Stateline Stories

What Do Record Low Natural Gas Prices Mean for States?

Newly abundant and cheap natural gas has slashed home heating bills for many Americans. But in some states, the continued price drop has thinned state budgets and shifted energy production.

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.

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.

States Use Driver's Education to Boost Organ Donation

Virginia is one of a handful of states that use drivers education as a vehicle to boost organ donation. At least eight others -- Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin have adopted similar policies in the past few years.

Virginia GOP Seizes Legislature, Dem Re-elected Kentucky Gov

Voters in Virginia Tuesday gave Republican Gov. James S. Gilmore III something the Old Dominion has never seen before -- a state legislature completely controlled by the GOP. In Kentucky, Democrat Gov. Paul Patton coasted to re-election. But a Mississippi governor's race between Democrat Ronnie Musgrove and Republican Mike Parker was too close to call on Wednesday morning, and officials said it might take 10 days before final results are known. In Washington, voters scrapped a car tax and gave the electorate more say over future tax policy.

Can Texas Beat Its Fund-Balance Addiction?

To balance the budget, lawmakers rely on money they can’t spend. Will that change this year?

Will Moderation Win in Texas?

The budget has improved dramatically in Texas, but spending more isn’t necessarily an easy sell.

Texas State of the State Address 2013

AUSTIN, Texas -- Jan. 29 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Rick Perry's (R) 2013 State of the State Address:

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.

Texas Cancer Agency Fights Controversy

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

In Redistricting Appeal, Texas Challenges Part of Voting Rights Act

Texas is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate its recently tossed out redistricting map, its attorney general announced on Friday, likely setting up a case with major implications for the role of minorities in elections nationwide.

Texas Awaits Ruling on Franchise Tax’s Fate

The Texas Supreme Court is expected within days to decide whether the state’s franchise tax, designed to cover more businesses and raise more revenue, is constitutional.

Affirmative Action Gets a Hearing

In 2003, the Supreme Court upheld using racial preference in college admissions. A more conservative court may decide differently.

Federal Court Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law

A federal court struck down Texas’ voter identification law on Thursday, calling it the “most stringent” of any in the country and saying it would disproportionately burden the state’s minorities and poor as they tried to cast their ballots this fall. “That law will almost certainly have retrogressive effect,” t

Federal Court Dumps Texas Political Map

A federal court on Tuesday tossed out Texas’ redistricting plans, saying the state’s new political boundaries undercut the political influence of Latinos and Blacks.

Performance Pay Comes to Campus

Leaders in the University of Texas System will be paid, in part, on whether they meet several performance goals.

Texas State of the State Address 2011

AUSTIN, Texas - Feb. 8 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Rick Perry's (R) 2011 state of the state address: Thank you, Speaker Straus and thank you, Governor Dewhurst for your leadership and service to our state. The three of us are bound together by shared duties, shared responsibilities, and, most importan

Medicaid Fraud Busters Learn From Experience

For years, it’s been relatively easy for dishonest doctors to squeeze extra money out of Medicaid programs. Now it’s getting harder.

Texas State of the State Address 2009

AUSTIN, Texas - Jan. 27 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Rick Perry's (R) 2009 state of the state address: It is truly an honor for me to be here with you today. Lt. Governor Dewhurst, it is a pleasure to share this stage with you as we begin another session together. Speaker Straus, congratulation

Texas State of the State Address 2007

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 2 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Rick Perry's (R) 2007 state of the state address. Members of the Legislature, distinguished guests, my fellow Texans: It is an honor to speak from this historic dais once again just three weeks since I took the oath to serve as your governor for four m

Texas State of the State Address 2005

AUSTIN, Texas - Feb. 27 - Following is the test of Gov. Rick Perry's 2005 state of the state address: Thank you. Statewide officials and members of the judiciary, members of the Legislature and distinguished guests, friends and fellow Texans: I am honored to uphold our constitutional tradition and speak to you toda

Texas State of the State Address 2003

AUSTIN, Texas - Feb. 11 - Following is the text of Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State Address: Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst, Speaker Craddick, statewide office-holders, members of the House and Senate, my fellow Texans: It is an honor to speak to you again from the dais of this historic chamber. On the floor

Texas State of the State Address 2001

AUSTIN, Texas - Jan. 24 - Following is the full text of Texas Gov. Rick Perry's 2001 State of the State Address: Governor Ratliff, Speaker Laney, members of the judiciary, members of the House and Senate, distinguished guests, friends and fellow Texans: we descend upon this historic chamber today from towns and fam

AWOL Texas Lawmakers Enrich Legislative Lore

Legislative shenanigans are part of the lore of state politics. Texas lawmakers who fled to Oklahoma to deprive the legislature of a quorum - a move that succeeded in killing a redistricting bill - provided the latest chapter.

Texas Efficiency Program Sparks Political Squabble

Although much-loved by fiscal conservatives, e-Texas -- the states money-saving and efficiency program -- is under assault from the Republican-dominated Legislature.

States Confront Challenges of Changing Economy

State economic development used to be viewed as a zero-sum game -- states advertised low costs in their competition for large manufacturing plants -- a process that some criticized as a race to the bottom. While this kind of development is still common, a new perspective is taking hold. The focus now is on grooming an educated workforce that can grow its own jobs from within and attract high-paying technology firms looking for a new home.

Election Officials Worry About Nature Of Reform

For the past 23 years, Wendy Noren has seen punch cards, chads, voter mistakes, poll worker errors, new technology and recounts. The Boone County, Mo. election official has watched election reform initiatives develop in state houses, county supervisor hearings and city council meetings since the November 2000 election. But shes particularly worried about what sort of election "solution" might work its way through Congress and potentially change the way she must do her job.

Bush Most 'State Friendly', NGA Official Says

How do the presidential candidates stack up in terms of sensitivity to state issues? Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the only state official in the race for the White House, leads the field, a top official of the National Governors' Association says. NGA executive director Ray Scheppach offered his assessment at a state issues conference sponsored by Governing magazine. To read more about the conference, click on

Texas Gov Bush A Devolution Fan

George W. Bush, the popular Texas governor and early favorite of political handicappers for next year's Republican presidential nomination, strongly advocates shifting money and power away from Washington to state and local government. In an interview, Bush said he believes accountability is heightened rather than diminished by the current trend toward government decentralization, or devolution.

Bush's Prospective Candidacy Overshadows Work of Texas Legislature

Lone Star state lawmakers are working their way through the biennial 140-day session of the Texas legislature under the white-hot glare of national attention generated by Republican Gov. George W. Bush's probable presidential campaign. Bush earlier this week announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee that allows him to start raising campaign money. "I do have a compelling reason to consider running for president," he told Texas reporters at a news conference last Tuesday. "For my family and every family in America, I want the 21st Century to be prosperous."

Charitable Choice: Welfare Money and the First Amendment

As Texas Gov. George W. Bush travels the country on his quest for the White House, he preaches the power of faith and invites religious organizations to double their efforts against poverty. He says the government will help foot the bill. In Texas, the purse strings have begun to loosen, but the groups Bush praises in his speeches are among the most reluctant to join forces with the state. In this second story in a series of three, stateline.org looks at some of the obstacles in the path of compassionate conservatism.

Bush's Campaign Centerpiece An Unfinished Work In Texas

When presidential hopeful George W. Bush unveiled his philosophy of "compassionate conservatism" in Indianapolis in July, he pledged that his administration would look first to "faith-based" groups and other charities to help those in need. In Fort Worth, Texas, where three religious groups are using government dollars to help women move off the welfare rolls and into jobs, many advocates for the poor welcome the governor's call to action. But it also makes them nervous. In this final installment of a three-part series, stateline.org looks at support for Charitable Choice in Texas.

Govs Choosing Sides Early In Presidential Race

Twenty-four of the nation's 31 Republican governors are backing the presidential bid of fellow Republican Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Eight of the 17 Democratic governors have endorsed Vice President Al Gore's quest for the White House (There are two non-aligned governors: Maine Independent Angus King and the Minnesota Reform Party's Jesse Ventura). What do these political marriages mean for state politics? According to experts, not much.

States Embracing Use of 'Green Power'

Demand for "green power" -- electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as wind and water -- is slowly rising. The movement owes its momentum to state policies. Texas, for example, recently passed an electric utility deregulation law stipulating that a certain percentage of Lone Star electricity must be made with green power. For more information, click on

Houston's engaging 'Flower Man' and the 'shifting sands' of neighborhoods

HOUSTON -- Imagine a bicycle copiously bedecked with flowers front and rear, ridden by a wiry, smiling 71-year old, sailing through a city neighborhood.

Internet Becoming Campaign Mainstay

Some political hopefuls are animating themselves and popping up on your computer screen and in your inbox for the chance to relay a message, raise money and show off their personalities -- a new trend in the short history of campaign Web sites.

Texas Pharmacist to Head NCSL

Leticia Van de Putte brings 26 years of experience as a pharmacist to the National Conference of State Legislatures. She also brings a reputation as a bipartisan leader -- except when it comes to Texas redistricting.

States Suing Feds Over Seniors' Rx Costs

Fifteen states want the U.S. Supreme Court to block the federal government's plan to bill them for a portion of costs for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit passed by Congress. The states call the law "an unprecedented intrusion into each state's sovereignty."

Texas pharmacist to head NCSL(2)

SAN ANTONIO -- A working pharmacist and mother of six, Texas state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte led Democrats on a 45-day walkout to New Mexico in 2003 to protest a Republican-backed redistricting plan. Now, the straight-talking 51-year-old is ready to add another job to her already full plate.

For Texas Speaker, Suite Gets Sweeter

As the first Republican speaker of the Texas House of Representatives since Reconstruction, Tom Craddick has reshaped Lone Star State politics. Now, Craddick wants to leave a lasting mark on the Texas Capitol itself, with a controversial $500,000 project to deck out his own apartment there.

Texas Minorities Now the Majority

Texas is no longer mostly white. The Lone Star State joined three other states in 2004 with "majority-minority" populations-- in which non-Hispanic whites make up less than half the state's citizenry. Hawaii, New Mexico and California have similarly diverse populations, and Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi and New York are closest to becoming majority-minority.

Delegates Speak: Texas on Illegal Drugs

Texas delegate Rey Trevino Wed. Aug. 28, 2008 12 p.m. EDTQ. What serious issue in your state would you like the next president to address?Highway 35 is the drug corridor in Texas, which means we're using local tax dollars to pay for enforcement. All those drugs are going to places like Ohio and Illinois. This is a national issue, not a Texas issue. -Texas delegate Rey Trevino, 51, of Lytle, engineer, interviewed by Stephen C. Fehr, Stateline.orgComments

Texas Lawmaker Decries Infrastructure Crisis

Aug. 29, 2008 12:00 p.m. EDTDENVER - The information technology industry boomed in the 1990s and this decade, in part, because it inherited a first class system of roads, bridges, air and rail, Texas State Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin) said on a panel at the Democratic National Convention here. Watson, a former Austin mayor, spoke of Texas-based Dell, which was able to expand because it could distribute its products successfully. Today, Watson said, he worries that the economy can no longer expand until the nation's infrastructure is improved. (See States worry about dwindling funds.) "We've used it up," Watson said of the existing infrastructure. "We're in a drought of infrastructure." AFTER THE JUMP: Audio from Watson's panel -Stephen C. Fehr Comments

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.

Copper Thefts Trigger Widespread Crackdown

Copper is a hot commodity these days, leading 20 states this year to enact laws to protect homeowners and businesses from criminals stealing gutters, cables and other scrap metals.

Politically Uncorrected: Why George Bush should like Ike

It is a widely accepted political certitude these days that George W. Bush's presidency will be rated very low by historians and political scholars. The conventional wisdom holds that his unpopularity among voters and the controversial Iraq war will rank him among the worst of former presidents.

State Courts Replacing Paper with Electronic Record-Keeping

State courts have been slow to computerize, but they are gradually replacing stacks of paper with electronic documents.

Tough Times Bring Brazen Sales Pitches

TODAY'S TAKE: Governors are known to make friendly wagers with one another when their states' sports teams meet on the field. These days, they're also competing brazenly with each other for investors.

Texas Sees 'No-Win Dilemma' in Medicaid

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas would lose $15 billion a year in federal money if it opted out of Medicaid, as Governor Rick Perry and other Republicans have suggested, according to a new study. Keeping the program as it is, however, also presents enormous fiscal challenges for the state.

Study Finds Details Lacking in Economic Development Deals

TODAY'S TAKE: Governors are placing a premium on economic development, moving aggressively to lure more private-sector jobs to their states. The public, however, often is kept in the dark about the state tax breaks, grants and other incentives that are often at the center of such deals, according to a new study.

Texas Again Leads Nation in Executions; Ohio a Distant Second

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas executed more than twice as many inmates in 2010 as the next-closest state, Ohio, according to a new report. Nationally, states executed 46 prisoners this year, a 12-percent decline from last year.

Amazon Blasts Texas Over Sales Tax Grab

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas Governor Rick Perry has sold his state nationally as a close friend of business. But now Amazon, the online retailer, is closing a suburban Dallas distribution center and canceling plans to expand in Texas because of what it sees as an "unfavorable regulatory climate."

Texas Likely to Allow Guns on Campus

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: There appears to be broad political support in Texas for allowing guns on campus at public colleges and universities … Critics deride Nebraska and South Dakota abortion bills as "legalized murder"… Prison visitations limited due to budget cuts, and more public safety news.

Political Class Watches Perry During Texas Special Session

TODAY'S TAKE: Will Texas Governor Rick Perry run for president? Political analysts are looking for clues in a special legislative session that began in Austin on Tuesday (May 31).

Perry Invites Governors to Christian Rally

TODAY'S TAKE: With the media watching his every move for hints about a possible presidential run, Texas Governor Rick Perry has invited his counterparts around the country to Texas in August for a Christian prayer rally.

Texas Governor Rejects Ban on Texting While Driving

TODAY'S TAKE: Texting while driving is "reckless and irresponsible," but it should not be banned by the government, Texas Governor Rick Perry said in vetoing a measure that 33 other states have adopted.

Texas Governor Rick Perry Poised to Join Presidential Race

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas Governor Rick Perry, a Republican who has long railed against Washington and the federal government, is expected to launch his bid for the presidency this weekend. He would be the only sitting governor in the contest, but as former governors already in the contest can attest, his record as executive will come under close scrutiny.

With Revenues Rising, Texas Sees $1.6 Billion Surplus on Horizon

TODAY'S TAKE: While California and New York face significant budget deficits, Texas is projecting a considerable surplus by the end of the next fiscal year. The state comptroller credits rising sales taxes and natural gas revenues.

What Will Perry's Retreat to Austin Mean for Texas?

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday (January 19), but it is unclear what the retreat will mean for Texas' longest-serving chief executive.

Perry Says State Will Maintain Women's Services

TODAY'S TAKE: Texas Governor Rick Perry told the President Obama that the state will find its own money to pay for women's health services if federal funding is cut off in a dispute over Planned Parenthood.

Persistent Drought Threatens Texas Oil Industry

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Many energy producers in Texas are dependent on the drilling technique called fracking, which uses vast amounts of water. Right now, it's water that much of the state doesn't have.

Texas Struggles to Fill a Texas-Sized Budget Hole

AUSTIN, Texas - Cutting billions of dollars in spending for public programs is tough in a state that was stingy with them even in the good years.

Thousands Protest Possible Texas Education Cuts

TODAY'S TAKE: AUSTIN, Texas - Protesters came out in droves to the Texas Capitol over the weekend to oppose proposed cuts in state school funding that could cost more than 100,000 teachers their jobs. At the same time, tens of thousands packed the streets of Madison, Wisconsin to protest a law stripping state workers of collective bargaining rights.

Win the Race, Draw the Lines

As U.S. Census forms begin arriving in Americans' mailboxes this month, the stakes of this fall's election loom even larger. That's because most state lawmakers and governors who win this year will help redraw congressional and state legislative district lines in 2011 in a process that occurs every 10 years, based on the Census' new population counts. Parties in power will be more apt to craft boundaries that make it easier for their members to win, and the parties are spending at least $93 million to get the upper hand.But some states, fed up with the spectacle of politicians manipulating the process for their own political gain, are turning to citizens to redraw the districts, hopefully leaving the gerrymandering behind.

With Health Care Lawsuits, States Hope for Victory but Plan for Defeat

Even as 21 states are suing to stop the federal health care overhaul from taking effect, each one is also taking concrete measures to implement the law.

The Deficit Texas Didn't See Coming

Assumed for the past two years to be in decent fiscal shape, Texas now finds itself with what could be a $21 billion budget gap. It will have to be filled. But first, the state's residents have to be persuaded that it exists.

Texas Law Seeks to Keep College Students on Four-Year Path

Millions of college students are taking extra time and extra courses on the road to graduation. One state is seeking to cut down on that practice - for the sake of the students and the state budget.

In Texas, Proposition 6 Would Tap Trust Fund for More Education Dollars

Facing $4 billion in cuts to their schools over the next two years, Texas voters will decide next week whether to authorize dipping deeper into the state's $25 billion education trust fund to make up some of the difference.

As Enrollments Soar and State Aid Vanishes, Community Colleges Reconsider Their Role

Two-year schools are crucial to training a workforce that can lead an economic recovery. But states are cutting back support just when community colleges are needed most.

In Texas, School Growth Clashes With a Shrinking Budget

AUSTIN, Texas - As Texas schools enroll 500 new students a day, state leaders are lopping billions of dollars from the education budget. The courts may get the final say on an issue that could force Texas to reexamine its entire fiscal system.

Texas Saves Big Money Through Effective Child Support Enforcement

The Lone Star state may know more than any other about collecting overdue child support. And in a tough budget year, the state managed to increase funds for a novel program that gives noncustodial parents who are behind on child support a choice: a job or jail.

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.

Party Switch Gives Texas House Republicans Supermajority

TRANSITION WATCH: Two-thirds control of the House means Texas Republicans can overcome Democratic delaying tactics, outgoing governors issue their final pardons, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Voucher Groups Seek to Oust Opponents

This year, school choice - or using public money to pay for private school tuition - is a big election issue in states where voucher plans have been defeated by narrow margins in recent years, such as Utah, South Carolina and Texas. Meanwhile, those same states have pro-school choice organizations that are well-funded and increasingly politically savvy.

In Case of Attack, Who Would Run the Legislature?

An obscure Cold War statute would allow South Carolina legislators to designate successors in case lawmakers were wiped out in an attack on the United States. Problem is no one now serving in the General Assembly has submitted a list of emergency successors. At least three other states have similar succession laws on the books.

Republicans Score More Victories on Voter ID

TODAY'S TAKE: South Carolina and Texas are the latest states to approve GOP-backed measures requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls. Similar bills are moving forward over Democrats' objections in Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

States Strive to Protect E-Gov Gains Post-9-11

For states in the vanguard of e-government the delivery of government services via the Internet -- post 9/11 security concerns are posing new challenges at a time when the fiscal squeeze felt by most of the states is affecting information technology budgets.

State Commemorative Quarters Boost Coin Collecting

Two years into the U.S. Mint's State Commemorative Quarter program, the mint estimates that millions of Americans are collecting the coins. Many of the twenty-five cent pieces put into circulation so far have been subjects of public debates, so states that are still designing their coins are trying to submit proposals that are unique and non-controversial.

Schools Fill Budget Holes With Fracking Revenues

Dozens of school districts, especially in Pennsylvania and Texas, have leased their mineral rights to natural gas companies. Those agreements have bolstered sagging school budgets, but come as concerns grow about the safety of natural gas extraction.

Red River Showdown: Texas-Oklahoma Water War Could Reverberate Across US

Where Texas and Oklahoma’s showdown over the Red River Compact has huge implications for how states across the country manage their water. The case centers on questions of state sovereignty and interstate commerce.

Innovations Help Control Prison Health Costs

Because people in jail have a constitutional right to quality health care, Texas, Ohio and most other states are relying on new medical technology and taking other steps, such as requiring inmate co-payments, to ease the cost burden on their taxpayers.

Gubernatorial Candidates, Ohio - Wyoming

For a comprehensive list of gubernatorial candidates in Ohio through Wyoming.

WORTH NOTING: R.I. Sweeps Out Cleaning Staff

The Rhode Island attorney general's office is duped by a janitor. A South Carolina lawmaker gets defensive over an incriminating photo. And Ohio cracks down on very tiny, but unwanted overnight guests. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Texas, North Carolina Seen As Models Of Education Reform

Texas and North Carolina continue to be pace-setter states in the public school standards and accountability movement. This was the consensus opinion at the National Education Summit which was held in New York's Hudson Valley last month, and it is supported by student achievement test results.

Tracking Election Reform: Movement In Congress

Congress efforts to pass federal election reform have received new life after House and Senate leaders agreed on the framework for legislation. But the newfound momentum could be tempered. Leaders in the voting equipment industry said Congress has already taken so much time that all of the companies working together to produce high-tech machines would be unlikely to meet demand before the next presidential election.

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.

Texas Governor Defends New York's Right to Pass Gay Marriage Law

TODAY'S TAKE: Hundreds of same-sex couples got married in New York State on Sunday, when a law legalizing the unions took effect. Just days earlier, Texas Governor Rick Perry, a conservative who may pursue the Republican presidential nomination, backed New York's right to pass the law, saying "that's their business."

States Racing for Education Money

TODAY'S TAKE: States are facing a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for their share of $4.35 billion in federal education grants. Some - such as Kentucky, Michigan, New York and Tennessee - are cutting it awfully close.

Race to the Top Could Be Expanded

TODAY'S TAKE: As states rush to meet Tuesday's (Jan. 19) initial deadline to apply for their share of $4.35 billion in federal education money - known as Race to the Top funds - President Obama is seeking to expand the program by $1.35 billion.

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.

Governors Kick Off Legislative Sessions

Two of the country’s most prominent Republican governors opened their states’ legislative sessions with state of the state speeches from different fiscal vantage points. One day after a strong revenue projection for the upcoming two years, Texas Governor Rick Perry was somewhat optimistic, but warned lawmakers aga

New Faces Replace Washington-Bound Governors

Aficionados of state politics, think quickly: Who are Rick Perry, Donald DiFrancesco and Scott McCallum? The question may sound like a quiz show stumper, but soon the answer may not be so trivial. They either are, or are in line to be, the nations newest state chief executives from Texas, New Jersey and Wisconsin, respectively.

Christie Proposes to Slash Medicaid in New Jersey

HEALTH BEAT: Governor's plan would drop 23,000 adults who are currently receiving coverage. The federal government would have to approve the change in eligibility rules.

Why State Debates Don't Last Forever

If the United States Senate followed the rules of the New Jersey General Assembly, it wouldn't take 60 votes for Democrats to overcome a Republican filibuster. It would take 75, or three-quarters of the chamber, one of the highest such thresholds of any legislative body in the nation. So why don't filibusters grind business to a halt in New Jersey as they do in the U.S. Senate?

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.

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

Texas, Nevada Legislatures Close Shop, Leaving 19 States In Session

Texas and Nevada ended their 1999 legislative sessions this week, with education issues and tax cuts topping the agenda for the Lone Star state and several new crime bills and privatization of the workers compensation program the major accomplishments in Nevada. Both states paved the way for electric utility deregulation. Of the 16 state legislatures still in session, nine -- California, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- meet for most, or all, of the year.

Final Convention News From State Delegations

Were Oklahoma's Ron Paul delegates disenfranchised?

States Still Resisting National Sex Offender Law

A 2006 federal law calls on states to create a national sex offender registry. But most have not complied, and some have stopped trying.

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.