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
Read more →By Josh Fisher, Manager of Legislative Information Services
Not according to Nancy Leppink, the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, who has taken to the official blog of the U.S. Department of Labor to respond to criticism
Read more →By Robert Holden, Vice President
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations for Essential Health Benefits, released October 6, may have injected new life into state planning for health benefit exchanges during the upcoming 2012 legislative session.
Read more →By Steve Arthur, Vice President
Updated October 5, 2011
While the Republican presidential debates have been the focus of the national media in recent weeks, there are state elections this fall that may provide some early indications about what may happen at
Read more →By Mark Anderson, Senior Vice President
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) convened its 18th Annual Meeting earlier this week in Indianapolis, Indiana. Having attended all but one ECOS meeting since the inception of the organization in 1993, it has been
Read more →By Naomi Amaha, Legislative Associate
State government affairs professionals rejoice and dread the time of year known as ‘end of session.’ The final days of a legislative session are full of lavish political fundraisers, staff potlucks and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie among staff, lobbyists and elected
Read more →By, Perri Gardner, Legislative Associate
This summer the state of Wisconsin held nine general state legislative elections in an unprecedented attempt to recall Senators from both political parties. Prior to Wisconsin’s summer of recalls, only 20 legislative recall elections had ever been held in the United States.
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By Constance Campanella, President and CEO
Labor Day, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Veterans Day, Halloween and Valentine’s Day are holidays to most, but for elected officials they are something more–an opportunity to issue press releases, website posts, tweets and other announcements.
With headlines such as “Attorney
Read more →By Stefani Millie, Vice President
The Kennedys, the Bushes, the Daleys–all families that come to mind when I think of political dynasties. Lesser known families include the Goodmans of Las Vegas, the Runners of California or the Chu/Engs also of California. In each of these examples, a
Read more →State officials have always found career paths that led to service in the federal government. In areas where state law has historically been developed within a federal statutory framework, many aspects of environmental protection being an example, state officials moving into federal positions is nothing new. Two
Read more →By Constance Campanella, President and CEO
At a recent conference of state Attorneys General, a corporate advocate referred to the assembly of almost 30 state AG’s as the “farm team.” It was meant to juxtapose AG’s against Governors and was intended as a compliment.
Unfortunately, as
Read more →By Mark D. Anderson, Esq., Senior Vice President
The National Governors’ Association (NGA) concluded its Annual Meeting July 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Marking a dramatic change in their process, the Governors allowed most of their existing policies to sunset and unveiled an entirely new policy
Read more →By Robert A. Holden, Esq., Vice President
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking July 11, setting out guidelines for the creation of State Health Benefit Exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) as well
Read more →By Stefani Millie, Vice President
As state governments continue to deal with budget gaps, so too are the nation’s cities, counties and towns. Local governments’ fiscal concerns mirror what is going on in most states, with employee-related costs for health care coverage and pensions having the largest
Read more →By Josh Veverka, Vice President
As the summer months approach, the 2011 State Legislative season is coming to a close. As of June 1, 28 states have adjourned regular legislative sessions.
What have we learned so far? Budget shortfalls and the tide of partisan changes in the
Read more →By Michael J. Behm, Senior Vice President
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin state elections agency, the Government Accountability Board, has set a date of July 12 for the recall elections against Sens. Dan Kapanke, Randy Hopper and Luther Olsen. All three are Republicans.
There
Read more →By Steve Arthur, Vice President
Last month’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaint against Boeing for building a plant in South Carolina was clearly intended to protect union jobs. According to its own press release, the NLRB filed this complaint because Boeing decided “to transfer a second
Read more →By Michael J. Behm, Senior Vice President
The petition drive to recall Democratic Wisconsin State Senator Julie Lassa ended quietly after organizers of that effort failed to file enough signatures to meet the May 16 deadline.
It was the last remaining petition drive in the efforts by
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