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SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange - Volume 4, Issue 29

Published on Tuesday, August 05, 2008
FISCAL POLICY

SPN State Fiscal Policy Exchange - Volume 4, Issue 29

Please send any suggestions or news updates (include web link) to Brian Zapotocky at bzapotocky@effwa.org.

SPN 16^th Annual Meeting

Register today for the SPN 16^th Annual Meeting, September 11-12, 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is the premier event for the free market state think tank community. The agenda features expert panels, training workshops and strategy discussions on free market policy issues as well as unparalleled networking opportunities for the over 300 public policy professionals from 150+ organizations in attendance. Find more information at www.spn.org/events.

The Free State Foundation

Special News Release

In a new study, "Avoiding Structural Deficits in Maryland: Recommendations for Reform," released by the Free State Foundation, FSF Senior Fellow Cecilia Januszkiewicz recommends specific reforms to Maryland's legislative and budgetary processes that, if adopted, will reduce the likelihood of continuing the persistent structural deficits that the State has experienced in the 21^st century.

Adoption of the eleven reform recommendations will instill a greater sense of fiscal discipline by raising awareness, on the part of elected officials and Maryland's citizens, of the costs imposed by proposed new and enhanced programs. The recommendations are part of a larger FSF study of Maryland's budget process to be released in the fall.

Studies/Policy Updates

Budget and Tax Reform

Allegheny Institute for Public Policy:

Americans For Prosperity:

Americans For Tax Reform:

Arizona Free Enterprise Club: GovNapolitano Backs Two Tax Hikes as Arizona Economy Struggles
Blue Ridge Forum: Taxpayers First! A Senate Victory Today for the Coburn Way
Buckeye Institute: BuckeyeVoices: Rep. Batchelder discusses the governor's economic agenda
Cascade Policy Institute:

Citizens Against Government Waste:

Empire Center:

Evergreen Freedom Foundation: Come rescue me!
FreedomWorks:

Free State Foundation:

Heritage Foundation: Senate Tax Extenders: Another Sneaky Tax Hike
John Locke Foundation: Failed N.C. auto insurance market hurts most drivers
Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Changing Direction. Are We There Yet?
Maine Heritage Policy Center: Exciting Budget Conference
National Taxpayers Union:

Nevada Policy Research Institute: What's at stake in 2008?
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs: Government Is Our Problem - Townhall.com
Public Interest Institute:

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:

Washington Policy Center:

Washington Research Council: The Healthcare Spending Squeeze

Education

Buckeye Institute: Education Starts Here

Georgia Public Policy Foundation: Put Children First

Illinois Policy Institute: Policy Brief: A Survey and Overview of Privatization in Illinois' Public Schools

Heartland Institute: Waukegan Charter School

Mackinac Center for Public Policy:

Maine Heritage Policy Center: School budget validation process working as designed

Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs:

Public Interest Institute:

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:

Transparency

Buckeye Institute: Just the facts: Good government depends upon good information

Evergreen Freedom Foundation: Get Free - Catch up time- Episode 14 & 15

FreedomWorks: Key Vote "No" H.R. 6604: the Commodity Markets Transparency and Accountability Act

Goldwater Institute: Arizona Lags Behind ‘Google Government' Trend

State News Updates

Alabama

State gets $12.7M in security grants, Montgomery Advertiser, July 29, 2008

Alaska

Lawmakers look to cut Palin rebate, Anchorage Daily News, August 1, 2008

Arizona

ASU to spend $200M on overdue upgrades, Arizona Daily Star, August 4, 2008
Ariz. sales-tax revenue dips, Arizona Republic, August 1, 2008

Arkansas

State to take over Decatur School District, Arkansas News Bureau, August 1, 2008

California

Dan Walters: Local officials also weigh new tax hikes, Sacramento Bee, August 4, 2008
$7-billion L.A. school bond joins November ballot, Los Angeles Times, August 1, 2008
Schwarzenegger makes layoffs, orders pay cuts for California state workers, Los Angeles Times, August 1, 2008
Budget mess leaves rural hospitals dry, Union Tribune, July 31, 2008
State's vendors stiffed as bills go unpaid amid crisis, Sacramento Bee, July 30, 2008
The 5 latest state budgets, Sacramento Bee, July 29, 2008
Private firefighters' role growing in state, San Francisco Chronicle, July 27, 2008

Colorado

Students at religious college to get state scholarships, Rocky Mountain News, August 1, 2008

Connecticut

Rell Proposes Record $84 Million In Heating Aid, Hartford Courant, August 1, 2008
Rell, lawmakers to discuss special session, Republican American, July 28, 2008

Delaware

Drop in traffic leaves less money for road work, News Journal, July 31, 2008

Florida

Florida still central to school-voucher fight, Orlando Sentinel, August 3, 2008
Tax-holiday savings lure consumers to Georgia stores, Tallahassee Democrat, August 2, 2008
'65 percent solution' school plan comes to Florida, Herald Tribune, August 1, 2008
Florida Atlantic University faces more budget cuts, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, August 1, 2008
Schools seek $65.4 million to keep professors in Fla., Palm Beach Post, July 31, 2008
Congressional delegation has questions about Everglades deal, Palm Beach Post, July 30, 2008

Georgia

Tax credit program helps open private school doors, Augusta Chronicle, August 4, 2008
Perdue's plan: Cut $1.6 billion in spending, Athens Banner-Herald, August 1, 2008
Senator proposes vouchers, Augusta Chronicle, August 1, 2008
Tax holiday not just for back-to-school items, Athens Banner-Herald, July 31, 2008
Cuts mean no guards at college, Augusta Chronicle, July 30, 2008
Midstate college cuts to be far-reaching, Macon Telegraph, July 29, 2008

Hawaii

Tourism, consumer slumps drop tax outlook, Star Bulletin, August 1, 2008

Illinois

Public can comment on Chicago-area transit at RTA hearings, Chicago Tribune, August 3, 2008
Governor downsizes proposed construction program, Chicago Tribune, August 1, 2008
Some seasonal employees at Illinois historic sites get layoff notices, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 29, 2008
Casino revenue on decline, State Journal-Register, July 29, 2008
Governor's vetoes cut funds to fight wrongful convictions, Chicago Tribune, July 28, 2008

Indiana

Budget makers' deadline extended, The Times, August 2, 2008
State treasurer saves $28,000, The Times, July 31, 2008

Iowa

Iowans' tippling boosts state coffers, Des Moines Register, August 4, 2008
Fixing Iowa's aging bridges to cost millions of dollars, Quad-City Times, July 29, 2008
State sales tax holiday this weekend, Sioux City Journal, July 29, 2008

Kansas

Nearly 20 percent of Kansas bridges deficient, KDOT report says, Lawrence Journal-World, July 28, 2008
Phelps church told to pay truck taxes, Wichita Eagle, July 26, 2008

Kentucky

Beshear appears tough on road contract costs, Courier-Journal, August 3, 2008
Kentucky lacks money to fix bridges needing upgrades, Courier-Journal, August 1, 2008
Kentucky schools cutting 975 jobs, Lexington Herald-Leader, July 30, 2008
Kentucky Lottery reports record sales, Courier-Journal, July 29, 2008

Louisiana

Outdoors bring in the money for Louisiana, News Star, July 30, 2008

Maine

Despite surplus, Maine has troubles ahead, Portland Press Herald, August 1, 2008

Maryland

O'Malley calls Md. budget a model of 'responsibility', Baltimore Sun, August 1, 2008
Rise in Tax, Drop in Cigarette Sales May Squeeze Md.'s Expected Revenue, Washington Post, July 31, 2008
Md. shifts tack on transit policy, Baltimore Sun, July 30, 2008

Massachusetts

State behind in spending on public colleges, Boston Globe, August 3, 2008
Pension boost OK'd for state workers, Boston Globe, August 2, 2008
Legislature agrees to back Pike finances, Boston Globe, August 1, 2008
Road work funds shrink, Boston Globe, July 29, 2008

Michigan

State scrambles to fund roads, Crain's Detroit Business, August 4, 2008
Granholm gives details of new state investment program, Crain's Detroit Business, July 31, 2008
State improperly paid for child day care, audit shows, Detroit Free Press, July 30, 2008
FBI investigates Detroit Public Schools over funds, Detroit News, July 29, 2008

Minnesota

Lawmakers aim to raise land revenue for schools, St. Paul Pioneer Press, August 3, 2008
Engineers: Bridge funds help, but they aren't enough, St. Cloud Times, August 1, 2008

Mississippi

Barbour faults 'politics' for Medicaid mess, Hattiesburg American, July 30, 2008

Missouri

Looming funding woes trouble agency, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 2008
Lawsuit challenges limit on fees for database, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 1, 2008
GOP budget leaders criticize Nixon's health care plan, Kansas City Star, July 28, 2008

Nebraska

UNL research funding climbs to nearly $106 million in 2007-08, Lincoln Journal Star, August 4, 2008

Nevada

Gibbons girds for meal tax fight, Las Vegas Sun, July 31, 2008
Assembly 27 Democrats see budget crisis differently, Reno Gazette-Journal, July 29, 2008

New Jersey

Allen presses Corzine to veto bridge toll hikes, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2008
Conservative sues Jersey on $3.9 billion school plan, Star-Ledger, July 29, 2008

New Mexico

County's budget heads to Santa Fe, Farmington Daily Times, July 29, 2008

New York

Experts See Albany Ills as Problem, Not Crisis, New York Times, August 4, 2008
Ex-Nyers Ripping Off Medicaid Millions, New York Post, August 4, 2008
Paterson calls on U.S. help for deficit-ridden states, Newsday, August 1, 2008
Sheldon Silver and Governor Paterson Clash Over Tax Hike Call, New York Post, July 31, 2008
State Senate to discuss school property taxes Aug. 8, Newsday, July 30, 2008
Governor Calls on Legislature to Deal With New York's Fiscal Crisis, New York Times, July 30, 2008
Paterson and Bloomberg Warn of Huge Deficits, New York Times, July 29, 2008

North Carolina

Bill means samples are tax-exempt, News & Record, August 4, 2008
New budget cuts back teacher bonuses, Winston-Salem Journal, August 3, 2008

North Dakota

North Dakota anti-tobacco initiative petitions turned in, Bismarck Tribune, July 29, 2008

Ohio

Ohio bridges rated safe, but costly work ahead, Columbus Dispatch, July 30, 2008
State tax credit would add jobs in Greene County, Dayton Daily News, July 30, 2008
Students using vouchers on the rise, Cincinnati Enquirer, July 27, 2008

Oregon

Broke Counties Mull Worst-Case Scenarios, Northwest Public Radio, July 29, 2008
Oregon data center touts savings that don't add up, Oregonian, July 29, 2008

Pennsylvania

Road construction cost increase breaks local budgets, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 3, 2008
Allegedly illegal Dem e-mails 'waste' of taxes, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 2, 2008
New Right-to-Know information is key to transparency, Lansdale Reporter, July 31, 2008
Supporters, foes press case on turnpike lease, Philadelphia Enquirer, July 30, 2008
Signs of concern, Patriot News, July 29, 2008

Rhode Island

URI's already bleak financial picture worsening, Providence Journal, August 4, 2008
Carcieri taps pay accounts of agencies served by his staff, Providence Journal, August 4, 2008

South Carolina

State's sales tax holiday bright spot in economy, News-Record, August 3, 2008

South Dakota

Highway panel faces roadblock, Argus Leader, August 4, 2008
Road money needs urgent, Argus Leader, July 30, 2008

Tennessee

State gets $20.6 million in homeland security money, Tennessean, July 28, 2008

Texas

House to vote on student loan transparency bill, Daily Texan, July 31, 2008
Austin school district rewards educators at 9 schools with bonuses, Austin American-Statesman, July 30, 2008

Vermont

Vt. communities get $1.6 million in tax credits for housing, economic growth, Burlington Free Press, July 30, 2008
State must cut spending by more than $30 million, Burlington Free Press, July 30, 2008

Virginia

Tax holiday provides some help for back-to-school shoppers SEARCH FOR SAVINGS, Free Lance-Star, August 4, 2008
Va. schools get federal education grants, Virginia Pilot, July 30, 2008
Back-to-school tax holiday this weekend in Va., Virginia Pilot, July 29, 2008

Washington

We put you in touch with easily searchable information, News Tribune, July 29, 2008

West Virginia

High coal prices boost revenues in first month of state fiscal year, Charleston Daily Mail, August 1, 2008
State looks at funding for volunteer fire departments, Charleston Gazette, July 29, 2008

Wyoming

Savings seen on Wyoming projects, Billings Gazette, July 29, 2008

U.S.

Road, bridge projects pushed, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 4, 2008
Official spending outpaces revenue, USA TODAY, July 31, 2008
Gas prices drive motorists away from toll roads, shrink revenue, USA TODAY, July 31, 2008
US budget deficit to hit record 482 bln dlrs, AFP, July 30, 2008
Gloom and Doom: States Face Looming Budget Deficits, ABC News, July 30, 2008
Reports says $140 billion needed to repair U.S. bridges, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2008
Funds for Highways Plummet, Wall Street Journal, July 28, 2008
SPN Research Forum listserv: The research forum listserv is an email-based conversation hosted by the John Locke Foundation. Post messages and get responses to issues of importance in your state and across the country. With participants from other SPN think tanks and associate SPN member organizations, the Forum can help with background for your papers or ideas on what's worked in other states. Learn from other think tanks. Share your research ideas. Discuss timely issues. To join the conversation, email Daren Bakst dbakst@johnlocke.org.

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