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Policy challenge - How to expand safety net

By Christine Vestal, Stateline.org Staff Writer

State of the States 2009

This story is included in Stateline.org's "State of the States 2009." Pre-order your print or PDF copy.

As job losses mount, states are likely to get more federal dollars to respond to growing demand for low-income aid. But welfare reform instituted in the 1990s has made it nearly impossible for people without a job or prospects of one to receive public assistance. Read More

PA: Key figure in Richardson probe tied to Rendell

By Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The head of a financial firm at the center of a "pay-to-play" investigation that prompted the withdrawal of President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for Commerce secretary donated tens of thousands of dollars to Gov. Ed Rendell and has a contract in Pennsylvania. Read More

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RECENT STATELINE.ORG STORIES


	MA: Patrick intensifies state's push to curb soaring health premiums Governor Deval Patrick yesterday accelerated his administrations efforts to control spiraling statewide healthcare costs, warning that rising premiums threaten to crush families and businesses and doom Massachusetts groundbreaking experiment with universal insurance.
	MO: Settlement approved in Blunt e-mail lawsuit A Cole County judge on Monday approved the settlement announced last month in a lawsuit involving Gov. Matt Blunt and his offices e-mails.
	FL: Florida's budget news gets worse Florida lawmakers began a grim budget-cutting session Monday with more bad news: The states deficit is likely $100-million bigger than expected, and Florida leads the nation in food stamp requests.
	NH: Online ads seek NH Supreme Court justice The Judicial Selection Commission posted the online ads last week rather than wait for the next edition of the New Hampshire Bar Associations newsletter on Jan. 16 to expedite the process, commission co-chair and Colebrook attorney Philip R. Waystack Jr. said yesterday.
	US: Burris heads toward face-off WASHINGTON and CHICAGO -- Roland Burris and Democratic party leaders headed toward a showdown at the door of the U.S. Senate today as the former Illinois attorney general presses his claim to the disputed seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
	AZ: State budget woes worsen Arizona would have to borrow between $2.5 billion and $5.7 billion as early as February to bridge the state budget through a cash-flow crunch caused by a shortfall.
	NJ: Governor seeks extra $812M in cutbacks From a budget he once described as cutting spending cold turkey, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday proposed slicing $812 million more to keep pace with the economic crisis.
	TX: New Texas speaker to shift House dynamic toward middle As Rep. Joe Straus effectively wrapped up the House speaker race Monday, he pledged to open the House to allow members – Republican or Democrat – to win the day if they had the best argument and the most votes.
	MN: Democrat is winner in recount of Minnesota Senate race ST. PAUL, Minn. — Al Franken, the comedian who became a Democratic pundit and then a politician, won Novembers election for the United States Senate by 225 votes out of 2.9 million cast, according to the finally completed recount results certified on Monday by the states independent canvassing board.
	CA: California Supreme Court to hear arena search case Daniel Sheehan did not want somebody patting him down. Mr. Sheehan, a retired glazier, has held season tickets for the San Francisco 49ers since 1967.
	US: Healthcare spending in U.S. slows WASHINGTON - Healthcare spending in the U.S., already the highest in the industrialized world, continued its steady rise in 2007, even as the growth eased slightly to its lowest rate in 10 years.
	NE: Lethal injection backed in survey Since the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled 11 months ago that electrocution was cruel and unusual punishment, the state has been without a legal means to carry out the death penalty.
	NH: NH asking for test toll at Mass. border New Hampshire has taken the first steps toward putting a toll booth on Interstate 93 near the Massachusetts border.
	AK: Alaska trooper says politics slowed drug arrest ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A drug investigator says authorities delayed the arrest of a woman tied to Gov. Sarah Palins family until after the November election, in which Palin was the Republican vice presidential candidate, a newspaper reported.


	New laws target driving, crime, politicians On Jan. 1, several new state laws will take effect, and Illinois politicians, California drivers and Arkansas’ same-sex couples will be among those feeling the effects.
	War veterans benefit from new state laws New voter-approved laws will make it easier for veterans to make the transition from wartime service to everyday life. Some states now offer help to veterans applying for jobs, paying taxes and buying homes.
	Illinois law allows big checks to governor Illinois’ weak campaign finance laws have allowed Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to collect hefty donations for his campaign. Illinois is one of only six states — along with Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Virginia — that has no limits on the source or size of contributions.
	Ominous problems face officeholders Facing record budget shortfalls and high unemployment, states are looking to Congress and new President Barack Obama for help in 2009. See whats at stake in this excerpt from State of the States 2009, Stateline.orgs annual report on significant state policy developments and trends.
	Economy trims some govs' inauguration plans In a bleak economy that has led even some of the most financially stable states to grow uneasy, some governors who were elected or re-elected in November are skipping the typical inaugural balls and toning down the glitz at their swearing-in ceremonies to cut costs.
	Furor over Senate seat not unique to Illinois Allegations that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) offered to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat have fueled calls for state lawmakers to strip the governor of his appointment power and hold a special election instead. But the scandal in Illinois is far from the first time that the process of replacing a U.S. senator has generated political intrigue.



Click here for Stateline.org’s 2008 interactive elections guide, which includes up-to-date details on this year’s major state races and ballot questions.

Click here for Stateline.org’s comprehensive list of 2008 state elections	Click here for Stateline.org’s rundown of major issues on this year's ballot. (opens PDF)

DAILY STATE NEWS

US: Death and life in the pressroom
Newspapers have lost interest in covering legislatures. Can Web sites replace them? We don't know yet.
Governing.com
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OH: Ohio's college tuition freeze in jeopardy
Ohio's two-year tuition freeze at public colleges and universities was spared last year from three rounds of state budget cuts for fiscal year 2009. A shortfall estimated to be as much as $7.3 billion for the upcoming two-year budget could put that program in jeopardy.
Dayton Daily News
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WV: 6 months into fiscal year, W.Va. up nearly $75 million
West Virginia remains the envy of most of the rest of the country when it comes to state budget revenues. It ended the first half of its budget year last month with a potential surplus of nearly $75 million.
Charleston Daily Mail
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Legislative Wrap-up 2008

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State of the States 2009

Stateline.org is completing its "State of the States 2009." Available soon, the report chronicles the significant developments of the past year and charts the likely course of state policy in the year ahead. Pre-order your print or PDF copy.

2009 special section, including links to daily news

Dates for State of the State speeches

Full text of governors’ addresses going back to 2000

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