Stateline Stories

Should States Get Out of the Booze Business?

Pennsylvania is as close as it has ever come to privatizing liquor sales following a House vote in March. Tricky questions await the Senate as it considers whether to modernize or dismantle the state’s multifarious system.

States Struggle To Keep Online Schools Accountable

As concerns grow about performance in the booming online education sector, some states are working to define their oversight role.

Should Judges Be Forced To Retire?

Judges in 33 states are forced to retire at a certain age. State legislators are not so sure this is a good idea.

Pennsylvania State of the State Address 2013

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania -- Feb. 5 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013 State of the State Address:

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.

Pennsylvania Governor Wants State to Exit Liquor Business, Use Proceeds for Schools

Corbett on Wednesday unveiled a plan that would remove Pennsylvania from liquor business and funnel to schools proceeds from the sale of alcohol licenses.

Best of #StateReads: California Leads U.S. Pay Giveaway

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

In Some States, Election Season Could Linger Long After Tuesday

Here’s a look at several states whose elections may remain undecided long after Tuesday night.

After Sandy, Some Homeowners Spared from Costly Hurricane Deductibles

Governor Tom Corbett added Pennsylvania to the growing list of states — including Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and New York — where governors and insurance regulators have told insurers to spare homeowners from the costly deductibles after the superstorm whirled across the East Coast, causing heavy wind and flood damage to property and leaving millions without power.

Voter ID Rulings Vex Administrators Ahead of Election Day

Recent court rulings and ongoing lawsuits have prompted widespread concerns about whether election laws can work smoothly next Tuesday.

Sandusky Case Influences Pennsylvania Contest for Attorney General

Neither candidate for Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement post has anything to do with the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case. But it’s the main thing they talk about.

Pa. Legislature Passes Bill Modifying Juvenile Sentences

The Pennsylvania Legislature has sent a bill to the governor that would dramatically reduce sentences for juveniles convicted of murder, seeking to bring the state in line with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Best of #StateReads: Special Interests, Politics Delay Changes After Sandusky Scandal

This week’s collection of #StateReads includes an examination at what derailed child advocacy improvements in Pennsylvania following the Jerry Sandusky scandal, an investigation into the 15 percent of homicides in Washington, D.C. that have gone unsolved and a look at a region in Utah that contains as much as 80 percent of the state’s homeless population.

Federal Court Clears South Carolina Voter ID Law

A federal court has cleared the way for South Carolina’s voter ID law to be in place in 2013, despite the Justice Department’s decision to oppose the law.

Are Voter ID Opponents Winning the Battle but Losing the War?

Voter ID opponents have won high-profile court battles, but may be losing ground on the longer-term legal fight against the laws.

Pa. Supreme Court Spares Man From Execution

In a two-sentence order released hours before Terrance Williams’ originally scheduled death by lethal injection, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the request of state prosecutors to go ahead with the execution, punishment for robbing and murdering a man who allegedly sexually abused Williams.

Pa. Voter ID Law Blocked Before Election

A state judge Tuesday blocked the GOP-backed requirement that Pennsylvania voters present photo identification at the polls, landing the latest blow to the party's efforts to tighten voter eligibility across the country.

Wisconsin Voter ID Law Unlikely to Apply in November

Wisconsinites this November won’t likely need to show photo identification at the polls. That’s because the state Supreme Court says it won’t immediately consider whether to reinstate a voter ID law blocked in a lower court.

Sponsor of Pa. Voter ID Law Says Only “Lazy” People Would Lose Chance to Vote

The sponsor of Pennsylvania’s voter identification law says only “lazy” people would be disenfranchised this November by requirements to show photo identification at the polls.

Pa. Board Denies Clemency For Death Row Inmate Allegedly Abused by Victim

The majority vote wasn’t enough to spare Terrance Williams from his pending execution. Now, his life depends upon a last-ditch court effort in court Thursday (September 19). The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons on Monday voted 3-2 to grant clemency to the convicted murderer who was allegedly sexually abused by his vi

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.

Amid Lawsuits and Controversy, States Prepare for Voter ID

Identifying and verifying hordes of extra voters will be a daunting task for many states ahead of Election Day.

Alabama’s Largest County Faces Bankruptcy Without State Help

History, a fear of raising taxes, dissuaded Alabama from helping its largest county avoid insolvency

Pennsylvania Judge Refuses to Halt Voter ID Law

A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday refused to block the state’s controversial voter ID law, smoothing the way for its use during the November election.

Farmers, Frackers and Scarce Water

Hydraulic fracturing by energy drillers may not be the heaviest consumer of water on parched land. But environmentalists and some farmers are starting to worry about it.

Pennsylvania Ends its General Assistance Program

Budget cuts force an end to Pennsylvania’s General Assistance Program

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

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

States Reconsider Juvenile Life Sentences

The Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life without parole for juveniles convicted of murder is unconstitutional. But the court left little guidance for states on what to do next.

The Semi-Private Lottery

With budgets still tight, states are asking lotteries to bring in more money. In some cases, that means hiring a private operator to reinvent them.

As States Debate Medicaid Expansion, Maine Governor Looks to Cut Rolls

Maine Governor Paul LePage appears poised for a head-on collision with the Obama Administration over the issue of Medicaid eligibility. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s health care ruling last month — the federal government cannot take away existing Medicaid funds to penalize states that refuse to expan

Pennsylvania Struggles to Help Its Weakest Cities

Pennsylvania has an ambitious program aimed at fixing the finances of troubled cities. In most cases, it doesn’t accomplish a lot.

Pennsylvania Bars Harrisburg Bankruptcy

Disagreements between Pennsylvania and its capital city have at least temporarily deprived Harrisburg of a fiscal tool it would like to use.

With New Fiscal Year Looming, Government Shutdowns Unlikely

A year after Minnesota’s three-week shutdown, New Jersey is the state that appears at greatest risk of starting the fiscal year without a budget.

Best of #StateReads: Getting Aggressive With Pension Investments

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

Facing Off Over Funerals

A Federal judge last month ordered the Pennsylvania state board of funeral directors to rewrite their “outmoded” regulations that limited the numbers of funeral homes any one director could own, restricted the naming of homes, and prohibited funeral homes from serving food. Industry experts say the ruling could have broad implications for other states.

Should States Be in the Liquor Business?

Several states that tightly control liquor sales are debating whether to turn them over to the private sector.

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.

Pennsylvania Takes Step Toward Smaller Legislature

By voting to reduce the number of seats by 25 percent, the Pennsylvania House would make one of the nation's costliest legislatures somewhat cheaper.

More States Consider Diverting Foreclosure Money

TODAY'S TAKE: Officials in a growing number of states are considering diverting money from a $25 billion foreclosure settlement between big banks and attorneys general to help pay for programs that have nothing to do with housing.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2012

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania - Feb. 7 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Tom Corbett's (R) 2012 executive budget address: Speaker Smith, President Pro Tempore Scarnati, Lieutenant Governor Cawley, members of the General Assembly, distinguished cabinet, fellow citizens. Pennsylvanians

Governor Gives Penn State an Ultimatum Over Open Records

TODAY'S TAKE: Penn State must comply with state open-records requirements or risk losing taxpayer money, Governor Tom Corbett is warning in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse charges.

Leaked Memo Touts Corbett's First Year at Expense of Republican Peers

TODAY'S TAKE: An internal memo promoted the Pennsylvania governor's record against Democratic and Republican predecessors in the state and Republican governors across the country.

Jurors on the Internet: A Dilemma for Courts

Most jurors are warned not to use electronic media to discuss a case while they are trying it. But some just ignore the warnings.

Delaware River Basin Commission Postpones Vote on 'Fracking' Plan

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: A vote over whether to allow a controversial drilling method in a key East Coast watershed has been postponed. Energy companies say thousands of jobs are on the line. But environmentalists fear the drinking water for millions of people could be threatened.

Penn State Case Spurs Movement for New Child Abuse Reporting Laws

TODAY'S TAKE: The Penn State sex abuse scandal has lawmakers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York and elsewhere considering new reporting requirements for those who learn of crimes against children.

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.

Pennsylvania Struggles to Keep Up With Bridge Repairs

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania has quadrupled the money it spends on repairing structurally deficient bridges, but still leads the nation in the percentage of its bridges that need repair, a new report finds.

Pittsburgh and Harrisburg: A Tale of Two Deep-in-Debt Cities

Pennsylvania's capital city has filed for bankruptcy and is poised for a state takeover. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh continues to struggle to fill its pension fund. What lessons can localities learn from Pennsylvania?

More Republican Governors Push for Education Overhaul

EDUCATION BEAT: Republican governors in Pennsylvania and Iowa are unveiling plans for major education changes, joining a number of their peers in states such as Florida, Idaho and Maine who made similar moves during the most recent legislative sessions.

Teachers Increasingly Look to Mountain States for Jobs

States that have fared better than most in the recession, such as Wyoming and Montana, have seen a spike in applications from teachers outside their borders.

Pennsylvania High Court Opens Its Doors for Cameras

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania Supreme Court proceedings are now being taped and aired on public television, a victory for open-government advocates who have not found the same success with the U.S. Supreme Court.

States Ask Colleges to Perform for Money

More and more states are doling out some of their higher education funds based on graduation rates and other measures of classroom achievement. The effort revives an earlier movement that had mixed success and raises some concerns about whether it will encourage professors to lower standards.

High-Risk Health Care Plans Fail to Draw Crowd

The Obama administration is offering subsidized health insurance to people who have serious medical conditions-but the customers aren't coming.

Harrisburg's Crisis Tests Pennsylvania

TAX & BUDGET BEAT: Pennsylvania appears likely to take control of the finances of its capital city, but as a result of a new state law, Harrisburg won't be filing for bankruptcy any time soon.

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.

Pennsylvania Experts Call for $2.5 Billion in New Revenue

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: A group of 40 specialists picked by Governor Tom Corbett recommended a wide range of new taxes and fees to improve Pennsylvania's crumbling transportation network. But they say even their $2.5-billion plan might not be enough.

States Prepare Timelines for Missed Debt Deadline

TODAY'S TAKE: States are calculating how long it will take before a political impasse over the federal debt ceiling begins to affect their bottom lines. Some are preparing backup plans, including the furlough of thousands of workers.

Pennsylvania's Successful Mortgage Relief Program Falls to Budget Axe

Pennsylvania's HEMAP program for troubled homeowners has helped more than 40,000 of them over nearly 30 years. But the state chose not to fund it in the fiscal 2012 budget.

Coming This Fall: Big Tuition Hikes

More than half the states cut funding for higher education this year, in some cases by more than 20 percent. The result will be double-digit tuition increases for hundreds of thousands of students and their families.

Business Moves to Center of School Policy Debate

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

Lawsuit Limits Find Success in Two More States

TODAY'S TAKE: Florida and Pennsylvania are the latest in a string of Republican-led states making it harder on plaintiffs who file lawsuits against doctors and businesses.

Natural Gas Drilling Fees Move Forward in Pennsylvania

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Budget deadline presses Pennsylvania to decide on natural gas extraction fee ... Governor Chris Christie reduces New Jersey's renewable energy goals ... New Hampshire unlikely to abandon cap-and-trade, and more energy and environment news.

States Push to Convert Interstate Highways into Toll Roads

Interstates need money for repairs, and charging toll fees can bring in a lot of it. But the federal government is cool to the idea.

Surplus Clouds Pa. Budget Debate

TODAY'S TAKE: Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are debating what to do with an extra $500 million this year, even as they contemplate making deep cuts next year, particularly to higher education.

States' Casino Tax Revenue Tops $7 Billion

Gambling expansion meant a sizeable amount of extra money for some states last year - but it meant a declining take for others.

'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.

Connecticut Governor Seeks to Avoid Public Employee Layoffs

MANAGEMENT BEAT: The struggle over public employee concessions in Connecticut ... the prospect of salary cuts in Pennsylvania ... arguments about a pro-worker mural in Maine, and other government management news.

Corbett Opens Door to Shale Drilling Fees

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Pennsylvania's governor budges slightly on bringing in revenue from gas drilling... California faces legal hurdles to greenhouse-gas reductions... Alaska's oil-tax cut is in trouble... and more energy and environment news.

Missouri is Toughest on Crack Cocaine

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

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.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2011

HARRISBURG, Pa. - March 8 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Tom Corbett's (R) 2011 executive budget address: I am here today to talk with you about the future and how to reach it. The path to that future takes us through a present time fraught with troubles. No other General Assembly or Governor has faced t

Pennsylvania Governor Promises 'Day of Reckoning'

TODAY'S TAKE: While the new class of Republican governors has commanded plenty of attention in recent weeks, Pennsylvania's Tom Corbett has remained out of the spotlight. That changes today (March 8), when Corbett delivers what is expected to be an all-cuts budget.

Even in this Economy, States Struggle to Recruit IT Personnel

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Qualified IT staff remain difficult for states to recruit … Legislators eye state websites for ad revenue … A defined contribution plan may raise pension costs in Kentucky, and other government management news.

Rendell Proposal: Allow Prisoners to Care for Dogs

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Pennsylvania's former governor plans a statewide initiative to pair stray dogs with prisoners … Arizona weighs upping corrections spending even as it dramatically slashes funding elsewhere … Michigan considers allowing guns in hospitals, casinos and stadiums, and other public safety news.

Two Former Governors to Embark on New Jobs

TODAY'S TAKE: Former Democratic governors Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania have settled on new jobs. Granholm will write a book and teach. Rendell will be an MSNBC pundit and join a law firm.

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.

Stitching Medicare and Medicaid Together

Health care reform has cast a spotlight on the sickest and poorest patients in our nation's health care system: 8.8 million people who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. These dually eligible people represent less than 15 percent of the Medicaid population, but they are responsible for nearly half of all costs. Efforts in Pennsylvania and other states show promise of improving their care and dramatically lowering costs.

Lame-Duck Session Scheduled in Pennsylvania

TODAY'S TAKE: The Democratic-led Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which will fall under Republican control in January, will convene for a special voting session on Monday (November 15). The lame-duck meeting will give outgoing Democrats the chance to pass legislation before Republicans take over state government, including the governor's office, next year.

The Not-So-Dependable Sales Tax

In a recession, people cut back on buying things they don't really need. States that depend heavily on sales tax revenue for their budgets have been hit hard as a result.

Liquor Privatization on Tap in Pennsylvania, Too?

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett is the latest Republican to propose a major privatization project to raise revenues. Corbett wants to the privatize the state's liquor stores.

Window for Natural Gas Tax Closing Fast in Pennsylvania

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania is the only major natural gas-producing state in the nation without a severance tax on that source of energy. While lawmakers have agreed in principle on the need to collect one, time is running out fast before the General Assembly adjourns for campaign season -- a campaign season that could result in an anti-severance tax new governor.

Polls Narrow in Pennsylvania, Ohio

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania and Ohio are important political battlegrounds, but up until recently, their gubernatorial elections were seen as one-sided affairs.

Environmental Worries Shadow Natural Gas Expansion

DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Seeking new sources of energy deep underground in the Northeast is an environmentally disruptive process. It is also a potential solution to much of the nation's energy shortage. The question is how dangerous to the environment it might be. Part two in a series.

In Pennsylvania, Natural Gas Industry Flexes Its Muscle

DAMASCUS TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A state known for coal and steel is poised to become a hub of natural gas production. Already, the industry is influencing Pennsylvania's politics, environment and economy.

Pennsylvania Ordeal Raises New Questions About States' Info-Gathering

TODAY'S TAKE: Relatively little is known about state governments' homeland security operations, but a scandal in Pennsylvania is focusing new attention on how much information is being collected -- and about whom.

States Eye License Plate Cameras as Source of Cash

States have used license plate readers to catch car thieves and toll cheats. Now, some are looking at using them to raise revenue by finding - and fining - uninsured drivers. Millions of dollars are at stake, but critics say the idea takes the use of surveillance cameras too far.

A Growing Pile of Debt for State Unemployment Insurance Programs

A majority of states are borrowing more federal funds for their unemployment programs than ever before. With stimulus money set to expire, the consequences may be severe.

Table Games Open in Pennsylvania

TODAY'S TAKE: By opening table games at six casinos near the New Jersey border within the last week, Pennsylvania is aggressively pursuing its eastern neighbor's gambling market. New Jersey leaders see trouble for the state's pocketbook.

Budget Progress in Several States

TODAY'S TAKE: Forty-six states face budget deadlines today (June 30). Unlike last year, when 10 states approached the new fiscal year without spending plans in place, there has been considerable progress this week in states without budgets. Even in Pennsylvania- where Governor Ed Rendell hasn't signed a budget on time in his more than seven years in office - lawmakers appear close to an agreement.

Congress Making States Nervous

TODAY'S TAKE: States are anxiously watching Congress wrangle over a series of measures they are counting on to help pay for health care, education and unemployment benefits for millions of their residents. But the federal government's well-documented financial problems - and the growing attention paid to them on the campaign trail - are threatening those measures. Critics say the government can't afford them.

Arizona Vote Muddies Anti-tax Narrative

TODAY'S TAKE: Voters in Oregon and Pennsylvania chose their major-party candidates for governor on Tuesday (May 18), while Arizona's electorate handed Governor Jan Brewer a significant victory by approving a temporary hike in the state sales tax. Paradoxically, the outcome in Arizona marked the second time this year - a year in which the Tea Party has become a potent political force - that a state's voters have opted for higher taxes.

States Limit Sweeping Tax Hikes — So Far

TODAY'S TAKE: While much of the nation may be focusing today (May 18) on key U.S. Senate primaries in Arkansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, a special statewide election in Arizona could gauge voters' temperature on the question of whether or not to raise taxes. Arizona voters will decide whether to endorse Republican Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to raise the state sales tax by a penny to 6.6 percent.

Transportation Woes Prompt Pennsylvania Session

TODAY'S TAKE: Pennsylvania's aging infrastructure has some dubious claims to fame. The state has 7,000 miles of roads that need to be fixed, along with 5,600 structurally deficient bridges - easily the most in the nation. Meanwhile, starting today (May 4), legislators will meet in a special session to address a $472 million shortfall in transportation funding caused by the federal government's refusal last month to allow the state to place tolls on Interstate 80. Everything from a higher gas tax to new public-private partnerships is on the table.

Seven States Lead in Budget Transparency

TODAY'S TAKE: A report released Tuesday (April 13) finds that seven states - Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas - lead the nation in budget transparency, providing the public with comprehensive and easily searchable information about government spending. Eighteen states flunked the scorecard created by U.S. PIRG, a Boston-based research and public-interest advocacy group.

Pennsylvania's 8-year Itch

PHILADELPHIA - For the past 56 years, the curious electoral patterns of this sprawling political battleground have been absolutely regular. Every eight years since 1954, the governorship has switched between Democrats and Republicans. That portends a Republican victory this fall. 2010, however, is emerging as more than the inevitable extension of a trend. It is shaping up as a test of whether anti-Washington and anti-Harrisburg sentiment can overcome what has been a rising Democratic tide in the state, particularly in the populous Philadelphia suburbs.

The Squeeze on Big Bird

Idaho Reports is a weekly news program about politics that appears all over the state on public television. Normally it's quite civil. But one recent show took an awkward turn when the host asked about Governor Butch Otter's proposal to eliminate the program's funding. "Can you give us an update," moderator Thanh Tan asked, "on where we stand in terms of the agencies that face a possible phase-out…which includes the agency that produces this program?" Guest Wayne Hammon, the state budget director, replied that "the governor felt he had no other choice." The challenges that Idaho Public Television is facing are emblematic of the decisions that public television agencies and stations around the country will have to make if states decide that public television is no longer a business they can afford to be in. According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), state and local funding for public television stations nationwide declined by $36 million between 2008 and 2009. CPB forecasts an additional $45 to $49 million in state and local cuts for the upcoming fiscal year.

Do You Want a Tax With That?

The funeral home director in Pennsylvania and hair dresser in Michigan may soon have something in common with the yoga instructor in Missouri and limo driver in New York. Their customers may have to pay a state sales tax. With tax revenues at a historic low and federal stimulus dollars drying up, states are eying adding a sales tax to some of the 180 services that states could be taxing but most don't, ranging from pet grooming and dating services to dental and legal services. The change would be a fundamental shift in states' tax systems, but the proposals are running into stiff opposition from the business community.

Congress Steps Into Gas-Drilling Debate

TODAY'S TAKE: Congress is stepping into an environmental debate that has raged in New York, Pennsylvania and other states where energy firms are using a technique known as "hydraulic fracturing" to drill for natural gas.

Talk of Tax Hikes Grows Louder

TODAY'S TAKE: Election-year tax hikes are usually the last thing politicians want to consider, but that's just what officials in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Washington state are talking about this week.

Pennsylvania Executive Budget Address 2010

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Feb. 9 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) 2010 executive budget address: Good morning. I am pleased to be with you today to present my proposed FY2010-2011 state budget. This assembly represents a critical facet of our democracy, a democracy defined in ink and defended in b