Policy Area

Ballot propositions continue to drive the policy agenda in the states, and 2004 spilled over into the presidential election. The most popular issue was marriage, with 13 states approving constitutional amendments defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

State park agencies have experienced significant growth during the last decade and made progress in personnel, funding and operations. The economy had an early positive impact on state parks during the mid to late parts of the last decade. Recent reductions in state revenues have begun to erode the progress made during the 1990s. State parks are challenged by reduced funding levels, decreases in visitation, and reduction in full-time staff. Entrepreneurship, external funding sources, and increased state park revenue generation are ongoing trends for state parks.

Severe weaknesses in the financial health of the nation’s public retirement systems rank as yet another force currently buffeting state and local government finances. Further compounding the problems faced by these public retirement funds are the following developments: the precarious financial position of private sector pensions and the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; the looming shortfalls expected in the Social Security and Medicare programs in coming decades; and the low personal savings rates of most Americans, coupled with the high rates of consumer and household debt. Given that the baby boomer generation is rapidly nearing retirement age and that America’s senior population is growing faster than the number of younger workers needed to cover their retirement needs, policy-makers across the country are paying a great deal of attention to this unfortunate confluence of events.

The maturation of the welfare state has altered partisan political and policy interests. Republicans are rediscovering the virtues of national power once celebrated by Alexander Hamilton, while Democrats are returning to their Jeffersonian roots.

States are in danger of losing federal HAVA funds unless action is taken in 2005. Despite a successful election in 2004, several issues face states to assure voter satisfaction and service.  If states fail to act, Congress may do so.

One of the most crucial linkages in contemporary international relations involves the multifaceted and complex one shared between the United States and Mexico, a relationship that spans centuries and extends into myriad different arenas.

This article, based on the author’s book, Heavy Lifting: The Job of the American Legislature (CQ Press, 2004), explores the factors that indicate whether a legislature is “good” or not.  Neither a legislature’s appearance, structure, nor it’s product ought to be considered indicative. A legislature’s performance of its principal functions is what counts. Legislatures do best at representing constituencies and constituents, next best at lawmaking, and least well at balancing the power of the executive. Critical to legislative performance of the latter two functions are leadership and standing committee systems.

The increase in the level of two-party competition, particularly in the Southern states, has produced many parties which are cohesive and disciplined to capture public office and govern once that office has been attained. More parties are using preprimary endorsements to control nominations. They have become multimillion dollar organizations and contribute to their state candidates and rival the national parties in fundraising capability. Governors and their legislative parties are governing more effectively.