Capitol Comments

CSG Staff Discusses Compact with Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse

Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 01:21 PM

Crady deGolian, Senior Policy Analyst with CSG’s National Center for Interstate Compacts (NCIC) and Rick Masters, special counsel to NCIC, participated in the Prescription Drug Abuse Forum hosted by the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse. The meeting, which was co-chaired Congressman Hal Rogers (KY-05), Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45), and Congressman Bill Delahunt (MA-10) provided an opportunity for subject matter experts to brief members of Congress and legislative staffers about the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse and steps that are being taken to combat the problem.

Southern States: HIV and STDs among Prisoners

Ann Kelly

Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:33 AM

Inmates in correctional facilities have higher rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections than the general population. State and local corrections, public health and community-based programs are helping inmates get tested and obtain treatment for HIV and other infections. Five southern states have higher rates than the national average of inmates living with HIV infections.

New Animated Film Explains Health Reform Bill

Debra Miller

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 03:04 PM

New Kaiser Family Foundation annimated film explains major provisions of the health reform bill in less than 10 minutes.

Report cites need to increase number of postsecondary students

Tim Weldon

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 11:02 AM

A newly released report from The Lumina Foundation for Education concludes that more people understand our higher education system must increase its capacity to serve more students, and that improving higher education productivity is essential to accomplishing this.

Secure Your State’s Natural Gas Pipeline System

Doug Myers

Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 04:07 PM

The recent pipeline explosion in Northern California that killed 4 and left dozens of homes in ruins has raised concern about the safety of our nation’s natural gas pipeline system and questions about how the industry can be better regulated to prevent future catastrophes.

2010 Book of the States Now Available Online

Jennifer Horne

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 10:09 AM

For the first time, CSG has made the contents of the Book of the States available online in its entirety. The 2010 Book of the States, including all of the articles and tables, can now be found in the CSG Knowledge Center. Each article is available in both HTML and PDF, and the tables can also be downloaded in Excel.

To browse the Book of the States, click on "Content Type" in the menu bar at the top of the page, and select Book of the States, 2010 version. This will bring you to a Table of Contents with links to...

New Capitol Research Brief, Other Recent Reports Examine the Future of Tolling and Congestion Reduction

Sean Slone

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 04:34 PM

While tolling has long been a fact of life for folks in the Northeastern United States, other parts of the country have also been getting into the act in recent years. Our latest CSG Capitol Research brief entitled “Tolling and Congestion Pricing” examines toll projects underway across the country, the use of tolling as both revenue generating mechanism and part of a congestion reduction strategy, the modernization of toll payment systems and the chances for future proliferation of toll facilities. The brief includes a 50-state chart breaking down the number of each type of toll facility in each state. With a complete list of references, it’s also a good source for further reading on tolling and congestion issues. But there are a number of other recently released reports that may be of interest to you as well.

Interstate Compact Nears Completion

Crady deGolian

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 03:26 PM

The Prescription Monitoring Program Compact is nearly drafted following a successful meeting between CSG staff and prescription monitoring program experts. During the day-and-a-half meeting the draft compact underwent a detailed review, with extensive emphasis placed on the compact's Purpose Statement, its definitions, Article III dealing with authorized uses and restrictions on the prescription data, Article IV addressing technology and security, and Article V addressing funding.

China, Climate Change and the US Position

Doug Myers

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 02:17 PM

China is now the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) which contribute to climate change. But, China has refused to enter into international agreements capping its GHGs - basically because it doesn’t want to be bound by any agreement that potentially limits the expansion of its economy. However, the nation is taking steps to limit those emissions by shutting down polluting plants and installing cleaner equipment.

CSG to Convene PDMP Drafting Team Meeting

Crady deGolian

Friday, September 10, 2010 at 02:36 PM

The Council of State Governments will convene the fourth meeting of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Compact drafting team next week. During the meeting, which will take place September 13-14 in Lexington, finishing touches will be put on the draft compact, which CSG aims to have ready for introduction into the states during the 2011 session. CSG, through The National Center for Interstate Compacts, began efforts to draft the compact in late 2010 at the request of its membership. To learn more about the meeting or the compact please check CSG's Knowledge Center following the meeting or contact Crady deGolian at cdegolian@csg.org or at 859-244-8068.

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