http://www.governing.com/rss/all_articles/rss/?a=${author.id} Articles on Governing.com http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/gov-payroll-employment-changes-for-states-2013.html View data showing changes in total employment for each state so far this year. http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-new-jersey-looks-to-college-students-for-urban-revitalization.html Lawmakers in New Jersey have proposed paying part of college graduates' student loans if they agree to live in cities in need of revitalization. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-calif-uses-hix-for-voter-registration.html In a move that other states are expected to follow, California is giving people who contact the state's new health exchange to buy insurance the opportunity to register to vote at the same time. http://www.governing.com/news/federal/mct-new-fracking-rules-issued-by-interior-department.html The Interior Department proposed new rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas drilling on federal lands, drawing criticism from environmentalists and the industry. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-enacts-law-requiring-prosecutorial-transparency.html Known as the Michael Morton Act, the law aims to avoid wrongful convictions by preventing prosecutors from suppressing evidence. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/government-officials-approval-of-obama-slipping.html State and local government officials increasingly disapprove of President Obama and fear the country is headed in the wrong direction, a new Governing survey finds. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Brewers-Immigrant-License-Policy-Upheld-in-Court.html A federal judge refused to suspend Gov. Jan Brewer’s policy denying driver’s licenses to young undocumented immigrants who receive work permits through President Barack Obama’s deferred-action policy. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Washington-States-Marijuana-Rules-Taking-Shape.html State officials released proposed rules for a legal seed-to-store marijuana system that would allow adults to buy an ounce of tested, labeled pot seven days a week. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Facing-a-Strike-UC-Medical-Centers-Cancel-Elective-Surgeries.html Facing a possible two-day strike next week by patient care and technical workers, the five large University of California medical centers are starting to cancel elective surgeries. http://www.governing.com/news/local/LAPD-Freed-from-Federal-Oversight.html In a brief, three-line order, a judge formally lifted the binding agreement the U.S. Department of Justice imposed on the LAPD in 2001, which spelled out dozens of major reforms the police agency had to implement and frequent audits it was required to undergo. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Proposal-to-Raise-Legal-Cigarette-Age-to-21-Catches-on-in-New-Jersey.html New Jersey and New York are both considering raising the minimum age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products to 21. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Bill-Allowing-Armed-Personnel-in-Schools-Becomes-Tennessee-Law.html Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill that allows school districts to let people with police training be armed in schools. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Impact-of-Louisiana-School-Voucher-Ruling-Beginning-to-Show.html As the 2013-14 funding plan boomeranged between the Legislature and the state board of education, the state education superintendent revealed that the state had to find an extra $29 million for the current school year; meanwhile, parents of students in the voucher program rallied to keep their kids enrolled. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minimum-Wage-Increase-Hits-Roadblock-in-Minnesota.html Once a top priority, a hike in the minimum wage is falling off the agenda as the House and Senate disagree on how much it should rise. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Floridas-Rick-Scott-Rejects-Amazon-Deal.html Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who has made job creation his top priority, has rejected a proposed deal to bring major Internet retailer Amazon to the state because it would have meant that Floridians would have to pay sales tax on Internet purchases made through the company. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-how-vermont-raised-its-gas-tax.html State leaders say they had no choice to find new gas tax revenue since they risked losing federal funds. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/explaining-end-of-life-bill-in-oklahoma.html University of Tulsa law professor Marguerite Chapman, on new end-of-life care legislation in Oklahoma that says patients who are disabled, elderly or terminally ill cannot be denied life-preserving treatments if they or their health proxies want it. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/25-miles-bike-paths-installed-in-san-francisco.html Miles of bike paths that have been installed in San Francisco in the last three years. More lanes are in the works, but public resistance to them is growing. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-moodys-detroit-emergency-manager-makes-default-an-option.html Moody's, the credit ratings agency, has warned that Detroit’s preliminary financial operating plan opens the door to place bondholders on the hook for the city’s debts, a move that would further damage the city’s already low credit rating. http://www.governing.com/columns/public-finance/col-public-pension-plans-third-way.html Defined-benefit plans put all the risk on states and localities; defined-contribution plans put it all on employees. Now there's a new approach to risk sharing. http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/gov-how-weak-gop-republican-party-blue-states.html Just about as weak as Democrats are in the reddest states. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-to-allow-17-year-olds-to-vote-in-primaries.html The Illinois legislature has passed a bill allowing 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they are going to turn 18 by the November general election. In doing so they become the 13th state to allow this group of teens to vote in primaries. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-oklahoma-law-sparks-end-of-life-care-debate.html A new law in Oklahoma severely restricting end-of-life options for patients raises a number of questions for doctors and is adding fuel to the national debate about end of life care. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-gop-donor-releases-anti-obamacare-songs.html Houston physician and Republican campaign donor Steve Hotze has written two songs about his opposition to federal health reform. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/cities-counties-with-most-commuters.html Many of the nation’s urban areas see their populations jump during the day with an influx of workers, requiring additional public services. View data showing which counties have the most out-of-town commuters. http://www.governing.com/news/state/6-States-Have-No-Campaign-Finance-Disclosure-Laws-for-Outside-Groups.html A 50-state analysis by the National Institute on Money in State Politics found that Indiana, Alabama, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota and South Carolina don’t have a single law on the books to require super PACs and nonprofits to disclose their finances, http://www.governing.com/news/state/Farm-Bill-Cuts-Food-Stamp-Funding.html The House bill would cut about $2.5 billion a year — or a little more than 3 percent — from the food stamp program, which is used by 1 in 7 Americans. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/Tavenner-is-1st-New-CMS-Leader-in-Nearly-a-Decade.html Marilyn Tavenner on Wednesday was easily confirmed by the Senate to run the agency in charge of Medicare, Medicaid and setting up much of the health care law. http://www.governing.com/news/local/DC-Councilmembers-Seek-to-Decriminalize-Marijuana.html Some D.C. Council members are crafting legislation to lessen the penalties for marijuana possession, hoping to settle the matter before outside groups petition the issue onto the ballot. http://www.governing.com/news/state/GOP-Leave-Blood-Alcohol-Rules-to-the-States.html Republicans are warning the government against withholding federal funding from -- or offering financial incentives to -- states to prod them to adopt tougher drunken driving laws. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Couple-Sues-South-Carolina-Agency-over-Childs-Sex-Assignment-Surgery.html In a legal first, a couple is suing the state Department of Social Services for removing their child’s penis and testicular tissue in an effort to “assign” him to the female sex while in foster care. http://www.governing.com/news/state/North-Carolina-Officials-Pitch-Medicaid-Managed-Care-to-Doctors.html In a national address earlier this month, Gov. Pat McCrory called on President Barack Obama to approve the state’s Medicaid request, but it’s clear that the state’s doctors and other health care professionals aren’t convinced that managed care is the best course. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Teachers-Union-Sues-Chicago-to-Stop-Closings.html The two lawsuits, filed on behalf of parents and their special needs children, say the proposed school closings are unfair, will harm students with disabilities and are discriminatory because almost all the students affected are African-American. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-merging-government-jurisdictions-sharing-services.html Merging jurisdictions to reduce costs seems like a good idea, but it's fraught with difficulty. The real potential for efficiency lies in sharing services. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Former-Congressman-Tancredo-Considers-Run-for-Colorado-Governor.html Former Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, known for his hard-line stances on immigration, is strongly considering a run for governor in 2014. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/100-ohio-kindergarten-college-savings-accts.html The initial deposit that Cuyahoga County, Ohio, will make into college savings accounts for every kindergartener next fall. San Francisco was the first jurisdiction to implement such a program, and other localities are starting to take notice. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/abi-director-on-ntsb-recommendations-drunk-driving.html American Beverage Institute Managing Director Sarah Longwell, on why the organization opposes the National Transportation Safety Board's new recommendation to lower the legal limit for drunk driving .08 to 0.05 percent. http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/gov-bike-lane-battles-heat-up-san-francisco-chicago.html Cities like San Francisco and Chicago are running into resistance from drivers as they try to meet demand for more bike lanes. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-tennessee-plans-solve-technology-IT-problems-public-workforce.html In an effort to keep employees and their skills up to date, the Volunteer State is urging 1,600 IT workers to reapply for their jobs. http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/col-illinois-public-pension-reform-dilemma.html State lawmakers moving to fix the nation's worst-funded pension system have a choice: a plan that saves a lot of money or one that might survive a court challenge. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-why-san-francisco-gave-every-kindergartener-in-public-school-a-bank-account.html San Francisco was the first city to create college savings accounts for every kindergartener in public school. Now other jurisdictions are contemplating a similar program. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-ntsb-advocates-stricter-standards-for-drunk-driving.html The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday that states lower their threshold for drunken driving from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent or less. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-states-performance-cutting-carbon-emissions.html Over the past decade, 32 states have successfully cut their carbon emissions, while 18 states have seen increases. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-minnesota-becomes-12th-state-to-allow-ssm.html Minnesota becomes the 12th state to allow same-sex marriage with Gov. Mark Dayton's signature, which was celebrated with a large festival. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Takoma-Park-is-1st-US-City-to-Allow-16-Year-Olds-to-Vote.html Though some residents argued that teenagers lack the maturity and experience to handle the responsibility of voting, the Takoma Park City Council in Maryland passed an amendment to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in city elections. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Christies-Affordable-Housing-Battle-Heads-to-Court.html A three-judge panel said it will hear arguments on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to grab up to $162 million in affordable-housing funds for his proposed $32.9 billion budget http://www.governing.com/news/state/Feds-Block-Utah-Public-Lands-Law.html A federal judge signed an order blocking implementation of a Utah law prohibiting some Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service employees from enforcing state laws anywhere in Utah after the U.S. Department of Justice argued the law was unconstitutional. http://www.governing.com/news/state/DUI-Bill-Advances-in-Washington-State-Amid-NTSB-Calls-for-Crackdown.html A bipartisan bill to stiffen Washington state’s DUI penalties cleared its first legislative hurdle, while a safety board in the other Washington sought to kick off a national conversation about changing the very definition of drunken driving. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Controversial-Arizona-Laws-Rack-Up-Huge-Legal-Fees.html Lawsuits defending some of the state’s most controversial laws have cost millions of dollars and thousands of hours of state employee time, diverting them from other important work. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Child-Welfare-Bills-Signed-by-Colorado-Gov-Hickenlooper.html The bills address a number of issues within the child welfare system, including expanding the number of case-specific child fatality reviews and creating a statewide hotline for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Florida-Legislators-Pay-Peanuts-for-Health-Insurance.html Florida House Republicans, who last month loudly and proudly rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million low-income people, pay less than the $25 a month they wanted to charge poor Floridians for basic coverage. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Gov-Jerry-Brown-Unveils-Cautious-Budget-for-Deficit-Free-California.html Brown put lawmakers on notice that he had no desire to ratchet up spending despite a multibillion-dollar windfall of tax receipts in recent months. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Anthony-Weiner-Hires-Campaign-Manager-for-NYC-Mayoral-Bid.html Anthony Weiner’s new campaign manager for his nascent mayoral bid is a recent Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee adviser who spent four months working on a failed Staten Island congressional race last year. http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-public-management-service-delivery-challenge-last-mile.html Sometimes even the best program design and execution fail to get a government service to a recipient who needs it. There are ways to overcome those final hurdles. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/336-cost-for-ounce-marijuana-washington-state.html The projected cost for an ounce of recreational marijuana, including taxes, in the state of Washington. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/They-are-a-cancer-on-the-otherwise-healthy-right-to-know-law.html Executive Director Terry Mutchler of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, telling a Senate committee that charter schools in the state routinely ignore public records requests despite receiving $1 billion in public funds each year. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-blunting-politics-public-assistance.html An initiative in six states seeks to stabilize the health and well-being of low-income families. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Florida-Teacher-Lawsuit-Could-Spread-to-Other-States.html The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state's new teacher evaluation system was touted as the first of its kind, but it's unlikely to be the last. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-fl-lawmakers-insurance-premiums-contrast-with-votes-on-medicaid.html Florida House Republicans last month rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million poor Floridians while keeping their own health insurance premiums staggeringly low. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-legislation-save-state-mineral-revenues-from-sequestration.html Wyoming Republicans Sen. Mike Enzi and Rep. Cynthia Lummis plan to introduce bills next week allowing states to collect royalties directly from companies that develop oil, gas and coal on federal lands. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-la-discovers-millions-lost-through-accounting-error.html The money was found in a Transportation Department special fund, making officials wonder whether other misplaced money can be found. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Vermont-Passes-Aid-in-Dying-Bill.html The Vermont House voted Monday evening to make the state the first in the U.S. to legislate allowing physicians to provide lethal medication to terminally ill patients who request it. http://www.governing.com/news/state/GOP-States-Struggle-With-Use-of-Budget-Surpluses.html Republicans who won control over state legislatures on principles of small government are facing pressure to spend budget surpluses on roads, schools and buildings that were cut or neglected during the recession. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Kansas-Legislature-Seeks-Changes-to-Judicial-Nomination-Process.html Legislators who believe the Kansas Senate should have the power to confirm appellate court judges, including Supreme Court justices, have a new plan that they hope will get approved before lawmakers adjourn this year, an influential senator involved in drafting the measure said Monday. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Alabama-State-Democratic-Party-Faces-Financial-Ruin.html Following a fight over the direction and control of the party that saw party chairman Mark Kennedy resign to form a new organization to be called the Alabama Democratic Majority, the new leader of the party announced at a meeting Monday that the party is broke and unable to pay it's bills. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minnesota-Passes-Same-Sex-Marriage.html The Minnesota Senate voted 37-30 to legalize same-sex marriage. The measure next moves to Gov. Mark Dayton, who will sign it in a ceremony at 5 p.m. today on the south steps of the Capitol. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Arizona-Governor-Refuses-to-Sign-Bills-Over-Medicaid-Expansion-Delays.html Gov. Jan Brewer has told lawmakers she's done signing bills until they get moving on Medicaid expansion and the state budget. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/HHS-Secretary-Criticized-Over-Private-Fundraising-for-Health-Law-Implementation.html U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is taking aim at Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, saying her fundraising efforts and coordination with private entities to implement President Barack Obama's new health care law "may be illegal." http://www.governing.com/news/state/California-Struggles-With-Experiment-to-Shift-Inmates.html The shift in California's penal system, referred to as andquot;realignment,andquot; is one of the nation's largest criminal justice experiments and has done its job in at least one respect: The population in the state's 33 adult prisons has dropped so much that the system now ranks second to Texas in the number of inmates. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Baltimore-City-Council-Approves-Bill-Requiring-Contractors-to-Hire-Residents.html In a unanimous vote, the City Council gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would require businesses getting large city contracts or financial support to hire 51 percent of new workers from Baltimore. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/minn-legislator-gay-marriage-gun-control.html Minnesota state representative Michael Paymar, explaining how shelving his controversial gun-control bill may have made it easier for rural area Democrats in the legislature to vote for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Yesterday the senate passed same-sex marriage and Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to sign the bill into law today. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/1000-proposed-new-fine-for-dooring-cyclists-chicago.html The new fine drivers and passengers who "door" a cyclist -- causing an accident by opening a door in the path of the bike -- would face under changes proposed to Chicago's bike ordinance. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-cities-fight-states-over-mandatory-sick-leave-policies.html Mandatory sick leave is being championed by several localities across the nation. At the same time the progressive public health measure is sparking fierce opposition in several state legislatures. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-gop-controlled-wisconsin-legislature-targets-milwaukee.html Recent moves by the republican-controlled legislature that could hurt the city's finances has raised speculation that it being targeted as part of a political vendetta. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/changes-in-voter-turnout-by-state-2012.html Thirty-eight states saw voter turnout drop last year, driven in large part by young adults and non-Hispanic whites heading to the polls at lower rates. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-counties-worried-about-potential-costs-of-immigration-reform.html Local and state officials believe the immigration overhaul bill will encourage those in the country illegally to come out of the shadows and turn to local services during the proposed 13-year-long pathway to citizenship. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Report-Detroit-Has-Negative-Cash-Flow-of-162M.html Detroit is broke and faces a bleak future given the precarious financial path it's on, according to a new report out by the city's state-appointed emergency manager. http://www.governing.com/news/local/San-Diego-Mayor-Building-Economic-Bridges-to-Tijuana.html Satellite city offices are not uncommon for large cities, but San Diego Mayor Bob Filner’s newest outpost is in another country. By opening San Diego’s Tijuana office this year, the mayor hopes to promote cross-border relations and foster economic partnerships. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Amtrak-Unveils-Locomotives-to-Replace-Aging-Fleet.html When Amtrak unveils the first of 70 new locomotives Monday at a plant in California, it will mark what the national passenger railroad service hopes will be a new era of better reliability, streamlined maintenance and better energy efficiency. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Tracking-the-Carbon-Footprints-of-Cities.html Scientists have found that urban hubs with over 10 million people are increasingly responsible for human-caused global warming, prompting closer study of cities across the country and around the globe. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/Report-IRS-Targeted-Groups-Critical-of-Government.html At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency’s inspector general. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/New-Bill-Proposed-to-Boost-Penalities-on-IRS-Lawbreakers.html In the wake of an admission by an IRS official that conservative groups had been targeted for additional scrutiny, Rep. Michael Turner will introduce legislation Monday that would increase the penalty for singling out ideological organizations —including the possibility of jail time. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Improvements-in-Housing-Market-Bring-Greater-Workforce-Mobility.html New trends show the American workforce may be regaining the mobility it enjoyed before the recession as home prices in major cities rise. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minnesota-Poised-to-Become-12th-Same-Sex-Marriage-State.html The Minnesota Senate is expected to give final approval on Monday to a bill that would make the state the 12th in the United States to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/Sen-Rand-Paul-Lays-Groundwork-for-Possible-Presidential-Run.html The Kentucky Republican tells a crowd in Iowa he wants to be considered on his merits and escape the shadow of father Ron Paul as he explores the possibility of a Presidential run. http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/funkhouser/col-culture-community-health-robert-wood-johnson-foundation-karen-desalvo-new-orleans.html From jails to factories to streets to schools, the winning programs in a foundation's competition stretch the boundaries of what we normally think of as public health. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/aetna-ceo-on-future-of-healthcare-systems.html Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, talking about the future of the health-care industry in America. His company is testing new health-care models in China because there are fewer economic and political barriers to reform efforts. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/208-million-states-spending-medicaid-fraud-recovery.html The total amount that states spent trying to recover fraudulent Medicaid payments in 2011. The total amount recovered for that year was $1.7 billion. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-5-final-features-of-colorados-legal-marijuana-industry.html The state is the first to establish regulations for legalized marijuana. But hanging over them is the possibility that the feds will take action. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-voting-rights-activists-strike-back-election-laws.html Trying to stem the tide of restrictive voting measures passed in recent years by Republicans, voting rights activists have successfully targeted states controlled by Democrats to win reforms expanding voting rights. http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-scrutinizes-chemical-stockpiles-in-wake-of-plant-explosion.html Following the explosion of a fertilizer plant last month, officials and residents across the state are reexamining safety regulations. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-chicago-new-york-prepare-to-launch-bike-share.html The two initiatives could quickly become the largest bike sharing programs of their kind in the U.S. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Washington-State-Court-System-Hacking-Exposes-160000-Social-Security-Numbers.html Officials of Washington State said on Thursday that the Washington State Court System website has been hacked and about a million driver's license numbers and about 160,000 Social Security numbers may have been accessed. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minnesota-House-Approves-Gay-Marriage.html A historic vote Thursday in the Minnesota House positioned that state to become the 12th in the country to allow gay marriages and the first in the Midwest to pass such a law out of its Legislature. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Maryland-Lt-Gov-Plans-Run-for-Governor.html Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown is expected to announce his plans to run for Governor in a speech today. The speech will also lay out several campaign priorities, including a stepped-up focus on fighting racial and other disparities in health care, education and employment. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Oregon-Coal-Export-Terminal-Plans-Put-on-Hold.html The battle over plans for a series of massive coal export terminals across the Pacific Northwest took a new turn Wednesday when the energy company Kinder Morgan announced it was dropping its plan to build a $200-million facility on the Columbia River in northern Oregon. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Obama-Perry-Both-Take-Credit-for-Impressive-Texas-Jobs-Growth.html Texas has been a monster job creator over the past ten years with steady employment growth despite massive increases in the state's labor pool and a spike in unemployment in 2009. http://www.governing.com/news/state/California-Assembly-Approves-Two-Bills-for-Transgender-Rights.html Two bills aimed at eliminating obstacles facing transgender people cleared the Assembly largely along party lines Thursday, including one measure to let students choose the bathroom and sports team that correlates with their gender identity. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Downtown-Detroit-Projects-Derailed-Over-Financing.html The reluctance of banks and major pension funds to underwrite loans for downtown projects has been a consistent problem for the struggling city. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/206900931.html President Barack Obama is launching a new effort to rally the public around his hotly disputed health care law, a strategy aimed at shoring up key components of the sweeping federal overhaul and staving off yet another challenge from Republicans. http://www.governing.com/news/politics/GOP-Senators-Boycott-Vote-on-EPA-Nominee.html Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee say they want more information from EPA nominee Gina McCarthy, despite having already asked her a record number of questions. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-cities-anti-terror-grants-at-risk-under-presidents-reform-proposal.html Federal grants that aided police in the Boston Marathon bombing have shrunk in recent years and are at risk of further cuts under the president's reform proposal. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/public-life-not-in-front-of-council-dais.html Anne Ambrose, director of public safety and community relations for Palmdale, Calif., talking about the importance of government engaging citizens in new ways. Read more about how Generation X is helping to make that happen. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/138-trillion-state-pension-systems-underfunding.html The gap between the promises states have made for public employees’ retirement benefits and the money they have set aside to pay these bills as of 2010. http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-pothole-problems-ironic-layoffs.html Public-sector management news you should know. http://www.governing.com/columns/urban-notebook/col-cities-ramp-up-data-projects.html Better ways of using data can speed up solutions to urban issues. But a number of traditional problems stand in the way. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-california-and-new-jersey-hospitals-charge-highest-average-prices.html New federal data sheds light on hospital pricing for the most common diagnoses and treatments. View data for your state. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-chicago-mayor-proposes-changes-bike-ordinances.html Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proposed making city streets more accommodating to bike riders while toughening penalties for drivers as well as cyclists who violate the rules of the road. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-new-railyard-wins-approval-of-la-city-council.html The project would improve freight rail connections to the nation's largest port complex, but it could spur court challenges alleging violations of environmental and civil rights laws. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-former-calif-lt-gov-criticizes-states-prison-policies.html In a speech where he hinted at a possible run for governor, former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado called out Gov. Jerry Brown for his handling of prison crowding in the state, calling the policies being pursued an "early release" program. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Caylees-Law-on-Missing-Children-Sent-to-North-Carolina-Governor.html The bill, inspired by the case of Caylee Anthony, makes it a felony when parents knowingly fail to report to police their child has been missing for at least 24 hours. http://www.governing.com/news/local/DC-to-Open-Hybrid-Traditional-Charter-School.html D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson described the effort as a first-of-its-kind partnership that will produce neither a traditional school nor a charter school but something in between. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Medical-Marijuana-Regulations-Finalized-in-Massachusetts.html Companies hoping to sell marijuana for medical use in Massachusetts will be required to hire an independent lab to test their products for contaminants, under final rules that regulators approved by unanimous vote. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Bills-to-Increase-Oversight-of-Oil-and-Gas-Industry-Fail-in-Colorado.html The administration of Gov. John Hickenlooper, as well as the oil and gas industry, opposed several of the bills. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Oregon-Secretary-of-State-Tweaks-Automatic-Voter-Registration-Bill-in-Search-of-Support.html Kate Brown said she has agreed to changes to address privacy concerns, as well as worries from minor political parties faced with rapidly increasing their numbers to keep their ballot status. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Arizona-May-Join-States-Offering-Foster-Kids-Free-Tuition.html Seventeen other states have tuition waivers for foster children. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Audit-Shows-Detroit-Fire-Dept-Violated-Drug-Policies.html Four employees who tested positive for cocaine or high blood-alcohol levels — but faced no disciplinary actions — were among a handful of incidents described in an auditor general’s report. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minimum-Wage-Battle-Waged-Among-Minnesota-House-Senate.html The Minnesota Senate narrowly approved a modest increase to the state’s minimum wage that directly contrasts with the higher wage hike approved by the House and endorsed by Gov. Mark Dayton. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Voter-ID-Bill-Rejected-in-Iowa-Senate.html The effort failed on a 26-24 vote with Democrats against and Republicans in support. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/elizabeth-warren-on-student-loan-rates.html U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who's proposed a bill that would provide relief to college students by allowing them to borrow at interest rates equivalent to those the Federal Reserve offers to big banks. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/56-americans-who-believe-gun-crime-up.html Americans that believe gun crime is worse today than 20 years ago yet the rate of gun homicides has actually dropped 49 percent from 1993 to 2010. http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/col-adjustable-pension-plan-defined-benefit-contribution-cash-balance.html Adjustable pension plans could help governments control both risk and their out-of-control retiree-benefit costs. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-north-carolina-carefully-weighs-fracking-options.html As the legislature considers lifting a decades long ban on unconventional drilling which would allow hydraulic fracturing the state's unique geography is prompting concerns about disposal of the wastewater the drilling produces. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-wis-passes-legislation-requiring-healthy-purchases-food-stamps.html The Wisconsin legislature has passed a bill requiring recipients of food stamps to spend at least two-thirds of their assistance money on state-defined healthy foods. A separate bill re-addressing food stamp fraud was also passed. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-are-governments-ignoring-their-short-term-workers.html One wonders what incentive there is to work for a government at all unless you’re in it for the long haul. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/gao-states-local-governments-fiscal-outlook-report.html A new report by the Government Accountability Office forecasts a gloomy outlook for state and local government budgets, finding an ever-widening gap between projected revenues and expenses for years to come. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Voucher-Funding-Unconstitutional-Rules-Louisiana-Supreme-Court.html Act 2, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2012 package of education reforms, diverts money from each student's per-pupil allocation to cover the cost of private or parochial school tuition. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Marijuana-Driving-Limits-Pass-Colorado-Legislature-After-Several-Attempts.html The bill approved was the sixth try in the past three years to pass a stoned-driving limit, which supporters say will give prosecutors a tool to combat an increase in stoned-driving cases. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Obamas-Cigarette-Tax-to-Fund-Preschool-Up-in-Smoke.html Presidential budgets are all about theater. But this year’s was more theatrical than most: Its biggest single new proposal — the sin tax to generate $78 billion to fund a preschool education program — vanished almost as soon as Obama announced it four weeks ago. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Ex-South-Carolina-Gov-Mark-Sanford-Makes-a-Political-Comeback.html Mark Sanford is headed back to Congress after trouncing Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch with 54 percent of the votes, a 9 percentage point victory that dashed predictions of a close race. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Gay-Marriage-Approved-in-Delaware-as-Lawmaker-Comes-Out.html Delaware is the 11th state to legalize same-sex marriage. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Indiana-Gov-Pence-Sign-School-Resource-Officer-Bill.html The bill sets aside $10 million in state money to allow public schools to apply for matching grants to hire police officers for schools that don’t already have them. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Public-Hearing-in-New-York-Held-Without-the-Public.html Something was missing at a public hearing held by the State Senate to examine New York City’s campaign finance system: the public. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Baltimore-Schools-CEO-Resigns.html Baltimore schools CEO Andrés Alonso tearfully announced his resignation, ending a six-year tenure marked by bold yet often divisive reforms and casting uncertainty on the future of the long-troubled school system. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Why-Christies-Weight-Loss-Surgery-Matters-in-Political-World.html Political experts say the New Jersey governor's decision to undergo stomach surgery in an effort to lose weight could help his chances at a presidential run in 2016. http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-state-local-federal-government-performance-measurement-budget-cuts.html Making spending decisions based on evidence and analysis can be hardest to do in times of austerity, but that's precisely when these tools are most useful. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/332-million-cost-kansas-capitol-bldg-renovation.html The amount the state of Kansas has spent to restore its capitol building. The 12-year long project has cost more than other capitol renovation in the nation. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/chuck-schumer-on-3d-printed-guns.html New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, explaining why he proposed the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act, which would ban 3-D printed guns. Last week, the first fully functional handgun was created using 3-D printing. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/big-data-big-headaches-indiana-economic-dollars.html News you should know about government and technology. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-should-states-limit-what-foods-are-purchased-with-food-stamps.html So far, no state has successfully set rules about what people can buy with food stamps. Wisconsin and South Carolina want to be the first. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-road-deaths-see-first-yearly-increase-since-2006.html A newly released federal report reveals that the number of people who died in traffic accidents inched up last year, reversing a downward trend in road deaths that began in 2006. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-gop-chair-resign-over-gay-marriage-support.html Pat Brady, the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, announced his resignation Tuesday amid a simmering controversy over his support for gay marriage legislation. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-ca-supreme-court-cities-decide-on-pot-dispensary-bans.html The California Supreme Court gave local governments the power Monday to zone medical marijuana dispensaries out of existence, a decision that upholds bans in about 200 cities but does little to solve Los Angeles' struggle to regulate hundreds of storefront pot outlets. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-looking-to-stop-outsider-access-to-pension-system.html No longer just concerned with saving the state's underfunded pension system money, reform efforts now seek to stop allowing interlopers who aren't state workers into the taxpayer-supported retirement systems. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Florida-Gov-Scott-to-Call-Special-Session-on-Medicaid.html At stake is $51 billion in federal funding to provide insurance coverage to 1 million low-income Floridians. House Republicans blocked that from happening during the regular session, which ended Friday. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Phoenix-Police-to-Destroy-Guns-Before-New-Law-Takes-Effect.html Three months before a new state law goes into effect requiring police to sell any weapon they receive, Phoenix officials plan to destroy as many guns as residents bring them. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Michigan-Teachers-Opt-to-Work-for-Rest-of-Year----Even-Without-Pay-.html The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recently decided to freeze the district’s April, May and June state aid payments after state officials discovered the district had received $580,000 in state aid for a program for incarcerated youths that the district no longer ran. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Solitary-Confinement-Under-New-Scrutiny-in-Massachusetts.html Over the last year, state and federal court rulings have limited the use of solitary units, which prison officials defend. State legislators, meanwhile, have proposed regulating them further. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Freedom-of-3-Strikes-Law-Prisoners-Varies-by-County-in-California.html Majorities in every California county voted last fall to scale back the state's Three Strikes law so thousands of inmates serving life sentences for relatively minor third offenses would have the chance to be set free. Five months later, there is no such unanimity among counties when it comes to carrying out the voters' wishes. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Lottery-Privatization-Can-Happen-Without-New-Jersey-Legislatures-Approval-Now.html Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have required his administration to get the state Legislature's approval to go ahead with a plan to privatize parts of the New Jersey Lottery. http://www.governing.com/news/state/GAO-Nashville-Spent-Millions-on-Courthouse-it-Doesnt-Need.html A GAO report found that 10 of the 12 planned courthouses, including Nashville’s, were not justified. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Georgia-Doled-Out-Incentives-Despite-Companies-Red-Flags.html State officials who awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to lure jobs here sometimes missed critical red flags in vetting the grant recipients. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Christie-Underwent-Weight-Loss-Surgery.html Gov. Chris Christie — whose weight has long been the subject of public worry and late-night talk show jokes — said he underwent lap-band stomach surgery in February. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-online-tax-bill-passes.html It's the first time any version of the legislation, which state and local leaders have long fought for, has ever been approved by either chamber of Congress. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/11-billion-gallons-sewage-from-sandy.html The gallons of wastewater that Hurricane Sandy spewed into waters and streets -- 3.5 billion gallons of which were completely raw sewage and more than 50 times the size of the BP oil spill. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/review-of-prison-on-yelp.html A quote from a Yelp review of a prison. Lawyers, inmates and their family members have turned to the site to report mediocre food and allegations of serious abuse. http://www.governing.com/news/local/gov-SEC-charges-harrisburg-with-securities-fraud.html Pennsylvania's capital, which is under receivership after nearly going bankrupt, is the second municipality or state to get charged with securities fraud this year. http://www.governing.com/news/state/states-seek-limits-on-undisclosed-political-donations.html States are trying to figure out ways to stem the tide of the secret money that played an unprecedented role in the 2012 election cycle. The first step is to force tax-exempt advocacy organizations and trade associations out of the shadows. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-states-make-needed-upgrades-to-capitol-buildings.html At least ten states are considering renovations to their capitol building. Though repairs and upgrades are expensive and can take years, more than two-thirds of the states have carried them out since 2000. http://www.governing.com/news/state/forest-service-asks-states-return-funds-sequestration.html The U.S. Forest Service has asked a dozen states to return $17.9 million in federal revenue-sharing funds, so the agency can meet its sequestration budget cut obligations. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Texas-Gov-Perry-NRA-is-Voice-of-Reason.html As members of the National Rifle Association gathered with a wide array of national figures in Houston, Rick Perry talked up Texas' gun-friendly nature and again called for weapons manufacturers to come to his state. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Former-Indiana-Gov-Bowen-Dies.html Otis “Doc” Bowen, the small-town doctor who succeeded in providing property tax relief as Indiana governor in the 1970s and then became one of the first federal officials to seek funds to battle the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, has died. http://www.governing.com/news/state/New-Jersey-Seizes-Affordable-Housing-Funds.html Amid objections from municipal officials and housing activists, the Christie administration has begun the process of seizing $150 million or more in subsidized housing money from municipalities around the state and is keeping a tight lid on its policy objectives. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Prisons-Test-Crisis-Intervention-for-Dealing-with-Mentally-Ill.html Over the past 25 years, crisis intervention team training has spread among law enforcement agencies across the country. Now it is being tested in the nation’s prisons, which have become the largest repositories for people with mental health problems. http://www.governing.com/news/state/States-Take-Lead-on-Compounding-Pharmacy-Regulations.html After a lack of congressional action after last fall's deadly meningitis outbreak, 15 states have taken up bills to step up the regulation of facilities like the one linked to the outbreak. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Federal-Funding-for-Anti-Terrorism-Centers-in-Wisconsin-Dwindling.html The so-called fusion centers -- they sift intelligence about terrorism, determine threat levels, and investigate suspicious activity and potential crises -- have become a fixture in post-9-11 America. There are 78 centers nationwide. http://www.governing.com/news/state/West-Virginia-to-Expand-Medicaid.html Tens of thousands of West Virginians will soon be eligible for Medicaid coverage after Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin announced the state would expand its program under the federal health care overhaul. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Immigrants-Are-Transforming-Port-Chester-New-York.html Port Chester, N.Y., presents a microcosm of the costs and benefits that immigration reform could offer. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Seattle-Aims-to-be-Carbon-Neutral-by-2050.html City leaders this month are unveiling an ambitious Climate Action Plan, with the goal of making Seattle carbon neutral (zero net emissions of greenhouse gases) by 2050 http://www.governing.com/gov-institute/funkhouser/col-boston-marathon-bombing-police-appreciating-public-servants.html In the aftermath of the Boston bombings, something interesting and unusual happened: People applauded their public employees. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/texas-campus-carry-bill-sponsor.html Texas state Rep. Allen Fletcher, defending a bill he introduced in the legislature to allow colleges and universities to let concealed handgun license holders carry weapons on campuses -- something 24 states currently allow. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/40-percent-road-trips-under-three-miles.html The portion of road trips taken in the United States that are less than three miles. http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/gov-democrat-howard-deans-fifty-state-strategy.html Despite opposition from national Democrats, the former Vermont governor's bid to build up party infrastructure in every state was a success in the unlikeliest of places -- at least while it lasted. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/gov-jobs-report-government-employment-may-2013.html The economy added 165,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 7.5 percent. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-florida-court-police-must-get-warrant-for-cellphones.html The Florida Supreme Court, in a 5-2 decision, has ruled that police must obtain a search warrant to view the contents of a person's cellphone when they are taken into custody. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-feds-strengthening-cybersecurity-partnerships-states.html With cybersecurity legislation stalled in Congress, the White House is looking to partner with states to protect critical infrastructure from attacks. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-pennsylvania-food-stamp-test-too-complex.html Advocates for the poor now say that by weeding out a relatively small number of people with too many assets, the Department of Public Welfare made getting food stamps so complicated that deserving low-income people became inundated by paperwork and lost their benefits. http://www.governing.com/news/state/US-AG-Holder-Gov-Brownback-Spar-over-Kansas-New-Gun-Law.html U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has told Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback that a new state law attempting to block federal regulation of some guns is unconstitutional and that the federal government is willing to go to court over the issue. http://www.governing.com/news/state/As-Amtrak-Aid-Ends-States-Face-Funding-Decisions.html Under pressure from Congress to reduce its dependence on federal subsidies, Amtrak is looking at either closing 28 short-haul routes or getting 19 states to cover the costs. Most of the states have already agreed to pick up the costs. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Most-Bike-Friendly-State-is-Washington-for-6th-Year.html The rankings are bestowed by the League of American Bicyclists and are based on funding for biking legislation, bike programs and policies, infrastructure, education and planning. http://www.governing.com/news/local/DC-Mayor-Gray-Proposes-Giving-Drivers-Licenses-to-Immigrants.html Mayor Vincent C. Gray unveiled his proposal to allow illegal immigrants to apply for District driver’s licenses. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Arizona-Gov-Brewer-Vetoes-Gold-Currency-Bill.html Gov. Jan Brewervetoed a bill that would have made Arizona the second state to allow gold and silver coins to be used as legal tender. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Rhode-Island-Becomes-10th-State-to-Legalize-Gay-Marriage.html The bills allow same-sex weddings and also allow couples who joined in civil unions to change their status to married. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Colorado-Offers-23-Recommendations-to-Improve-Child-Welfare.html The summary report — released by the Colorado Department of Human Services, the first required under a law passed last year — examines cases of child fatalities, near fatalities and incidents of egregious abuse or neglect from 2012. http://www.governing.com/news/state/California-Tax-Revenue-Yields-Multibillion-Dollar-Surplus.html After years of budget cuts, and after voters approved Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike in November, the pressure on the governor will be intense from lawmakers and advocates eager to restore money to programs that were sliced to close deficits. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Wisconsin-Jobs-Agency-Failed-in-Tracking-Taxpayer-Money.html A stinging audit has found that the state's flagship jobs agency repeatedly failed last year to follow basic standards in state law for ensuring the clear and proper use of millions of dollars in taxpayer money, prompting lawmakers of both parties to call for immediate changes. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/3-states-where-legislators-dont-disclose-financials.html The number of states -- Idaho, Michigan and Vermont -- that do not require legislators to disclose their sources of income. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/chester-finn-on-school-boards.html Chester Finn, president of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute and a former assistant education secretary, who's among those pushing to eliminate school boards, which have become increasingly politicized. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-detroit-emergency-manager-steps-down.html After two years as the emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools, state-appointee Roy Roberts will retire in the next two weeks from his job at the helm of the state's largest school district. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-tom-wheeler-federal-communications-commission-mobile-data-driven-economy.html The direction the agency takes under its next chairman will have major implications for governments, for growth and for innovation. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-study-medicaid-improves-mental-wellbeing-but-not-physical-health.html A new study reveals that uninsured adults who receive Medicaid coverage experience negligible effects on their physical health, but substantially improve their mental well-being. It previews how the federal law could impact poor, childless adults who get coverage through the Medicaid expansion. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-minnesota-house-abandons-vote-on-gun-legislation.html With a deeply divided Democratic caucus and no sign of compromise in sight, Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen announced there would be no floor vote on gun control legislation this year. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-california-increases-funding-to-seize-illegally-held-guns.html Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation providing $24 million to clear the backlog of weapons known to be in the hands of people who purchased them legally but were then disqualified from owning one. The funds will be used to hire 36 additional special agents. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/city-county-managers-public-officials-pay-survey.html A new survey tallies pay and benefits for chief appointed officials across the country, finding compensation varies greatly by locality. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-florida-rick-scott-signs-ethics-bill.html Florida Gov. Rick Scott vetoed an emotionally charged bill that would have ended permanent alimony in divorce cases, but signed into law ethics and campaign finance measures that were important to legislative leaders. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Maryland-Becomes-18th-State-to-Repeal-Death-Penalty.html With a stroke of a pen, Gov. Martin O'Malley removed the death penalty from state law Thursday -- making Maryland the 18th state in the nation to have abolished capital punishment. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Oregon-Governor-Signs-Bill-Giving-Driver-Cards-to-Undocumented-Immigrants.html Hours after the bill was signed, leaders of Oregonians for Immigration Reform said they plan to file paperwork to place a referendum challenging the law on the November 2014 ballot. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Camden-Schools-Wont-Fight-State-Takeover.html The Camden Board of Education voted to endorse a state takeover of the school district, saying it was in the "best interest of the children." http://www.governing.com/news/state/Madigan-Predicts-Pension-Overhaul-Will-Pass-Illinois-Legislature----and-Court.html The house speaker suggests taking 2 percent more from worker paychecks over two years, raising the retirement age to 67 for younger workers and scaling back cost-of-living increases. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Minnesota-Gov-Dayton-Lobbies-for-Gay-Marriage.html Gov. Mark Dayton is intensifying pressure on legislators to legalize same-sex marriage this year.