Abstract misssing

A new year brings new realities in politicking and policymaking. GOVERNING Contributor Lou Jacobson, NPR Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving, Council of State Governments David Adkins and White House Office of Management and Budgets Shelley Metzenbaum speak on the state of our union in 2011. GOVERNING Executive Editor Jonathan Walters moderates this session at the 2011 Outlook in the States and Localities conference February 1, 2011.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gary, Baton Rouge, La., Mayor Kip Holden and National League of Cities Christopher Hoene discuss the most pressing issues cities and counties face today, and what they expect from state and federal partners. GOVERNING Publisher Emeritus Peter Harkness moderated this session at GOVERNINGs Outlook in the States and Localities February 2, 2011.

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics, is optimistic about the future of the economy. He says that while gross domestic product is growing, that doesn't mean state and local governments will be able to increase expenditures. Hear his positive forecast in this keynote speech at GOVERNINGs 2011 Outlook in the States and Localities conference February 2, 2011.

Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, gives his views on the currently partisan political climate in Washington, D.C. and how it will affect states and cities at GOVERNINGs 2011 Outlook in the States and Localities conference February 2, 2011.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius blasts judicial overreach in rulings regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and discusses how HHS is working with states to implement more flexible Medicaid programs at GOVERNINGs 2011 Outlook in the States and Localities conference February 2, 2011.