Alan Greenblatt

Recent Articles

• Did Wisconsin End the Recall Wave?
• Aug 31, 2012
• Recalls have been on the rise. But after Gov. Scott Walker survived his election, two other high-profile recall attempts failed in Michigan and California.

• More Incumbents Losing Grasp on State Legislature Seats
• Aug 10, 2012
• Voters aren't waiting until November to express their anger. With 14 states still to hold their primary contests, already 135 incumbent state legislators have lost their seats.

• Pension Plan Changes Pose Challenges for Lawmakers
• Aug 9, 2012
• Lawmakers have become acutely familiar with the financial challenges caused by pension underfunding, and they're certainly aware of the political difficulties involved in trying to change pension formulas. But the legal hurdles involved in changing pension benefits can be formidable as well.
• 1 Comments

• Counties: An Outdated Concept or the Future?
• Jul 31, 2012
• Hit harder by the economic downturn than either cities or states, counties are feeling pressure from all sides, leading many to reexamine county functions altogether.
• 2 Comments

• Social Issues Overshadow Tennessee Legislative Session
• Jun 29, 2012
• Tennessee made a bid (again) to become the nation’s most socially conservative state by voting on bills regarding school prayer, sex education, climate change and abortion.

• Los Angeles Transit Needs Taxpayers' Money to Rebuild
• Jun 29, 2012
• Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking voters to pay a half-cent sales tax longer so he can finish his plans to improve the highway and subway systems quicker.
• 1 Comments

• Does Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Save Money?
• Jun 29, 2012
• Seven states have enacted drug testing for welfare applicants in an effort to cut costs and combat fraud -- but it’s not clear the move does either.
• 12 Comments

• The New Black South
• May 31, 2012
• After nearly a century of moving north, African-Americans are reshaping cities and suburbs in the South.
• 7 Comments

• Governors Have 'The Best Job in Politics'
• Apr 30, 2012
• In his new book, political scientist Alan Rosenthal professes that no one gets what they want more than governors. Find out why.

• Stockton, California’s Bankruptcy Makes 'Normal' Cities Nervous
• Apr 30, 2012
• Unlike many high-profile bankruptcies, Stockton’s financial woes are the result of many different factors that are not unusual for many localities.
• 4 Comments

• Caucus System Cracks Revealed During 2012 GOP Primary Season
• Apr 30, 2012
• Several states were embarrassed by faulty counts in their caucuses, which are run by political parties rather than by public officials.

• Citizens United’s Corporate Candidate
• Apr 30, 2012
• Now that private-sector groups are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money in state elections, who’s really running for office?

• Wisconsin Recall Elections Draw Lots of Attention -- and Cash
• Mar 30, 2012
• The recalls of Gov. Scott Walker, his lieutenant and four state senators could top $100 million, but that's just a prelude to the fall when the parties will fight for control of the state House.

• GIS Mapping Helps Frogtown, Minnesota Track Neighborhood Data
• Mar 30, 2012
• Residents use geographic info systems to learn more about where they live.

• Grease Disposal Laws Target Thieves
• Mar 30, 2012
• California and Virginia have passed statutes to regulate the disposal of cooking grease -- a hot commodity because of the demand for biofuel -- to keep people from stealing it from restaurants.
• 1 Comments