3/17: TN legislators prepare for a vote to ban an income tax

WDEF: Tennessee legislators prepare for a vote to ban an income tax

A constitutional amendment banning an income tax has now been read twice on the Senate floor. Senators could vote on it as early as Thursday. If it passes, the proposal would then be sent to the House for approval. Then, next year, lawmakers would have to pass it with a two-thirds majority before the public could vote on it in 2014.

State Rep. Eric Watson of Cleveland says Tennessee and an income tax don't mix. "It's very difficult and this is something we don't need. The people are fed up with the government and state agencies wasting money."

The constitutional amendment would allow the state to continue to collect taxes on income from stocks and bonds.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's prepaid tuition plan could be over by fall 2011

ARKANSAS: Lawsuit contests law that bars unmarried couples from adoption/fostering

FLORIDA: FEMA denies Florida's request for Chinese drywall help

GEORGIA: House passes bill to keep crime scene photos sealed

KENTUCKY: Horse racing bill to get revamped before it heads to Senate

LOUISIANA: State a finalist in Race to the Top federal education funds competition

MISSISSIPPI: State Senate boosts education funding by $29 million

NORTH CAROLINA: State Attorney General wants to expand DNA database

SOUTH CAROLINA: State Senate rejects move to ban earmarks

VIRGINIA: Eight state rest-areas to reopen today

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

11/16: Study shows FL at risk for fiscal calamity

Orlando Sentinel: Study shows Florida is at risk for fiscal calamity

Florida, with an economy built on rapid growth, is experiencing a worse slowdown in its economy than other states. A study last week by the Pew Center on the States identified Florida as one of the states at risk of fiscal calamity and cited its reliance on population growth as contributing to its economic woes.

"Florida's population is shrinking -- a disturbing trend for a state that has built its economy, and structured its state budget, on the assumption that throngs of new residents will move to its sunny shores each year," said the report.

However, what might seem like slow growth for Florida is still higher than in much of the rest of the nation, William Frey of The Brookings Institution said. Even if Florida growth slows to 2 percent a year, that's still twice the national average.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Study says state may not recover jobs until 2013

ARKANSAS: State gets research edge with tobacco funds

FLORIDA: Sink says state ban on gay adoption must go

GEORGIA: State House speaker says he tried to commit suicide

KENTUCKY: Anonymous online attacks seen in state's Senate race

LOUISIANA: Committee to consider lifting oyster moratorium

MISSISSIPPI: State BOE to vote on school accountability plan this week

NORTH CAROLINA: Fees at community colleges jump nearly three times over last year

SOUTH CAROLINA: Lawmakers consider new property tax rules

TENNESSEE: State's H1N1 immunization system is model for others

VIRGINIA: New leaders elected to state's Democratic House caucus

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

10/30: Study shows states lower testing standards to make NCLB

New York Times: Study shows states lower testing standards to make NCLB

Nearly a third of the states lowered their standards so that they could stay ahead of sanctions under the No Child Left Behind law, according to a new study by the federal Department of Education. However, lowering standards also confuses parents about how children’s achievement compares with those in other states and countries.

The study found wide variation among states, with standards highest in Massachusetts and South Carolina. Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee had standards that were among the lowest.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: State's lawmakers say Pentagon's tanker rules are unfair

ARKANSAS: Crops in state take a $600 million hit due to rains

FLORIDA: Five signs that will signal end of state's recession

GEORGIA: Lawmakers to look at flaws in property tax system

KENTUCKY: State's largest drug roundup pulls 318 people from 34 counties

LOUISIANA: State puts forth new effort to fight Medicaid fraud

MISSISSIPPI: Sen. Wicker says census "could cost Mississippi"

NORTH CAROLINA: Sea level rise along state's cost is accelerating

SOUTH CAROLINA: USC tops 'sexual health' rankings

TENNESSEE: Campaign pushes for more adoptions in state

VIRGINIA: State to close pharmacy for the mentally ill

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