1/20: States upset over health care reform

Stateline: States upset over health care reform

State leaders are concerned that the health care overhaul will put more costs on already overburdened state budgets. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen said he was “'moderately outraged” at the inconsistent treatment states could receive under the bill, according to the Nashville Business Journal. Bredesen, a former health care executive, estimated the Medicaid expansion could cost his state as much as $1.2 billion over five years at a time when the state is looking at a $1.5-billion budget gap.

Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama said the Nebraska deal “reeks to me of legalized bribery,” according to the Montgomery Advertiser, while attorneys general in more than a dozen states have threatened to sue, arguing the preferential treatment is unconstitutional.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: House passes ban on texting while driving

ARKANSAS: Legislators react to discrimination claim on lottery distribution

FLORIDA: New standards for tattoo industry to be taken up by legislators

GEORGIA: State's coastal aquifers could provide more water than currently provided

KENTUCKY: Ten Commandments back on wall of Kentucky courthouse

LOUISIANA: Casino revenue down 15.8% in December

MISSISSIPPI: State House wants governor to tap rainy-day and stimulus fund to balance budget

NORTH CAROLINA: State GOP leaders plan to block parts of health care bill

SOUTH CAROLINA: Legislators set to approve commercial property tax relief today

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen wants to tie college funding to graduation rates

VIRGINIA: Gov. McDonnell outlines bold economic plan

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11/18: Analysis of tax systems in U.S. released

ITEP: Distributional analysis of tax systems in the 50 states

A state-by-state look at how fair each state's tax systems are, considering both state and local taxes paid by different income groups in 2007. The study shows which states have done the best and worst job of providing fairness in their tax systems overall.

One overall conclusion: Nearly every state and local tax system takes more proportionally from middle and low income families than from the wealthy -- "most tax systems are regressive."

Of the eleven Southern states we cover, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama are among the ten most regressive tax states among the 50.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Black Belt's future projected to be in biofuels, some say

ARKANSAS: 2010 governor's race to be impacted by economy

FLORIDA: Top senators say state should drop out of federal Medicaid system

GEORGIA: On population count, South Georgia could lose legislative seats

KENTUCKY: State considers how to repay federal jobless funds loans

LOUISIANA: Poll finds race relations mostly unchanged in last year

MISSISSIPPI: 79 of state's 82 counties declared a disaster by heavy rain, drought

NORTH CAROLINA: Human trafficking seen as a problem in NC due to highways, agriculture

SOUTH CAROLINA: State's onshore winds may not be enough for power generation

TENNESSEE: State parks may cut jobs, close amenities to save money

VIRGINIA: New economic engine for N. VA could come from Ignite Institute

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

10/29: In FL, public option in healthcare finding favor

Miami Herald: In Florida, public option in healthcare finding favor

At two very different forums on Wednesday, Florida doctors and nurses agreed that healthcare reform is desperately needed -- and they're not opposed to a public option as part of the package.

As a half-dozen speakers made clear on Wednesday, the issue is no longer whether there should be healthcare reform -- but what the details should include.

By Friday, it's expected that the House and the Senate will each have consolidated myriad proposals into a single bill in each chamber -- and each will have the option for government insurance.

Let's see what happens over the next 24 hours.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley announces grants to build new schools in state

ARKANSAS: Mass flu shot vaccination clinics begin in state

FLORIDA: State's 'smart power' program gets $200 million federal grant

GEORGIA: State creates new child care agency

KENTUCKY: Gov. Beshear says 'holiday tree' will go up at Capitol; Christian critics upset over nomenclature

LOUISIANA: Former Gov. Treen dies at 81

MISSISSIPPI: Economic special session postponed, says Gov. Barbour

NORTH CAROLINA: Rock-slide closure of I-40 to impact Asheville area's economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Boeing chooses SC; Impact expected to be big

TENNESSEE: Vandal decides to censor 'dirty' words in library books

VIRGINIA: Voter mass mailing stopped over legal questions
If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

9/23: House votes to extend jobless benefits to 27 states

LOUISIANA: List of 27 states on House bill to get jobless benefit doesn't include LA

The House has voted to give the jobless in 27 states with unemployment topping 8.5% another 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits. The Senate is set to vote on a similar matter.

One of the 17 Democrats to vote against the bill, Rep. Charlie Melancon of Louisiana, said he did so because the unemployed in his state, with its lower unemployment rate, did not qualify. The jobless in neighboring Mississippi are eligible.

GOP Rep. Geoff Davis of Kentucky, one of the 27 states qualifying for the additional benefits, has a different take on the legislation, saying the need for the legislation was "yet another sign of the failure of this administration's stimulus plan to create jobs."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Gov. Riley offers deal in Medicaid dispute

ARKANSAS: First lottery ticket sale ceremony to be held

FLORIDA: PSC scandals and proposals on rate hikes draw scrutiny

GEORGIA: Assume floodwaters are contaminated, say health officials

KENTUCKY: Reports show most schools are making progress

MISSISSIPPI: Voter ID issue won't be on 2010 ballot, says secretary of state

NORTH CAROLINA: State gets a "D" grade on economy

SOUTH CAROLINA: 17.4% in the state lack health insurance

TENNESSEE: Opponents to guns-in-bars take issue to court

VIRGINIA: State to use federal funds to expand health care access

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9/17: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

Southern Political Report: Hastings Wyman: Dixie Democrats key to labor bill

"The AFL-CIO and other unions began a major lobbying push earlier this month to pass the Employee Freedom of Choice Act (EFCA), which would make it easier for unions to organize non-union concerns. However, EFCA’s chief backer, US Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), has since told a union audience that the bill will not likely come up for a vote this year. The death of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), who supported the measure, as well as the opposition of at least one Democratic senator -- Blanche Lincoln (AR) -- means that Harkin doesn’t have the 60 votes necessary to stop a filibuster against the measure.

"But even that is not a sure thing. On September 15, recently minted Democrat Arlen Specter (PA) told a national AFL-CIO meeting in Philadelphia that a compromise is in the works which will be “totally acceptable to labor” and will pass Congress before the year is out. The revised bill will reportedly omit the controversial “card check” provision which would allow unionization of a company without an actual election. If the card check is deleted, some wavering Democrats might decide to support the bill." More...

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Infant mortality rate declines during 2008 in Alabama

ARKANSAS: State's workers won't be affected by federal takeover of pension plans

FLORIDA: State criticized again for ignoring suggestions on fixing death penalty

GEORGIA: Tax breaks draw film industry to Georgia, boosting economy

KENTUCKY: 47 jobs eliminated by state judicial branch

LOUISIANA: Tom Baxter: It's no easy task, tackling corruption in New Orleans

MISSISSIPPI: Gov. Barbour defends budget cuts to statewide audience

NORTH CAROLINA: State educators to vote on immigrant policy

SOUTH CAROLINA: Report says state could gain jobs, revenue with offshore drilling

TENNESSEE: State AG fights misleading 'notario publico' ads aimed at Hispanics

VIRGINIA: Another 200 state workers face layoffs

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