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Zach Patton

Executive Editor

Zach Patton -- Executive Editor. Zach joined GOVERNING as a staff writer in 2004. He received the 2011 Jesse H. Neal Award for Outstanding Journalism for his GOVERNING story on economic cutbacks in Colorado Springs. He has served as an editor since 2010, and as Executive Editor since 2012.

Technology didn't create the flawed processes and overly complicated systems that make government inefficient. So why do so many people think tech upgrades will fix those problems?
Some states are waiting with bated breath to see if Congress denies a federal boost in Medicaid spending. But few places are resting easy, since they never assumed they'd get the money in the first place.
A multi-pronged approach can slash retiree medical costs.
Absent reforms for incumbents, a five-year salary freeze may be the best solution for skyrocketing pension costs.
Plus: Fees for Special Treatment, Sin-Tax Errors, And More
Concerns over the mounting national debt could hamper efforts in Congress to provide aid to cash-strapped states.
When it comes to governance, there's something amiss in California and other states as well.
GASB's potential accounting rules may clobber employers' budgets
Plus: Imperiled Public Health Agencies, the Importance of Statistics, And More
A bipartisan group of Senators is moving to limit states' abilities to regulate financial transactions. The White House is pushing back, states are the best regulators for local markets.