November 1, 2010
The Future of Redistricting and Rural America
Redistricting is not likely to be kind to the political clout of rural areas.
November 1, 2010
Philadelphia's Mixed Feelings on Legalized Gambling
In Philadelphia, the SugarHouse Casino’s story reflects the mixed emotions about legalized gambling.
November 1, 2010
Reforming Sex Offender Laws
California's Chelsea's Law rethinks the way the state manages sex offenders who will return to society.
November 1, 2010
Cuyahoga County's Road to Recovery From Corruption
A lot has changed, and is still changing, in Cuyahoga County since the county was slammed with corruption charges.
November 1, 2010
Getting Teens to Register and Vote
A new effort is under way to encourage young adults to start voting and keep voting.
October 1, 2010
Goodbye Moderate Governors, Hello Partisans
From Vermont to Hawaii, moderate governors are leaving office after the fall elections. Will partisan purists soon be running state government?
October 1, 2010
Florida's Amendment 4 Puts Land-Use Issues on the Ballot
Is this the perfect year for Florida voters to constrain development?
October 1, 2010
State Legislatures Tackle Concussions in School Athletics
Growing concerns about the risks associated with serious head injuries are catching the attention of state legislatures.
October 1, 2010
Smarter Parking in San Francisco
San Francisco's two-year pilot project will adjust parking prices based on time and location.
October 1, 2010
Oregon’s Pension Puzzle
Oregon's public pension performance in the past decade has been stellar, but can they maintain it in years to come?
September 13, 2010
New York Senate: Seven Toss-Ups
One of the best political reporters in New York predicts which races will determine control of the New York Senate.
September 10, 2010
GA-Governor: "Too Corrupt Even for Congress"
Democrat Roy Barnes probably can't win the Georgia governor's race on his own merits in the current political climate. But, Nathan Deal's ethical problems and the taint of Deal's tenure in Congress may be enough to win it for Barnes.
September 9, 2010
CA-Governor: Will Clinton Respond to Whitman's Ad?
Republican Meg Whitman's new ad in the California governor's race uses Bill Clinton's words against fellow Democrat Jerry Brown. Will Clinton come to the defense of his old rival?
September 9, 2010
AK-Senate: For Lisa Murkowski, No Stickers
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski's potential write-in campaign in Alaska highlights states' diverse rules for counting write-in votes. Some states even let write-in candidates distribute stickers with their names for voters to use on the ballot.
September 8, 2010
NM-Governor: Susana Martinez Campaigns Against "Richardson Denish"
Democratic candidates for governor are struggling in states with unpopular outgoing Democratic governors. A new ad from New Mexico Republican Susana Martinez is an illustration of how G.O.P. candidates are taking advantage.
September 8, 2010
Ohio Legislature: The Power of Redistricting
A single fact illustrates the significance of the once-a-decade redrawing of political lines.
September 7, 2010
Massachusetts Sales Tax: Do the Candidates' Views Matter?
Every candidate for governor in Massachusetts opposes a ballot measure that would cut the sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. But, voters might approve it anyway.
September 3, 2010
Random Thoughts on the 2010 Elections
Here are some notions that have been percolating in my brain as I think about the upcoming elections.
September 1, 2010
In Florida, the Perfect Time for a Populist Uprising on Development?
A ballot measure in Florida would create new obstacles to development. It's opposed by many business groups, unions, developers, planners, local governments and newspaper editorial boards. But, with the esteem of many of those groups at an all-time low, could it pass anyway?
September 1, 2010
Colorado Collects Popular Votes by Mail
Once open to choices, Colorado appears headed toward all-mail balloting.
September 1, 2010
Governor Mark Parkinson Pins Successes on Lame Duck Status
Kansas' governor has taken the politics out of lawmaking -- and has had great success so far.
September 1, 2010
Building Demolition a Turning Point in Hartford
One of the first orders of business for the new Mayor Pedro Segarra: getting rid of the 'Butt Ugly' building.
August 31, 2010
CO-Governor: In Search of Conservative Unity, ASAP
If there were one conservative candidate in the Colorado governor's race instead of two, he'd have a chance to win. But, if Don Maes and Tom Tancredo are going to join forces in Colorado, they'd be best off doing it this week.
August 26, 2010
Arizona AG: An Inconclusive Verdict on Andrew Thomas
The Republican primary for governor in Arizona was, in part, a referendum on whether voters approve of former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas' aggressive prosecutions of other Maricopa County officials. We now have a verdict: maybe.
August 25, 2010
In Alaska, Proof that Ballot Measures Can Drive Turnout
People have debated for years whether controversial ballot measures can affect who shows up to vote. In Alaska yesterday, a measure did just that -- and may have ended the career of a U.S. senator.
August 18, 2010
When a Governor Won't Talk
Staff Writer Josh Goodman wrote a profile of Chris Christie for the August issue. But, Christie wouldn't talk to him for the story. Here's how Josh handled it.
July 30, 2010
The 'Chris Christie' Way
New Jersey's new governor has a take-no-prisoners style, but there are signs he is learning the art of the deal.
July 30, 2010
Running in the Shadow of Spitzer, Cuomo
Will New York's next attorney general embrace his predecessors or blaze her own path?
July 30, 2010
NYC Experiments with Bus Rapid Transit
The Big Apple needs some serious help to make city buses be a faster, more reliable method of transportation.
July 30, 2010
Rhode Island's Slots Subsidy
Some state officials insist financially helping the Twin River Casino would be a smart move.
July 13, 2010
Arnold Schwarzenegger: From Action Hero to Tragic Hero?
As he leaves office, is California's governor unpopular because he fought the good fight against Democratic and Republican ideologues? Or was he really part of the problem?
June 30, 2010
A Global Warming Cool Down?
More Republican gubernatorial candidates are skeptical of the science of climate change.
June 30, 2010
Shutting Down State Fairs
To cope with budget shortfalls, some states – like Michigan – are choosing to shut down their state fairs.
June 30, 2010
Tunnel Vision in Seattle
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is proposing plans that focus less on roads and more on public transit.
June 30, 2010
Reviving Local, State and Federal Collaboration
NACo's Larry Naake is pushing for a commission of representatives from all forms of government.
June 28, 2010
How Democrats Lost on Gun Control
Gun rights advocates have been on a roll lately. Is that because Democrats gave up the fight a decade ago?
June 9, 2010
Post-Primary Live Blog Transcript
GOVERNING staff answered your questions about Tuesday's primaries and any other election queries June 9.
June 1, 2010
Keeping Up With E-mail
Governing takes a look at governors' constituent service
June 1, 2010
Voting the Straight-Ticket Sweep
Will Republicans win big in states that make voting a straight ticket easy?
June 1, 2010
The Rise of Attorneys General
With a Democrat in the White House, conservative state attorneys general are mobilizing against federal power.
June 1, 2010
Leading the Census-Participation Pack
Livonia, Mich., had the highest census participation rate not because of what it did – but because of what it is.
June 1, 2010
Immigration Fizzle
Arizona's new immigration law seems potent right now, but will it fizzle like Georgia's?
June 1, 2010
Sacramento's Net Gain?
Ex NBA-player Mayor Kevin Johnson has an unorthodox plan to build a new basketball arena.
May 4, 2010
The Director's Cut on High-Speed Rail in California
Some reporters write long. If an editor gives them 3,000 words, they'll take 4,000. Some reporters write short. Give them 3,000 words and they'll struggle to ...
May 1, 2010
Fleet Dreams
If tomorrow's cars won't be fueled by gas, what will run them and
who'll pick the winner?
May 1, 2010
Nevada's Comeback Kid?
Almost from the day he stepped into office, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has been widely unpopular. But somehow, he still has a chance to win...
May 1, 2010
Dues and Don'ts
As states engage in yet another round of budget cutting, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has zeroed in on an unlikely target: the money his state...
May 1, 2010
Counting Down the School Days
Could shortening school years be a pain-free way for school districts to save money?
May 1, 2010
Small Bag Tax, Big Impact
The tax on disposable bags in the nation's capital has had a noteworthy impact.
May 1, 2010
High-Speed Rail: Transit Solution or Financial Disaster?
California is racing to build an ambitious high-speed rail system. Some cities think it should slow down.
April 13, 2010
A Tax from Governing's Past
In my April feature story, I said that the question of why sales taxes generally apply to goods but not services is "one of ...
April 1, 2010
Taxing Services to Ease Budget Woes
Jim Wayne is getting an earful from Kentucky hot air balloon operators these days, and it's easy to understand why. Wayne, a Kentucky state representative,...
March 31, 2010
Kansas Democrats' Best Case Scenario
In a year when Republicans are expected to make gains, the best hopes for Kansas Democrats are two unlikely candidates: Though Dennis McKinney is the...
March 31, 2010
A Vote for Appointed Offices
For years, California cities have debated whether their city treasurers should be elected or appointed officials. Now a new paper provides empirical evidence as to...
March 31, 2010
Is 'Sexting' a Crime?
Sexting is a source of angst for parents and public schools. But should it be a crime?
That's the question that, almost overnight, state after...
March 31, 2010
Axing the Taxman
Tax collectors might not be the most popular government officials, but as Arizona recently discovered, they might be the very worst to cut in a...
March 18, 2010
In Los Angeles, Avoiding the Risks of the Status Quo
I tend to think that one mistake people often make (in business, in government, in life in general) is to assume that maintaining the status ...
March 2, 2010
Undemocratic Towns and Doughnut Holes
Governing announced the winner of our state and local government journalism award, the Hal Hovey award, last month.
March 1, 2010
Local Governments Face Census Challenge
If you receive a water bill in Phoenix, you'll get a note about the census. If you spend time in a classroom, you're likely to...
March 1, 2010
The Price of Popularity
John Hoeven may be something close to the perfect candidate for the U.S. Senate. The Republican governor is North Dakota's most popular politician and,...
March 1, 2010
The Price of Moderate Politics
Bill Ritter became Colorado's governor in 2007, promising to be a pragmatic, pro-business Democrat. That political niche seemed like a good fit for a moderate state....
March 1, 2010
Growing Alaska's Legislature
When Alaska state Rep. Peggy Wilson wants to visit her constituents, she goes by boat. Wilson represents seven Alaska towns, most of which are on...
March 1, 2010
Philadelphians Withhold Billions in Taxes
Philadelphia residents owe the city a backlog of more than $1 billion in unpaid taxes. Now a city official has found a strange place to recover...
February 9, 2010
Staff Snapshots from D.C.'s 'Snoverkill'
Editor's note: Reading this month's photo essay on Syracuse's snow plows stings just a little for Governing's D.C. staffers, who ...
February 3, 2010
Memphis Reporter Wins GOVERNING/Stateline.org Award
Marc Perrusquia, a reporter with the Memphis Commercial Appeal, is the recipient of the seventh annual Hal Hovey Award, presented by GOVERNING and Stateline.org....
February 1, 2010
Southeastern Water Wars
On June 10, 2009, state officials in Georgia declared that the severe three-year drought that parched metro Atlanta and much of the Southeast was finally over. But...
February 1, 2010
A Candidate Takes on Taxes
When Lincoln Chafee kicked off his campaign for governor of Rhode Island in January, he did something unconventional: He actually made news. Rather than stick...
February 1, 2010
Health Reform, Utah Style
Conservative Utah doesn't usually have a lot in common with liberal Massachusetts. But both states have embraced health exchanges - one of the big ideas...
February 1, 2010
Reaching for a Tuition Tax?
In cities from Boston to Baltimore to Birmingham, Ala., universities and hospitals have played key roles in revitalizing urban neighborhoods. But expansions of eds and...
February 1, 2010
Merging Historically Black Universities
Now that American higher education has been racially integrated for decades, what's the role of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)? That's the question that...
January 19, 2010
Mississippi University for Women -- for Men Too
When I go on a long car ride, I always end up with a long mental list of things to look up on Google or ...
December 31, 2009
An "Ordinary Joe" Runs Indianapolis
The tenure of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is helping to answer an oft-posed question: What would happen if an "ordinary Joe" was in charge of...
December 31, 2009
Energy Program Comes Under Fire
Every state wants to create green jobs. Oregon actually has done it. But a political consensus has emerged that the state has done it the...
December 31, 2009
A Showdown Over Nuclear Power Wages in Vermont
State legislators in Vermont are the only ones in the country with authority to vote on whether a nuclear power plant can continue in operation....
December 31, 2009
States Weigh Pot Reform
While political power has been shifting to the federal level lately, there's a clear exception. When it comes to policies on marijuana for medicinal use,...
December 31, 2009
Following An Ethically-Challenged Governor
For better and for worse, it is Pat Quinn's fate to be the governor who followed Rod Blagojevich in Illinois.
Quinn served as lieutenant governor...
December 31, 2009
Top 10 Legislative Issues to Watch 2010
The Great Recession may technically be over, but it continues to have a devastating effect on the ability of state legislators to craft new legislation...
December 15, 2009
Which Issues to Watch?
In next month's issue, for the fourth time in my five years at Governing, I'll be writing our annual preview of state legislative ...
November 30, 2009
Should Cities Be in the Mega-Hotel Business?
The campaigns of Tom Leppert and Anne Raymond spent millions of dollars this spring wooing Dallas voters. Leppert and Raymond debated on radio and television....
November 30, 2009
A Democratic Governor's GOP Employment Program
Steve Beshear, the Democratic governor of Kentucky, is appointing Republicans to key offices--and other Republicans don't like it.
Beshear's display of bipartisanship, GOP leaders say,...
November 30, 2009
Mike McGinn
In picking Mike McGinn as their next mayor, Seattle voters selected a little-known environmental activist over the incumbent and then over a wealthy and well-connected...
November 4, 2009
Maine Voters Reject Gay Marriage
For the second time in as many years, gay-marriage supporters yesterday suffered a narrow -- but stinging -- defeat at the polls. By a margin...
October 31, 2009
Can Higher Ed Control Its Costs?
At Virginia Tech, freshmen learn mathematics in a 60,000-square-foot box of a building that used to be Rose's discount department store. It's called the Math...
October 31, 2009
Albuquerque Voters' Republican Gamble
When Richard Berry won a surprise victory last month for mayor of Albuquerque, voters wondered whether they had chosen new policies or merely a new...
October 31, 2009
Tax Troubles in Arizona
Jan Brewer was Arizona's popular secretary of state early this year when her political career took a turn for the worse. She became governor.
With...
October 6, 2009
Mommy, Where Do Governing's Stories Come From?
The classic childhood question is "Where do babies come from?" Well, that's the classic question other than "Are we there yet?&...
October 1, 2009
How Advocates for Fire-Safe Cigarettes Beat Big Tobacco
As a member of Congress 25 years ago, Jim Shannon fought to put a self-extinguishing mechanism in all cigarettes that would make them less likely to...
September 30, 2009
Stimulus Results: Difficult to Pin Down
Suppose you're a state budget director and you started this year looking at a huge fiscal shortfall (as virtually all of them did). It seemed...
September 30, 2009
Can a White Candidate Be Elected Mayor of Atlanta?
The question in Atlanta's mayoral election this fall isn't just who will win, but what it may reflect about the demographics of the city. City...
September 15, 2009
Story Behind the Story: A Quote Quota?
Currently, I'm reading Anthony Trollope's "Orley Farm." Or, at least I'm trying to read it.
Don't get me wrong ...
September 8, 2009
Making the Stimulus Czar Calls
One of the first things GOVERNING's editors taught me when I started here four years ago is that when reporting a story you have to think long and hard about where you call.
September 4, 2009
Concierge Medicine and the States
Is it retainer medicine, concierge medicine or boutique medicine? When it comes to the practice of paying doctors a fixed fee for expanded primary care...
August 31, 2009
Primary Care Looks to States for a Booster Shot
Rhode Island doesn't have any retail health clinics. One major reason: toilets.
Retail clinics are the facilities in drug stores or big-box stores where patients...
August 31, 2009
Disappearing Doctors
What accounts for the dramatic decline in the number of doctors opting to be primary-care physicians? Simple economics, mostly. "They're not dumb," says Candice Chen,...
August 31, 2009
Gay Marriage at a Crossroads
Other than the presidential election, no vote last November drew more attention than Proposition 8, California's ballot measure on gay marriage. The result, a 52 percent verdict...
August 31, 2009
The Governors' Big-State Blues
When Arnold Schwarzenegger's approval rating hit a new low of 28 percent in one poll this summer, it must have been only a small consolation that...
August 31, 2009
The Fight to Commercialize Rest Areas
Along I-95 in Maryland, rest stops come with fast-food restaurants and gas stations. Along I-95 in Virginia, they have orange barrels that block anyone from...
July 31, 2009
Drained
These days, Bettye Fine Collins doesn't talk like a power politician. "It's not easy being me," she complains. It's not hard to understand why. As...
July 31, 2009
Quittin' Time In Colorado
There's an employer in Colorado that is having serious problems retaining its workers: the state legislature.
Five legislators have left office this year alone, including...
July 31, 2009
Beating the Spread
What happens in Vegas is coming to Delaware.
In May, Delaware became the third state, along with Nevada and Montana, to allow betting on sporting...
July 31, 2009
Just How Strong Are Muni Bonds?
Vallejo, California's bankruptcy last year represented the largest municipal default in 14 years. For 16 months, Jefferson County, Alabama has been unable to pay debts on billions...
July 27, 2009
New Alaska Governor Faces Difficult Year
As Alaska's new governor, Sean Parnell simply needs to diffuse a politically poisonous atmosphere, mend a fractured Republican Party and guide one of the largest...
July 16, 2009
A County's Contracts Go Missing
Jefferson County, Alabama, is likely the nation's most financially troubled large local government. Alabama's most populous county (home to Birmingham) could go bankrupt ...
July 13, 2009
New Jersey Clings to School Districts Without Schools
posted by Josh Goodman
I wrote 2,300 words last year about how even the smallest local
governments are reluctant to merge with neighbors -- and how ...
June 30, 2009
Franchise Frustration
The recent bankruptcies of Chrysler and General Motors are halting, for now, a furious burst of state legislative lobbying by the nation's car dealers.
As...
June 30, 2009
Vive Le Roy?
When Roy Barnes lost his reelection bid as Georgia's Democratic governor in 2002, it was the surprise of the year. Now, the man his opponents once...
June 30, 2009
The Costliest Ride
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a city of just over 150,000 people, almost half of the annual public transit budget doesn't go for buses, or trolleys,...
May 31, 2009
Mischief After Midnight
Last summer, just as the nation's credit markets were about to tighten, Gregory Schmidt received a loan from his bank under extraordinarily generous terms. His...
May 31, 2009
Past the Deadline
California, 2008
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger didn't sign the budget until 85 days after the 2009 fiscal year began, making it the latest in state history. Although state government...
May 31, 2009
Horrible Honeymoon
Sam Adams may be off to the worst start of any American politician since President William Henry Harrison. While Adams didn't catch a fatal case...
April 30, 2009
Shades of Greywater
Laura Allen is no one's idea of an unrepentant lawbreaker. But under California's state plumbing code, that's exactly what she is. Allen, a soft-spoken elementary...
April 30, 2009
Second Chance in San Antonio
For a few months in 2005, people in San Antonio were talking about Julián Castro as the Hispanic Barack Obama. The city councilman, educated at...
April 30, 2009
Three Tracks to Vegas
The federal stimulus package provides $8 billion for high-speed rail--and a lot of tough questions. As states fight for this pot of money, they'll have to...
April 30, 2009
The Power of Purple Pipes
You may have never thought about the color of your pipes. You might even think the topic is so mundane that no one could possibly...
April 17, 2009
Are the Right Convicts Being Let Out of Jail Early?
State lawmakers from across the political spectrum are moving haltingly
toward a consensus on corrections policy. Corrections costs have increased far more rapidly than the rate of inflation over the past couple of decades.
March 31, 2009
The Second Best Job in the State
Eliot Spitzer of New York styled himself a steamroller, an uncompromising politician who preferred intimidation over negotiation. Mike Beebe of Arkansas is a behind-the-scenes dealmaker...
March 31, 2009
Uneven Stimulus
The feds are dumping piles of stimulus dollars on all 50 states, but when you look behind the 11-digit numbers, some interesting disparities emerge. Through subtle...
February 28, 2009
Minneapolis Speedway
John Chiglo is looking up from the banks of the Mississippi River at a huge ivory monolith. It's the new I-35W bridge, built on...
February 19, 2009
Indiana Rejects Local Government Consolidation
I wrote a story last fall that centered on the question of whether
state governments can force local governments to consolidate. We're starting to get the answer -- and it isn't surprising
December 31, 2008
Issues to Watch
The nation's political map has turned blue, but state budgets have gone decidedly into the red.
The Democrats enjoy a more than 850-seat edge in...
November 30, 2008
The Coverage Connection
Two years ago, when Massachusetts legislators began debating near-universal health insurance, a lot of smart people helped them craft the package. And all of these...
October 31, 2008
Attempted Merger
Leon Duff retired as a Maine school superintendent in 2001, but not for good. In the seven years since, he's been called back into school administration...
October 13, 2008
Our Economy Stinks, But at Least We Get to Be Fiscally Responsible!
Fareed Zakaria sees a silver lining in our economic woes. Individuals, the feds, and, yes, state and local governments, will suddenly have to show some ...
October 9, 2008
Public Officials of the Year, 2008
Drumroll, please. Each year, we at Governing profile our Public Officials of the Year in the November issue of the magazine. We're announcing this year's ...
October 5, 2008
Pride and Shame at the DMV
Could DMVs be in the process of becoming models of customer service? Don't laugh -- states such as Virginia and Indiana have already turned departments ...
October 2, 2008
The Impetus for 311
In a session at Managing Performance this afternoon, Jill Jordan, the assistant city manager of Dallas, offered a reason for her city's interest in 311 that ...
September 30, 2008
Seizing the Initiative
The Florida Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It also protects life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And it defends the...
September 9, 2008
To the Dogs
Sure, state and local governments are slashing spending, announcing hiring freezes and imposing travel bans. But the dire state of municipal budgets didn't really hit ...
July 31, 2008
A Government Adrift
One day this June, a group of state agency managers came to Governor Mark Sanford with a pitch. They wanted to raise the projected growth...
July 21, 2008
Where the Starbucks Bubble Busted
Remember the heady days of 2005, when we thought that people could own homes without having any money and we thought that every block could support a Starbucks?
July 7, 2008
The Out-Googling of Governments
I just googled Louisville and was surprised by the result.
The first hit? Louisville.com, an entertainment Web site.
Number two? The University of Louisville.
...
June 4, 2008
Are Flight Delays Good for Airports?
from Midway Airport in Chicago after Governing's Managing Technology Conference in Seattle
"It's not often that we're this busy at 8:30 in the evening."
...
June 2, 2008
Fusing the Fusion Centers
from Governing's Managing Technology Conference in Seattle
"Fusion centers" have developed over the past few years as places for local, state and federal ...
May 31, 2008
A Dental Scandal
The death of Deamonte Driver shocked the country. Deamonte, a 12-year-old from suburban Prince George's County, Maryland, died in February 2007 when bacteria from an abscessed...
May 29, 2008
Managing Expectations
from Governing's Managing Technology Conference in Seattle
When I worked at the Big Belly Deli, I had a philosophy when someone called in a carry-out ...
April 30, 2008
Pushing the Envelope
When his state holds its primaries later this month, Bill Bradbury will be in charge of the details. That's part of his role as secretary...
March 31, 2008
The Price of Prevention
Woody Allen once described death as "a very effective way of cutting down on your expenses." In the past decade, states all over the country...
February 5, 2008
Mayoral Endorsement Guide
With Super Tuesday finally here, I'm willing to make the barely controversial suggestion that neither party's presidential nomination will hinge on endorsements and the completely ...
February 4, 2008
Counting Some of the Votes
Here's an election reform proposal that has me intrigued. From Farhad Manjoo at Salon.com: But as many voting-reform experts have argued, manually counting the ...
February 1, 2008
Hope for Spitzer and O'Malley
Lou Jacobson has a column at Stateline.org about the political comebacks of two governors, Alabama's Bob Riley and California's Arnold Schwarzenegger. To me, the ...
January 29, 2008
Florida's Howard Dean Amendment?
Amid the presidential hoopla, Floridians vote today on an important policy question. A constitutional amendment on the ballot would create new limits on property taxes ...
January 28, 2008
Oh, the Horror!
The Washington Post commented on Barack Obama in an editorial this weekend: "He is inclusive, forgiving and inspiring -- but can the nation afford ...
January 25, 2008
An Endorsement That Actually Mattered
Most political analysts agree that endorsements are largely meaningless. Most political analysts also discuss endorsements endlessly.
But I'm proud to be able to point you ...
January 25, 2008
I Can Hardly Wait
November 2010 is only about a 1,000 days away, so it's high time we had some news about the election after next. Finally, we do.
In California, ...
January 24, 2008
Gubernatorial Politics in "a Divided Economy"
The nation's economic problems are hurting state budgets and roiling state politics. Just look what the office of Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell reported: Governor M. ...
January 24, 2008
Gay Rights Legislation in Idaho?
States never cease to surprise me. A case in point, Idaho. According to the Spokane, WA, Spokesman Review : BOISE - An Idaho Senate committee voted 6...
January 23, 2008
The Prince of Illinois
Political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli suggested "...it is better to be feared than loved." Perhaps if he'd observed the career of Illinois Governor Rod ...
January 23, 2008
This Train Is Bound for Glory?
Once, Californians were scheduled to vote on whether to fund high-speed rail in 2000. And in 2004. And in 2006. The timing never seemed quite right, so lawmakers ...
January 22, 2008
Better Yet, Elect His Mother
Lou Jacobson has a great roundup of state attorney general races on Stateline.org. Jacobson lists the contests in Missouri, Montana and West Virginia as ...
January 17, 2008
Now That's Harsh
Liar, extremist, flip-flopper -- there's more than one way to skin a politician. But Hillary Clinton managed to come up with a new putdown when ...
January 16, 2008
Teflon Terminator
California faces major budget problems and, after a period of post-partisan bliss, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been sparring more often with legislative leaders in recent ...
January 15, 2008
"The ballot box will be the mailbox"
The New York Times has a report on voting by mail, one of my favorite topics: LOS ANGELES -- The first Tuesday in February, when 22 ...
January 15, 2008
Federalism at Work
Many state legislatures decided they wanted to influence federal politics by moving up their presidential primaries. So which level of government has to shoulder much ...
January 14, 2008
Deval Patrick's Immigration Gamble
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said recently that he's studying whether he can offer illegal immigrants in-state tuition without legislative approval. A few years ago that ...
January 11, 2008
The Start, Perhaps, of a Taxing Debate
I've written a couple of times about places where Democrats have complete control over state government, but where, nonetheless, they are very cautious on taxation ...
January 11, 2008
The Difference Between Iowa and New Hampshire
Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin writes in the Washington Post this morning that gender was key to Hillary's comeback in New Hampshire, but not in ...
January 11, 2008
A Different Kind of Political Party
Alabama doesn't want anyone to have to make a choice between voting and partying: Alabama is one of 24 states voting on Feb. 5. Early voting will ...
January 11, 2008
Why Were the New Hampshire Polls Wrong?
Mark Blumenthal at pollster.com has a fascinating post looking at why the pre-election surveys didn't anticipate Hillary Clinton's victory in the New Hampshire Democratic ...
January 10, 2008
When the Klan Ran Colorado
Peter Groff is now officially the first black state Senate president in Colorado history. But this passage in the Denver Post article on Groff is ...
January 8, 2008
No Love for Tennis Courts
This might say something about the status of tennis in the United States. When the Minneapolis Star Tribune ran an interesting article headlined, "Cities ...
January 7, 2008
The Origins of Lethal Injection
Today's Supreme Court hearing on Kentucky's death penalty may be a prelude to the end of lethal injection nationally -- or perhaps the end of ...
January 3, 2008
Two Peas in a Pod
Iowa and New Hampshire have a lot in common: They get to vote first in the presidential nominating process, both are racially homogenous and both ...
January 3, 2008
Governor, Tell Us How You Really Feel
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland must REALLY not want to be vice president. Either that or he suffers from a political Achilles Heel: uncontrollable honesty.
Strickland, ...
December 31, 2007
Issues to Watch 2008
That means focusing on infrastructure funding in response to the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. It also means trying to get homeowners into less-risky fixed-rate mortgages,...
December 31, 2007
When Losing Might Be Winning
On the morning of November 5, 2008, the day after Election Day, social conservatives may be celebrating Florida's vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
December 20, 2007
Fuel for Thought
The most discussed provision of the new federal energy legislation, just signed by President Bush, is that vehicle fuel economy standards will go up for ...
December 12, 2007
The Web Site is Dead. Long Live the Web Site!
A few days ago, the official Web site of the governor of Kentucky looked like this. There were more than 50 buttons total on the sides ...
December 10, 2007
Confrontational Speaker
Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida, enjoys an approval rating around 60 percent. Marco Rubio, the speaker of the Florida House and a fellow Republican, is apparently part of the other 40.
December 3, 2007
Huckabee's Home-State Immigration Debate
I recently called up Arkansas state Rep. Jon Woods to ask him about legislation he's sponsored designed to crack down on illegal immigration. I also wanted to ask for his thoughts on former governor Mike Huckabee, a fellow Republican with very different views on immigration.
December 1, 2007
The Big Benefit Base
A recent survey finds that state and local employees have certain
compensatory advantages.
Healthy Handouts
Borrowing a page from private health insurers, state Medicaid programs
are testing the wellness waters.
November 29, 2007
VOTESTRONG?
Arnold Schwarzenegger's story goes like this: -He was a celebrity actor and bodybuilder with no political experience.
-He championed a popular ballot measure in California ...
November 21, 2007
Fool Me Once...
The pundits all agree on immigration:
"Immigration -- couched as border security -- is undoubtedly going to be a way Republicans look to change ...
November 16, 2007
Beware of Supreme Courts Bearing Gifts
The Washington state Supreme Court recently overturned the state's one percent annual cap on property tax increases, which voters approved in 2001.
This looked like a ...
November 14, 2007
History in the Making
All of the state bureaucrats toiling away in obscure positions should take heart. You might be the next Rob Wittman.
Republicans in Virginia gathered last ...
November 13, 2007
Mailing It In
When between 45 and 50 percent of registered voters cast ballots in Washington state last Tuesday, the Seattle Times described turnout as "meager."
November 8, 2007
Taking the Initiative
I wrote 560 words about the ballot measures voters faced this year, but I can summarize in just one: Huh?
If you need a slightly longer ...
November 7, 2007
My Head Hurts
From the Clarion-Ledger , Mississippi's largest newspaper: Republicans rolled to victory Tuesday in what could signal the virtual end of the two-party system in statewide races, ...
November 5, 2007
The Significance of 2007 for 2008
Without a single result to report, I can already tell you what the 2007 elections will portend for 2008: Nothing.
November 4, 2007
Lazy-Faire Federalism
The word everyone is using to describe Fred Thompson: lazy. Fewer people realize that he's calling for the federal government to be just as lazy ...
November 1, 2007
The Unwelcome Mat
States are at their peril when they try to ease rules to make life in
the U.S. less difficult for illegal immigrants.
November 1, 2007
Encyclopedia Virginia
Almost as soon as the election returns are in, every new governor must decide on a chief of staff. Most of them pick their campaign managers, party operatives and longtime confidantes. In this context, the choice of Bill Leighty by Virginia Governor Mark Warner was an aberration.
November 1, 2007
Candid Camera: Traffic Lights in the Red
After Sioux Falls, South Dakota, installed red-light cameras at a key intersection, it saw its revenue from tickets for red-light infractions plummet.
October 31, 2007
Now That's Scary
If the state of Kentucky gets its way, the joke tonight will be on Snickers, Good & Plenty won't be plentiful and Almond Joy will ...
October 30, 2007
Map Time
posted by Josh Goodman
The Wichita Eagle has a neat feature on its Web site: A map, which is updated every weekday, of all the ...
October 26, 2007
You Don't See This Every Day
The people of Maryland, by large majorities, want their taxes to be raised. The details of the Washington Post poll:
-69% want cigarette taxes to ...
October 24, 2007
The California Evacuations in Context
Press reports indicate that 950,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as a result of the California wildfires. Just how many people is 950,000?
It's ...
October 19, 2007
Bayou Balloting
In some strange, scary alternate universe, tomorrow is election day. They call that universe "Louisiana."
The big questions are whether the frontrunner for ...
October 18, 2007
Health Care, Halfway Around the World
At Governing's management conference last week, a former hospital administrator mentioned at dinner that some private companies are sending employees to India for open heart ...
October 11, 2007
Blogging the Management Conference: Honk If You Love Paying Fines
Virginia instituted some pricey new traffic fines this year: $900 for driving without a license, $1,050 for reckless driving and $2,250 for a first drunk driving offense.
Critics ...
October 11, 2007
Blogging the Management Conference: Taxi Tribulations
I arrived in New York City yesterday and, like everyone else who shows up in the Big Apple, needed a cab.
So I hop in ...
October 3, 2007
Mission Critical
Governing is a magazine, and a Web site, and newsletters and conferences and books.
What's the point of all this stuff? To inform, to entertain, ...
October 1, 2007
Menu Mandate: King County Wants You to Know What You're Eating
Policy makers in King County, Washington, are hungry for restaurant
regulation.
October 1, 2007
Name That Mayor
Imagine if a mayor could have this list of accomplishments: -A budget surplus
-Rising test scores for K-12 students
-A new NFL stadium and a ...
September 30, 2007
Out of the Blue
To say it's been a remarkable year for Michael Nutter is to understate the case. As the campaign for mayor of Philadelphia began last winter,...
September 25, 2007
Backroom Bipartisanship
Yesterday's news is that the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the approval of the White House, fought behind the scenes to stop California from ...
September 24, 2007
Does This Ring a Bell?
Tom Leppert, Dallas' new mayor, won his first major policy battle by overturning an interesting policy with a dull name: "verified response."
Under ...
September 20, 2007
A Step in the Right Direction?
I know two things:
1) I've never spoken with anyone who, in a casual conversation, follows "way" with "forward."
2) Politicians, marketers and ...
September 20, 2007
The Cuba Caucus
Nebraska media reported this week that Governor Dave Heineman is planning his fourth trade mission to Cuba, with nothing more than a hint that the ...
September 16, 2007
Only in Louisiana
Louisiana has a unique way of making government more bipartisan. Consider the major candidates for governor this fall:
-Foster Campbell, a Democrat
-Walter Boasso, who ...
September 14, 2007
Slowing Arizona
Arizona is doing something that, so far as I know, nowhere else has tried: A statewide effort to automate speeding enforcement on state highways.
September 6, 2007
Little Sunshine Miss
I like a lot of different foods -- pie, hash browns, apple danish and lamb rogan josh to name a few -- but there's nothing ...
September 1, 2007
SIC Transit Gloria: A Toll Story in Pennsylvania
As of mid-July, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
Authority's perpetual funding crisis was over. A few weeks later, it's
back.
September 1, 2007
Sense of a Slowdown
Local governments have been automating the process of catching
speeders and red-light runners for years, but traffic scofflaws on
state highways always knew they'd be pulled over by a trooper. Now,
Arizona is changing that.
August 27, 2007
Strange Consistency
If there's one place for premature speculation, it's the blogosphere. That's why I say with pride that I was speculating prematurely when I wrote about ...
August 24, 2007
Heads Up 8.24.07
Texas to rate preschools. Morning News
Does D.C. really have a textbook shortage? Washington Post
Ad controversy continues in LA governor's race. Times-Picayune
State ...
August 23, 2007
Heads Up 8.23.07
Colorado governor declares emergency: too much wheat. Denver Post
KY governor visits Illinois city to argue against casinos. Sun-Times
Oakland School Board member asked to ...
August 23, 2007
Diesel: The Fuel of the Future?
The sexiest futuristic cars run on electricity and hydrogen. A few months ago, I wrote a feature describing how state and local governments were picking ...
August 20, 2007
Introducing Our New Henhouse Guard: Colonel Sanders!
When I saw the headline that a state senator is becoming the head of the Nevada Mining Association, I had to read more. A special ...
August 17, 2007
Heads Up 8.17.07
Texas Youth Commission spokesman pepper sprayed -- at his request. Morning News
Introducing the electric scooter. Union-Tribune
Can mesh network solve San Fran's wifi politics? ...
August 16, 2007
As Arkansas Goes, So Goes the Nation?
A year ago, Arkansas, with the signature of then-governor Mike Huckabee (has he been in the news lately?), became the first state to ban smoking in cars when children are present. Now the idea is finally spreading to the boonies.
August 16, 2007
Heads Up 8.16.07
The uncertain future of municipal WiFi. WSJ (free link)
St. Paul mayor: The state is to blame for higher property taxes. Pioneer Press
Are carbon ...
August 16, 2007
Water, Water Everywhere...
Word leaked last month that New Orleans' tap water hadn't contained fluoride since Hurricane Katrina. For almost two years, no one in city or state ...
August 15, 2007
Heads Up 8.15.07
Brownback: Governors aren't qualified to be president. AP
Advocacy group: Don't hide homeless during political conventions. Denver Post
California raises taxes on sugary alcoholic beverages. ...
August 13, 2007
The Anti-Crist
In the August issue of Governing, I described how South Carolina's response to the coastal property insurance crisis differs from Florida's. This was actually quite ...
August 8, 2007
A Bridge Too Far?
If Grover Norquist is liberal with one thing, it's press releases. If you ignore the ideological pronouncements, his tax-cut advocacy organization, Americans for Tax Reform, ...
August 6, 2007
Primary Motivation
Over and over during the past few months, states have moved forward the dates of their presidential primaries to try to get to the front ...
August 3, 2007
That Was Fast
Across the country, newspapers are asking whether local bridges are safe. Some governors already have ordered reviews. A sampling of the coverage:
Denver Post: $300M ...
August 3, 2007
Don't Bet on It
One kooky California gambler has an idea: The state should make money off of online poker.
August 1, 2007
Budget Builders: Collecting and Spending Stay Steady
More than half of the states exceeded their budgeted tax revenue in
the 2007 fiscal year, according to data compiled by the National
Association of State Budget Officers in their biennial "Fiscal Survey
of States." Revenue came in below projections in just nine states.
August 1, 2007
Got Bars?
States are cracking down on the proliferation of contraband cell
phones in prisons.
August 1, 2007
The States of Health
When it comes to health care, some states are haves and some are have-
nots. That's the central conclusion of a new report from the
Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that conducts health care research.
August 1, 2007
The States of Health
When it comes to health care, some states are haves and some are have- nots. That's the central conclusion of a new report from the Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that conducts health care research.
August 1, 2007
The New College Try
Though state efforts to topple the Electoral College are stymied, North Carolina is tinkering away.
July 31, 2007
What Governors See in the DLC
To the extent anyone is paying attention to the Democratic Leadership Council's annual convention in Nashville, it's to point out who isn't there.
July 26, 2007
For Shame
Shaming: It's not just for sex offenders, drunk drivers, tax evaders and dangerous dogs anymore.
The State of Wisconsin has set up a Web site ...
July 23, 2007
A Love-Hate-Hate-Hate Relationship
Joe Bruno has been in a bad relationship for more than six months now. In January, he was on a "honeymoon" and in a "love fest."
July 18, 2007
Luv from the Guv: The Democrats
Yesterday I told you about the Republicans. Now here's all the news, speculation and intrigue, surrounding the presidential endorsements of the nation's 28 Democratic governors.
July 17, 2007
Luv from the Guv: The Republicans
Think that gubernatorial endorsements will make or break next year's presidential primaries? Consider that, far from winning his party's nomination, the candidate who Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack endorsed last November was the first to drop out.
July 13, 2007
Who Ya Gonna Call? GooseBuster.
Our magazine only comes out once a month. Collectively, we only write a couple of blog posts a day. So how on Earth do Governing ...
July 11, 2007
The Bear Facts
Here's something that perhaps no municipal official has ever asked: Which is a better bargain, a baseball team or a giant panda cub?
July 9, 2007
My Words!
As I sat down to write a feature on immigration for Governing's July issue, part of me wished I were writing about a less controversial topic -- like abortion.
July 2, 2007
State Lawmakers = College Students
Maryland lawmakers blissfully signed off on the 2008 fiscal year budget in April, which included new funding for school construction and stem cell research, without major ...
July 1, 2007
Smuggler's Delight
The American marketplace is awash in illegal fake products.
Governments are supposed to police them, but most don't.
July 1, 2007
Revenue Retiree: A Michigan Tax Faces the Ax
It sounds like a drama-series finale where the scriptwriters can't
agree: Michigan's unusual Single Business Tax is going to die, but how
remains a matter of debate.
June 30, 2007
Crackdown
When the subject of illegal immigration comes up, the states you think about first are Texas and California. Maybe Arizona. But, as of July 1, it...
June 26, 2007
Coming Soon: www.puttingthecaninkansas.com
When I was updating Governing's Sourcebook the other day, I came to a startling realization: State economic development department Web sites have some really goofy ...
June 24, 2007
Got baum?
As the Bloomberg for President speculation reached Fred Thompson levels of hysteria over the past few days, it dawned on me that I had no ...
June 15, 2007
Dull and Duller
Dallas voters will decide on a new mayor tomorrow, with the choices being businessman Tom Leppert, who the local media has deemed "a pleasant, ...
June 14, 2007
Don't-Tax Democrats
One great thing about being a journalist is that you can raise questions with absolutely no obligation to answer them.
June 14, 2007
What's Stopping the Immigration Bill
In 1786, Thomas Jefferson declared the United States "a country where the will of the majority is the law, and ought to be the law.&...
June 13, 2007
A Test of Standardized Tests
SHOCKING NEWS!!!!!! The federal government has released an interesting report.
That would be a Department of Education study, which reveals (or at least seems to ...
June 1, 2007
States on a Bermuda High
Insuring a Welcome Mat for Captives
May 29, 2007
Delicious Presidential Possibilities
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I'm starting to believe that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is running for president as ...
May 17, 2007
The Untrained Rider
I've spent the week in Atlanta, where I've acquainted myself with MARTA, the city's transit system. I've found MARTA's trains to be clean, spacious, reliable ...
May 11, 2007
Oklahoma's Immigration Transformation
Temperatures have been in the upper 70s in Oklahoma City this week, perfect weather for flip-flops.
That might explain why Governor Brad Henry signed a ...
May 9, 2007
It's My Party and I'll Nominate Who I Want to
State Treasurer Jonathan Miller's decision to end his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Kentucky simplified (slightly) a maddeningly complicated election. Democrats still ...
May 4, 2007
Government Efficiency, Aisle 6
Blasphemy as it might be for a writer for the Magazine of States and Localities, I'll admit it: Local government is the vanilla level of ...
April 30, 2007
All the Cool Kids Are Voting for Me
Why, more than anything else, does Anne Northup say she should be the Republican nominee for governor of Kentucky? Not because she'll fix the state's ...
April 26, 2007
Inbox Inadequacies
Governors offices and I don't see eye to eye. Many (though not all) of them seem to think e-mail is just like snail mail -- ...
April 25, 2007
Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Blogs?
How many governors currently have blogs? The same number that communicate through smoke signals, homing pigeons and telepathy (so far as I know). Zero.
Here's ...
April 23, 2007
A Governor's Best Friend
From Joe Six-Packs to a nine-term U.S. senator, everyone is worried about tainted pet food. Reaction to the recall from governors has been surprisingly ...
April 13, 2007
Sex and the City Government
Sometimes a statistic is worth a thousand words.
Case in point: New York City gave away 5 million condoms in the first month after introducing the ...
April 11, 2007
'Price Is Right' Politics
I learned something important from Rudy Giuliani's inability to name the price of a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread: Reporters ask really ...
April 10, 2007
Rasputins of the Web
Legend has it that Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin survived four gunshot wounds, a severe beating and enough cyanide to kill ten people. He's got nothing ...
April 6, 2007
Here Comes the Son
All the attention Andrew Cuomo, New York's new attorney general is receiving (for example from our own Alan Greenblatt, see the third item here) got ...
April 4, 2007
The Most Powerful City in the United States
It's Omaha, Nebraska. No, Omaha hasn't supplanted New York City as the world's financial center, nor displaced Washington, D.C., as our capital.
But NYC ...
April 1, 2007
The Real Estate Rub
A downturn in the housing market is beginning to spell a slowdown in
local revenue.
April 1, 2007
Tax Grab Game
Cities are finding ways to raise revenue from suburbanites, without
actually calling the levy a commuter tax.
March 31, 2007
Rate of Return
If a citizen is having trouble with a state agency, what should he or she do? E-mailing the governor's office seems like a logical idea...
March 29, 2007
The Most Intriguing Election of 2007
The most intriguing election of 2007, the Nevada governor's race, is intriguing for the very reason you've probably heard nothing about it: It isn't scheduled and ...
March 23, 2007
Votes That Don't Count
The state of Alaska is going to waste $1.2 million on April 3 to hold a referendum asking voters their opinion on domestic partner benefits for public ...
March 22, 2007
Curses, FOIAed Again!
I recently received a publication from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas that raises an interesting question: At what volume (if any) do requests ...
March 21, 2007
Angelina's Law
Angelina Jolie, the world's most famous adopter, soon might not be welcome in Arkansas orphanages.
A bill, which passed the state Senate last week, forbids ...
March 16, 2007
Assessing the New Governors, Part 3
Here's the final part of my assessment of the nation's new governors' political success.
Nevada's Jim Gibbons (Rep): Gibbons started out by facing claims of ...
March 15, 2007
Assessing the New Governors, Part 2
Here's part two of my thoughts on the new governors. Part 3 is coming tomorrow.
Idaho's Butch Otter (Rep): Otter is showing signs of being the ...
March 14, 2007
Assessing the New Governors, Part 1
The nation's new governors are just like newlyweds: Their honeymoons have only been lasting a few days. Many of the 11 new state executives have already ...
March 12, 2007
What's Good for the Michigoose...
The other day, I was faced with a perplexing question: What do you call someone from New Jersey?
"A genius," my colleague Chris, ...
March 9, 2007
Direct Democracy Delayed
Earlier this week, I mentioned California's high-speed rail project, which would connect the Northern and Southern parts of the state with a 220-MPH bullet train. ...
March 7, 2007
Little Engines That Might
I wrote a feature for the March issue of Governing that focused on one of the big reasons that the trains are unpopular for city-to-city ...
March 6, 2007
Everyone has a cell phone.
Well, not quite everyone. A recent report from the Federal Communications Commission shows that as of July 2006 there were 215.1 million cell phone subscribers in the 50 ...
March 1, 2007
Revving Up the Rails
States are ready to put up big bucks to speed up passenger rail
service--if someone would just push freight trains out of the way.
March 1, 2007
Rough Landing: Miami Airport Deals With a $1 Billion Debt
Real-life sinkholes are a problem in South Florida, but the one giving
Miami-Dade County officials headaches these days is figurative: Miami
International Airport's finances.
February 27, 2007
REAL Opposition?
As the U.S. Senate begins debate today on measures to modify the REAL ID Act, which mandates standardized identification nationwide, what action Congress' upper ...
February 26, 2007
A Tale of Two Governors
Which is the Democrat and which is the Republican?
Governor #1 says: "It's the first budget in six years with no new taxes or tax ...
February 23, 2007
Sex Offender Switcheroo
Since when did sex offenders become so popular? Consider some developments over the past couple of weeks in state legislatures:
* On a 32-8 vote, the ...
February 20, 2007
The Value of a Vote
Valentine's Day has come and gone, but don't tell that to two lovers who remain in a tight embrace 365 days a year: money and politics.
...
February 15, 2007
Popular Vote Partisanship
You'll never guess what's standing in the way of efforts to select the president using the popular vote: partisan politics.
Last year, a few states ...
February 8, 2007
Repeat Performance
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is losing her touch. Two years ago, in her state of the state address she mentioned "jobs" 52 times. Last ...
February 6, 2007
New York Senate Showdown
Remember how Levar Burton always used to say, "But you don't have to take my word for it," when recommending a book on ...
February 5, 2007
Public Employee Retirement Benefits: An Overblown Crisis?
With state and local governments facing, by some estimates, $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities for retiree health care and other post-employment benefits over the next thirty ...
February 2, 2007
Gambling on Lottery Privatization
Today's big topic in privatization is infrastructure: toll roads, parking garages and airports. Tomorrow's, though, seems to be lottery privatization, something Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels ...
February 1, 2007
The Muni Market's Bumpy Year
2006 had its ups and downs--although it was mostly positive for
issuers and negative for some underwriters.
February 1, 2007
Unadulterated Truth
Governing gave William Glaberson of the New York Times our annual journalism award yesterday. There's lots that we liked about his series on New York's ...
January 26, 2007
Too Many Conductors Ruin the Trains?
Have you every thought about who's in charge of intercity train service in the United States? Hopefully not, because if you did, you'd probably end ...
January 24, 2007
When Tuition Freezes Over
Here's a hot issue in states: college tuition freezes.
Governors O'Malley of Maryland, Gregoire of Washington, Rell of Connecticut, Pawlenty of Minnesota and Schweitzer of ...
January 18, 2007
...and Tinkerbell Transit
Only once every three or four blue moons do we receive an interesting press release through our fax machine here on the 13th Floor, but ...
January 16, 2007
"If Only We Could Be Like Mississippi"
Residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and other states have been known to remark, "Thank goodness for Mississippi," when presented with a 50-state ranking. ...
January 11, 2007
What Goes 'Rounds...
Everyone's glad to hear that South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson is feeling better, but a few people are probably especially relieved: his family, his fellow ...
January 9, 2007
Quote Larry Sabato, Ever More
The University of Virginia's Larry Sabato has been called a lot of things, from "the Mark McGwire of political analysts," to "America's ...
January 3, 2007
Legislatures: Who's Really in Charge?
Which party, Democratic or Republican, has more power in our brand-new state governments? That simple-sounding question is actually much more complicated than at first blush, ...
January 2, 2007
Two-Party Stranglehold
Here's a statistic that surprised me: Once all the new legislators are sworn in, Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown could have counted every state senator ...
January 1, 2007
Subway Story: A Fix for Escalator Woes
Washington, D.C.'s subway system hopes to have its elevators and
escalators on the up and up thanks to a new training facility for the
mechanics that keep them working.
December 31, 2006
Blue Challenge
John Shea, of Nelson, New Hampshire, is nothing if not persistent. For many years, he has wanted a seat on the state Executive Council, the...
December 31, 2006
What Makes New Hampshire Tick?
When I set out for New Hampshire to report "Blue Challenge" my task was clear. I had to explain how the Democratic gains in the...
December 28, 2006
Senseless
Planning to promise this New Year's to lost weight, quit smoking or spend more time with your family? Those resolutions are tough to keep. Instead, ...
December 27, 2006
'Twas the Fight for the Speakership
Nothing's stirring in the political world this week, except in the Texas House.
When Texas Republicans retained their majority in the state House of Representatives ...
December 21, 2006
Generation D?
Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne points to an important statistic from this fall's elections: Sixty percent of voters under the age of thirty supported ...
December 21, 2006
War on Thanksgiving, Anyone?
I've held my fire long enough: It's time to revisit how governors are traversing the minefield that is the Christmas/holiday season. Like last year, ...
December 20, 2006
Marginally Better Than Coal
Still stumped on what gifts to get your loved ones? Alabama Governor Bob Riley has some suggestions.
"Show your family and friends how much ...
December 17, 2006
More Troops = Fewer Cops?
The news that the Army and Marine Corps are requesting permanent increases in personnel doesn't sound like the type of thing that would impact state ...
December 13, 2006
Capital Offense
I received this familiar-sounding message from Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff the other day: "Our agenda is ambitious: to build the best ...
December 12, 2006
Park Place
Here's a neat Web site: Santa Monica, California has a real-time map of where parking spaces are available in its downtown and at the beach. ...
December 12, 2006
Not a Hussein in the Bunch
Over the past couple of weeks, Sen. Barack Obama's middle name, "Hussein," has generated a minor stir, with analysts wondering whether it's a ...
December 6, 2006
Blanco Scores Big
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco isn't generally known for political savvy, but she showed some smarts last week. That's when, to my knowledge, she was the ...
November 16, 2006
Cities to Sports Teams: Good Riddance
Earlier this year I wrote a feature on baseball stadium financing, with the premise that it's getting harder for teams to win funding from state ...
November 15, 2006
Nashville's First-Day Festivities
I still remember what the first day of school was like -- the excitement of seeing friends, meeting new teachers and getting ready to learn. ...
November 7, 2006
The Governors Races: Oddly Friendly to Incumbents
I was on NPR a few minutes ago, where the subject turned to the difference between this year's congressional elections and governors' elections. I pointed ...
November 7, 2006
Colorado Rejects Judicial Term Limits
That's the big judicial one on my list, other than the South Dakota vote.
November 7, 2006
Governors Race Update
Here's the latest on the four that MSNBC hasn't called:
AK: Palin (R) 52%, Knowles (D) 37% (43% reporting)
ID: Otter (R) 54%, Brady (D) 43% (35% reporting)
MN: Pawlenty (...
November 7, 2006
Arnold Says:
"I love doing sequels."
November 7, 2006
State Spending Limits Failing
Nebraska, Oregon and Maine are all rejecting TABORs. No matter how often Colorado Governor Bill Owens makes the point that his state saved, rather than ...
November 7, 2006
RI-GOV: Carcieri Wins
That's what MSNBC says.
November 7, 2006
AZ: Gay Marriage Ban Failing?
Gay marriage bans seem to be passing in every state but one: Arizona. In that state, NCSL says the ban (which also would forbid other ...
November 7, 2006
Arnold Wins
That's what MSNBC says: Four more years of the Governator.
They only have five governors races left undecided: Minnesota, Rhode Island, Nevada, Alaska and Idaho.
November 7, 2006
Oklahoma Governor: What Happened Here?
Democratic Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma is winning reelection right now with 67% of the vote. That's incredible on at least three levels:
1) Oklahoma is very ...
November 7, 2006
Gubernatorial Nailbiters
We've had a lot of easy calls tonight, but there are at least a few extremely close races for governor: Minnesota, Nevada and Rhode Island (...
November 7, 2006
SD: Abortion Ban Loses
CNN has the call, that the abortion ban in South Dakota will fail. Let me be the first to suggest that this is a blessing ...
November 7, 2006
Arizona: Fascinating Ballot Measures
In Arizona, the minimum wage increase is winning, English as the official language is winning, the gay marriage ban is down 51%-49% and voters have ...
November 7, 2006
Democratic House: What Does It Mean?
Here's my one character analysis: ?
And here's the longer version. I expect a Democratic majority to pursue an increase in the minimum wage, look to ...
November 7, 2006
Hevesi, Cuomo Win
Scandal notwithstanding, Alan Hevesi has been reelected comptroller of New York according to the New York Times. Andrew Cuomo will be the next attorney general.
November 7, 2006
AL LT. Gov: Folsom Leads
An astute reader in Alabama notes an interesting comeback bid: Former Alabama Governor Jim Folsom Jr., a Democrat, is currently leading in the race for ...
November 7, 2006
AZ-GOV: Napolitano Wins
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, a Democrat, has won reelection. Napolitano rejected a pay increase for herself and the modest pay for the office is one ...
November 7, 2006
TX-GOV: Perry Wins
CNN has Republican Rick Perry winning another term as governor of Texas. Democrat Chris Bell appears to be finishing second, while Kinky Friedman is languishing ...
November 7, 2006
Ballot Measure Roundup
The ban on same-sex marriage is ahead in Colorado, while the effort to legalize domestic partnerships is currently behind.
The ban on affirmative action is ...
November 7, 2006
U.S. House: Democratic Sweep in Pennsylvania?
It's still earlier in many of these races, but currently five incumbent Republican congressmen in Pennsylvania are behind.
November 7, 2006
Kansas AG: Kline in Trouble
The nation's premier downballot election is in Kansas, where Attorney General Phill Kline, a conservative Republican, is facing Democrat Paul Morrison. Kline in big trouble ...
November 7, 2006
MD-GOV: O'Malley Wins
This is the first incumbent governor to lose and the first true toss-up gubernatorial election to be called. Democrat Martin O'Malley has defeated Republican Governor ...
November 7, 2006
Media Ethics Case Study
MSNBC called the Pennsylvania Senate race around 8:30 because they knew Casey would beat Santorum and polls had closed in most of the state. CNN held ...
November 7, 2006
MI-GOV: My Upset Predictions Are a Disaster
The Detroit Free Press says that Democrat Jennifer Granholm is winning big, but that Republicans are winning downballot elections.
November 7, 2006
Ballot Measures: Something for Everyone
Increases in the minimum wage are projected to pass in Ohio and Missouri. The same goes for bans on same-sex marriage in Tennessee and South ...
November 7, 2006
IL-Gov: Blagojevich Wins
The AP has called the Illinois governors' race for incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich, making him a leading candidate for the Gray Davis Award for most ...
November 7, 2006
Governors Race Bonanza
We have a bunch of winners from various news organizations. Republicans Jodi Rell in CT and Sonny Perdue in GA, plus Democrats Ed Rendell in ...
November 7, 2006
MA-GOV: Patrick Wins
Democrat Deval Patrick has won the Massachusetts governorship, according to the AP. Two mind-boggling stats: He will be only the third black governor in American ...
November 7, 2006
Polls Close in 19 States
CQ has this useful list of poll closing times. Now that polls are closed in the majority of states, I think it's safe to say ...
November 7, 2006
Could the Ohio Legislature Be in Play?
Few analysts have been talking much about Republicans losing either house of the Ohio legislature, but with the toxic environment for the GOP in the ...
November 7, 2006
OH-GOV: Strickland Wins
We have our first gubernatorial call: Democrat Ted Strickland will be the next governor of Ohio.
November 7, 2006
Louisville Mayor: Abramson Leads
Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson looks like a safe bet for reelection, with a 2 to 1 lead and a third of precincts reporting.
November 7, 2006
Gay Marriage Ban Passes in Virginia
Our first call: CNN says that the ban on same-sex marriage will pass in Virginia, which is a surprisingly quick call on a vote that ...
November 7, 2006
Upset Possibilities
Here are some potential upsets. And I'm not talking mild surprises, I'm talking UPSETS.
Florida Governor: Republican Charlie Crist has led the whole election, but ...
November 7, 2006
Useful Links
NCSL has a helpful guide to which legislatures are in play. This post explains their methodology.
Also, here's my list of where to find election ...
November 7, 2006
Elvis Has Left the Statehouse?
One Indiana Republican legislator facing a serious challenge tonight is Bruce Borders. Democrats charge that he's not a serious enough lawmaker. Why would they say ...
November 7, 2006
Kentucky and Indiana Bellwethers
As polls close in parts of Indiana and Kentucky in a few minutes, you'll hear a lot about the congressional races in those states foreshadowing ...
November 6, 2006
Election Results: 50 States, 50+ Links
With one day until THE day, I've compiled a list of where to find election results in all fifty states. If you're only interested in ...
November 3, 2006
Disappearing Polling Places
posted by Josh Goodman
Early this year, officials in Sedgwick County, Kansas announced that they were eliminating more than two thirds of their voting locations. ...
November 1, 2006
Civic Booster
Luring businesses by improving quality of life.
November 1, 2006
Easing the Campus-Parking Crunch
Car-sharing companies come to undergrads' aid.
October 31, 2006
The Only Reason State Legislatures Are Important
This type of coverage drives me nuts. From this morning's New York Times article on state legislative elections: "Most significantly, the groundwork for redrawing ...
October 26, 2006
Judging the Ruling
Here are two takes on that ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court:
1) "NJ Court Stops Short of Gay Marriage OK"
2) "N....
October 25, 2006
SPAM!: Jesse Ventura's Statesmanship Edition
With a month's worth of spam rotting in my Inbox, here's the latest gubernatorial election news...
October 18, 2006
Nashville's New Island
Everyone loves riverfront property, there's just never quite enough of it. But now Nashville has a solution: Build more rivers.
The city and the Army ...
October 17, 2006
WAat Next?
"SayWa" is dead. The State of Washington's nonsensical tourism slogan lasted only six months before officials retired the five-letter failure. Let the record ...
October 16, 2006
Puzzling Governors, Part 3
Here are my final two explanations for all those puzzling governors:
Explanation #7: Many states prefer one party in today's presidential elections, but have a rich ...
October 13, 2006
Puzzling Governors, Part 2
Here's the second part of my series on why Democratic governors have thrived in Republican state and vice versa:
Explanation #4: For them to get elected ...
October 12, 2006
Puzzling Governors, Part 1
I wrote a feature investigating two related puzzles for the October issue of Governing: Why have so many gubernatorial candidates won elections in unfriendly places (...
October 1, 2006
Against the Grain
Governors are finding success in the unlikeliest places. They're doing
it by choosing boldness over caution.
September 29, 2006
Standing by Their Party
posted by Josh Goodman
There are lots of ways to get a sense, prior to Election Day, how a political party is going to fare. ...
September 25, 2006
Ohio to Governing: Do You Support Terrorism?
A few months ago, we told you about a new Ohio law requiring everyone that does business with the state to affirm that they don't ...
September 19, 2006
Pension Puzzle
Amid all of the justifiable concern about underfunded public pension systems, most recently in Alaska, it's easy not to notice that some places appear to ...
September 19, 2006
Two Words: Spam
Here's the latest gubernatorial election news cluttering my Inbox:
* Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich circulates a video message in which he says, "When you think ...
September 13, 2006
Len Munsil's Modesty
Every person I asked in Arizona a couple of weeks ago told me that Len Munsil, the gubernatorial candidate who won the Republican nomination last ...
September 12, 2006
Arizona's Immigration Test
From state and federal election results this November, we'll get a good idea of where the American people stand on immigration reform. But if you ...
September 11, 2006
Spam, Frog Legs and Fried Chocolate Pie
posted by Josh Goodman
With the official Labor Day kickoff of campaign season behind us, you can bet my inbox is filling up with spam. ...
September 8, 2006
The Politics of a Health Care Experiment
We've heard tons about the policy merits of Massachusetts' new health care plan, which, among other things, requires that all state residents obtain health insurance. ...
September 7, 2006
The New Ethanol Debate: Food v. Fuel
The ethanol debate sometimes seems like "Field of Dreams." It's the same today that it was ten years ago and there's lots of ...
September 6, 2006
Swann Sings Independent Song
Youngsters across the country are headed back to school this week, so it's a good time for a reminder of what it's like to be ...
August 29, 2006
Spam to the Future
The name "spam" was originally short for "shoulder of pork and ham." Now it's what I call all the e-mails that ...
August 23, 2006
Adding Insult to Injury
There's been a lot of talk about how Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski's third place finish in the Republican primary is a dramatic reversal of fortune ...
August 21, 2006
Puzzling Part-Timers
posted by Josh Goodman
One more item is itching to get out of my notepad after my trip to NCSL's annual meeting last week. I ...
August 18, 2006
Free and Easy
Yesterday at the National Conference of State Legislatures annual meeting in Nashville, I set out on a search to find the weirdest booth in the ...
August 18, 2006
Will the New York Senate Go Democratic?
I queried folks here at NCSL's annual meeting in Nashville as to whether Democrats were in a position to take control of the New York ...
August 17, 2006
Plethora of Polk
The Nashville and Davidson County metro government has a lot going for it -- improving schools, affordable housing and an attractive business location -- but ...
August 16, 2006
No Child: The Problem of Defining the Problem
No Child Left Behind doesn't come up in Congress for reauthorization until next year, but that hasn't stopped a lively discussion from taking place over ...
August 15, 2006
Crying Fowl
Oklahoma State University political scientist Bob Darcy has just done his best to dispel me of one of my favorite urban rural legends: That Brad ...
August 8, 2006
From Brat to Wurst
Here's the latest delicious political spam candidates for governor are sending to my inbox:
* Wisconsin Republican Mark Green has a folksy video in which he ...
August 7, 2006
Meth: Good News and Bad
The first time I glanced at the National Association of Counties' latest report on meth, I thought it vindicated the meth precursor laws that have ...
August 1, 2006
A Gay Marriage Reversal of Fortune?
It's been a rough summer for gay marriage supporters, what with courts in New York, Washington, Georgia and Nebraska all ruling against them. But recent ...
July 28, 2006
Sock Puppets, Potato Blossoms and Cheerful Candidates
Spam has accumulated once again in my inbox since my post a couple of weeks ago, so it's time for the latest tidbits from the ...
July 25, 2006
Gay Parenting: The Next Front in the Culture Wars?
Gay marriage may soon run out of steam as a political issue in the states, but there's little danger that a ceasefire is imminent in ...
July 20, 2006
"A Compassionate Redneck"
Here's a pop quiz for the elections junkies out there. What candidate for governor recently described himself as "a compassionate redneck," noted that ...
July 18, 2006
"Let's See Some ID, Grandpa"
posted by Josh Goodman
Legislators in Tennessee are taking a swig of something we here at Governing find highly intoxicating: policy innovation.
Earlier this summer, ...
July 14, 2006
So Much Spam
posted by Josh Goodman
A few weeks ago, I did something that no sane person would do. I signed up for dozens of gubernatorial candidate ...
July 11, 2006
A Cold-Button Issue
Everyone knows the hot-button political issues these days: the Iraq War, gay marriage, abortion, immigration and unfunded public employee pension liabilities. Ok, so maybe the ...
July 10, 2006
Cell Outs
Hate cell phones? You should move to Vermont. As of June 2005, the most recent data available, the Green Mountain state had the fewest cell phones ...
July 6, 2006
One Way to Boost Turnout
An Arizona ballot measure may hold the key to boosting voter turnout: paying people to vote.
The initiative, which last week the state certified for ...
June 28, 2006
The Straw that Broke Joe Camel's Back?
Ninety-nine government reports out of one hundred instantly get tossed in the wastebasket of irrelevancy, but yesterday's Surgeon General report on secondhand smoke seems destined ...
June 28, 2006
"I like you, just not like that."
A Washington Post poll released today had lots of good news for Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich. Fifty-six percent of registered Maryland voters approve of the ...
June 21, 2006
Former Governors Have More Fun
What with the lousy hours, mediocre pay, constant media scrutiny, obligatory baby kissing and inevitable squabbling with the legislature, why would anyone want to be ...
June 20, 2006
Now Blogging: Tom Vilsack
Writing a recent diary on liberal Web site Daily Kos, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack proved that he isn't your father's blogging politician -- and not ...
June 12, 2006
Smoking Analogies Abound
When I was in high school, I thought that nothing I was learning would be useful in the real world. History class was about Tippecanoe ...
June 8, 2006
Flunking the Electoral College
While much has been made of the effect a bill making its way through the California legislature could have on presidential politics, the impact could ...
June 1, 2006
Stub Snub: Setting New Limits on Tobacco
The battleground over smoking restrictions is shifting from bars and restaurants to cars and the great outdoors.
May 24, 2006
States Grapple With Gas Price Politics
My biggest question regarding state responses to high gas prices is, "What took so long?"
USA Today reported last week that more than 20 ...
May 19, 2006
HAVA Heart!
Irony-loving officials in Sedgwick County, Kansas, have found a way to implement the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) that almost certainly will make it ...
May 17, 2006
Assessing Governor Candidates: Who's Looking the Same
In the final part of my update on governors' races, I'm looking at candidates whose chances haven't changed much over the past few months. Of ...
May 16, 2006
Assessing Governor Candidates: Who's Looking Worse?
Yesterday I wrote about candidates for governor whose fortunes are brightening, but others haven't been so lucky. Here are three aspirants who are in worse ...
May 15, 2006
Voting 4 Me? U R 2 Kewl!
Podcasts are so yesterday. Text messages are the new way for governors to communicate. Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's reelection campaign is already signing up supporters ...
May 15, 2006
Assessing Governor Candidates: Who's Looking Better?
A few months have passed since I previewed this year's governors races in Governing and since then the political world has been downright uncooperative, refusing ...
May 12, 2006
And Ima Luzer Won't
Here's my prediction for tomorrow's Austin mayoral election: Will Wynn will win.
May 4, 2006
What's with the Optimism?
As a Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians fan, if there's one thing I don't understand, it's optimism. I often notice a strange, strange synchronicity between ...
May 1, 2006
Downballot Elections to Watch
If you're like me, you're counting the days until the 2006 election, which is now little more than 6 months away. Undoubtedly, you've heard about the governors' ...
April 27, 2006
911 Cell Stragglers
Studious Governing.com readers might have noticed the Daily Digit stating that only 1% of Oklahoma residents live in areas where 911 callers from cell phones can ...
April 21, 2006
Now Guest Blogging: Jeb Bush
Now that the digital graveyard is overflowing with the dead, dormant and infrequently updated blogs of elected officials, many may be wondering whether they can ...
April 18, 2006
"We Need Some Stinkin' Badges"
When Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last week proposed hiring 1,000 new police officers over the next four years, most of the attention focused on the 155% ...
April 14, 2006
Tax Reform Finally Comes to Alabama
With barely a peep of dissension, Alabama has finally decided to make reforms to its uniquely regressive tax code. Legislation signed by Governor Bob Riley ...
April 13, 2006
The Minimum Wage Momentum
Although the minimum wage is always an issue for state legislators, last year and this year they have been especially active. At least nine states ...
April 11, 2006
A Smoking Ban with a Twist
Here's an idea that might catch on around the country. Arkansas just became the 17th state to ban smoking in workplaces, but, more interestingly, it ...
April 6, 2006
Beer, Borders and Beavers
State legislators are never short on creativity. If you don't believe me, consider some of the quirky ideas percolating in legislatures around the country this ...
March 30, 2006
Please, Just Give Me a Phone Number!
A couple of months ago, I had a very simple question for a state that will remain nameless.
I found the division that would have ...
March 29, 2006
Michigan's Referendum Machinations
Recent events in Michigan illustrate how voter referendums are becoming devices for influencing the results of other votes. Governor Jennifer Granholm was all smiles yesterday ...
March 27, 2006
Women Make Gains in State Tech
I've just completed an initial update of the state technology officials for Governing's Sourcebook and the results show that slowly more women are moving into ...
March 21, 2006
Change of Forecast in Illinois Race for Governor?
Voters are headed to the polls today in Illinois for primary elections -- or at least they're supposed to be. As Taegan Goddard points out ...
March 20, 2006
The Anti-Slogan
In one episode of the Simpsons, Marge tells Homer, "It's very easy to criticize," to which he responds, "and fun, too!"
...
March 17, 2006
Say What?
If you've been paying attention to the 13th Floor over the past few months, you know that we've taken a good bit of glee in ...
March 15, 2006
Making Changes to No Child Left Behind
The Washington Post offered principals in the D.C. area an interesting opportunity this weekend: Explain for the world why your school is not meeting ...
March 7, 2006
If Roe Is Overturned, Which States Will Ban Abortion?
Now that South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds has signed legislation to ban virtually all abortions, a renewed court battle over Roe v. Wade seems inevitable. ...
March 6, 2006
2006: Year of the Independent? (Revisited)
A few months ago, I argued that although the political environment might be turning voters against both the Republican and Democratic parties, no credible independent ...
March 1, 2006
Baseball's Big Test
If you're curious about the future of public financing of Major League Baseball stadiums, keep a close eye on the Minnesota legislature over the next ...
March 1, 2006
Eminent Domain Restrictions and Credit Ratings
One reason I'm so fascinated by the response to the Supreme Court's Kelo decision is that every day there seems to be a new angle ...
February 27, 2006
Washington State's Malpractice Miracle
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire seems to have worked a minor miracle in brokering a compromise between doctors and malpractice attorneys in her state. That's not ...
February 27, 2006
Anti-Meth Laws Come to D.C.
Here at Governing, we always take pleasure in pointing out when federal legislation mirrors laws already on the books in the states. Well, the congressional ...
February 24, 2006
Eminent Domain Could Swing Elections in November
The backlash against the Supreme Court's Kelo decision is continuing unabated. Property rights advocates across the country are proposing amendments to state constitutions to restrict ...
February 22, 2006
Virginia's Laziness Tax
The Virginia legislature is considering a gas tax increase with a twist. Anyone could mail in their receipts for gas purchases twice a year and ...
February 20, 2006
What's Wrong With This List?
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee took a new step in his public health crusade yesterday, granting "Healthy Arkansas" designations to 106 of his state's dining ...
February 16, 2006
Good News for Small-State Guvs
One thing that strikes me about SurveyUSA's newest batch of polling on governors' approval ratings is that people like their governors a lot more in ...
February 14, 2006
Rhode Island's Gamble
Rhode Island doesn't have a lot going for it. It's about 1/429th the size of Alaska. It's not actually an island. And, it was one ...
February 8, 2006
Will the Dearth of African-American Governors End in 2006?
Only one African-American, Virginia's Doug Wilder, has ever been elected governor of a U.S. state. As a result of developments over the past two ...
February 7, 2006
Kelo's Effect on Stadiums
While working on an article for Governing's March issue on financing sports stadiums, one question I've asked a couple of sources is whether last year's ...
February 6, 2006
Virginia's "Singing" Senators
Virginia is embroiled in a state song controversy, but for all the wrong reasons. The ordeal began in 1997 when, due to patently offensive lyrics, "...
February 1, 2006
Many Mansions
This is a busy gubernatorial year, with contests in more than two-
thirds of the states. It may also be a year of significant change.
January 31, 2006
States of the President
The State of the Union address is as much about measuring the standing of the president as it is about the country as a whole. ...
January 26, 2006
Utah's Constitutional Kerfuffle
The last time many people felt passionately about the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, other hot topics included Prohibition and women's suffrage. But ...
January 20, 2006
Govs' Polls: Woe the Ex-Congressmen (UPDATED)
SurveyUSA's newest approval rating polls reveal the secret to being a popular governor: Don't be a former member of Congress.
Ten (Correction) Nine current governors ...
January 19, 2006
Relentlessly "On Message"
Sometimes a word is worth a thousand words.
That's certainly been true during the latest round of governors' State of the State addresses. You can ...
January 13, 2006
Who Let the Dangerous Dogs Out?
A national movement is afoot to crack down on dangerous dogs, from San Francisco, to Colorado to Virginia. Now counties across the country have a ...
January 10, 2006
Trend Against Death Penalty Grows
posted Josh Goodman
There is new momentum against the death penalty in state government. Death sentences are declining, the New Jersey legislature passed a death ...
January 8, 2006
Term Limits Tango
One of the primary reasons for adopting term limits is to get fresh faces into government. However, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported recently, it ...
January 6, 2006
Showgirls in the Senate?
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman (alas, no relation) is contemplating a bid for U.S. Senate. If C-SPAN had a little more entrepreneurial savvy and ...
January 5, 2006
Martinez vs. Martinez
As Political Wire notes, one Texas House of Representatives campaign is sure to get personal. That's because the candidates in the Democratic primary are incumbent ...
January 2, 2006
Redefining the Statehouse
If you're still trying to come up with a New Year's resolution, do me a favor. Promise to only use the word "statehouse" ...
January 1, 2006
Legislatures 2006: Issues to Watch
As legislatures in most states come back into session this month, their members will be spending an unusual amount of time dealing with issues that involve other levels of government.
December 28, 2005
Great Potatoes. Lousy Slogans.
New Jersey's taken a lot of heat for its search for a new slogan. But based on this list of current state catch phrases, it ...
December 22, 2005
The Battle of the Sexes: A Draw
With a new 50-state poll of governors' approval ratings out, I decided to check an argument I made last month: that female executives are as ...
December 21, 2005
Governors Elections to Watch
For a preview of the 2006 governors elections that I'm writing for the February issue of Governing, I've spoken with the University of Virginia's Larry Sabato ...
December 20, 2005
Immigration Issues Roil the GOP
A few days ago the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill designed to crack down on illegal immigration, but not before business ...
December 14, 2005
Governors and the "War on Christmas"
Claims by some conservatives that liberals are waging a "War on Christmas" have gotten a lot of attention lately. Some groups have criticized ...
December 12, 2005
The New History
Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed recently announced that the Web site of former governor Mike Lowry, who served from 1993-1997, would be maintained in ...
December 11, 2005
States Steering Seniors' Drug Choices
Several states are quietly altering the way Medicare's new prescription drug benefit operates. The changes mean that when the program begins on January 1, it will ...
December 8, 2005
The Effects of Term Limits
Governing's January issue will discuss whether term limits have dulled institutional memory in state legislatures and shifted power to governors and agency heads. That got ...
December 1, 2005
Creating A Bond: Chicago Keeps The Little Guy in The Loop
Chicago is bringing municipal bonds to the masses.
December 1, 2005
The Myth of Political Polarization
Going along with my post below, I have often wondered why, with so many governors thriving in states where their party is supposedly in the ...
December 1, 2005
Guvs' Polls: What's Red is Blue and Blue is Red
Survey USA has new approval ratings for all 50 governors. The polls bear out an odd trend that has become increasingly clear over the past few ...
November 29, 2005
Kelo's Defenders
From most of the commentary on the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Kelo v. New London, which affirmed the use of eminent domain ...
November 18, 2005
Sanford Conspiracies
South Carolina's Mark Sanford (pictured here) may have been the most controversial pick for Time magazine's list of three worst governors. Now the fallout from ...
November 16, 2005
The Mayoral Glass Ceiling
Believe it or not, only one mayor of America's 25 most populous cities is a woman (Laura Miller of Dallas, pictured here). Though the extent to ...
November 15, 2005
Will Arnold Be Back?
Two years ago Democratic voters gave a Republican official what Governing termed "a stinging rebuke" on a reform-minded ballot measure he pushed. If ...
November 8, 2005
Summary and Goodnight
2:35 A.M.: We're still waiting on the last results from California, but I'm headed to bed. Prop. 75 is especially close and you can get all ...
November 8, 2005
Washington State Smoking Ban Passes
2:22 A.M.: Washington state has passed one of the nation's toughest smoking bans.
November 8, 2005
Detroit Mayor: Technical Glitch
2:00 A.M.: It looks as though it might still be a while before we know the result in Detroit, but, as far as I can ...
November 8, 2005
King County Executive: Sims Pulling Away
1:47 A.M.: King County Executive Ron Sims got a bit of a scare, but he appears to be winning.
By the way, the Hotline blog ...
November 8, 2005
San Diego Mayor: Sanders Looks Likely to Win
1:29 A.M.: Republican Jerry Sanders appears to be pulling ahead. If he does win, his unenviable task is to fix the fiscal mess in San ...
November 8, 2005
Hotline: Liberal Counties Still to Report in California
1:08 A.M.: I haven't tried to figure out what California counties have reported so far, but the Hotline blog says that the liberal, populous counties ...
November 8, 2005
San Diego, Detroit Mayor Updates
12:50 A.M.: Republican Jerry Sanders leads Democrat Donna Frye in early returns in San Diego.
In Detroit, the Free Press explains why they haven't called ...
November 8, 2005
Seattle Results: Monorail Losing, Nickels Winning
12:42 A.M.: The Seattle Times has lots of interesting results on their site. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels appears headed to reelection in early returns, but ...
November 8, 2005
New York Budget Referendum Fails
12:32 A.M.: New York's ballot measure to change the state budgeting process has failed. Anytime both Gov. Pataki and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer are against ...
November 8, 2005
California Numbers
12:23 A.M.: Results on California's referendums are here. Referendum 75, which would require written consent for the dues of public employee union members to be used ...
November 8, 2005
First California Returns
12:12 A.M.: According to the Los Angeles Times, two of the ballot measures pushed by Arnold appear to be failing. The two are Refs. 76 and 77, ...
November 8, 2005
Maine Appears to Keep Anti-Discrimination Law for Sexual Orientation
11:59 P.M.: Although I haven't seen any official call, barring a very dramatic turn of events Maine voters will keep a law banning discrimination on ...
November 8, 2005
Mayoral Roundup
11:46 P.M.: Four more results: Incumbent Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell has just conceded to City Council Chairman Frank Jackson in a tight race. Minneapolis Mayor ...
November 8, 2005
New Jersey Voters Approve Lt. Governorship
11:30 P.M.: New Jersey voters have passed a ballot measure to create a lieutenant governorship. Prior to the vote, I believe New Jersey was the ...
November 8, 2005
Boston Mayor: Menino Wins 4th Term
11:19 P.M.: Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has easily won a fourth term.
November 8, 2005
It's Official: All Four Ohio Reform Measures Fail
11:13 P.M.: The four referendums designed to reform Ohio election law have all officially been defeated. An article from the AP suggests that voter confusion ...
November 8, 2005
NYC Mayor: Bloomberg Wins
11:05 P.M.: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been reelected easily. The New York Times had the best analysis on this race: Bloomberg's greatest ...
November 8, 2005
California, Washington Polls Close
11:00 P.M.: Polls are just closing in both Washington state and California. There are tons of interesting referendums in both places.
November 8, 2005
Cincy, St. Paul Mayoral Races Called
10:51 P.M.: Two more mayoral updates: St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly has been defeated by fellow Democrat Chris Coleman. This is a win that Democrats ...
November 8, 2005
Dallas "Strong Mayor" Vote Fails Narrowly
10:40 P.M.: For the second time this year, Dallas voters have rejected a proposal to strengthen the city's mayorship. Today's referendum would have made more ...
November 8, 2005
Pittsburgh Mayor: O'Connor Wins
10:29 P.M.: As expected, the AP reports Democrat Bob O'Connor has won the mayoral race in Pittsburgh.
November 8, 2005
Atlanta Mayor: Franklin Reelected
10:22 P.M.: Although most precincts haven't reported yet, Atlanta's Democratic Mayor Shirley Franklin is taking 92% of the vote, so I'm personally declaring her the winner ...
November 8, 2005
Republican Wins Virginia Lt. Gov?
10:14 P.M.: Not Larry Sabato is calling the Virginia lieutenant governor race for Republican Bill Bolling. I haven't heard an official call, but the tone ...
November 8, 2005
OH: Redistricting Measure Fails
10:04 P.M.: Issue 4 fails according to the AP. It will be interesting to dissect afterwards why, when Ohio residents have such low opinions of Republican ...
November 8, 2005
AP: Corzine Wins
9:55 P.M.: According to the Associated Press, Democrat Jon Corzine has been elected governor of New Jersey.
November 8, 2005
Ohio: Could the Entire Reform Agenda Be in Jeopardy?
9:50 P.M.: The much-ballyhooed four reform referendums in Ohio appear to be in serious danger of defeat. It isn't a big surprise that Issue 4, the ...
November 8, 2005
NJ GOV: Corzine Leads
9:32 P.M.: With 41% of precincts in, New Jersey Democrat Jon Corzine has a 54%-43% lead over Republican Doug Forrester.
November 8, 2005
Texas Gay Marriage Ban Passes
9:28 P.M.: As expected, the gay marriage ban in Texas has passed easily. Currently, it is winning with 74% of the vote. Based on the standard ...
November 8, 2005
Houston Mayor: White Reelected
9:20 P.M.: Bill White, the Democratic mayor of Houston is taking upwards of 90% of the vote has been officially called as the winner.
November 8, 2005
AP: Kaine Wins
9:13 P.M.: The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor's race for Democrat Tim Kaine.
November 8, 2005
St. Peterburg Mayor: Baker Winning Easily
The St. Petersburg Times reports that incumbent Republican Rick Baker has 68.5% of the vote with 88 of 115 precincts reporting. I'm not sure whether this one has ...
November 8, 2005
Polls Close in New York
8:58 P.M. Polls are about two minutes from closing in New York. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appears likely to cruise to reelection.
A ...
November 8, 2005
Kaine Number Look Strong
8:53 P.M.: Tim Kaine appears to be matching Mark Warner's numbers from 2001 in many places. That's good news for him because Warner won by 5%.
...
November 8, 2005
Kaine Running Ahead of Other Statewide Democratic Candidates
8:26 P.M.: Looking at the aggregate Virginia results, Democratic Tim Kaine appears to be outperforming fellow Democrats Leslie Byrne and Creigh Deeds, candidates for lt. ...
November 8, 2005
Non-Partisan Redistricting Running Behind Other Ballot Measures in Ohio
8:07 P.M. Only a small percentage of Ohio's precincts have reported so far, so it's too soon to jump to any conclusions. Still, it is ...
November 8, 2005
Polls Close in New Jersey
7:55: Polls close in 5 minutes in New Jersey and Maine (where there is a referendum seeking to overturn a law barring discrimination on the basis of ...
November 8, 2005
Polls Close in Ohio
7:33 P.M.: Polls have now closed in Ohio. Besides the statewide referendums, there are also interesting mayoral races in Cleveland and Cincinnati. In Cleveland, incumbent ...
November 8, 2005
Virginia Spin Gets Going
7:25: As the Hotline's blog points out, we are hearing conflicting reports about turnout in Virginia. I just heard two reporters on T.V., one stationed ...
November 8, 2005
Polls Close in Virginia
7:10 P.M.: Polls have closed in Virginia, but there are no exit polls today, so we'll have to wait for the results. Not Larry Sabato ...
November 8, 2005
VA-GOV: Look to Loudoun
6:51 P.M.: With Virginia's polls closing in a few minutes, I'll be looking with interest at the results from Loudoun County. Loudoun is growing remarkably ...
November 8, 2005
Poll Closing Schedule
CBS has a helpful map with information on key races around the country, including what time the polls close (thanks go to Political Wire for ...
November 8, 2005
Evaluating the Texas Gay Marriage Vote
6:04 P.M.: Conspicuously absent from my previous post was any mention of Texas' gay marriage ban. That's because the ban will fail only if pigs ...
November 8, 2005
Upset Possibilities
Welcome to the 13th Floor's Election Night 2005 coverage! Here are a few thoughts on some contests where we might see an upset.
NJ GOV: ...
November 4, 2005
Votes to Watch on Tuesday
GOVERNING.COM COVERAGE & ANALYSIS IS HERE.
ELECTION NIGHT LIVEBLOG IS HERE.
I'll be on the 13th Floor Tuesday night, monitoring state and local election ...
November 1, 2005
The Inside Story
Schwarzenegger rejects plan to scan bodies for danger signs.
November 1, 2005
The Importance of TABOR
Colorado's vote today will offer a decent barometer on the public's willingness to raise taxes in an era of small government.
What's on the ballot ...
October 26, 2005
The Media's Favorite Governor
I just finished Craig Crawford's new book, Attack the Messenger , in which he claims that officeholders have increasingly turned to criticizing the media to deflect ...
October 20, 2005
A Tale of Two Referendums
Two questions on ballots this November on opposite sides of the country are turning into a case study of partisan hypocrisy. At the same time, ...
October 14, 2005
2006: Year of the Independent?
Next year is shaping up to be a banner year for independent and third-party office seekers. The only thing that is missing is the candidates.
October 12, 2005
So Irrational, It Just Might Work
At Governing's Managing Performance conference last week, Delaware Budget Director J.J. Davis touted a policy being tested in her state as the answer to ...
October 1, 2005
Rebirth Of The 'Death Tax'
States Are Turning Back To Estate Taxes
September 28, 2005
Getting a Job the Hard Way
Most people peruse classified sections and send out resumes when they want a new job. Arkansas state Rep. Charles Ormond has decided to try and ...
September 26, 2005
HOT or not?
Does congestion pricing on highways create "Lexus lanes" that only rich drivers can afford?
It depends, as two examples currently under review in ...
September 21, 2005
State of the Governors
Yesterday, polling firm SurveyUSA released the latest rendition of their 50-state survey of governors' job-approval ratings. The simultaneous polls make it easy to draw broad ...
September 16, 2005
TABOR Tantrum
Colorado's upcoming vote on whether to temporarily suspend its Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) is shaping up as one to watch. There's more at stake ...
September 14, 2005
Utah's Retro Governor
Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah could hardly be more old school. Sure, he doesn't listen to disco (as far as I know) or drive ...
September 9, 2005
Hitting Too Close to Home
Debates about whether employees of local governments should live in the municipalities they serve have been around for a long time. In fact, Governing ran ...
September 8, 2005
High on Potts
With the New York mayoral race and the New Jersey governor's race both looking like snoozers, only one contest on the ballot in 2005 stands to ...
September 7, 2005
Happy Day for Gays
Yesterday's news that California's legislature passed a bill to legalize gay marriage, becoming the first legislature to do so without judicial prodding, marked a substantial ...
September 6, 2005
Shaming the Feds
Over the past few days, a great deal of discussion has focused on what officials at all levels of government did wrong when responding to ...
August 26, 2005
Libertarians Rejoice!
Last year a group of anti-government types, interested in creating a utopia free from the burdens of pesky social services, designated New Hampshire as a ...
August 23, 2005
Dick Cheney's Soul Mate
There are a number of interesting storylines emanating from yesterday's New York Post article about secretly taped conversations involving a top aide of New York ...
August 17, 2005
One Step Above Dogcatcher
The hopes of political junkies everywhere were dashed earlier this week when the most intriguing 2006 election failed to materialize. I'm not speaking of the reelection ...
August 11, 2005
The Starbucks Stops Here
Almost everyone knows that Starbucks coffee shops are everywhere. In fact, pointing out the ubiquity of Starbucks long since became passé. The Simpsons played off ...
March 1, 2004
Tuition Tango
Illegal immigrants find new friends in statehouses--and get a break at
state colleges.
October 1, 2003
Frowning On Friendly
When Kentuckians are asked about their new license plate--which says of the Bluegrass State: "It's that friendly"--they get downright grouchy.
October 1, 2003
Virginia's Medicaid Data Gets A Makeover
While compiling Medicaid managed care data can be daunting, it's an even greater challenge to present the numbers in a way that's accessible and useful. Virginia seems to have found success with a new, simplified reporting system.
September 1, 2003
Staffless in Madison
Wisconsin state Representative Mike Powers is going it alone--not politically but administratively.
August 1, 2003
Florida's Granny-Flat Top
In a referendum they passed last November, Floridians gave counties the option of offering residents tax breaks if they built new additions to house their aging parents or grandparents.
August 1, 2003
Counting The Miles
Oregon looks to a non-gas 'gas' tax.
August 1, 2003
To Dye For
On the morning of May 21, Philadelphians awoke to find that a prankster had dyed the water in the fountain at JFK Plaza bright pink. Rather than causing a hue and cry among city leaders, however, the stunt inspired them.
July 1, 2003
A Smart Park Plays Dumb
Big Brother watches and waits in Glendale.
July 1, 2003
Waiting To Inhale
Even where there wasn't smoke, there were fire watchers in the public schools of Orange County, Florida. During the final weeks of the school year, the district put some 30 fire watchers on duty after fire officials found some schools in violation of state safety regulations.
February 28, 2003
More Bridge for Your Buck
After a painful period of price inflation, the cost of concrete, steel and asphalt is dropping. So as states begin spending their stimulus checks from...