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Today's Top Policy News Clippings

Today's Top Policy News
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More State and Policy Issues

Fewer Americans believe in global warming, poll shows
The percentage of Americans who believe global warming is happening has dipped from 80 to 72 percent in the past year, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, even as a majority still support a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions. Washington Post. More

Mexico tightens security at U.S. border crossings
The new infrastructure -- including gates, cameras and vehicle scales -- aims to hamper the smuggling of drug money and weapons to Mexican cartels. Businesses are protesting the increased wait times. Los Angeles Times. More

Fewer dangerous toys on shelves – but safety still an issue
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has had 38 recalls for dangerous toys this year, down from 162 in 2008. But parents shopping for children this holiday season still need to be vigilant. Christian Science Monitor.  More

The links to the articles in GrassCatcher are provided for information purposes only. NCSL does not endorse the views expressed in any of the articles linked to from this page.

News Magazines

The Economist:
Farmers vs Greens: The biggest obstacle to a climate-change bill is rural America. More

TIME:
Health care reform: After the House, can it survive the Senate? More

Newsweek:
Community gardens: A small farmer on how the government can help rebuild the infrastructure he needs to survive. More

NCSL in the News

Making friends with t---s
The 16 states that reported to the National Conference of State Legislatures that they indeed raised taxes to cover revenue shortfalls during the current downturn might disagree. Indianapolis Star. More

State budgets lean on property sales
Although selling and leasing property is a common practice for businesses, it is so rare for government institutions to do so that the National Association of State Budget Officers, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the National Conference of State Legislatures have not tracked it. Todd Haggerty, an NCSL policy associate, said: “States are having to look at anything and everything to close these (budget) gaps. For the most part, easy decisions have  already been made, so states are now looking at more difficult options.”  Stateline.org. More

Teen driving bill eludes first obstacle
In fact, during the past three years alone, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 32 states have passed 80 bills related to teen driving, including New Hampshire. Editorial in the Nashua Telegraph. More

Medicaid: Struggling states need more help from the feds
Even though the Great Recession is winding down, state revenues typically lag behind, along with unemployment, as they do in any economic recovery. The budget situation confronting states is "dire," says Corina Eckl, fiscal program director of the National Council of State Legislatures. Politics Daily. More

Dave Davies: The Legislature's partisan budgeting - slush funds, in effect - prolongs the state's mess
Brian Weberg, director of the legislative management program for the National Council of State Legislatures, said Pennsylvania is among "a handful of states that have primarily partisan staffing." Philadelphia Daily News.  More  

Read MORE NCSL in the News

The links to the articles in GrassCatcher are provided for information purposes only. NCSL does not endorse the views expressed in any of the articles linked to from this page.

Press Releases
  • Mixed News for Oct. State Unemployment Numbers. More
  • NCSL's Lists Now Available to Followers on Twitter. More
  • Story Ideas for Statehouse Reporters. More
GrassCatcher Archive

 

State Legislatures
The National Magazine of Policy and Politics

State Legislatures December coverDecember 2009

Ready, Set, Draw 
The 2010 Census means redistricting is almost here, and changes in the process could make it even tougher this time around. More

Online Extra
State could lose money under pending federal legislation requiring ingnition interlock devices on first-time offenders. More 

Thicket iconThe Thicket: Thanksgiving trivia. More

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