By Constance Campanella, President and CEO
It happens every year. An idea pops up on the legislative agenda in a so-called “small state.” The appellation typically describes
By Elizabeth Schneider, Manager of Local Government Services
It started on a residential street in St. Louis, Missouri with a busted manhole cover and a frustrated mother. After the
Read more →By Heather Williams, Vice President
What has billions of dollars to spend on goods and services and a purchasing power greater than the federal government?
The more than 89,000
Read more →By Jake Hegeman, Vice President
At this week’s National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Winter Policy Conference, water policy issues took center stage among environmental concerns impacting the sector. While NASDA is no stranger to water quality – a long-standing priority for farmers
Read more →By Mark Anderson, Senior Vice President
The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) has been created as an association of state and local clean air agencies. This new association is a separate organization from the longstanding National Association of Clean Air
Read more →By Constance Campanella, President and CEO
Tomorrow’s election will touch every American as citizens elect a President, US Senators, Members of Congress, Governors, Attorneys General and more than 6,000 state legislators. The state ballots will also include more than 150 questions–initiatives and
Read more →By Steve Arthur, Vice President
I was surprised recently when, during a meeting with a state consumer protection chief, he remarked that his department receives fewer complaints
By Mark Anderson, Senior Vice President
As Chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Government Affairs Practice Committee, I participated recently in an instructive
By Jake Hegeman, Vice President
The heads of more than 40 state agriculture departments convened in Des Moines, Iowa last week to
By Steve Arthur, Vice President
On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a Montana state law that banned corporate political expenditures. In a 5-4 decision, the court reaffirmed its Citizens United decision in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock. Rather than
Read more →By Robert Holden, Vice President
Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision, most Court watchers’ attention was focused on the challenge to the individual mandate. Striking down the individual mandate could have brought down the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA), or at least
Read more →By Jake Hegeman, Vice President
What are the biggest issues facing local governments in the Western United States? That was my question when I attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Western Interstate Region conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This
Read more →By Michael Behm, Senior Vice President
I happened to be visiting a client’s office last month when an email from the general counsel arrived. New internal disclosure rules were being considered by senior management at the request of several vocal shareholders. Money
Read more →By Robert Holden, Vice President
The term “access” is ever present when discussing health care policy. Access to needed care, be they services, pharmaceuticals, contraceptives, or medical supplies drives much of the current debate on essential health benefits and health insurance reform.
Read more →By Mark Anderson, Senior Vice President
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) convened its Spring Meeting last week in Austin, Texas. I would sum up the theme of the meeting by quoting the first lunch speaker, Executive Director of the Texas
Read more →By Beth Giambrone, Manager of State Issues
At the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting this past weekend in Washington, DC, a major focus for the governors was the revamping of the association’s policy process. In adopting a new policy process, NGA Chair Governor Dave Heineman (R-Nebraska)
Read more →Stateside Chat is a new and exciting forum that was rolled-out earlier this week. The foundation of this new feature is a high-level conversation between Stateside’s Issue Managers and elected officials, state and local government affairs practitioners or other leaders in our industry.
Read more →By Michael Behm, Senior Vice President and Jake Hegeman, Vice President
State agriculture commissioners and directors representing nearly 40 states convened in Washington, DC for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Winter Meeting to
Read more →By Steve Arthur, Vice President
Attorneys General and their staff from many southern states gathered in Tampa, Florida January 26 and 27 to learn about all aspects of disaster preparedness. From enforcing price gouging statutes to managing their offices more effectively in
Read more →By Robert Holden, Vice President
On January 25, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), released information identifying the three largest health plans in each state, as well as the three
Read more →By Jake Hegeman, Vice President
With many commodity prices soaring, the last few years have been good to American agriculture. High prices have translated into record profits and allowed many farmers to invest in new equipment and in turn, improve productivity. In fact,
Read more →By Joshua Swarz, Legislative Associate at Stateside Associates
The 2012 legislative session is gearing up to be a busy one, particularly when it comes to fiscal issues. Federal stimulus dollars are drying up, revenue is down, and most states are increasingly strapped for cash. In an election year when
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