Stateline Headlines

'Sovereign Citizens' Make Noise in Wyoming

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: A fringe political group that considers the U.S. government illegitimate is something the FBI would rather not talk about ... Michigan's governor asks for major concessions from a correctional officers' union ... Democrats see a chance to gain Pennsylvania's top law enforcement job for the first time in decades, and other public safety news.

Wisconsin Teachers Seek Last-Minute Contracts

EDUCATION BEAT: Wisconsin teachers want to lock in new contracts before anti-union legislation takes effect ... Pennsylvania governor calls for $1.5 billion in education cuts ... Michigan grants emergency financial managers broad powers, and other education news.

The Not-So-Fast Track for High-Speed Rail

The last time intercity passenger trains served Madison, Wisconsin's capital city, students at the University of Wisconsin campus there were protesting the Vietnam War. The trains stopped running when Amtrak took over passenger service around the country in 1971. But last month, the federal government announced it would give the state $810 million in stimulus money to return passenger trains to Wisconsin's second-biggest city for the first time in more than four decades.The $8 billion in federal stimulus money billed as "high-speed rail" funding that will pay for the Wisconsin improvements is going to 31 states to improve service on trains of all speeds. But as even the straightforward case of Wisconsin shows, the path for states to actually build high-speed rail promises to be long, costly and, in some cases, politically contentious.

Some Democrats Running for Governor Embrace Obama, Others Ignore Him

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama this week headlined events to raise money for the gubernatorial bids of fellow Democrats Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. But the enthusiastic welcome he received in Ohio and Wisconsin stands in contrast to the reception he got in Texas and Georgia, where Democratic gubernatorial nominees stayed far away from the president.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Battle Over Union Contracts

TRANSITION WATCH: Democrats in Wisconsin look to approve lame-duck labor deals, Arizona contemplates its immigration encore, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

States Share Latest On Rx Programs

Officials from Florida, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will provide updates on their Medicaid and state employee prescription drug programs at a forum in Pittsburgh Friday (1/11).

Changes to 2012 Election Calendar in the Works

TODAY'S TAKE: Washington state usually doesn't receive a lot of time and attention from presidential candidates during primary season, so Governor Chris Gregoire has suggested saving $10 million by canceling the primary election. Florida is already considering big changes to the 2012 presidential nominating calendar, too.

How Governors Govern Higher Ed

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

Virginia Out to Widen Use of Life-Saving Devices

Twenty year-old medical technology could save hundreds of thousands of Americans who die from cardiac arrest each year, but legal barriers have stymied its use. Now Virginia is taking the lead in trying to remove these barriers.

As Shuttle Program Ends, States Step Up Roles in Space

With NASA focused on deep-space missions, the federal government is increasingly turning to private companies to handle more routine flights. Now, states are competing to lure the space entrepreneurs-and the high-tech jobs they promise-to their new or refashioned launch facilities.

High School Athletes Next for Steroid Tests

(Updated 12:45 p.m. EDT, Monday, June 18)A year after New Jersey became the first state to mandate random steroid testing for high school athletes, Texas and Florida are on the verge of launching their own testing programs, and Illinois may not be far behind.

Movement to Shrink Class Size Falters Amid Budget Austerity

A decade ago, it was an article of faith around the country that pupils learn better in less crowded classrooms. That idea is proving to be a casualty of the recession.

WORTH NOTING: South Carolina's Shampoo Specialists

The Palmetto State cleans up a law requiring hairstylists to get more training than cops. Frog legs are frowned upon by Florida health officials. And an aide to Utah's lieutenant governor gets way ahead of his boss. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

South Carolina's Haley Pushes Tax Cuts Despite Budget Shortfall

South Carolina's incoming governor wants to eliminate income taxes, Iowa public workers ratify new contracts against the wishes of the governor-elect, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

As Their Terms End, Governors Show Mercy to Lawbreakers

TODAY'S TAKE: Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania both will leave office next month having granted clemency to hundreds of prisoners.

Republican to Advise Democrat Kitzhaber on Oregon Health Policy

TRANSITION WATCH: Oregon's new governor picks a Republican for a key post, Florida's incoming governor faces delays filling his administration, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

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

Ohio, Florida Among 'Dead Heats' in Governor's Races

TODAY'S TAKE: Two of the nation's biggest and most important political battlegrounds have governor's races that could go either way.

Cities, States Face Off on Mandatory Paid Sick Leave

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

E-Voting: States Better Get Ready, Experts Say

When it comes to Internet voting, Gov. George Pataki of New York and Gray Davis of California have a similar message: Proceed with caution. "We want to accelerate the pace of Internet voting," Davis said. But he stipulated that "we need to develop a secure, reliable system" before offering voters online ballots. Davis predicted that Californians would be voting via Internet within five to seven years, though some Internet executives expect it to happen a lot sooner.

Budget Deal Means Prison Closures in New York

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: The governor of New York follows through on a pledge to close prisons, even if they provide employment in rural communities…California's governor orders thousands of state inmates transferred to local facilities, despite a lack of funding for the plan…Michigan is proving more reluctant than other states to grant parole, and other public safety news.

Motorists Face an 'Avalanche' of Higher Tolls

Toll rates are climbing on highways, bridges and tunnels across the country, but it is not just because of the economy. Many big toll hikes are helping to pay for new construction.

Tea Party Could Sway Key Governors' Races

In the Republican gubernatorial primaries, Tea Party supporters played an outsized role in defeating establishment candidates. Can they pull off an upset twice?

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.

Cuomo's Transition Team Heavy With Lobbyists

TRANSITION WATCH: Almost half the members of the New York governor-elect's transition team serve groups that lobby the state, skepticism on corrections privatization in Florida and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Exemption Debate Looms Over Cuomo's Property Tax Cap

TRANSITION WATCH: New York will consider how far property taxes can rise to pay public employee benefits, Ohio struggles with a tug-of-war over appointments, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Courthouse Costs Engender Controversy

Many courthouses around the country are in dreadful physical shape. But spending the money to replace them can be a politically dicey proposition.

Democrats Struggle to Generate Hispanic Participation

A lower Latino vote would signal trouble for the Democratic Party in November. So far, there are few signs of the confidence and hope that prevailed at the polls in the high-turnout year of 2008.

East Coast Governors Split on Drilling

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama's announcement Wednesday (March 31) that the federal government would allow new offshore oil and gas drilling, primarily off the East Coast, received a mixed reaction from governors of the affected states. Some saw it as long-overdue while others raised economic and environmental concerns. But the reactions did not break down along party lines.

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.

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

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

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

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

States' green-building laws 'lead by example'

While rarely requiring private developers to meet eco-aware standards enacted for public buildings, some states are offering builders tax breaks and other incentives to pursue energy-efficient construction. Long-term energy savings are a bonus.

Best of #StateReads: When a State Runs Out of Psychiatric Beds

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

State Test Results Questioned

Minnesota education officials this week credited tougher standards and a new online testing system as part of the reason 5 percent more students passed the state’s math test this year than last. Brenda Cassellius, the state’s education commissioner, predicted that those tougher standards, adopted in 2007, will lead to

Govs' Gaffes Sometimes Overshadow Policies

When Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Republican, recently told a group of high school girls its about time a woman became governor of the Sunshine State, he apparently forgot about Janet Reno, a leading contender for the Florida Democratic gubernatorial nomination. Its not the first time a governor has put a proverbial foot in his or her mouth. And it wont be the last.

Twenty-Seven States Win Awards For Welfare Successes

Twenty-seven states will share $200 million in performance bonuses from the federal government for successfully moving welfare recipients into work. President Clinton announced the awards Saturday. Minnesota showed the best performance, ranking in the top ten in three out of four categories.

Business Tax Cuts Pass in Michigan But Falter Elsewhere

Republican governors are trying to make good on their promises to cut corporate taxes, but some are finding a bit more resistance than they may have expected.

On Campaign Trail, Attorneys General Walk a Fine Line

Being a state's top lawyer allows for many opportunities to side with popular causes and make headlines. But it also opens attorneys general to criticism that they're using their office for political gain.

Casinos, Online Poker Get State Attention

Massachusetts is planning new resort-style gambling casinos, and Florida and New York may open their first commercial casinos as a way to generate more tax revenue. Meanwhile, states that already have casinos are looking at new ways to tap the gambling that takes place online illegally.

Massachusetts Vote Reverberates in Other States

TODAY'S TAKE: Republican Scott Brown's surprise victory in the special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts is prompting worries for Democrats and confidence among Republicans. But Tuesday's lessons may be more nuanced than that.

Are There Enough Docs for the Newly Insured?

After Massachusetts started rolling out its 2006 law to ensure that nearly every one of its residents had health insurance, the sudden influx of newly insured patients created long waits to see primary care doctors. Now, physicians worry the entire country could see the same thing happen when the recently passed national health law takes full effect in 2014.

Massachusetts Speaker Reluctant to Reprise Gambling Debate

TRANSITION WATCH: Democrats in Massachusetts look to get along by turning their attention away from gambling, Florida's new governor faces a choice on high-speed rail and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Maryland Repeals Death Penalty

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

No Stampede For New Terrorism Laws

In contrast with the federal rush to expand police powers to go after suspected terrorists, most state legislatures are moving slowly on post-9/11 homeland protection measures as they seek to balance national security concerns with the preservation of civil liberties.

Md. vote may pave way for 'Wal-Mart' bills

Round two in the battle over whether states should require large employers such as Wal-Mart to spend a certain amount on employee health benefits could get under way this week in Washington state. Workers' rights advocates, bolstered by enactment of a new Maryland law, plan to push similar measures in 30 other states this year.

States Continue Rx Onslaught

Vermont is poised to enact a landmark prescription drug law within the next few weeks, a move that adds fuel to state battles against rising prescription drug costs. Lawmakers borrowed parts of at least five different programsincluding Maine, Florida, Michigan, West Virginia and Illinois to come up with a plan that is sweeping and controversial.

States Urge Hurricane Awareness

The governors of Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia have declared official awareness periods to highlight the beginning of what forecasters say could be a dangerous hurricane season.

Spill Reignites Offshore Drilling Debate

TODAY'S TAKE: The oil spill caused by the explosion of a rig off the coast of Louisiana last week is reigniting a debate in the states over whether offshore drilling is environmentally safe. Florida Governor Charlie Crist toured the site of the spill on Tuesday (April 27) and called on lawmakers to hold off on plans to expand drilling in the coming years.

Bashing Oil Industry is Tricky Politics in Gulf States

Now that oil has stopped gushing in the Gulf of Mexico, state and local governments are tallying the economic losses they have suffered-and vowing to hold BP accountable. But they are moving carefully, mindful that much of the region's economy depends on the industry they are confronting.

Gulf States Fear Long-Term Fiscal Effects of Oil Disaster

The Gulf Coast states were hopeful that 2010 would be a year of economic revival. Now, one of the worst environmental tragedies in U.S. history is jeopardizing the future of the tourism, fishing and deep-water oil drilling industries. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida do not have the money to offset the revenue losses and are counting on BP to rescue them.

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.

In Iowa and Florida, Judges Survive Expensive Ouster Attempts

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

Best of #StateReads: Iowa Felons Struggle for Voting Rights

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

Push For Ten Commandments To Return To Schools

The Ten Commandments are experiencing a renaissance in states debating bills that would display the Big 10 in schools alongside historical documents. Emphasizing history, not religion, is a strategy that Commandments backers hope will skirt court challenges.

Globetrotting Governors Push Exports, Commerce

With most state legislatures having finished work for the year, many of the nation's governors are off to faraway places to enage in commercial diplomacy. Three of the highest profile travellers have been Illinois Gov. George Ryan, California Gov. Gray Davis and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, but they've had lots of company visiting foreign shores. For more information, click on

Sales Tax Holidays: Easy to Sell but Hard to Justify

This time of year, politicians love to give shoppers a break on clothes, shoes and back-to-school supplies. The short bursts of tax relief are popular with consumers and retailers, but tax experts say the benefits are oversold.

Drone Limits Become Law

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

Cleric Legislators Balance Political, Religious Roles

More than two dozen state legislators double as spiritual leaders, and must walk a fine line in reconciling their dual roles with the constitutional principle of separation of church and state. Hawaiis Bud Stonebraker and Floridas Frank Peterman Jr. are cases in point.

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

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

Enron's Troubles Include State Probes

Hoping to spearhead the fight to recoup billions of dollars of retirement fund losses, representatives of five states are asking to lead a nationwide class-action lawsuit against bankrupt energy giant Enron Corp.

For springs restoration, a small step forward

Tampa Bay tea party groups say they were targeted by IRS

Fla. gov. rejects Amazon deal

Reactor shutdowns prompt inspections at Turkey Point

Analysts: Supermajority not needed on tax cut vote

Florida's crime rate dropped 6.5 percent in 2012

Gov. Rick Scott’s choice: to veto or not to veto?

Former GOP Hispanic outreach director jumps to Democrats

Florida just clamped down on 'gun rights'

Finding a new route to school

Ex-death row inmates: Veto Timely Justice Act

Group to urge Scott to veto items from Fla. budget

Orlando still most 'financially distressed' in U.S., despite slight 1st-quarter improvement

Hypocrisy in the House

Former state Rep. Frank Farkas wins $815,000 in lottery scratch-off

Early-vote tally shows Miami Dolphins stadium renovation was failing at polls

Defeated candidate Ricardo Corona says he never hired ‘boletera’ Deisy Cabrera

Grotesque speed for Florida capital cases

Rick Scott declares victory on sales tax break for manufacturers

Talk of budget turkeys ruffles some feathers

Nuclear recovery fee needs to go, Gov. Scott

Miami-Dade unions face tough medicine to ensure county’s fiscal health

Boondoggle? Hey, it’s for the kids

Miami-Dade killer Marshall Lee Gore to be executed next month, Gov. Rick Scott’s office says