The Pew Charitable Trusts

The nation’s two giant health programs have many good reasons to share data with each other. But they aren’t doing it. more

The gap between the promises states have made for public employees’ retirement benefits and the money they have set aside to pay these bills was at least $1.38 trillion in fiscal year 2010, according to Pew's latest comprehensive analysis on pension and retiree health care funding. more

North Dakota failed to consistently pay its full annual pension contribution from 2005 to 2010. The system was 72 percent funded in fiscal year 2010 and faced a $1 billion funding gap. Most experts agree that a fiscally sustainable system should be at least 80 percent funded. The state also had a $113 million bill for retiree health care costs, 30 percent of which was funded, well above the 8 percent national average in 2010.

New federal rules for power plants and natural gas drillers stirred heated debate in statehouses this year. more

On an Election Day that featured intraparty legislative races in several states, North Dakota voters shied away from several controversies over the University of North Dakota's “Fighting Sioux” nickname, protections for religious liberty and local property taxes.