago, I stood outside this Capitol and delivered my inaugural address, sharing my belief in

Furor Over Senate Seat Not Unique to Illinois

Allegations that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) offered to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat have fueled calls for state lawmakers to strip the governor of his appointment power and hold a special election instead. But the scandal in Illinois is far from the first time that the process of replacing a U.S. senator has generated political intrigue.

Panoply of Ballot Measures Awaits Voters

(Updated 4:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 3, 2008)Without a single, dominant issue to rally partisans nationally, the 153 initiatives on state ballots this year run the gamut from abolishing the income tax in Massachusetts to legalizing doctor-assisted suicide in Washington state.

State Laws Pose Hurdles for Student Voters

College students who registered to vote in the state where they attend school have faced sometimes daunting regulations that vary from state to state. And they may confront one more hurdle - showing acceptable identification at the polls.