Blog Viewer

Week of August 15, 2016 - Press Clips

By NASBO Staff posted 08-19-2016 04:39 PM

  

National

Puerto Rico's Rescue Plan Represents a Troublesome Trend, Economists Say

Governing.com - 8/17/2016

  

Decried as Unfair, Taxes on Groceries Persist in Some States

Pew Trusts - StateLine.org - 8/16/2016

  

The States That Spend the Most (and the Least) on Education

Governing.com - 8/16/2016

  

Has Wyoming's Wind Tax, the Nation's Only, Paid Off?

Governing.com - 8/15/2016

  

The Benefits of Helping Struggling Cities

Governing.com - 8/12/2016

  

The Week in Public Finance: Why Some Pensions Are Falling Behind, Stress Testing States and More

Governing.com - 8/12/2016

  

Alabama

Lottery stalls in Senate; House advances BP settlement

Montgomery Advertiser - 8/17/2016

  

Long waits as gridlock grips Alabama mental health system

AL.com - 8/17/2016

 

Committee approves plan for use of Alabama BP money

AL.com - 8/16/2016

  

Alabama AG: Governor's lottery proposal doesn't have loopholes that will lead to casino...

Huntsville Times - 8/16/2016

  

Amazon shoppers soon to pay 8% more in Alabama

Montgomery Advertiser - 8/16/2016

  

Bentley includes lottery, Medicaid, infrastructure, debt in special session call

Mobile Press-Register - 8/15/2016

  

Alaska

Alaska has yet to see a legal pot sale. But some banks are already shutting down accounts.

Alaska Dispatch News - 8/17/2016

  

State will not appeal ruling allowing Alaska tribes to put land in federal trust

Fairbanks News-Miner - 8/16/2016

  

Arizona

Arizona Proposition 205 sparks 'green rush' for medical-marijuana licenses

Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com & KPNX-TV NBC 12 Phoenix - 8/16/2016

  

California

Wildfire burns with ferocity never seen by fire crews

San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate.com) - 8/18/2016

  

Drought costing California's farmers $600 million this year

San Jose Mercury News - 8/16/2016

  

Colorado

Report: $1 billion a year needed to help peds, cyclists and transit users

Denver Post - 8/18/2016

  

Its time to clear up some myths about pot taxes fixing all budget problems

Denver Post - 8/18/2016

  

Labor Department is pushing states, including Colorado, to create their own paid family leave programs

Denver Post - 8/14/2016

  

Connecticut

Tax-Free Shopping Week Still On Despite Budget Woes

Hartford Courant - 8/18/2016

  

State lists fares on proposed hikes on trains, buses

Danbury News-Times - 8/17/2016

  

Connecticut releases plan to privatize dozens of group homes

Waterbury Republican-American - 8/17/2016

  

GOP leader questions Malloy's cutting of watchdog agencies' budgets

Waterbury Republican-American - 8/17/2016

  

Correction Officers: Staff and Overtime Reductions Put Them At Risk of Injury

CT News Junkie - 8/16/2016

  

Florida

FEMA to states like Florida: no climate planning, no money

Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Bay.com - 8/18/2016

  

Tolls not likely to fade away, experts say

Orlando Sentinel - 8/17/2016

  

Group calls on Florida officials to reconsider their stand against Medicaid expansion

Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Bay.com - 8/17/2016

  

State revenue projections reduced as $1.4 billion surplus projected

Palm Beach Post - 8/15/2016

 

Florida economists project continued growth in state money

Orlando Sentinel - 8/15/2016

  

Georgia

State will fund signage around SunTrust Park

Atlanta Journal-Constitution - 8/16/2016

  

Idaho

Panel hears Maine’s Medicaid experience, expansion benefits for Idaho’s poor

Boise Idaho Statesman - 8/12/2016

  

Idahos child care dilemma: Too expensive, and workers paid too low

Boise Idaho Statesman - 8/12/2016

  

Illinois

Munger says she’ll work to freeze pay unless budget passes

Chicago Sun-Times - 8/17/2016

  

Illinois voters to see roads 'lockbox amendment' on November ballot

Springfield State Journal-Register - 8/17/2016

  

Rauner turning to a private foundation to fix Illinois State Fairgrounds

Chicago Tribune - 8/16/2016

  

Stopgap budget draining state's 'rainy day' fund

Springfield State Journal-Register - 8/16/2016

  

Indiana

Hoosier Lottery says profit up 16 percent from year ago

Northwest Indiana Times (nwi.com) - 8/17/2016

  

Coalition to lobby state for added pre-K

Journal Gazette.net - 8/13/2016

  

Iowa

Branstad touts efforts to improve Iowa's water quality

Quad-City Times - 8/16/2016

  

Kansas

Brownback proposes increasing hospital tax, restoring earlier cuts

Wichita Eagle & Kansas.com - 8/18/2016

  

Brownback endorses reversing Medicaid cut he ordered earlier this year by hiking provider tax

Topeka Capital-Journal - 8/17/2016

  

Kansas cancels five public meetings to gathering views on Medicaid

Topeka Capital-Journal - 8/16/2016

  

Private school tax credit scholarships go to 109 children

Topeka Capital-Journal - 8/13/2016

  

Kentucky

$148M issued in bonds for Convention Center redo

Louisville Courier-Journal - 8/17/2016

  

Bevin’s proposed Medicaid changes could give nonprofits unwanted ‘volunteers’

Lexington Herald-Leader - 8/17/2016

  

State social workers to get raises

Louisville Courier-Journal - 8/15/2016

  

Louisiana

Gov. John Bel Edwards: No special session expected due to flood

Baton Rouge Advocate - 8/17/2016

  

How much money can you expect from FEMA? Disaster grants sure to disappoint, analysis finds

Baton Rouge Advocate - 8/17/2016

  

Louisiana will face a $1.5 billion shortfall in 2018 after temporary taxes expire

New Orleans Times-Picayune & Nola.com - 8/13/2016

  

Louisiana may have solution for wait-listed voucher students

New Orleans Times-Picayune & Nola.com - 8/13/2016

  

Maine

LePage: School reform commission died at the first meeting

Bangor Daily News - 8/16/2016

  

Lawmakers consider regulating fantasy sports gambling in Maine

Bangor Daily News - 8/14/2016

  

Why only a fraction of Maines $93 million budget surplus goes to savings

Bangor Daily News - 8/14/2016

  

Maryland

Board approves $2.5 million for Ellicott City as Hogan seeks more aid

Baltimore Sun - 8/17/2016

  

New job training program targets food stamp recipients

Baltimore Sun - 8/16/2016

  

Hogan's clash with Democrats over transportation spending reignited

Baltimore Sun - 8/12/2016

  

Massachusetts

Gov. Charlie Baker, MassMutual's Roger Crandall see promise, peril in big data

Springfield Union-News & Sunday Republican - 8/17/2016

  

Michigan

State to take aggressive action, close failing schools

Detroit Free Press - 8/15/2016

  

State revenue sharing system is 'broken,' city leaders say

Mlive.com - 8/15/2016

  

Snyder discusses Flint water crisis as fed emergency declaration expires

Mlive.com - 8/14/2016

  

Minnesota

Dayton: Time for special session talks nearly done

Minnesota Public Radio - 8/18/2016

  

Minnesota program helps graduates with high-cost student loans

Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune - 8/18/2016

  

State emergency managers to assess flood damage

Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune - 8/15/2016

  

Mississippi

Governor criticizes education agency on after-school money

The Sun Herald - 8/16/2016

  

MS doctors want 'expanded coverage' under federal ACA

Jackson Clarion-Ledger - 8/16/2016

  

State freezes after-school cash as misconduct sparks deficit

The Sun Herald - 8/14/2016

  

Agencies lower Mississippi's credit rating, outlook

The Sun Herald - 8/13/2016

  

Missouri

As one St. Louis charter school expands, so does a movement

St. Louis Post-Dispatch - 8/13/2016

  

Montana

State Park reorganization: How did we get here?

Great Falls Tribune - 8/15/2016

  

Coal woes continue for the Montana mines

Missoula Missoulian - 8/13/2016

  

Nebraska

State tax reform battle is on

Lincoln Journal Star - 8/18/2016

  

Nebraska could be more competitive with 'needed,' 'possible' tax upgrade, report says

Omaha World-Herald - 8/17/2016

  

Attorney general disputes death penalty costs

Lincoln Journal Star - 8/17/2016

  

Nevada

After court setback, solar battle shifts toward Legislature

Las Vegas Sun - 8/15/2016

  

Nevada Transportation Department reaches deal with EPA, after stormwater violations

Las Vegas Review-Journal - 8/14/2016

  

New Hampshire

NH hoping to turn the tide in opioid crisis

Manchester Union Leader - 8/17/2016

  

New Jersey

Christie orders funding for emergency N.J. road projects as gas tax fight continues

Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com - 8/17/2016

  

Christie says he will vote yes on expanding casinos

Press of Atlantic City - 8/17/2016

  

Munger says she’ll work to freeze pay unless budget passes

North Jersey.com (Bergen County Record & Herald News) - 8/16/2016

  

N.J. avoids credit rating downgrade despite pension, road funding woes

Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com - 8/15/2016

  

N.J. could be in big trouble if another recession hit

Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com - 8/13/2016

  

New Mexico

Top Senate Democrat hints tax hike needed

ABQJournal Online - 8/16/2016

  

Panel seeks to shed light on state funding formula

Santa Fe New Mexican - 8/15/2016

  

State pension funds struggle with shortfalls

Santa Fe New Mexican - 8/14/2016

  

New York

Cuomo Moves to Revive a Dormant Housing Aid Program

New York Times - 8/18/2016

  

North Carolina

HB2 losses not affecting NCs overall economy, McCrory budget director says

Charlotte Observer - 8/15/2016

  

North Dakota

Impact of North Dakota's budget cuts on state jobs unclear

INFORUM-Fargo - 8/17/2016

  

Ohio

State plan to change funding rule could save $12 million, but some worry it will hurt kids

Columbus Dispatch - 8/17/2016

  

County cuts, bus cuts, Medicaid: Why Ohio is about to face big problems

Cleveland Plain Dealer & Cleveland.com - 8/17/2016

  

Officials need $1.8 million to get Ohio's medical marijuana program running

Columbus Dispatch - 8/16/2016

  

Ohio health officials brace for possible Zika outbreak

Dayton Daily News - 8/15/2016

  

Ohio's medical marijuana market could generate $400 million in sales

Cleveland Plain Dealer & Cleveland.com - 8/15/2016

  

Judge blocks cutting funds for abortion

Toledo Blade - 8/13/2016

  

Oregon

FAQ: Oregon's corporate tax measure is a big deal. Here's why.

Portland Oregonian, Hillsboro Argus, Oregon Live.com - 8/17/2016

  

Cannabis fair celebrates growing pot industry

Salem Statesman-Journal - 8/13/2016

  

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's fiscal situation sees good, bad news

Allentown Morning Call - 8/17/2016

  

State releases $25.7M to repair unsafe dams at Donegal, Somerset lakes

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 8/17/2016

  

For first time, lottery winners must pay state income tax

Allentown Morning Call - 8/16/2016

  

July shows slight increase across the board for Pa. casinos

Pennlive.com - 8/13/2016

  

South Carolina

Roads agency to push for money for rural highways

The State - 8/17/2016

  

SCDOT officials prepare for 2017 funding fight

Charleston Post & Courier - 8/17/2016

  

State budget narrowly misses estimate

Charleston Post & Courier - 8/16/2016

  

South Dakota

Lawmakers aim to pinpoint docs that overprescribe

Sioux Falls Argus Leader - 8/18/2016

  

Legislative panel studying substance abuse finds South Dakotas programs in a muddle

Capital Journal (Pierre) - 8/18/2016

  

Build Dakota provides 300 full-ride scholarships

Sioux Falls Argus Leader - 8/16/2016

  

Tennessee

Public comments blast Haslam's public college outsourcing proposal

Nashville Tennessean - 8/15/2016

  

Gov. Haslam determined to get out-of-state retailers to collect Tennessee sales taxes

Chattanooga Times Free Press - 8/15/2016

  

Tenn. hauls in $925M more in tax revenue than budgeted

Knoxville News-Sentinel - 8/14/2016

  

Texas

Will Texas see another battle over pre-K funding?

Dallas Morning News - 8/17/2016

  

Texas school districts come up short despite funding boost for pre-K

Austin American-Statesman - 8/13/2016

  

Utah

Federal judge removes himself from Planned Parenthood case

Salt Lake City Deseret Morning News - 8/18/2016

 

 

Vermont

In last months, Shumlin chips away at opiate addiction

Burlington Free Press - 8/14/2016

  

Washington

Revenue neutral carbon-tax initiative could cost state $675 million

Seattle Times - 8/14/2016

  

West Virginia

Policy experts look to states soda tax as possible revenue boost

Charleston Daily Mail - 8/17/2016

  

Wisconsin

Fiscal bureau: Capital projects delayed in last state budget now cost $30 million more

Lacrosse Tribune - 8/18/2016

  

UW System seeks $42.5 million to cut student costs, develop workforce

Lacrosse Tribune - 8/17/2016

  

Wyoming

Gov. Mead criticizes Oregon coal port ruling

Casper Star-Tribune - 8/17/2016