en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Thu, 9 Feb 16:14:15 PST http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/col-state-public-pension-unsustainable-defined-benefit-contribution.html Wed, 8 Feb 14:0:00 PST Traditional defined-benefit state retirement plans no longer are sustainable. Arguments that alternatives are unfair don’t hold water. http://www.governing.com/columns/tech-talk/gov-cities-give-google-cloud-based-email-mixed-reviews.html Tue, 31 Jan 12:0:00 PST Some cities have switched to the cloud with ease, but Los Angeles, for example, had to abandon it for law enforcement because of outdated security policies. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/CBO-Federal-Workers-Earn-16-More.html Mon, 30 Jan 16:15:00 PST The study could be a lightening rod in the ongoing debate about government employee compensation. http://www.governing.com/news/state/AP-States-Weakening-Teacher-Tenure-Protections.html Wed, 25 Jan 9:9:00 PST America's public school teachers are seeing their generations-old tenure protections weakened as states seek flexibility to fire teachers who aren't performing. A few states have essentially nullified tenure protections altogether. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-top-montana-ethics-leader-resigns-amid-allegations.html Wed, 18 Jan 11:30:00 PST Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik resigned after every member of his staff accused him of making the state pay for time he was working on private matters, which he denies. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-workforce/col-quantifying-public-sector-job-security.html Wed, 11 Jan 13:45:00 PST One study says it can't. What impact does job security have in evaluating public-sector compensation? http://www.governing.com/news/state/gov-aclu-sues-over-michigan-law-denying-benefits-to-domestic-partners.html Thu, 5 Jan 12:30:00 PST The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU Michigan are suing the state over a new law that prohibits public employers from providing health insurance to the domestic partners of public employees. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-defending-right-to-vote-in-denver.html Sun, 1 Jan 12:0:00 PST Although she faced a lawsuit from Colorado’s Secretary of State, City and County Clerk and Recorder Debra Johnson stood by her decision to send ballots to inactive voters in November’s elections. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-workforce/gov-more-state-workers-face-personnel-cuts.html Sun, 1 Jan 12:0:00 PST With the ballooning cost of benefits, a poor job market and more lean-government advocates in power, states are cutting personnel more than they have in the past. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-workforce/gov-how-language-fits-into-the-immigration-issue.html Sun, 1 Jan 0:0:00 PST The dramatic rise in the number of people who speak limited English has prompted very different responses from local governments.