State spending grew by 5.2 percent in fiscal year 2017, according to a new report from the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO). That rate is more than double the rate in fiscal 2016, when spending was held down by declines in the growth...
When California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed AB 19 , the California College Promise, waiving the first year of fees for all first-time, full-time students at the state’s community colleges, into law last month supporters sang the measure’s...
Despite recent evidence to the contrary , the U.S. Congress does appear capable of passing substantive legislation - and with relative ease. After just a few weeks of negotiations by leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Armed Services committees, the...
US HOUSE PASSES TAX PLAN: The U.S. House passed its version of the GOP tax overhaul last week on a 227 to 205 vote, with none of the chamber’s Democrats supporting the plan and 13 Republicans opposing it. But passage of the Senate version isn’t...
As of 2016, the last year for which complete data is available, states had only 71.1 percent of the assets they needed to cover future pension payments to retirees, down from 74.5 percent in 2015. New Jersey was in the worst shape, with a pension funding...
The economy is booming, tax cuts are looming and stock indexes are at record highs. But many public pension systems that provide retirement benefits to state and city employees and teachers are in trouble. Pension fund indebtedness has worsened in 43...
Universities rely heavily on donations to continue delivering quality education, supporting their student bodies and offering top facilities. However, research found that in spite of much effort, the majority of donations made to universities went to...
We all consume, share and create content throughout the day…hundreds of pieces, but you live and breathe information. You are an expert and if you are an expert in a topic, you might want to put your thoughts out there, join the conversation and...
Our series on PESTLE risk monitoring continues with a deeper look at “T”—Technological risk—and how it can impact organizations enterprise-wide. The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2017 states that: “The deep...
The popular shopping event Black Friday attracted nearly 154 million consumers in stores and online in 2016, per National Retail Federation data. While this revenue opportunity certainly benefits shopping establishments across the world, some stores are...
When New Jersey police officer Timothy Richard pulled over a white Chevy Suburban a few weeks ago, he didn’t think much of it. Only on the job for three months, he was carrying out his assignment for the day: cracking down on drivers who talk on...
Stretching the facts to fit your narrative is nothing new to politics. One could even argue it is as normal as the sun rising in the east. But few can stretch further or with a straighter face than former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. These days Perry is the...
The truth shall set you free. But sometimes it can also free you from your job. Such was the case recently for Virginia resident Juli Briskman. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, her story will. As the Washington Post reports , Briskman is the woman...
ME House Veto HB 1139 The MAINE House upholds Gov. Paul LePage’s (R) veto of HB 1139 , which would have established a regulatory and taxation system for marijuana. LePage said there was still too much uncertainty that federal marijuana policy...
PA Governor Doesn't Sign HB 178 PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Tom Wolfe (D) allows HB 178 , which lets school districts cite “economic reasons” as a rationale for furloughing teachers, to become law without his signature. The law also requires...
New CA Pesticide Regulation The CALIFORNIA Dept. of Pesticide Regulation issues new rules barring the use of certain pesticides within a quarter mile of schools and day care centers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the school week. The new regulations...
WI Assembly Approves AB 501 The WISCONSIN Assembly overwhelmingly approves AB 501 , which would give 2,000 Badger State families who receive food stamps a discount on healthy foods for 10 months in hopes it will encourage them to eat better. It moves...
MI Senate Approves Bills Senate approves SB 584 , SB 585 and SB 586 , a three-bill package that collectively would allow concealed pistol license holders to obtain an endorsement on their licenses exempting them from “no gun zone” restrictions...
MA Governor Signs Budget Acting MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Karyn Polito (R) signs budget legislation that includes a provision banning the sale or possession of the so-called “bump stock,” an attachment that allows semiautomatic rifles to fire...
Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said he will not accept a voter-approved ballot measure to expand Medicaid to cover approximately 80,000 more residents unless lawmakers find a way to pay for it without raising taxes or drawing on state reserves. Pine...
Saying his administration “is committed to making Massachusetts a safe and welcoming place with zero-tolerance for hate or violence,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) issued an executive order last Monday to restart a long dormant state...
BROWN ISSUES OR CLEAN ENERGY ORDERS : Saying “economic development and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive goals,” OREGON Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed two executive orders that collectively take steps to increase the use...
Just two states - New Jersey and Virginia - held general elections on Nov. 7 in which state legislative seats were contested. Democrats made modest gains in New Jersey, where all 80 seats in the Assembly and all 40 seats in the Senate were up for grabs...
Voters in seven states considered a total of 22 statewide ballot measures on Nov. 7. Texas voters weighed seven of those measures, the highest number of the seven states. All seven measures passed, which isn’t too unusual in the Lone Star State...
KY HOUSE SPEAKER RESIGNS POST: KENTUCKY Rep. Jeff Hoover, the state’s first Republican House speaker since 1921, stepped down from that post last week over allegations of sexual harassment were made against him and three other Republican lawmakers...