Stateline Stories

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.

Gas Tax Loses Favor as Governors Look for New Transportation Money

In the search for more transportation money, governors and state lawmakers are largely avoiding one of the most obvious and straightforward funding sources: state gasoline taxes.

Democrats Play Defense in Governors’ Races

The race for New Hampshire governor has the hallmarks of the biggest gubernatorial races this fall: heavy involvement from outside groups, a national contest stealing the spotlight and messages that echo themes from this year’s presidential campaigns.

Safety Net Hospitals Imperiled by High Court Ruling

Hospitals that serve the poor thought they would be helped by the Affordable Care Act. Now it looks as if they will be hurt by it.

Economy Could Imperil State Readiness

Budget cuts could undermine the progress states have made to respond to public health emergencies and natural disasters, such as the recent wildfires in California and outbreaks of Salmonella on tainted vegetables that sickened more than 1, 440 people in 43 states, says a new report released Dec. 9.

More states worry about revenues

The housing slump impacted revenue in 24 states this year and 18 say they are "concerned" about their revenue outlook, triple the number from last year, a new report released Dec. 10 shows.

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.

Gay Marriage Legal in Six States

(Updated 4:40 p.m. EDT, June 4, 2009) With the exception of Rhode Island, same-sex marriage is now legal throughout New England, and neighboring New York could be next. On June 3, New Hampshire became the sixth state, including Iowa, to legalize gay nuptials. But despite these gains by the gay rights movement, the United States is still a nation divided over whether to redefine marriage. In this comprehensive backgrounder, Stateline.org maps the state of play in all 50 states, including charts, a historic timeline, and coverage of landmark court decisions, voter referendums, state legislation and federal and international laws.

States Ease Financing for Energy-Efficient Upgrades

Several states are experimenting with an “on-bill” loan financing program that aims to spur investment in energy efficiency for homes and businesses — even for owners who lack capital.

Census Bureau Reports on States Tax Burden

If you live in one of these five states -- Connecticut, Hawaii, Delaware, Minnesota and Massachusetts you can boast, or complain, that you shoulder the heaviest tax burden in the nation.

'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.

State Lawmakers Urged to Stress Civics

After last September 11, a wave of patriotism washed over the country, inspiring state legislation to promote national pride among U.S. public school students. But a national legislative task force says more is needed specifically, a return of civics to public school curriculums.

Tracking Election Reform: NAACP To Issue Report Cards

Civil rights leaders impatient with the pace and scope of election reform legislation in state capitals and in Washington have announced they will begin issuing "report cards" to hold officials accountable. NAACP Chairman Julian Bond announced the campaign Monday (7/9) at the organizations annual convention in New Orleans. "It will help you hold accountability sessions with your governor, legislators and other elected officials to find out what they have done to guarantee every vote is counted in the future," Bond said. "And in the fall, were going to issue a report card on their progress. Well see who gets As and who gets Fs."

Health Care Data Website Unveiled

Did you know Arizona, New Mexico and Texas have the largest percentages of people without health insurance or that Connecticut, New Hampshire and New York spend the most Medicaid money per person of all the states? If you didn't know those bits of trivia, the Kaiser Family Foundation can help you track that information and more. Check out the group's new website known as State Health Facts Online.

Nine States Hold Primaries Today

Voters in nine states participate in primaries today, with some of the most closely watched races for state office taking place in Arizona, Minnesota and Wisconsin, where gubernatorial and attorney general races will be decided.

Courts Block Efforts at Public Pension Change

Two judges have ruled that their states cannot make existing employees contribute more toward their retirement benefits.

New Governors Off to School

Five of the nation's seven newly-elected governors will get introductory lessons this weekend in the fine art of leading a state. Governors-elect will meet for a National Governors Association (NGA) retreat in West Virginia to learn how to prepare the first family for life in the spotlight, deal with the media, shape their political agendas and work with legislatures.

States Retool Welfare Under New TANF Rules

While most states are scrambling to meet stiff new federal standards for moving poor people from welfare to work, Georgia, Arkansas and New Hampshire already have revamped their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs to comply with the new rules. States that fail to meet the standards face hefty penalties starting Oct. 1.

Governors' Inaugurations Take on Frugal Airs

President George W. Bush's inauguration took center stage in the nation's political arena, drawing most of the 28 Republican governors to Washington, D.C. But 11 recently elected governors threw inaugural parties of their own this month, each bringing his or her own style to the occasion, from collecting aid for tsunami survivors to a gala that garnered a visit from Elvis.

Credit Crunch Hits States' College Loans

The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.

Six States Miss Budget Deadlines

California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island all missed budget deadlines as of 12:01 AM Tuesday because of partisan bickering over taxing and spending. A handful of other states, including Missouri, New Jersey and North Carolina, flirted with blown deadlines but reached budget agreements before July 1, the dawn of the new fiscal year in all but four states.

Southern States Poorest, Census Says

Making ends meet is harder in Louisiana, West Virginia and Mississippi, states with the highest poverty rates in the country. State poverty rates range from 6.1 percent in New Hampshire to 20.3 percent in Louisiana, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau based on a survey of 700,000 households. States with large minority populations tended to have above-average poverty rates including New York (13.5 percent), California (14 percent), and Texas (15.3 percent), according to an analysis of the survey data by the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute.

Budget Deadline Looms Large in 10 States

The clock is ticking in 10 states that still have not adopted budgets for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with an eleventh-hour showdown threatening a partial government shutdown in Minnesota. Some - but not all - of those states are expected to wrap up their budget process this week.

WORTH NOTING: Gov Targeted in Critic's Galaxy

A New Jersey mayor shifts his aim from a planet to a politician. California's budget troubles are as bad as what? And a problem gambler gets more help than he wanted to kick the habit. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Sex Ed Landscape Shifting in States

While most states still stress abstinence in sex education, lately there has been a movement toward a comprehensive approach that also teaches about contraception.

Weekly Wrap: New Year Brings New Laws

New state laws that take effect across the country on New Year's Day range from affecting the way residents drive to whether they can marry or profit from snapping a celebrity's photograph. (See also:US: State lawmakers, lacking money, took up bad-behavior bans in '09 and US: New 2010 laws -- Cooking to texting)

Budget Cuts to Programs for Elderly May Cost Money Later

SOCIAL POLICY BEAT: Programs for the elderly are cut back in California and Illinois ... legislators quarrel with the governor over reductions to senior citizen care in New Jersey ... state monitoring of some elder facilities is eliminated in New Hampshire, and other social policy news.

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.

Northeastern States Seek Terrorist-Intelligence Sharing

Homeland security officials in 10 northeastern states want to establish intelligence-sharing centers that would better disseminate terrorist-related information between federal law enforcement and local police officers. Mark Cohen, who heads the New York State Office of Public Security, said the ability to share intelligence in real time is the most critical component for homeland security in the states.

Lawmakers Press Solicitor General on Maine Rx Case

An eight-state coalition wants the U.S. Solicitor General to support Maine in a controversial prescription drug case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. The group, known as the Northeast Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices, wants the federal government's chief lawyer to weigh in heavily on behalf of states trying to curb prescription costs.

States Challenge New Mercury Rules

Several Northeastern states are mounting legal and legislative challenges to new federal rules on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, charging that relaxed standards ignore serious health hazards and undermine their own environmental efforts.

WORTH NOTING: Lt. Governors May Pass on New York

Can New York host a lieutenant governors' shindig without a lieutenant governor? Some New England residents want to air their laundry - the clean kind. And a New Jersey man sues for a bribe that went bust. In case you missed any of those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Republicans Win Big in North Carolina Governor’s Race But Struggle Elsewhere

Despite heavy spending by outside groups in nearly a dozen races for governor, the partisan mix of Democrats and Republicans leading states appeared to change only slightly as a result of Tuesday’s elections.

2004 Governors' Races

Here is a complete rundown of candidates in the nation's 11 governors' races.

Primaries Settle Slates of Open Governor Seats

Tuesdays primary results filled in the final blanks in the slate of candidates running for governor in 11 states. In five states, the race is wide open because incumbents arent competing in the general election. Here's a complete roster of governors matchups this election year.

Elections Will Bring Five Freshmen Governors

A Navy reserve officer who shipped out to Afghanistan weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks and a millionaire businessman whose family invented the clamshell container for McDonalds Big Mac are among the newcomers competing to join the nations corps of governors on Election Day. At least five freshmen governors will be elected this November in 11 gubernatorial races across the country.

Election Reform Reports Reveal States Best, Worst

Two new reports alternately praise and chastise states for their election practices while offering vastly different proposals for how to best reform voting practices in this country.

GOP Sticks With Prez Primary Rules

For all the complaining about the 2008 presidential primary season starting too early, the GOP has done little to change the 2012 contest schedule.

With Rick Scott as Governor, Merit Pay Plan for Florida Teachers May Pass

TRANSITION WATCH: Florida conservatives are eager to revisit merit pay, Arizona's Republican Senate President breaks with business groups on tax incentives and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Georgia's Nathan Deal Hands Off Personal Finances

TRANSITION WATCH: Georgia's incoming governor creates a blind trust, Ohio's new governor tries to keep Race to the Top money and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

AAA Criticizes Higher Fees for Out-of-State E-ZPass Drivers

The national drivers’ group wants tolling agencies to treat E-ZPass users the same, regardless of where they bought their transponders.

Unions Make Strong Showing at the Polls

Labor won big contests in Indiana, California and New Hampshire, while results were mixed in Michigan.

Incumbent Governors in Indiana, New Hampshire Lose Races

Republicans won governorships previously held by the Democrats in Missouri and Indiana, and the Democrats ousted a GOP incumbent in New Hampshire and won in Montana in Tuesday's election. In other governors races, Democrats kept control of the state's top office in Delaware, North Carolina and West Virginia. Republicans held on to North Dakota and Vermont and Utah. Colorado cast its electoral vote for President Bush, but let Democrats regain control of both the Colorado House and Senate. Proposals to ban gay marriage were approved in all 11 states that considered them.

A Labor Challenge to Republicans in Indiana

In some states, labor unions have decided the best way to regain influence may be to work on the Republican Party from within.

Iowa and New Hampshire Same Old, Same Old

One definition of crazy is to keep doing diligently the same thing over and over when it's not working. By that definition America's presidential primary system is seriously loony, for with respect to developing a democratic process to nominate candidates for president, we have been doing the same thing over and over again for more than 60 years and it's not working.

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.

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.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Louisiana - North Dakota

Find a comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Louisiana through North Dakota

Health Of Nation Measured In Report Card

A national report card on health places New Hampshire at the top of the list of states that have healthy residents with decent access to healthcare. Mississippi ranked 50th in the study sponsored by the United Health Group of Minneapolis. Minnesota, Utah and Massachusetts also ranked high among states for all round good health and longevity. Louisiana, South Carolina and West Virginia joined Mississippi at the bottom of the list.

Northeastern States To Drastically Cut Emissions Cap

Nine Northeastern states will drastically cut the region’s carbon cap under proposed changes to the region’s cap-and- trade program, they announced Thursday.

Glendening Calls for Federal Role In 'Smart Growth'

Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening wants the federal government to take a more active role in the burgeoning "smart growth" movement. Speaking before a packed house at the National Press Club in Washington, DC Thursday (2/1) Glendening said, "Smart Growth must be more than a nationwide movement in the states, it must become a national movement with the federal government as an active partner."

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.

Few Incumbent Governors Likely to Fall

With high unemployment and pervasive bad news about state budgets, it seems incumbent governors would be in jeopardy of losing their jobs this year. But outside the Midwest, most sitting governors have the edge in their races Tuesday.

States Balance He's and She's

Though women have had the vote for nearly a century, many state constitutions use only male nouns and pronouns to refer to state offices and functions. There's a move afoot to change that, and it's focused on Michigan and New Hampshire.

Rick Snyder Picks a Democrat

TRANSITION WATCH: Michigan's Republican governor-elect reaches across the aisle for a top appointment, Georgia's governor-elect picks a controversial chief of staff, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Speakers get schooled in statesmanship

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Interested in a quick course on how to excel as a state legislative leader? Here's what you would learn: Be involved and inclusive; stay focused on your goals and personal values; be humble.

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2013

CONCORD, New Hampshire --Feb. 14-- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Maggie Hassan's (D) 2013 State of the State Address:

Issue to Watch: Collective Bargaining

While this year’s legislative battles in the states over collective bargaining rights are likely to be more restrained than previous years, the legislation put forward would still have a significant impact on employer-labor relationships, if passed.

Tax Pledge Permeates New Hampshire Politics

New Hampshire has no income tax or sales tax. The candidates for governor want to keep it that way. But despite that, the debate over taxes never really goes away.

Out-Of-State Students May Vote in New Hampshire, Judge Rules

Out of state students in New Hampshire will be able to vote in November, a state judge ruled Monday, reversing the legislature’s attempt to say otherwise.

In New Hampshire, a Primary Full of Unfamiliarity

John Lynch, New Hampshire’s popular moderate Democratic governor, is not seeking reelection this year, creating a window of opportunity for Republicans wishing to take back the office.

In New Hampshire, No Veto on Cap-and-Trade Compromise

Under a new law, New Hampshire will leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but only if other states do first. Governor John Lynch, a champion of New England’s cap-and-trade pact, tentatively supported a policy viewed as a compromise.

New Hampshire Inaugural Address 2011

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Jan. 6 - Following is the full text of New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch's (D) inaugural address (New Hampshire does not have a state of the state address in years in which a budget or inaugural speech is given): Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Madam Chief Justice - isn't it good to say Madam Chie

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2010

CONCORD, N.H. - Jan. 21 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Lynch's (D) 2010 state of the state address: Madam Speaker, Madam President, Mr. Chief Justice, honorable members of the Governor's Council, the Judiciary, the House and Senate, and my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: Let me take a moment

New Hampshire Lawmakers Compromise on Cap-and-Trade

New Hampshire lawmakers this week passed legislation calling for the state to exit New England’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, but only if two other states drop out first.

Education Funding Control Eludes N.H. Lawmakers

New Hampshire’s state Supreme Court has exercised oversight over education funding and standards through a series of rulings. An amendment that failed Wednesday would have given legislators final say.

New Hampshire Budget Address 2009

CONCORD, N.H. -- Feb. 12 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Lynch's (D) 2009 state of the state and budget Address: Madam Speaker, Madam Senate President, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the House, Senate, and my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: I come before you today as our nation faces its deepest

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2008

CONCORD, N.H. - Jan. 23 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Lynch's (D) 2008 state of the state address: Madam Speaker, Madam President, Mr. Chief Justice, honorable members of the Governor's Council, the Judiciary, the House and Senate, my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: I am proud to come before

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2007

CONCORD, N.H., Jan. 4- Following is the prepared text of Gov. John Lynch's (D) 2007 state of the state and second inaugural address: Madam Speaker, Madam President, Mr. Chief Justice and members of the judiciary, honorable members of the House, Senate and Executive Council, and my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: Y

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2006

Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Mr. Chief Justice, honorable members of the Governor's Council, the Judiciary, the House and Senate, my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: Before I begin allow me to recognize my wife Susan. Her love, support and patience, and that of our children, make it possible for me to do my job eve

New Hampshire Inaugural Address 2005

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Jan. 6 - Following is the text of Gov. John Lynch's 2005 inaugural address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Mr. Chief Justice and members of the judiciary, honorable members of the House, Senate and Executive Council, and my fellow citizens: In a ceremony as old as our const

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2003

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Feb. 13 - Following is the full text of New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson's State of the State Address: All across the nation, states are united in their fiscal woes. Maine, for example, is facing a $1 billion deficit; Massachusetts, $3 billion. States are facing deep program cuts, higher tax

New Hampshire Inaugural Address 2001

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Jan. 4 - Following is the text of Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's 2001 State of the State Address: Speaker, Mr. President, Mr. Chief Justice, honorable members of the House, Senate and Executive Council, my fellow citizens: I want to thank the people of New Hampshire for once again entrusting me

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2000

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Feb. 3 - Following is the text of Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's 2000 State of the State Address: Madame Speaker, Madame President, honorable members of the Executive Council, the House and Senate, my fellow citizens of New Hampshire: I am always humbled when I stand before you in this hist

Re-Election Not a Shoo-In for Gov. Benson in New Hampshire

Gov. Craig Benson is a Republican in a Republican state, and a freshman in a state that has never turned out a governor seeking a second two-year term. The odds favor him for re-election. But Benson's take-no-prisoners style of management plus scandals in his administration make him vulnerable in the Nov. 2 election.

Lynch's Ethics Push Wins Over New Hampshire

Democratic Gov.-elect John Lynch, a political neophyte, scored an election night coup such as New Hampshire hadnt seen in nearly eight decades when he unseated incumbent first-term Gov. Craig Benson. What was Lynchs secret? Apparently, his relentless pounding on one key moral issue personal integrity resonated with Granite State voters.

Libertarian Group Targets New Hampshire

Five thousand members of the Free State Project have chosen New Hampshire as the state the libertarian group will try to take over politically.

Primary Schedule Now Nearly Complete

Courts have finally cleared the way for primary elections to take place in Florida, Kansas, North Carolina and New Hampshire, the last states where legislative redistricting disputes threatened to derail this falls nominating process for the general election. But its still unclear whether the New Hampshire primary scheduled for Sept. 10 will include a full slate of candidates.

State Races See Corporate Scandal Spillover

Call it the Enron effect. From New Hampshire to Texas to California, candidates running for governor on the strength of their business records have been thrown on the defensive by a falling stock market, corporate scandals and the publics growing mistrust of big business.

Remap Threatens New Hampshire's Folksy Politics

New Hampshire is a small state with a big House of Representatives -- the nations largest at 400 members. But redistricting is undermining its cherished principle of small towns having a voice at the state Capitol.

Mystery Web Site Tracks New Jersey Politics

Politicsnj.com, a New Jersey Web site that dishes up political news, regularly scoops the mainstream media and now is being replicated outside the Garden State. But politicsnj.com is a story in itself because nobody seems to know whos behind it.

New Hampshire Gov Defies Tax Taboo

Four years ago, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen not only broke New Hampshire's glass ceiling to become the state's first woman governor, she was the first Democrat elected in 16 years. Now she's trying to break another glass ceiling -- New Hampshire's taboo against broad-based general income and sales taxes.Shaheen is backing a 2.5 percent sales tax to pay for an estimated $225 million shortfall in the upcoming two-year budget. She would use sales tax proceeds to restructure the tax system by repealing New Hampshire's 18 percent inheritance tax and reduce several other taxes.

New Hampshire High Court Upholds Unpopular Tax

A sharply divided New Hampshire Supreme Court Thursday upheld the constitutionality of the state's education property tax, which the state relies on for more than half its aid to public schools. However, the court warned the state it should correct problems with property assessments that led a lower court to declare the tax unconstitutional. It said the state should be able to fix the tax before it expires in 2003.

New Hampshire Still Vexed By School Funding Challenge

In the 3 years since the state Supreme Court ordered the state to find a fairer way to fund schools, New Hampshire's anti-tax tradition has risen up to thwart every attempt to use a personal income or general sales tax to restructure the state's old property tax system. Instead, the state is relying for more than half its funding on a temporary statewide property tax that survived a court challenge with a warning from a sharply divided court to fix the tax -- and soon. The governor and the legislature remain divided on a permanent fix.

Election Campaigns Enter 'Uncharted Waters'

Patriotism, not politics, has been on the minds of many since terrorist attacks last Tuesday. Now a week past, however, elections and campaigns are resuming, entering what both election officials and candidates have called "uncharted waters."

New Hampshire High Court In Crisis, Removal Proceedings Loom

New Hampshire hasn't impeached a judge since 1790, but in a case unprecedented in U.S. judicial history, all but one of the five members of the State Supreme Court may now face removal proceedings because of questionable ethics practices. This extraordinary turn of events was set in motion by one justice's alleged efforts to fix his own divorce case.

New Hampshire Sees First Impeachment Since 1790

What began as an investigation into whether a New Hampshire judge tried to influence the state Supreme Court over his divorce appeal now threatens to end the career of the chief justice in the state's first Senate impeachment trial. Chief Justice David Brock will face an unprecedented trial starting Sept. 18 on charges he called a lower-court judge about a powerful state senator's case, let a Supreme Court colleague have a say in the handling of his own divorce, let disqualified justices participate in cases and lied to a House committee investigating the court.

New Hampshire School Fight May End State's Tax Taboo

For nearly three decades, pledging to veto broad-based taxes has been a rite of passage for New Hampshire governors. No one spurning the pledge has ever won the state's highest office, and Gov. Jeanne Shaheen was no exception in winning her second term last November. But New Hampshire's status as one of two states without a general income or sales tax - Alaska is the other -- is in jeopardy despite Shaheen's promise because of a court-ordered reexamination of public school financing.

Internet Good Source Of Info on New Hampshire School Crisis

With the New Hampshire state government fast approaching a court-imposed April 1 deadline to find a new way to finance public schools, it's easy for the public to learn about the crisis and find out how proposed fixes will affect them. There's a wealth of information on the Internet. In this report, stateline.org identifies some Web sites focusing on the crisis and tells you what you will find on each of them.

No Deal In Sight On New Hampshire School Funding

Finding a fairer way to pay for schools in New Hampshire as the state Supreme Court insists has evolved into a high stakes poker game, with no one yet holding a winning hand. Income tax backers hold the most aces, but Gov. Jeanne Shaheen believes she has the only card needed to trump them - a promise to veto the tax. Meantime, the court's April 1 deadline for action is fast appoaching. A look at the impasse in this stateline.org special report.

Four States Consider Income Tax; Four States Reject It

Facing education funding woes and a variety of budget shortfalls, lawmakers in New Hampshire and three other states that do not collect income taxes considered reversing course this year--and in each case defeated or abandoned those plans for fear of retribution from the voters. To read about this politically perilous policy issue, click on

Funding Gap Plagues New Hampshire's New School Financing System

New Hampshire has a new public school financing system that supposedly assures that students who live in poor communities will receive an education comparable to what kids in richer school districts get. But there's still no relief in sight for the headaches of Granite State lawmakers, who've been grappling with this issue since the state supreme court ruled in December, 1997 that an adequately funded education was a fundamental right of every New Hampshire child. In this special report, Norma Love, who covers the legislature for the Associated Press, spells out the remaining problems.

State Laws Vary on Driving Distractions

New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't require adult motorists to wear seat belts, but it's also the only state where drivers can be ticketed for eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone or fussing with their makeup while behind the wheel. The state whose motto is "Live Free or Die" passed the nation's first distracted driving law in 2001. Since then, every state has looked at ways to keep drivers' minds on the road, but lawmakers in most states are choosing to focus more narrowly on restricting cell phone use while driving.

Students get an eyeful

An Ohio lawmaker accidentally flashes nude photos to high school seniors. Public urination could be a separate crime in New Hampshire, and that would be a good thing for violators. And Alabama now bans the selling of sex toys - unless, of course, people say it's for their health. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Civil Unions Spread, But Gays Want to Wed

A fourth state just agreed to offer civil unions, but the alternative to gay marriage is proving more popular with lawmakers than with gay rights activists.

Real ID Dropouts Leave Security Holes

Defying Uncle Sam, four states have passed laws refusing to comply with federal rules to make driver's licenses more secure, casting further doubt on the future of the 2005 Real ID Act.

A Backlash Against Rising State Fees

Want to renew your driver’s license, go to a state park, or sue someone in civil court? Chances are you’ll pay higher fees for those and other government services than you would have just a few years ago. Raising fees

Same-Sex Marriage Remains Law in New Hampshire

TODAY'S TAKE: An effort to repeal a 2009 law legalizing gay marriage in New Hampshire failed on Wednesday (March 21), with state representatives defeating the measure in a lopsided vote.

New Hampshire State of the State Address 2012

CONCORD, New Hampshire - Jan. 31 - Following is the full text of New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch's (D) state of the state address: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Senate President, Madam Chief Justice and members of the judiciary, honorable members of the Executive Council, House and Senate, and my fellow citizens of Ne

Study: Which States Lose Out to China?

TODAY'S TAKE: Since 2001, when China entered the World Trade Organization, at least 2.4 million American jobs have been lost as a result of increased U.S. trade with that country, according to a new study by the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. The study finds that the states that have lost the most jobs to China - as a percentage of their overall employment - are New Hampshire, North Carolina, Massachusetts, California and Oregon.