State Minimum Wages

By Jennifer Burnett | Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 8:49 am

Legislators in several states are considering raising the minimum wage this year, but the issue is controversial. Proponents of raising state minimum wages argue that while the federal rate has remained stagnant—it hasn’t increased since 2009—the costs for housing, food, utilities and health care have continued to climb. This leaves those earning minimum wage with less money to afford the basics, which in turn puts downward pressure on the demand for goods and services. Opponents warn that raising the wage now would have a negative impact on businesses—especially during anemic economic times—and that a minimum wage hike actually hurts those that it intends to help by forcing employers to cut jobs at the low end of the pay scale.


Transportation Funding Commissions

By Sean Slone | Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 8:41 am

Absent a consensus on how to address an ever-widening gap between state revenues available to spend on transportation infrastructure and how much it actually costs to maintain and improve it, a number of states in 2011 turned to specially appointed task forces and commissions for answers. Iowa, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington were among the states with panels to issue recommendations. This brief examines their processes and findings, how their funding recommendations have fared politically and the chances for future success.


Refinery 101: The Basics for State Policymakers

By Brydon Ross | Monday, May 7, 2012 at 5:28 pm

A number of factors make the world of refining complicated and complex. The article supplies basic information on how refineries operate, where they are located, and the general economic, regulatory, and policy challenges facing the industry.
 


State Leaders Work to Protect the Privacy of Employees' and Students' Social Media Accounts

By Nathan Dickerson | Monday, May 7, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Social media has changed the public's expectations of privacy, but a backlash has risen against employers' requests for access to current and potential employees' personal social media accounts.  Schools have also faced similar controversies for attempting to exercise control over students' online behavior.  Several state leaders from across the country have written legislation to address these concerns and ensure the privacy of personal social media accounts.  The proposed bills protect, at a minimum, employees from having to turn over personal social media account information.


House, Senate Consider Second Chance Act Funding

By CSG Justice Center | Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 2:40 pm

The House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice and Science included the Second Chance Act in their 2013 justice funding bills released April 17.

Congress passed the Second Chance Act in 2008; it supports evidence-based strategies proved to reduce recidivism.


CSG Webinar: Addressing Cybersecurity Threats in the Smart Grid

By Brydon Ross | Friday, April 27, 2012 at 4:47 pm

On April 26, CSG held a webinar with policy experts from the Edison Electric Institute on addressing cybersecurity threats in the Smart Grid. EEI is the largest association of U.S. investor-owned utilities and its members provide roughly 70 percent of the nation’s electricity. The webinar’s presenters featured Chris Eisenbrey and Scott Aaronson who are policy experts that focus on Smart Grid issues and policy development.