http://www.governing.com/rss/all_articles/rss/?a=${author.id} Articles on Governing.com http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-36-hours-behind-the-scenes-at-the-rhode-island-health-exchange.html The pressure mounts as 18 states and the federal government race to build Obamacare's insurance marketplaces in time. http://www.governing.com/blogs/by-the-numbers/education-spending-per-pupil-declines-state-local-governments.html Per pupil spending fell for the first time ever in fiscal year 2011, with 21 states reporting declines. See rankings and totals for each state. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-rail-subcommittee-questions-amtraks-long-haul-routes.html As passenger rail legislation expires this fall, those money-losing routes could be in the cross hairs of House Republicans. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-new-portal-opens-door-to-energy-research.html Government officials now have access to vast amounts of data to help develop state energy policy and assess energy sustainability. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-virginia-approved-for-demonstration-coordinating-medicare-medicaid.html Virginia is the sixth state to reach an agreement with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a pilot project coordinating care for dual eligibles, people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, the agency announced Tuesday. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-curtis-loftis-clashes-with-south-carolina-pension-commission.html Curtis Loftis has made it his mission to overhaul the investment commission that oversees the state’s pension fund. But it hasn't been easy. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-suburban-poverty-growth-outpacing-urban-cores.html During the 2000s, the number of poor living in U.S. suburbs grew by 64 percent -- more than twice the 29 percent growth rate in cities. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-supreme-court-to-reexamine-church-state-separation.html The Supreme Court has agreed to revisit the issue of church-state separation and decide whether a town council can begin most of its monthly meetings with a prayer from a Christian pastor. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Obama-Declares-Oklahoma-Tornado-a-Major-Disaster.html At least 51 people were killed when a massive tornado blasted through central Oklahoma, flattening neighborhoods and destroying two elementary schools. The grim work of search, rescue and recovery continues today. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Judge-Allows-1000s-of-UC-Medical-Workers-to-Strike.html A Sacramento judge Monday refused to stop a strike today by thousands of employees at the UC Davis Medical Center and four other UC hospitals – but ordered a limited number of critical care employees to stay on the job. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Unions-Win-Big-Victory-in-Minnesota.html The Democratic Legislature eked out a major victory for organized labor, giving in-home child-care providers and personal care attendants the right to unionize at a time when union power is in full retreat in many state capitols. http://www.governing.com/news/state/US-Wont-Mirror-Massachusetts-Health-Exchanges.html Massachusetts, which served as the model for Obamacare, conducts competitive bidding to promote cost-efficient plans in its exchange. But in the 34 states where the federal government will be running the exchange, the government has decided to permit any plan to qualify that meets a minimum set of standards set by the law. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Alaska-Pushes-Feds-on-Drilling.html Alaskan officials are hoping to prod the federal government into measuring the amount of oil and gas beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and are offering state money as part of their plan to push the project forward. http://www.governing.com/news/local/LA-Elections-May-be-Decided-by-Older-White-Voters.html A survey of likely voters finds that non-Latino whites make up 32 percent of the city's population but are likely to total 51 percent of the vote. Latinos make up 44 percent of the population, but many are ineligible to vote. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Gun-Bills-Sent-to-New-Jersey-Gov-Christie.html Three bills aimed at controlling gun violence gained final legislative approval in the state Assembly, making them the first of what is expected to be a big batch of gun control legislation to land on Gov. Chris Christie’s desk. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Kardashian-Pulls-T-Shirt-from-Shelves-After-Gov-Cuomo-Threatened-Lawsuit.html The high-end clothing line backed by reality star Khloe Kardashian yanked a New York-themed t-shirt from its website hours after New York Gov. Cuomo’s administration warned the item may be violating copyright law because the design of the $35 shirt looks almost identical to a state Department of Agriculture logo. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Wyoming-Gov-Mead-Announces-Anti-DUI-Campaign.html The Governor's Council on Impaired Driving is rolling out advertisements that emphasize how much it costs to get cited for drunken driving, and that people convicted of the crime stand may lose their license. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/506-cents-ny-gas-tax-rate.html The gas tax in New York state, which is the highest in the nation. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/mississippi-republican-against-home-brewing.html Alabama state Rep. Arthur Payne, during a lengthy debate over a bill that made it the 49th state to allow residents to brew beer in their homes. Mississippi legalized home brewing shortly after. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-next-stop-public-transit-advertising.html In an effort to increase revenue, transit agencies are working to find new twists to old advertising methods. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/col-sustainable-infrastructure-envision-rating-system.html A new rating system aims to build sustainability considerations into the entire infrastructure process, from planning to implementation. http://www.governing.com/news/local/mct-water-fluoridation-debate-divides-portland.html The city is the largest in the country that still does not fluoridate it's water supply and the debate over the issue has sharply divided it's usually polite progressives. Citizens will go to the polls to vote on the issue Tuesday. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gt-colorado-to-use-telemedicine-in-prisons.html The Colorado Department of Corrections and Denver Health Medical Center are launching a telemedicine pilot program in June for incarcerated patients that need consultations specialized areas. http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-illinois-increases-penalites-social-media-linked-attacks.html Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law Saturday a measure that allows stiffer penalties for people convicted of using social media to organize mob attacks. http://www.governing.com/news/local/gov-air-service-steep-decline-small-city-airports.html The days of numerous flights from the nation’s small, medium and large airports are over. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Phoenixs-Successful-Gun-Buyback-May-Backfire.html The gun buyback was designed, in part, to get unwanted weapons out of homes and into the hands of Phoenix police before a new law takes effect requiring police to sell the guns instead of destroy them. But the program was so successful that police are already struggling to process the more than 1,000 weapons in their possession. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Virginia-GOP-Launches-Tea-Party-Ticket.html Rejuvenated by a Democratic scandal in Washington and a tea party conservative atop their ticket, Virginia Republicans nominated a trio of statewide candidates whose fate will be closely watched as an indicator of the health of the national GOP. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Arkansas-Early-Abortion-Ban-Blocked----for-Now.html The law was briefly the earliest abortion ban in the nation. But later the same month, North Dakota went even further, passing a ban on abortions after six weeks. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Gov-Scott-to-OK-Medicaid-Money-for-Florida-Hospitals.html The state's largest hospitals were relieved to learn Gov. Rick Scott will approve $65 million aimed at easing the transition to a new Medicaid payment system. In return, hospitals agreed not to ask for more such money next year. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Arizona-Gov-Brewer-Looking-to-Leave-Legacy-with-Medicaid-Expansion.html Gov. Jan Brewer, one of the state’s conservative firebrands who has attracted a national following with her messages of states’ rights and border security, is walking a political tightrope as she pushes to reshape how the state provides health care to the poor. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Connecticut-Train-Crash-Could-Cause-Carmageddon-Commute.html The suspension of rail service rail service in the Connecticut suburbs of New York City after the collision of two trains will mean thousands more vehicles on Interstate 95 and other major roads that often are clogged even under the best conditions. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Bill-to-Make-Illinois-19th-State-to-OK-Medical-Marijuana-on-Gov-Quinns-Desk.html The Democratic governor must weigh not only the merits of the bill but also the politics, given his re-election campaign next year. http://www.governing.com/daily-digit/47-percent.html The portion of state and local government officials who approve of President Barack Obama -- down from 54 percent last summer, according to a Governing survey. http://www.governing.com/government-quotes/Ive-seen-Third-World-countries-with-parks-better-than-this.html A Miami resident said referring to a new "park," which consists of a couple of springy playground rides and some patches of poorly sodded grass, that was redefined as such to force sex offenders to move out of the area. http://www.governing.com/news/state/New-York-Lawmaker-Lopez-Set-to-Resign-Amid-Sexual-Harassment-Accusations.html While the resignation of Assemblyman Vito Lopez, a veteran Brooklyn Democrat accused of sexually harassing several women, ends an effort to expel him from the legislature, the scrutiny is not over for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. 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/blogs/fedwatch/gov-infrastructure-must-reads-federal-transportaion-policymakers-ignore-decline-driving.html News you should know about transportation and infrastructure. 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 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/gt-ca-creates-1st-public-private-sector-cybersecurity-task-force.html California government officials and private-sector leaders are collaborating on a comprehensive cybersecurity plan for the state -- the California Cybersecurity Task Force. It will be the first state-led collaboration of its kind. 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.