August 7, 2008
Ballot Measures Heat Up; State Budget Conditions Bleak; Immigration Legislation Overview; Transportation Policy in Overdrive; Legislative Summit Recap
Capitol Ideas is a periodic listing of story ideas and background information from new NCSL research. For more information, contact NCSL's Press Team.
2008 Ballot Measures Update
Ballots are starting to shape up around the country. To date, a total of 108 questions have qualified for statewide ballots. Thirty-six of these are citizen initiatives -- the rest were referred to the ballot by state legislatures or, in the case of Florida, the state's Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. Two are questions automatically referred by state constitutions, asking voters if they want to hold a constitutional convention. There are several hot-button issues on the ballot this year, too.
State Budget Conditions Bleak, Situation Could Get Worse in FY 2009
With a few exceptions, state finances are deteriorating, in some cases considerably. This development has presented many state lawmakers with a twofold problem: keeping their fiscal year (FY) 2008 budgets in the black and enacting balanced budgets for FY 2009. Current state fiscal conditions are being driven by weak revenue performance. State officials expected revenue growth to slow in FY 2008, but not as dramatically as it has. Since the November 2007 edition of this report, revenue problems have grown and budget holes have deepened.
Immigration-Related Legislation in 2008 Near 2007 Levels
While 2007 was a record year for state immigration-related legislation, 2008 rivals the number and types of measures introduced in 45 state houses in session. So far, 1,267 bills related to immigrants and immigration have been introduced in state legislatures across the country with at least 175 of those becoming law in 39 states. Some 190 bills and resolutions passed legislatures, but 12 are pending a governor's signature and three were vetoed. View the complete report here.
State Legislators Make Transportation a Top Priority
NCSL calls on Congress to focus on transportation priorities that affect interstate commerce, interstate movement of people, national defense and homeland security, safety, environmental protection, and research and innovation. The federal gas tax funds the nation’s transportation system, but has been diminishing in value in recent years as alternative fuels enter the marketplace, hybrid vehicles sales increase, and people drive less. In turn, that decreases the revenue generated by the per-gallon gas tax. The gas tax was last increased in 1993. In the short term, an increase will ensure the Highway Trust Fund remains solvent, but the NCSL policy encourages Congress to move toward new funding strategies.
Recap of Legislative Summit in New Orleans
More than 6,000 state legislators, legislative staff, business professionals and journalists attended the Legislative Summit in New Orleans from July 22-26. This annual pre-eminent policy forum included addresses from Newt Gingrich, Lee Hamilton, Michael Bloomberg, Ed Rendell and other prominent public policy experts. Plenary sessions highlighted federal and state policy issues ranging from transportation to energy to the 2008 elections. Audio and video recordings of the sessions are available online, including: Election Fraud and the Debate over Voter ID; the Presidential Candidates View on Education; and Fighting Crime With DNA.
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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