Weekly Policy Clips (September 18-24, 2006)
Arizona: Governor say speed cameras seem to complement patrols
More Arizona communities should consider mounting speed-enforcement cameras like those that dot Loop 101 if Scottsdale’s nine-month test proves to make roads safer, Gov. Janet Napolitano said Monday.
“At least anecdotally, it has been a successful complement to officers on patrol,” Napolitano said about the cameras that run the 8 miles of Loop 101, from Shea Boulevard to Scottsdale Road.
The governor said the cameras appear to be changing driver behavior. She suggested that photo-enforcement equipment not be removed Oct. 23 when the cameras are switched off for an evaluation by transportation and public-safety officials.
So far, 191,000 drivers have been snapped by the cameras.
Napolitano tied her remarks to Arizona’s swelling population and how the state’s infrastructure needs to adapt.
The governor spoke at the recently opened Granite Reef Senior Center during a public forum, part of a series of public-policy meetings Napolitano has scheduled across Arizona.
Illinois encourages green growth with $400,000 in grants
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Wednesday that $400,000 in new funding is now available for design assistance grants for “green” commercial buildings in the state.
Available through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the design assistance grants are for businesses using the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building rating system.
LEED is an environmental performance benchmark used by developers in comparing their buildings relative to others. Among other environmental factors, the LEED system considers the energy efficiency of the building, the use of renewable energy and the use of recycled content building materials.
Under the new pilot program, businesses with commercial building construction and renovation projects will be eligible to apply for awards of up to $100,000 if they meet the LEED Gold level of performance, achieve an energy performance of at least 20 percent beyond the minimum energy code and incorporate best practices in solid waste management, according to a release.
Lois Vitt Sale of Phoenix Architects and chair of the Chicago chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, said in a statement that the pilot program “helps make the industry real and moves us another big step forward. This funding will be very helpful to move more green building projects forward.”
Projects seeking to apply under the new program must submit a preliminary notice of intent to apply by Nov. 15 and final applications are due Jan. 2, 2007.
Louisiana: Blanco seeks $234 million for state construction
A $234 million, 22-page list of construction borrowing is proposed by Gov. Kathleen Blanco this year, a slice for hurricane recovery and the rest for colleges, road construction, recreational complexes, ballparks and other local building projects.
A state money panel that must approve the borrowing, the State Bond Commission, is scheduled to consider the items today
Treasurer John Kennedy, who heads the commission, said he doesn’t expect to hear many complaints that less than a third of the money is allocated to hurricane recovery items because Blanco’s staff has been pouring federal dollars into rebuilding efforts.
Kennedy said he doesn’t see a lot of “fat” in the projects, but he does have a few questions for administration officials, including an explanation of how Blanco’s project analysts weeded through hundreds of pages of projects submitted by lawmakers.
“It looks to me at first glance, with some possible exceptions, a lot of these projects are pretty much meat and potatoes,” Kennedy said Wednesday.
Blanco said her staff at the Office of Facility Planning, which oversees state construction spending, evaluated projects by putting them into categories — like hurricane recovery, health, economic development and community investment.
Maine Governor Baldacci Leads Anti-Sweatshop Movement Among States
Maine Governor John Baldacci welcomed news that the governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey have joined his initiative to end sweatshop exploitation. Governor Baldacci noted that Maine leads the way in this issue, ensuring that employees have fair working conditions and are paid fair wages, here and across the world.
“I am pleased that New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine and Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell have announced that their states will join Maine’s new initiative to end sweatshop exploitation in apparel and other industries.” said Governor Baldacci. The Governors’ Coalition for Sweatfree Procurement and Workers’ Rights will use state government procurement as a way to level the playing field for ethical businesses and advance justice for sweatshop workers.
Montana: Governor says he will expand park system, fishing access
Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday promised a bigger state park system and more fishing access as part of his legislative proposals.
The governor said he intends to set aside $15 million to acquire land for new state parks and access sites for fishing. He also wants free fishing for children under 15 and those 62 years old and over.
Schweitzer unveiled the proposal as part of his “Square Deal with Montanans” package that includes a $400 property tax rebate for Montana homeowners. Republicans have offered their own plan, called “Handshake with Montana”, that includes a tax cut and tuition reduction, among other things.
While the GOP has unrolled its full proposal, Schweitzer is still releasing details.
The governor said the outdoor recreation portion of his package is important in a state where hunting and fishing are a part of life.
New Jersey Governor Corzine Signs Executive Order Establishing Division Of Minority And Women Business Development
New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine … signed an Executive Order establishing a Division of Minority and Women Business Development within the Office of Economic Growth. The order also directs all state entities to designate, in the next 30 days, a liaison to assist their entity in achieving the goals of the division.
Minority- and women-owned firms account for 20 percent and 28 percent of the small businesses in the state respectively. Each year, New Jersey spends over $2 billion purchasing goods and services from businesses. Currently, only 3 percent of the firms receiving contracts from the state are owned by minorities or women and less than 2 percent of the total amount spent by the state goes to these businesses.
“Today I’m pleased to announce that New Jersey will be using its purchasing power to help facilitate growth among New Jersey’s minority- and women-owned businesses,” said Governor Corzine. “Everybody deserves a chance to get ahead, and this Executive Order represents another step toward guaranteeing equal opportunity for everyone.”
The division will administer and monitor policies, practices, and programs to ensure that minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in New Jersey’s purchasing and procurement processes.
New Jersey Governor Corzine unveils $74 million Pedestrian Safety Initiative
New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine … announced the creation of a five-year, $74 million initiative to improve pedestrian safety throughout New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will implement a three-pronged strategy to encourage motorists to safely share the road with pedestrians through engineering, education and enforcement.
“This initiative is designed to improve New Jersey’s driving culture and enhance pedestrian education so we can increase the safety of our streets,” said Governor Corzine. “Investing in engineering improvements, enforcing pedestrian safety laws, and changing the way we educate drivers will help ensure that our communities are a safe place to walk.”
New Mexico: Governor – Put Guard on the Joint Chiefs
The National Guard deserves a seat at the decision-making table in the Pentagon, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said … .
Speaking to 2,500 Army and Air National Guard officers at the National Guard Association’s annual conference here, Richardson said the Guard is no longer a secondary force.
“It is a full partner in our national military strategy and it must be given the respect it deserves,” he said. “To put it bluntly, our citizen-soldiers deserve a square deal from Washington.”
The National Guard Association has been very vocal about its support for legislation that would elevate the status of the National Guard in the Defense Department and give the Guard’s chief a fourth star and a seat on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Richardson said he “strongly supports” the legislation.
“The Guard, which is so important to our present military strategy, must have a say in its own future,” he said.
Richardson also voiced concern about a provision in the House version of the 2007 defense bill that would allow the president to federalize National Guard troops to respond to natural disasters.
“It’s a power grab, and the bill must be killed,” he said. “That decision to protect our state must be made in New Mexico, not in Washington. Make no mistake. I will fight to keep that decision here in New Mexico.”
Richardson, who was elected governor by the largest margin of any candidate since 1964, was sworn in Jan. 1, 2003. Lauded by conference organizers as an advocate for the National Guard, Richardson praised the soldiers and airmen for their work since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“This year it seems like our Guard never rests,” he said. “Each year, we demand more from you and you respond. You’re everywhere.”
Oregon: Governor Announces Reduction in Unemployment Tax
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski announced … a change in the tax rate schedule for unemployment insurance that will cut next year’s unemployment taxes by $64 million, thanks to a bill the Governor introduced during the 2005 legislative session.
“The tax savings will provide a real boost to Oregon’s employers, which will help offset the effects of our automatic increase in the minimum wage,” the Governor said. “The reduced rate won’t affect unemployment benefits, but it will certainly reinforce the economic recovery that’s under way in Oregon.
It will make existing jobs more secure and strengthen incentives for employers to create even more new jobs.”
Beginning in January 2007, the state will assess employers under Rate Schedule 3, meaning they will pay the unemployment tax on 1.97 percent of taxable income, on the average. Presently, employers pay the tax on 2.28 percent of taxable income under Rate Schedule 4, on the average.
The tax cut results from HB 2127, which the Governor introduced last session and signed into law on June 8, 2005. The bill received support both from business and labor.
“Oregon’s economy is one of the fast-growing state economies in America, and more Oregonians have jobs today than anytime in our state’s history,” the Governor said. Lower unemployment means less demand for unemployment benefits, and lower costs for employers, the Governor added.
“Even though Oregon has gained more than 117,000 new jobs in the past three years, my goal is to ensure that more Oregonians share in the benefits of our economic recovery,” the Governor said. “One way to do that is to reduce the expense of unemployment insurance and help employers add new jobs.”
Pennsylvania: Rendell touts success in diversity effort
The number of minority- and women-owned businesses awarded state contracts has quadrupled in Pennsylvania since January 2003, according to Gov. Ed Rendell.
The Department of General Services entered into or renewed about $510 million in contracts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006. Of that, $42.3 million was awarded to minority- and women-owned business enterprise, or MWBE, contractors. Less than 2 percent of the state’s procurement dollars were awarded to such enterprises in January 2003, compared to 8.3 percent now, Rendell said Wednesday.
“We’ve come a long way, but there is still room for improvement,” the governor said. “When I took office, it was clear minority- and women-owned businesses were being shut out of the procurement process, so we established a system that levels the playing field for these firms and allows them to compete among companies that are often larger and have a greater pool of resources.”
Pennsylvania poised to follow California’s stricter car pollution rules
Pennsylvania is poised to adopt pollution standards that would require new cars to be cleaner-burning a year from now – and put the state in lockstep with California’s efforts to impose even more stringent requirements by 2009.
Smog-reduction rules expected to be adopted for the 2008 model year would have little or no impact on the price of cars or the way they drive, state and industry officials say.
But more stringent greenhouse-gas reductions being sought by California on 2009 model-year cars would result in higher car prices, though advocates and opponents disagree about the amount. Automakers also say the greenhouse-gas standard, now the subject of litigation, would force them to make smaller cars with less horsepower.
Two state oversight boards are set to meet in the coming weeks to decide whether Pennsylvania should follow California standards.
Approval appears likely. The administration of Gov. Ed Rendell strongly supports adopting California’s tougher pollution standards, while legislation that would prevent or delay such action has stalled in a House committee.
Tennessee: Uninsured kids to get $5 drugs under state plan
Uninsured children could get prescription drugs for $5 and go to the doctor for $15 through a new state-sponsored insurance program, according to plans released by the state.
Details of services and costs for the new children’s insurance program and a drug-assistance program for the uninsured were recently developed.
State officials expect enrollment for Cover Kids and CoverRX to begin in November or December, with benefits starting in January.
The programs are part of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s multi-pronged health initiative dubbed CoverTennessee, which includes two other insurance programs that cover the working poor and the uninsurable. Details of those plans are being figured out.
“This is all good stuff for Tennessee,” said Andrea White, a CoverTennessee spokeswoman. “It’s not a total solution, but it’s helping to fill the gaps and giving people options they didn’t have before.”
CoverKids will cover children under 19 and pregnant women, through a program that provides three federal dollars for every state dollar spent. The state has applied for federal funding and is anticipating approval within 90 days.
Tennessee: Bredesen lays out job-creation plan
Gov. Phil Bredesen outlined a four-part, 11-point “strategy” for creating new Tennessee jobs Tuesday, including developing a more skilled workforce and doubling state grants for utilities and roads at industrial sites.
In addition to the proposal for free community college tuition that he unveiled last week for qualified high school graduates, the governor said he wants to create five-year high school programs—coordinated with community colleges—that conclude with an associate’s degree.
He also wants to double the current annual $14 million fund for grants to local communities to extend infrastructure—such as roads and electric, water and sewer lines—to prospective industrial sites. The grant program is known as “FastTrack” and Bredesen said he will likely ask state legislators to increase its funding by $7 million next year and by another $7 million in 2008.
“I think whether you look at my history and track record as mayor (of Nashville) and governor, job creation is important to me. I believe having a good, stable, good-paying job is the key to our quality of life. I look forward to helping people find good-paying jobs that make sense for them and their families,” the governor said in a conference call with reporters.
The job-creation initiative is for a second four-year term. The Democratic governor is being challenged by Republican state Sen. Jim Bryson of Franklin in the Nov. 7 election.
Virginia: Kaine Launches Program To Let More Kids Walk & Bike To School
Governor Tim Kaine says a new program funded with federal dollars will allow more Virginia children to walk to ride a bicycle to school.
Kaine announced his statewide “Safe Routes to School” program Tuesday for children in kindergarten through eighth grades.
Kaine says fewer children walk or bike to school than a generation ago, and he calls it a “lost opportunity.” He says improving access and safety to let more kids walk or bike to school will “enhance the quality of life” and reduce vehicle emissions around schools.
The program will be funded by 13 million dollars in federal funds through 2009. The money was provided for the program under the federal surface transportation program.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will administer the grant program and begin accepting applications this winter. A statewide advisory panel will help VDOT review applications. Grants will range from five-thousand to 500-thousand dollars.
West Virginia: Manchin seeks to improve correctional officers’ wages
Gov. Joe Manchin is working on a plan to solve the perennial shortage of correctional officers for legislators to consider during the 2007 session.
The Communications Workers of America hopes the plan will include $5,000 pay raises for correctional officers and support staff within the state Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.
To compensate for their poor wages, some state employees have to seek public assistance for their children, said CWA spokeswoman Elaine Harris.
“That just shouldn’t be,’’ said Harris, who represents employees within the Division of Juvenile Services, the Division of Corrections and the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority.
Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said Monday that the state must weigh many budget requests as it works to solve the problem.
The governor is still working out the details of his plan, she said. “The overriding goal is to be as competitive as possible and as fair as possible,’’ Ramsburg said.
West Virginia Governor Manchin Visits Wyoming
Governor Manchin is pushing for guaranteed price floors for oil as a way to spur investment in alternative fuel industries.
Manchin says that by weaning the country off oil from the Middle East and Latin America, money could be attracted to other energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, solar and wind generation.
Manchin made his comments after touring an Arch Coal mine in Wyoming with Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal.
Manchin compared price floors to farming subsidies during the latter part of the Great Depression. The government subsidies guaranteed crop prices and encouraged production even when demand dropped.
Freudenthal agrees with Manchin that Congress needs to invest in alternative energy sources. But Freudenthal says he’s not sure whether a proposal for oil price floors would succeed.
Manchin says if something isn’t done in the next few years, it will create problems for future generations.
Search
Recent Headlines
05/13/08: Patrick Proposes Plan for Infrastructure Investment05/12/08: Ritter Funds Higher Education Construction, Scholarships
05/11/08: Culver Raises Pay for Teachers, Expands Preschool
05/08/08: Gregoire Raises Twice Opponent's Money
05/07/08: Dems Uniting behind Long Thompson
Get the Daily News Clips
Sign up to get the Daily News Clips
Election Map
Get The DGA
Sign up to get our mailing list.
