Around the Nation

Oklahoma House, Jan. 29, 2007
"Speaker Cargill & House GOP Announce Healthy Oklahoma Plat"
Speaking at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa on Monday, Speaker Lance Cargill and House Republican leaders launched the second platform in their 2007 Year of Ideas Agenda.
"Oklahoma’s pioneer spirit remains strong after the first 100 years of our history. Now we should harness that spirit to create a healthier society in our state," said Cargill (R-Harrah). "2007 should be the year of ideas. We have an opportunity this year, in our centennial year, to lay the groundwork for our state’s second century. And our healthcare system is a vital part of that future. Oklahoma is blessed with citizens who are hard working and who uphold traditional values. At the same time, we face challenges, and it’s time for solutions."
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Oklahoma State Senate, Jan. 30, 2007
"Senate Leaders: Henry May Need Tax Increase to Pay for Spending Promises"
Republican leaders in the evenly divided State Senate said Gov. Brad Henry may need to increase taxes to pay for the new spending he is promising for the upcoming legislative session.
In December, Gov. Henry publicly cautioned state lawmakers about new spending in what could be a tight budget year. But in the past week, he has proposed about half-a-billion dollars in new spending – with even more new spending proposals likely to come in the days before the State of the State address scheduled for February 5.
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Oklahoma State Senate, Jan. 25, 2007
"Gumm Files Legislation to Strengthen Teachers Retirement System"
With $140 million left on the table after the 2006 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, one lawmaker wants to use half of that money to shore up the Teachers’ Retirement System.
Senator Jay Paul Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, has introduced legislation to take $70 million of the so-called “spillover” dollars and put it into the beleaguered system. That money, left on the table after last year’s budget was written, would give the Oklahoma Teachers Retirement System (OTRS) a much needed shot in the arm.
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Oklahoma State Senate, Jan. 24, 2007
"Oklahoma Senate Republicans Unveil ‘Vision for a Better Oklahoma’"
Republicans in the evenly divided Oklahoma State Senate unveiled their 2007 legislative agenda – titled a “Vision for a Better Oklahoma” – at news conferences in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Lawton on Wednesday.
“Today we’re presenting our vision for making Oklahoma a superior state in which to live and raise a family, receive an excellent education, work at a quality job, succeed in business, and comfortably retire,” stated Senator Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, the Senate’s co-President Pro Tempore.
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The Arizona Republic, Jan. 29, 2007
"Gordon proposes medical district; Downtown would serve as hub for biosciences"
Phoenix hopes to add another layer to its downtown-revitalization effort in the form of a mile-long biomedical district that would allow multiple hospitals, specialty clinics and research institutions to expand or locate in the city's core.
The idea, the brainchild of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, could have a significant and lasting impact on the regional and state economy.
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USA Today, Jan. 30
"16 states see road deaths slashed"
Traffic deaths dropped substantially in 16 states last year, in many cases reflecting stepped-up enforcement and education campaigns, according to a USA TODAY analysis of statistics reported by the states.
Highway fatalities fell by at least 5% in those 16 states. In nine other states, deaths rose by at least that much. Texas and Georgia reported preliminary declines of more than 5%, but traffic safety agencies in those states expect the final totals to rise significantly.
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Memphis Commercial Appeal, Jan. 27, 2007
"Elected offices could vanish"
A landmark state Supreme Court ruling has opened the door for a major debate over whether to convert a number of elected positions in Shelby County government into appointed jobs.
Voters of Shelby County could be asked to decide whether to abolish the elected offices of assessor, county clerk, register, sheriff and trustee, and transfer those duties to appointed positions as a result of the high court's decision.
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Seattle Times, Jan. 30, 2007
"All-mail election requires officials to educate voters"
If Seattle voters show up at their normal polling places March 13 to cast a ballot on how to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, they'll find no place to vote. There may not even be a sign noting there's an election that day.
The vote on replacing the viaduct will be the city's first all-mail election, leaving the King County elections division a little over a month to educate 133,000 Seattle poll voters on how to cast an absentee ballot.
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Pacific Business News, Jan. 29, 2007
"Lingle innovation ideas become bills"
Gov. Linda Lingle will appear before two committees of the Hawaii Legislature to testify in support of innovation in work force development.
Lingle was to appear before the House Committee on Labor and Public Employment at State Capitol Room 309 at 9 a.m., in support of House Bill 1280, "relating to innovation in workforce development," and then before the Senate Committee on Economic Development and Taxation at State Capitol Room 224 at 1:15 p.m., in support of Senate Bill 1365 "relating to the innovation economy." The two bills were electronically filed Monday.
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Sacramento Bee, Jan. 30, 2007
"Bullet train plan may never leave station"
The state's perpetually delayed high-speed rail project faces yet another funding setback. And this one could be fatal, dashing the dreams of bullet train enthusiasts, including many in California's Central Valley.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes slashing funding for the High Speed Rail Authority from $14 million to $1.2 million, leaving the group with enough just to keep its doors open. The Legislature has yet to vote on the governor's spending plan.
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Los Angeles Times, Jan. 30, 2007
"Schwarzenegger's healthcare reform proposal could conflict with Bush's aim to balance federal budget"
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants $3.7 billion a year in new federal funding to cover a big chunk of his healthcare plan for Californians, putting him on a collision course with budget hawks in the nation's capital and leaders in other states seeking assistance.
The sheer size of the federal allocation Schwarzenegger's plan would require is raising eyebrows.
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New Jersey Star-Ledger, Jan. 30, 20007
"Bill offering $2B in tax credits clears Assembly; Homeowner-relief measure heads to Senate as 3 others go to Corzine"
The Assembly last night approved a $2 billion program of property tax credits that would mean a 20 percent reduction in many homeowners' tax bills and put new limits on increases in local government spending.
While sending that bill to the Senate for action next week, the Assembly gave final approval to three other measures designed to reduce the government spending that drives up property taxes. Those three bills now go to Gov. Jon Corzine.
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