Stateline Headlines

Vermont gets new mental health commissioner

Shumlin to sign end-of-life bill Monday

Step forward for open government

At Legislature, the governor bats .750

Budget bills and dogs in the Statehouse

Shumlin: Vermont ready to respond if IBM cuts workers

Socially progressive, fiscally prudish

Vermont passes aid-in-dying measure

Marijuana decriminalization bill heads to governor's desk

End-of-life bill heads to governor for signature(2)

Accord paves way for lawmakers to bid Montpelier farewell

End-of-life bill heads to governor for signature

UD president's overall compensation drops, as average for others rises

Vermont lawmakers to continue into next week

Northern New England seeing surge in heroin use

We must do better on mental health

Vermont Senate defeats child care unionization bid

Legislature's adjournment faces some hurdles

Necessary and effective

Vermont Senate passes bill decriminalizing marijuana

Fee bill moves forward without tax on bulk water

Legislature hunts for $10 M in savings to pay for tax deal

Senate OKs altered end-of-life bill

Governor has his way

Conference explores ways to revitalize Vermont's hunger relief movement

Marijuana decriminalization nears final approval

On budget and taxes, 'agreement' is the word of the day

Senate tax bill raises privacy concerns

Lawmakers take up controversial campaign finance bill

Senate panel approves 80 cent boost in cigarette tax

House gives preliminary OK to migrant drivers

Keep working the lands

Vermont lawmakers agree on two-year, $173 million capital project bill

GMO labeling won't pass this year

A 5 cent tax on a 1 cent product?

Vermont is gun friendly but with a low homicide rate

Hints of compromise as end-of-life bill deadlock comes to a head in Senate

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.

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.

Vermont State of the State Address 2013

MONTPELIER, Vermont -- Jan. 10 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Peter Shumlin's (D) 2013 State of the State Address

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.

Defense of Marriage Act Discriminates Against Gays, Federal Court Rules

The federal government’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages — including those considered legal in several states — is unconstitutional, a federal court has ruled.

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.

States Back Challenge to Federal Law on Marriage

Three states say that the federal law failing to recognize same-sex marriages considered legal within their borders violates the U.S. Constitution.

A Fight Over Food Labels in California

A ballot measure to require labeling of genetically modified foods has brought big money and prominent players to the table.

No Child Left Behind: Not Dead Yet

Most states have received waivers from the federal No Child Left Behind law, but some have found flexibility harder to come by.

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

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

States, Feds Poised to Write New Chapter in Public Safety Communications

As a plan for a national emergency network takes shape, many questions remain unanswered.

States Scramble to Regulate Fracking

As natural gas drilling expands throughout the country, states are trying to balance economic and environmental interests. Finding agreement isn’t easy.

Drug Database Dilemma

No one disputes the need for more information about prescription drug abuse. But who should have access to the information is a divisive issue.

The Spending That Isn’t Counted

Most spending programs are easily traceable in state budgets. But tax incentives are not. Some legislators think they should be.

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.

Labor Shortages Lead Businesses to Support Help for Undocumented Workers

Business groups, especially in agriculture, are pushing several state measures to aid immigrant laborers who are in the country illegally. But many of those efforts are treading on uncertain legal ground.

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.

States Struggle with Prescription Drug Abuse

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Legislators are looking for ways to deal with a problem that keeps getting worse. Physicians in some states are starting to work with them.

State Commissioners Ask EPA for Stricter Vehicle and Fuel Standards

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Several state environmental commissioners say that new federal vehicle and fuel standards would be a boon to public health.

Vermont State of the State Address 2012

MONTPELIER, Vermont - Jan. 5 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Peter Shumlin's (D) 2012 state of the state address: Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the General Assembly, distinguished guests, fellow Vermonters: Thank you. It's been such a privilege to serve a

Minimum Wage Set to Rise in Eight States

TODAY'S TAKE: Workers in eight states will see slightly larger paychecks beginning January 1, thanks to laws requiring minimum wages to rise with inflation.

Anatomy of a Backlog: How Vermont Fell Behind on Adult Protective Services

PART TWO OF THREE: State systems to protect vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect are straining under growing caseloads and budgets that don't keep pace with the amount of work. Vermont's backlog of 733 open or unassigned cases highlights the depth of the challenges.

Feds Short of Disaster Funds to Rebuild Roads

A record-setting year of disasters took its toll on the nation's roads and bridges, and the federal fund to help states rebuild them has been tapped out.

Report: Six States Changing the Way Health Care is Governed

HEALTH BEAT: Fiscally strapped states are using more managed care, cutting doctors' fees and limiting drugs and medical services to contain rising Medicaid costs. A few are taking a broader approach to health care spending.

Vermont AG Won't Press Charges Against Nuclear Plant Officials

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT BEAT: Despite "untrustworthy" behavior, no perjury case against Vermont nuclear plant executives ... Federal offshore drilling bill seeks revenue for Virginia state government ... Iowa governor proposes new Missouri River management group and more energy and environment news.

It's Hard to Keep Track of Your State Senator When There Are Six of Them in One District

Multi-member constituencies were once a dominant feature of American state politics. But they are gradually disappearing from the scene.

State Workers to Pay More for Health Benefits

Whatever the result of this year's contentious debate over collective bargaining and pay for public workers, one thing is certain: Health care coverage for state employees is going to change for good.

New Jersey Wants Shorter DMV Lines

TRANSPORTATION BEAT: A proposal to reduce wait times to get driver's licenses gets the backing of the agency's chief … Maryland demands more disclosure from a French train operator about its role in the Holocaust … Louisiana's Bobby Jindal kills a highway bill the day it is announced, and other transportation news.

Several States Wrap Up Their Budgets

TODAY'S TAKE: Lawmakers in Connecticut, Florida, Missouri and Vermont have finished their budgets or are expected to do so this week, while Alaska is closing in on a deal to end a divisive special session over spending.

Vermont Is Latest to Adopt National Popular Vote

TODAY'S TAKE: Vermont later this week will become the seventh state to embrace a national compact seeking to change the way presidents are elected.

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.

Vermont Charges Ahead on Health Care 'Public Option'

TODAY'S TAKE: Every Vermont resident eventually could sign up for state-paid health insurance under legislation easily approved by the state House of Representatives on Thursday (March 24). The first-in-the-nation plan is a priority for Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin.

Vermont's Pension Solution: Civility

To read the news, you'd think every state was having nasty fights over public pension issues. At least one state has chosen to do it a different way.

For Some States, Health Care Waivers Are a Big Deal

States like Vermont and Oregon, with ambitious health plans, stand to benefit if the Obama administration eases up on the rules.

Vermont Budget Address 2011

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Jan. 25 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Peter Shumlin's (D) 2011 budget address: Click here to hear the governor's speech. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tem, Members of the General Assembly, distinguished guests, fellow Vermonters: Two weeks ago, we gathered he

In New Year, Seven States to Hike Minimum Wage

Nine to twelve cents isn't a lot, but those small, automatically triggered increases in the minimum wage will provide a modest New Year's present for workers in a minority of states that automatically increase their minimum wage levels at the start of every year.

Utah Legislators Skeptical of Governor's Tax Proposal

TRANSITION WATCH: Utah Republicans grapple over the budget, Michigan's incoming governor mulls a new bridge to Canada, and more news of the historic shift in power in the states.

In Vermont, Single-Payer Health Care in a Single State

Vermont is pondering implementation of an exclusive government-run health care program within its own borders. If it goes ahead, the whole country will be watching.

Oklahoma House Republicans Question Leader's Conservatism

TRANSITION WATCH: Kris Steele's focus on economic issues angers some right-leaning Oklahoma Republicans, Connecticut's new governor is likely to dictate the fate of tens of millions of state e-mails, and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Pat Quinn Rehires His Old Chief of Staff as an Adviser

TRANSITION WATCH: Jerry Stermer returns three months after he resigned in Illinois, charges of nepotism in South Dakota and other news of the historic shift in power in the states.

Vermont Senate Next for Veteran Diplomat

TODAY'S TAKE: Peter Galbraith, a longtime U.S. diplomat who was controversially ousted last year from his position as the second-ranking United Nations official in Afghanistan, is about to become a Vermont state senator.

Nuclear Power Makes a Quiet Comeback in the States

After shunning nuclear power for decades, legislatures around the country are warming to it as a way to address the nation's increasing demand for electricity. In states such as Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Wisconsin, where bans on new plants are in place, lawmakers are trying to open the door to new reactors. Although none of their efforts has succeeded yet, that hasn't stopped some energy analysts from talking about a "nuclear renaissance."

Vermont's Pension Experiment

Like many states, Vermont faces rising public employee pension costs while trying to close a budget shortfall. A state panel recommended cutting pension benefits, angering employee unions. Legislative leaders and the state treasurer tried something different: inviting the teacher's union for a series of private talks that ended with a novel compromise. So far, everyone's happy.

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?

Vermont Senate Blocks Nuke Plant License

TODAY'S TAKE: Vermont senators became the first state lawmakers in the country to vote for shutting down a nuclear power plant Wednesday when they denied a 20-year extension to the Vermont Yankee facility, scheduled to close in 2012. In most states, decisions over nuclear power plants are handled by state regulators or the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, not state legislators.

Snow Puts Strain on State and Local Budgets

TODAY'S TAKE: The heavy snowfall that has blanketed much of the mid-Atlantic region in recent days already has exhausted an entire winter's worth of state and local cleanup budgets in some places.

Summary of the Vermont State of the State Address

Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas (R) used his final state of the state address to urge lawmakers Jan. 7 to roll back tax increases enacted last year to balance the budget, and he called for sweeping changes to the way Vermonters pay for education.

Weekly Wrap: Officials Hope to Dodge Pay Backlash

Top officials in several states took steps to show the public that they, too, are making do with less take-home pay. Meanwhile, state revenues decline for a fourth straight quarter, Oklahoma erects wind turbines among the oil derricks on its capitol grounds and Illinois halts all state lobbyist registration.

Tracking the Recession: Buyouts Lure 9,000 State Workers Into Retirement

As layoffs and furloughs undermine the job security traditionally associated with state employment, at least six states are offering buyouts to tighten their belts without fracturing morale. But some worry this payroll-reduction technique may not save as much money as anticipated.

Weekly Wrap: Bullet Point Dramatizes Crisis

Mississippi's "down budget times" have led to the rationing of highway patrol ammo. Fallout from the recession is likely to mean higher fees for would-be Cal State students. It's delaying tax refunds in several states. Vermont had some good news - it ended the budget year that ended June 30 in the black. For a quick update on how the economic crisis is affecting states, read Stateline.org's "Weekly wrap."

Recession Ushers in More Tobacco Taxes

In a double-whammy for smokers, the federal government and seven states raised taxes on cigarettes this year. But the new taxes plus President Obama's vow to sign a bill imposing sweeping regulation of the tobacco industry threaten to shrink cigarette sales - and revenues for state coffers.

States Advance With Patient-Centered Care

As President Obama pushes for widespread health care reform, state-based programs for chronically ill patients that focus on prevention and improving long-term health - and cutting costs - are emerging as working models.

States Brace for New Safety Net Money

The $789 billion economic stimulus bill includes aid for the poor that most experts agree will quickly flow back into the ailing economy, as cash-strapped families spend it on basic necessities. But already swamped state agencies face the daunting challenge of quickly getting the new money to those who need it most.

Vermont State of the State Address 2009

MONTPELIER, Vt. - Jan. 8. - Following is the prepared text of Gov. James Douglas's (R) 2009 state of the state address and fourth inaugural address: Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished guests, my fellow Vermonters: One hundred seventy three years ago farmers, businessmen, and lawyers from across Vermont

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.

WORTH NOTING: Gibbons Used State Cell Phone to Text 'Another Woman'

Nevada state telephone records show embattled Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) sent hundreds of text messages to his alleged paramour on a state-owned cell phone, often late at night. Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee rescues a North Carolina lawmaker. And Vermont becomes the 29th state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Illinois Roads To Be Roadkill-Free Again

Illinois has enough money to start clearing roadkill again after months of letting the coyotes "remove" it. Kentucky and Ohio lawmakers fight over an eight-ton rock. And Vermont teenagers who trashed Robert Frost's house are punished by having to learn about the poet. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

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.

States Lead Push for Paid Sick Days

In the midst of this year's flu epidemic, nearly half of all U.S. workers who fall ill or have sick kids must decide whether to stay home and lose wages or go to work sick and expose others, a choice many say no one should have to make. Lawmakers in 12 states and the District of Columbia are considering bills that would make paid sick days a minimum labor standard.

Vermont State of the State Address 2008

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Jan. 10 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. James Douglas's (R) 2008 state of the state address: Mr. President, Madam Speaker, Members of the General Assembly, my fellow Vermonters: As 2008 opens, the hope of a new year - of a new beginning - unfolds before us, touching the horizon

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.

Sick Leave Tops State Labor Agendas

Now that a majority of states have boosted wages above the federal minimum, lawmakers in at least seven states want to guarantee workers paid sick days. Buoyed by overwhelming approval of a San Francisco ballot initiative that would allow workers at least nine sick days per year, lawmakers in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Vermont, Maine, Montana, Michigan and Maryland are expected to propose similar measures.

Vermont State of the State Address 2007

MONTPELIER, Vt., Jan. 4 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. James Douglas's (R) state of the state address and third inaugural address: Click here to access the governor's web page Mr. President, Madame Speaker, distinguished guests, my fellow Vermonters: Fifty years ago, on this same Thursday, Robe