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

Megaregion talks held in Charlotte

Charlotte Observer: Megaregion talks held in Charlotte

The 'megaregion,' described as stretching from Raleigh, NC to Birmingham, Ala. , is drawing a lot of attention from elected officials, executives, planning officials, and academics. Closed-door sessions, hosted by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, were held on Tuesday to consider the fast-growing urban area.

The megaregion's population is expected to grow by almost 70 percent by 2050, according to estimates presented at the Atlanta forum. Its gross regional product is $1.1 trillion, 10 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.

A news conference will be held today to allow the mayors to discuss what issues they've identified from the energy, transportation, and environmental sectors.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Solution to tri-state water wars is....conservation

ARKANSAS: Chinese ambassador to U.S. says Arkansas is key to trade with China

FLORIDA: State approves plan to build nuclear plant in Levy County

GEORGIA: State's leaders call for immigration reform

KENTUCKY: State's tax revenue receipts show economy is still down

LOUISIANA: Survey shows state's residents vulnerable to swinging oil rates

MISSISSIPPI: Black male enrollment lags at state's colleges

NORTH CAROLINA: Congressman Butterfield faces hecklers at health care forum

SOUTH CAROLINA: Drug addiction running high among S.C.'s health-care workers

TENNESSEE: Editorial: A new role for Tennessee
"If America is headed, however haltingly, toward a more environmentally responsible and energy independent path, Tennessee is well positioned to lead the way."

VIRGINIA: Fairfax Co. schools look at new CDC swine flu strategy

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

Preach on, Sen. Hollings

Following up on Andy's post from last week. Caught the Moyers program with former South Carolina Sen. Fritz Hollings via podcast earlier this week. The senator offered some strong words about free trade vs. fair trade.

You put in a trade bill and down on your head comes The Wall Street Journal and the big banks and The Business Round Table and The National Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufactures they're not for domestic. They're for Chinese and Indian manufacturer even The National Chamber of Commerce is not worried about Main Street, Peoria, Illinois; Main Street, Shanghai.
You see, Henry Ford built up the middle class along with organized labor. He said I want the fellow making the car to be able to buy the car. So, he doubled the minimum wage. He put in health care and retirement costs and everything else of that kind, benefits. And so we had a good working relationship between labor and that-- now, all of these trade agreements for the investors to protect their investment in China and India, but, uh-uh forget about labor.

There's more at Moyers' Web site.