TABLE of CONTENTS April 2015
Asa Hutchinson is the first Republican governor to work with a Republican-controlled legislature in Arkansas in 140 years. (Photos by David Kidd)
Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce: “It’s the first time Republicans have had a working majority in government and they’re determined to prove their competence and their ability to govern.”
Arkansas Labor Director Leon Jones Jr.: “I don’t remember [the governor] ever making a rushed decision about anything.”
“I made a speech on the House floor that if we want to get rid of the private option, this was the best way,” Republican Laurie Rushing says. “I put my trust in the governor and voted yes.”
"There are a lot more conservatives in Arkansas in 2015 than there were," says Larry Walther, head of finance and administration. "He has a pretty deep bench to pick from."
Choosing Michael Lamoureux as his chief of staff gave Hutchinson a top aide who knew the legislative process inside and out.
“He took advantage of that era of good feeling, rather than letting them wear themselves out figuring out what they want to pass,” says longtime lobbyist Ark Monroe.
Some thought the governor had handicapped himself by removing Lamoureux from his position as the president pro tempore of the state Senate. But the legislature has so far been very cooperative.
“We knew we could do this a different way from what had been done in the past,” House Speaker Jeremy Gillam says.
“In the key leadership positions, the people who are senior advisers to him are pros,” says Democratic state Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, who served as budget director under former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. “They know what they’re doing. They’ve done it before.”
“I haven’t seen many political appointments or good ol’ boy appointments,” says Bruce Hawkins, a lobbyist and former Democratic legislator.
“I do understand leading large programs, and that’s what government is,” Hutchinson says.
Patience and Pragmatism Dominate Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s First 100 Days
BY Alan Greenblatt
For the first time in more than a century, Arkansas is completely controlled by Republicans. But the new governor has slowly and deliberately built bipartisanship in the legislature.
FEATURES
Gina Raimondo Confronts Rhode Island’s Uncertain Future
Rhode Island’s first female governor won support for her leadership during historic snowstorms, but it’s unclear whether courts or lawmakers will side with her on major pension and budget issues.
Why Some Public Pensions Could Soon Look Much Worse
A Governing analysis shows how a new accounting rule dramatically changes some plans' pension liabilities and will likely force many states to finally face their obligations.
How Bloomberg’s Still Changing the Way Cities Operate
Bloomberg Philanthropies and other organizations have poured an unprecedented amount of money into making cities more innovative and collaborative. What happens when the money runs out?
Aging Behind Bars
America's prison population has aged significantly, increasing the costs of incarceration. These four inmates show just some of the challenges older inmates bring.
OBSERVER
Education
Common Core Critics Are Loud But Losing
The nationwide pushback against the education standards hasn't been very successful.
Management & Labor
The City as Consultant
Most cities already freely share ideas with others, but some are starting to sell their best practices to other local governments.
Politics
Why Some Lawmakers Want to Abolish the 17th Amendment
Adopted in 1913, it took the job of electing U.S. senators away from state legislatures.
Education
Traveling Theater Helps Communities Revisit Their Histories
In partnership with a theater company, Minnesota towns are staging on-the-go plays to tell their history.
POLITICS + POLICY
Assessments
When Does Politicians' Unethical Behavior Become a Crime?
Over the past few decades, it’s become easier to convict public officials for corruption but harder to know who’s really guilty of it.
Potomac Chronicle
Are States Still 'Labs of Democracy'?
The growing role of federal waivers suggest the answer isn't simple.
Health & Human Services
Why Medicaid Expansion Has Reached a Standstill
Republican governors who want to make more people eligible for the low-income health insurance program face daunting obstacles nationally and in their GOP-controlled legislatures.
Infrastructure & Environment
How the Most At-Risk Cities Are Preparing for More Power Outages
East Coast cities are expected to experience more hurricanes and more blackouts in the coming years.
Economic Engines
How Airline Mergers and Deregulation Hurt Travel
It seems America has forgotten that air travel is supposed to serve the public.
Urban Notebook
The Future of Parking in an Era of Car-Sharing
Services like Uber and Zipcar could radically change city streets.
PROBLEM SOLVER
Public Safety & Justice
Case Closed? How 'Solved' Murder Stats Are Misleading
Homicide clearance rates don't always mean what they seem to mean.
Smart Management
HR Directors Get a Personnel Downgrade
Even though states spend more on payroll than anything else, many governors no longer look to human resources for advice on their workforce.
Better Government
The Most Important Question in Government
While politicians easily offer policy prescriptions, they often fail to ask how they will be paid for.
Tech Talk
New Apps May Make Giving and Getting Government Aid Easier
Mobile technology has made a belated but much needed debut in human services.
Infrastructure & Environment
The Town That Takes the Elevator Everywhere
Residents of Whittier, Alaska, have to take the elevator or stairs wherever they go in the wintertime.
