Stateline Stories

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?

Best of #StateReads: California Parks Director Resigns After Budget Revelations

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

Rising revenues spur tax cuts, spending

From Massachusetts to Hawaii, signs abound that the immense pressure placed on state budgets by the fiscal crisis early this decade has eased, opening the door for a wave of fresh tax cuts and new spending.

Mumps outbreak tests pandemic plans

State officials in the Midwest are using an outbreak of mumps to test emergency health plans. The real-life exercise is critical for health officials, who have struggled to ready their systems for a possible flu pandemic in the near future.

New Year ushers in new laws

At least 31 states will enforce new laws that take effect New Year's Day. So as you ring in the New Year, expect some facet of life to change, ranging from where you can smoke in Illinois to how much it costs to enter a strip club in Texas.

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Alabama-Kentucky

A comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Alabama through Kentucky.

'Choose Life' Car Tags Spark Debate

Legislators in seven states Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and South Carolina have authorized specialty license plates bearing the slogan "Choose Life," an action that has sparked controversy and several lawsuits. Though supporters say "Choose Life" is not a political message and is intended to promote adoption, the plates have been challenged by abortion rights groups whove gone to court to try to block them.

Where Labor is Weak, State Workers Face Huge Cutbacks

As the nation debates collective bargaining in Wisconsin, public workers in Alabama, Texas and many other states are fighting over massive pay cuts, huge increases in health premiums and basic civil service protections.

Women Could Win Big On Nov. 5

Voters in nine states will determine on Nov. 5 whether 2002 will live up to its billing as "the year of the woman governor."

Report: Women govs get high marks

Women running for governor still have to work harder than men, but once elected, voters think female governors are better at getting things done and solving problems than their male counterparts, new research released Nov. 29 shows.

Alaska's Governor Shakes Up Gas Pipeline Team

TRANSITION WATCH: Alaska's Sean Parnell dismisses cabinet members working on a massive infrastructure project, Ohio's incoming House Speaker calls for Medicaid cuts, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Attorneys General Prepare to Defend Controversial Laws

State attorneys general are about to head to court to defend controversial state laws. Are they required to defend laws that might not survive legal scrutiny?

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.

Governors Stress School Spending

Governors in Arizona and Kansas both recommendend new education spending in their 2004 state of the state speeches

Technology Helps States Boost Efficiency

More and more states are using electronic tools ranging from web portals to interagency data sharing to make delivery of government services all a taxpayer could hope for, according to two recent studies on the use of digital technologies.

Manners Still Matter In Statehouses

Legislative customs vary from state to state, but when it comes to decorum on the statehouse floor, blazers are in, and cell phones are out.

Arizona Fame Propels Kobach's Kansas Hopes

The most exciting statewide race in Kansas this November may be the campaign for secretary of state. The interest in the normally obscure contest comes largely because of the candidacy of Kris Kobach, a TV-friendly law professor who helped craft Arizona's controversial immigration law this spring.

Secretaries of State Weigh in on Election Reform

To avoid a repeat of the voting problems that plagued Florida and other states in the 2000 presidential election, top state election officials want statewide uniformity in voting equipment, poll worker training and ballots. A state-by-state guide to improving elections was adopted by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) at the group's annual meeting in mid-July.

Issue To Watch: School Testing

A number of states are pushing to up the stakes on reading tests for younger students and assign letter grades to schools.

Best of #StateReads: Ex-Parks Official Had Criminal Past

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

States Mull Borrowing to Bolster Pension Plans

A handful of cash-strapped states plan to borrow to put money into their state employee pension systems, an idea that analysts say is a gamble that might not pay off. New Jersey first tried the approach in 1997, but California, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin and West Virginia might be next.

Lt. Govs More Than Spare Tires, Study Shows

When a lieutenant governor shakes hands with the boss, a couple of fingers check the governors pulse -- because, as an old joke goes, no pulse equals a promotion. The joke stems from conventional wisdom, which holds that, like the U.S. vice president, the main duty of whoever occupies the number two state job is to take over if the state's numero uno dies or becomes disabled. But a new study by a Georgia political science professor argues that conventional wisdom is wrong.

April Cruellest Month For State Budgets

April is the cruellest month, T.S. Eliot lamented in his epic 1922 poem, The Waste Land. State lawmakers might be inclined to agree after tallying up April income tax collections.

Eco-Terrorists Targeted By Get Tough State Laws

Boise Cascade Inc. recently dedicated its newest timber and wood products office in Monmouth, Ore. The imposing building is a steel-capped, cinderblock fortress. That's because the original log-cabin office was burned to the ground on Christmas Day, 1999, by a fringe environmentalist group called the Earth Liberation Front (ELF).

Indian Gaming Revenues Spark New Sovereignty Fight

Native American tribes and state governments are fighting over back casino payments in New Mexico. Kansas Gov. Bill Graves is going to court to keep two Oklahoma tribes from opening casinos in his state. California's Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional last fall's Proposition 5, which allowed Indian gambling. These are just a few of the flashpoints in an increasingly bitter dispute over burgeoning revenues from Indian casinos. For more information, click on

Weekly Wrap: Doing the Math on State Jobs

State and local governments are not gaining employees recently; officials worry about revenue loss from tax breaks; Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell discovers 40 pounds of fat to cut.

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.

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.

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.

New Governors Spell Change - Road Sign by Road Sign

The transition to a new governor is about more than handing over the reins of power or even the keys to the executive mansion. Sometimes its about pesky issues, such as what to do with 4,000 boxes of salt-water taffy that carry the name of New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who left office unexpectedly this year. Nine states face such delicate dilemmas as they adjust to new governors taking office.

Online Tax Filing An Option In Many States

For millions of Americans, the April 15 deadline for filing tax returns used to mean a last minute rush to the post office. Now, for many taxpayers, it increasingly means logging on to a PC, surfing to a tax preparation Web site and hitting the send button.

Lawmakers Want to Pump Kids Up

Florida's school children next fall will be part of a trend reversal in which state lawmakers are starting to bring back physical education classes to combat childhood obesity.

Budget Cuts Hitting Poor in Unusual Ways

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: As more legislatures finish their budgets, programs that help the poor in Kansas and Florida are among those getting scaled back or eliminated altogether.

Lawmakers Set New Ages for Marriage

Legislators in Georgia and Kansas changed their marriage laws this spring to prevent teens from marrying so young. But raising the legal age for marriage for teens too young to vote or even drive proved challenging as lawmakers wrestled with possible effects on abortion rates, welfare rolls, citizens' privacy and the nature of marriage itself.

Lawmakers Not Keen on 'Model' Public Health Law

State legislators have rejected a "model public health law" crafted by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown Universities with help from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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.

Governors Preview Their 2012 Priorities

TODAY'S TAKE: From a constitutional amendment to expand gambling in Kentucky to creation of a health insurance exchange in Idaho, some governors are not waiting until 2012 to declare their agendas.

Crime Lab Backlogs Extend Beyond DNA

State and federal lawmakers are trying to reduce backlogs in unanalyzed DNA evidence even as more common forms of forensic data are being neglected, crime lab directors say.

States Wager on Racetrack Slots

States are betting that adding slots to racetracks will help get them through a faltering economy and dwindling cash reserves

Planned Parenthood Fight Shifts to States

TODAY'S TAKE: Governor Mitch Daniels will decide within the next week whether Indiana will become the first state to cut off all government funding for Planned Parenthood. Kansas could approve a similar measure soon.

Abortion Laws Blocked in Indiana, Kansas and South Dakota

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: States enacted a record number of restrictions on abortion this year, but some of the most-closely watched new laws are on hold until the courts determine if they are legal.

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.

Dam Inspectors Fear the Deluge

Each year, more dams in the United States show signs of disrepair. Meanwhile, the money to fix them grows harder to find.

Tourism Incentives Get Tri-State Tryout

Maryland hopes to reel in visitors with a million-dollar fish. Iowa and South Dakota hope free gas vouchers will attract more tourists. It's all part of the annual summer scramble to pump travel dollars into state economies.

In Drought Ravaged Plains, Efforts to Save a Vital Aquifer

The Ogallala Aquifer, which feeds some of the world’s most productive croplands, is running dry.

Kansas State of the State Address 2013

TOPEKA, Kansas -- Jan. 15 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Sam Brownback's 2013 State of the State Address:

Hard Realities on the Environmental Disaster Front

After another year marked by expensive and deadly disasters, states all over the country are still picking up the pieces from what Mother Nature wrought in 2012. But they confront equally sobering expectations for 2013.

Kansas Cuts to Education Unconstitutional, Court Rules

A three-judge panel on Friday said the state was shortchanging its students about $400 million each year — money it must find to comply with the constitutional mandate.

Brownback's Dilemma: How to Balance the Kansas Budget After Massive Tax Cuts

Kansas made a big gamble last year that huge income tax cuts would eventually bring prosperity. Right now, though, they’re causing painful decisions.

U of Kansas Turns to Legacies to Boost Enrollment

As the University of Kansas contends with four straight years of declining enrollment, school leaders and the alumni association hope to attract more “legacy” students, whose parents or grandparents attended the school.

Kansas Attorney General Wants Return of “In Cold Blood” Evidence

Kansas Attorney General Derek Smith on Monday called for the return of the case file records, investigative reports and gruesome crime scene photographs related to the 1959 murders of Holcomb, Kansas farmer Herb Clutter, his wife and two children, the subject of Truman Capote’s classic book “In Cold Blood.”

Kansas State of the State Address 2012

TOPEKA, Kansas — Jan. 11 — Following is the prepared text of Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) 2012 state of the state address Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Legislators, Justices of the Kansas Supreme Court leaders of Kansas sovereign Native American Nations,

Even in Hard Times, States Find It Difficult To Recruit Talent

As state government hiring picks back up, competing with the private sector for highly skilled workers is becoming a challenge for some agencies.

In Kansas Primary, Results Could Advance Governor’s Agenda

On a busy primary day in four states, conservatives in Kansas are looking to oust moderate Republicans, freeing up room for the governor to push his ambitious agenda.

Art for the Economy’s Sake

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

Kansas State of the State Address 2011

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 12 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Sam Brownback's (R) 2011 state of the state address: "Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Minority Leaders Hensley and Davis, Mr. Chief Justice, legislators, justices, cabinet officers, elected officials, honored guests and my fellow Kansans: I understa

Kansas State of the State Address 2010

TOPEKA, Kan. - Jan. 11 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Mark Parkinson's (D) 2010 state of the state address: Click here to access the governor's Web page and view or hear the address. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Minority Leaders Hensley and Davis, Mister Chief Justice, legislators, justices, cabinet

Kansas State of the State Address 2009

TOPEKA, Kan. - Jan. 12 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' (D) 2009 state of the state address: Good evening. As we gather again to assess the state of our State, I want to welcome the new members of the House and Senate and our new House leadership. On behalf of all Kansans, I thank yo

Kansas State of the State Address 2008

TOPEKA, Kan. - Jan. 14 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius's (D) 2008 state of the state address: Click here to visit the governor's web site to view the address. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, legislators, justices, cabinet officers, elected officials, leaders of Indian n

Kansas State of the State Address 2007

TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 9 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius's (D) 2007 state of the state address. Click here to access the governor's Web page and hear the address. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, legislators, justices, Cabinet officers, elected officials, leaders of Indi

Kansas State of the State Address 2006

TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 9 - Following is a transcript of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' 2006 state of the state address: Click here to visit the governor's Web page and listen to the address. Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, legislators, justices, Cabinet officers, elected officials, leaders of Indian nati

Kansas State of the State Address 2005

TOPEKA, Kansas - Following is the text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' 2005 state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, members of the Legislature, members of the Court, Cabinet officers, elected officials, leaders of Indian nations, honored guests, and fellow Kansans. I am plea

Kansas State of the State Address 2004

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 12 - Following is the text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' 2004 state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, members of the Legislature, members of the Court, Cabinet officers, elected officials, leaders of the Kansas tribes, honored guests, and fellow Kansans. I a

Kansas State of the State Address 2003

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 15 - Following is the text of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' 2003 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, Members of the Legislature and Fellow Kansans: It is a very special privilege to return to this House chamber where I served for eight years. It is an ho

Kansas State of the State Address 2002

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 15 - Following is the text of Gov. Bill Graves' 2002 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice, Members of the Legislature, and Fellow Kansans: Good evening. It is an honor to join you for my eighth State of the State message. Appearing for the final ti

Kansas State of the State Address 2001

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 8 - Following is the text of Gov. Bill Graves' 2001 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madame Chief Justice, Members of the Legislature, and Fellow Kansans: It is a great honor for me to join you to discuss the status of our great state. Allow me to once again thank y

Kansas State of the State Address 2000

TOPEKA, Kansas - Jan. 11 - Following is the full text of Gov. Bill Graves' 2000 State of the State Address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madama Chief Justice, Members of the Legislature and fellow Kansans: While we entered the year 2000 amid greater than usual celebration, I suspect for most Kansans it was a new

Ten States Lose Federal Education Money for Poor Children

Federal money to educate poor children is increasing, but 10 states and more than half of the nation's school districts will see a drop in their share of the dollars in the next school year, according to a report released June 15. Overall, nearly 56 percent of school districts will get less federal money, despite a $647 million increase in the Title I program that allocates money for low-income students.

On the Record: Kansas Budget Director Duane Goossen

One of a handful of holdovers from Kansas Gov. Bill Graves' Republican administration, budget guru Duane Goossen is in charge of managing state fiscal matters for new Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D). In an interview at a Harvard University conference, Goossen said more flexibility in the Medicaid program would be nice, but more federal funds would be even better.

State Elections Boost Women Candidates

State primary elections Tuesday gave a big boost to women candidates, raising the possibility Michigan could get its first female governor come November. But voters in at least two states rejected new tax initiatives and the candidates pushing them.

CORRECTION

In our story on Tuesday's primaries, we erroneously reported initially that Democratic candidate Kathleen Sebelius would be Kansas' first woman governor if elected in November. She would be the second. The late Joan Finney, who served from 1991 to 1995, was the first.

State Health Officials Concerned About Vaccine Shortage

On the surface, a nationwide tetanus and diphtheria vaccine shortage may not seem like such a big deal. How many people will step on a rusty nail this year? Doctors in states such as Wisconsin say the shortage is serious due to flooding in the state and related accidents, but in Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington, health experts say it's not yet a problem. But the shortfall is resulting in higher prices for states and potential problems for patients.

State Parks Reeling From Budget Drought

State parks across the country suffered years of cutbacks so states could balance their budgets after the 2001 recession. Now, all but a handful of states are running surpluses, but state parks are still hurting. Park visitors in Kansas find more potholes, less cleanly campground bathrooms and higher admission fees. In East Texas, a 110-year-old railroad and key park attraction is threatened.

Kansas and Oklahoma Income Tax Cuts Won’t Reach Zero

Kansas may soon finish a large tax cut and Oklahoma is likely to approve a smaller one, but both will be short of some lawmakers’ initial aspirations: ending the income tax entirely.

Governator has whale of a time

California's governor hugs a giant sea creature. Kansas' governor slams her state's wine industry. And add an asterisk to Louisiana Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal's place in the record books. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Lawmaker Loses to a Cockroach

A Kansas lawmaker settles a lawsuit for accosting a cockroach-costumed protester. An Oklahoma official tries to stop Christmas gifts for juveniles in state custody. And the South Dakota Legislature schedules a more work-friendly session. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Delegates Speak: Kansas on Energy, Education

Kansas delegate,state Rep. Valdenia Winn Aug. 28, 2008, 5:00 EDTQ. What serious issue in your state would you like the next president to address?Based on last year's legislative session, energy was a divisive issue. So we've got to do something with renewables (energy made from renewable natural resources), because (energy) affects the price of everything else.HUD is not working in the urban core in my district. I also tutor after school, and it's frightening how our kids are not educated. And then, of course, health care....But because of our really contentious session, energy has to be first. AFTER THE JUMP: Audio from the Stateline.org interview with Winn -Kansas delegate, state Rep. Valdenia Winn, 57, of Kansas City, history professor at Kansas City, Kan., Community College, interviewed by Barbara Rosewicz, Stateline.org Comments

Two Govs Seek Inquiry Into Women in Military

Two of the country's most powerful Democratic female governors - and commanders-in-chief of their states' National Guard units - have called on the Pentagon to investigate the extent of sexual abuse of women in combat by fellow soldiers.

Kan. Tornado Unleashes Guard Supply Furor

The Kansas tornado that leveled the small town of Greensburg, Kan., is stirring up a tempest of its own over whether the Iraq war has drained National Guard troops of their ability to assist states in natural disasters.

Spending Data Soon a Click Away

Kansas plans to launch a first-of-its-kind Web site where users can type in simple questions to unearth hard-to-find details about state expenses. The idea - championed by taxpayer rights groups - also is gaining traction in Oklahoma and 15 other states.

States Seek Alternatives to More Prisons

Swelling inmate populations are cutting into state budgets, and lawmakers are exploring new ways to ease overcrowding and save money.

States Scramble for Gambling Jackpot

States are aggressively tapping into one of the easiest ways to bring cash to their coffers: Let gamblers lose on slots, poker and roulette - and carve out a big take for state treasuries. Kansas is taking that approach one step further with a plan to own and operate its commercial casinos.

Tracking the Recession: Stimulus Police Funds Catch Legislators Off Guard

The influx of more than $4 billion in stimulus funding for state and local law enforcement initiatives has raised concerns among some state lawmakers who want a say in how the money is allocated and worry about what will happen when it runs out.

In Kansas, a Redistricting Battle Like No Other

While nearly every other state is done with the once-a-decade redrawing of its political districts, Kansas Republicans can’t seem to come to an agreement.

Higher Revenues in Kansas, Indiana

TODAY'S TAKE: A faint but steady drumbeat of positive economic news has emerged from state capitals in recent weeks. Tax revenues are inching upward in states that had seen month after month of decline. Indiana and Kansas are the latest examples.

Kansas to Aspiring Journalists: No More State Money

TODAY'S TAKE: Several states have reduced the financial assistance they provide to journalists as part of broader cuts to publicly funded broadcasting. But Kansas is putting a new twist on the trend. The state is eliminating funding for high school journalism studies, saying the profession is no longer viable going forward.

GOP Right Flexes Muscles in State Legislative Maneuvering

The 2010 election did more than bring a big influx of Republicans to the nation's legislatures. It shifted power to conservatives within the Republican Party at the state level.

Kansas' Brownback Hopes to Have a Charity Inaugural Ball

Kansas' incoming governor is stymied in efforts to hold a charity fund-raiser for his inaugural ball, California's new governor wants to scale back the state's Washington, D.C. office, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Only Kansas Defunded the Arts, National Group Finds

TODAY'S TAKE: States took a variety of steps to cut their budgets this year, but Kansas was the only one to eliminate all state support for the arts, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Busy Brownback Agenda Running Into Problems in Kansas

TODAY'S TAKE: Legislative leaders from both parties are expressing doubts about Republican Governor Sam Brownback's proposals to cap state spending, overhaul the tax code and revamp school financing.

New Budget Cuts Threaten School Funding Settlements

Education advocates have had success in court winning more money for K-12 expenditures. But now they could lose much of what they have gained.

In Kansas, Governor Sam Brownback Drives a Rightward Shift

TOPEKA, Kansas - Republican Sam Brownback is pushing what may be the boldest agenda of any governor this year. In the process, he is setting up a showdown with moderates in his own party.

Medicaid Directors to Feds: Give States Flexibility

HEALTH BEAT: In a new report, the leaders of state Medicaid programs say federal rules discourage them from experimenting with ideas that could save money and improve care.

Protests Mark Child Poverty Forums in Kansas

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Holding town hall meetings on ways to reduce childhood poverty might seem unlikely to offend anyone. But don't tell that to the folks in Kansas.

New Governors Drive to Reorganize Agencies

An unusually high number of states are debating merging the functions and offices of state government. But consolidation is often easier to do on the organizational chart than it is in real life.

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.

State Officials Try to Redefine 'Adequate' Education

EDUCATION BEAT: Kansas and New Hampshire look for a new definition of "adequate" public education ... An Indiana Senate committee advances a bill limiting collective bargaining for teachers ... Nevada's governor proposes cuts to higher education and K-12 budgets, and other education news.

Health Exchange Head Start Reaps Dollars

Every state must have a health insurance exchange in operation by 2014. A few have received rewards for running ahead of schedule.

Summary of the Kansas State of the State Address

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) appealed to lawmakers Jan. 11 to increase cigarette and sales taxes to help close the state's current $400 million budget gap and prevent deeper cuts to schools and social services.