11/17: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

Associated Press: Electric car coalition launched by top businessmen

The new coalition is aimed at getting the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation, pointing to electric cars as the best way to confront the nation's dependence on imported oil. Businessmen from Nissan Motor Co., Fedex Corp., PG&E, and battery developers A124 Systems and Johnson Controls-Saft are involved.

The coalition is urging Congress to pass a series of tax credits and loan guarantees to bring 14 million electric cars to the road by 2020 and more than 100 million by 2030. The group envisions a network of electric vehicles in six to eight cities in the short term and an expansion across the country, making 75 percent of all vehicle miles traveled powered by electricity by 2040.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Timber theft a growing problem in the state

ARKANSAS: Sen. Lincoln gets pressure from all sides as Senate vote on health care reform nears

FLORIDA: Gov. Crist looks at special session for high-speed rail discussion

GEORGIA: Nonprofit studies GA's large rural student population, notes low graduation rates

KENTUCKY: AARP rallies against further state budget cuts

LOUISIANA: State's politics complicated in national health care debate

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour proposes merging eight universities into five

NORTH CAROLINA: Gov. Perdue says jobless rate to rise even as economy gets better

SOUTH CAROLINA: 2009 Homeless County reveals depth of problem in SC

TENNESSEE: State's budget gap could reach $1.5 billion next year

VIRGINIA: Delegate Hamilton quits House, which may end ethics probe

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8/27: States tap rainy-day funds

Stateline: States tap rainy-day funds to shore up budgets

Alabama's rainy-day fund, which is designated for education, has been emptied to shore up the budget for the current fiscal year. At least 11 states have accessed their emergency funds -- including Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, in order to provide services to residents.

Despite the risks to future budget cycles, budget experts support the use of rainy day funds during hard times.

“The rainy day funds exist to help states buy some time while they consider where they might need to cut their budget or where they might want to raise taxes, so I think it makes sense to withdraw money … in the current situation,” said Liz McNichol, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a group that tracks government spending on low-income families.

In Alabama, for example, the reserve money helped shield schools from scarring funding reductions.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State Republicans want Democratic state Rep. Terry Spicer to resign

ARKANSAS: U.S. Trade Symposium to be held across state during September

FLORIDA: State loses 42,300 manufacturing jobs in the past 12 months

GEORGIA: Solar power becoming more attractive option in Georgia

KENTUCKY: 'Almighty God' reference in state homeland security law struck down

LOUISIANA: The Black infant mortality rate and the role racism plays

MISSISSIPPI: Unemployment rate now above 10%

NORTH CAROLINA: Pamlico Sound noted as best spot for utility-scale wind energy farm

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Sanford resists Lt. Gov. Bauer's call to resign

TENNESSEE: Sen. Bob Corker speaks out against AARP

VIRGINIA: GOP leaders put pressure on powerful GOP legislator to resign before party is hurt

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org