Russell Nichols

Recent Articles

• 40-Year-Old 'War on Drugs' Needs Fixing
• Jun 14, 2011
• After four decades of destructive drug control policies, will the U.S. change its ways?
• 6 Comments

• Party Lines Don’t Reflect American People
• Jun 9, 2011
• Despite the popular picture of states divided by red and blue lines, researchers found that most citizens share a diverse range of liberal and conservative beliefs.
• 6 Comments

• When Pressure Is On, Partisan Walls Fall
• Jun 8, 2011
• With a budget deadline approaching, California lawmakers can learn a thing or two from the Nevada Legislature on finding common ground.

• For Foster Children, Every Little Bit Helps
• Jun 6, 2011
• Shortchanged foster parents in California are expected to receive long-overdue raises in payment rates, no thanks to the state Department of Social Services.

• Fiscal Flexibility Comes at a Price
• Jun 3, 2011
• California schools use control over spending decisions to plug budget holes, special programs suffer, study finds.

• States Getting 'Fracking' Acts Together
• Jun 1, 2011
• Across the country, the process of drilling for natural gas has created an explosion of controversy around the rules of disclosure.
• 1 Comments

• Six Ideas for Fixing the Nation's Infrastructure Problems
• May 31, 2011
• Here's how to plan, fund and make a safer, more efficient transportation system.
• 6 Comments

• In California, Walls Close In On Prisoners and Policymakers
• May 27, 2011
• Inmates in cramped cells and lawmakers outside of them feel the pressure of funding shortage.

• Deficits Highlight Education Woes
• May 25, 2011
• California education cuts may be less severe then originally thought. But overall, schools still need help.
• 1 Comments

• More Money, More Problems in California
• May 17, 2011
• Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to demolish California’s wall of debt can’t get around GOP’s wall of doubt.

• States Exploring Options for Future Transportation Projects
• May 13, 2011
• Even though states may not have the data to know how well their transportation investments fared, they still need to consider options that could maximize the value of any transportation spending.
• 1 Comments

• Building Websites, Fences in Arizona
• May 10, 2011
• To get a bigger fence along the border with Mexico, lawmakers propose online donations and prison labor.
• 2 Comments

• States Considering Electric Car Fees for Road Upkeep
• May 6, 2011
• To charge or not to charge? With gas tax revenues on the decline, states are exploring electric car fees as a way to help maintain roads.
• 9 Comments

• Oregon Legislators Evaluate Post-Disaster Governance
• May 5, 2011
• In the wake of a catastrophe, an effective recovery effort requires a functioning government -- an issue a number of legislatures are addressing.

• Failing the Future?
• May 3, 2011
• In this commentary, Russell Nichols writes that to recruit and retain great teachers, let’s start by razing our standards.
• 4 Comments