ROAD FEES ZIKA VIRUS GUN LAWS Q&A WITH TED KOPPEL May 2016 EVER-READY ENERGY for When the Lights Go Out I’m developing innovative technology that recycles nuclear fuel to generate electricity. With nuclear energy, we can have both reliable electricity and clean air. Leslie Dewan, Technology Innovator, Forbes 30 Under 30 Can We Reduce CO2 Without NUCLEAR ENERGY? The world has set ambitious clean air goals and American innovators, like Leslie Dewan, Bill Gates and Jose Reyes, are developing advanced nuclear energy technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Nuclear energy produces 63% of America’s carbon-free electricity and they know it has a distinct role to play to meet future energy and clean air goals. LEARN MORE nei.org/whynuclear Nuclear. Clean Air Energy. #WhyNuclear CLIENT: NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) PUB: State Legislatures Magazine RUN DATE: March SIZE: 7.5” x 9.875” Full Page VER.: Leslie - FP Ad 4CP: May 2016 VOL. 42 NO. 5 | CONTENTS A National Conference of State Legislatures Publication Executive Director William T. Pound Director of Communications Karen Hansen Editor NCSL’s national magazine of policy and politics Julie Lays Assistant Editor Kevin Frazzini FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Contributing Editor Jane Carroll Andrade Ever-Ready Energy Page 9 YES, NO, MAYBE SO PAGE 4 Online Magazine Ed Smith BY DAN SHEA Ethics in the world of state government Mark Wolf New technologies are keeping the lights on when Advertising Sales disasters strike the electrical grid. SHORT TAKES PAGE 5 Manager LeAnn Hoff Connections, support, expertise and ideas from NCSL (303) 364-7700 [email protected] Contributors TRENDS PAGE 6 Corina Eckl Amanda Essex Finding a balance on roadway speed limits, keeping Jon Griffin big pot producers green, deflating counterfeit air bags, Suzanne Hultin Amber Widgery comparing U.S. states to countries with similar GDPs and Art Director shedding light on corporate tax havens Bruce Holdeman NCSL President Senator Curt Bramble ON RECORD PAGE 14 President Pro Tempore Q&A with journalist and author Ted Koppel Utah “Expecting states to take in hundreds of thousands or NCSL Staff Chair Karl Aro millions of refugees isn’t feasible.” Department of Legislative Services, Maryland Denver Office STATELINE PAGE 18 7700 East First Place What’s happening around the nation— Denver, Colorado 80230 (303) 364-7700 from hunters wearing pink in Colorado Washington, D.C., Office to next-generation 911 in Illinois 444 N. Capitol St. N.W., Suite 515 Taking the Bite out of Zika Page 22 Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 624-5400 BY TAHRA JOHNSON NEWSMAKERS PAGE 20 State public health agencies face yet another threat with A look at who’s making news under the domes State Legislatures (ISSN 0147-0641) is published the Zika virus. 10 times a year by the National Conference of STATESTATS PAGE 29 State Legislatures. ©2016, All rights reserved. Shifting Gears Page 26 Gun Sales Gain Momentum Reproduction in whole or in part without permission BY KEVIN PULA is prohibited. Requests for The federal FAST Act might help states find more THE FINAL WORD PAGE 31 permission to reprint may be emailed to Julie Lays sustainable transportation revenue. Meet Jonathan Perry, Senator, at: [email protected]. Opinions expressed in Louisiana this magazine do not necessarily reflect NCSL NEW! Dive deep into the world of transportation “I’m a storyteller with a lot of policy. State Legislatures is indexed in the PAIS funding, with everything you need to know all in one humor mixed in and a big punch Bulletin and Expanded place. One dive, lots to catch in SL Online’s new Deep line at the end.” Academic Index. Annual subscription rates: Dive section. U.S.—$49; foreign—$55; teachers—$25 (promo code SLMTEA). Single copy: $6.50. Periodically, SL ONLINE Correction: The On Record NCSL rents mailing labels to other organizations. If You can find more information and links to resources on interview with Jon Meacham in you prefer your name not the April issue misidentified the be included please send a most of the topics covered in these pages at SL Online— written request. from the latest on air bags and microgrids to the stats date of the first contested U.S. Postmaster: Send on firearms and the Zika virus. presidential election. It was 1796, address changes to: State Legislatures magazine, not 1776. 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230. Go to ncsl.org/magazine. STATE LEGISLATURES 3 MAY 2016 ETHICS Yes, No, Maybe So with a lobbyist. In these situations, legislators must be guided by their personal values and principles—the “Big E,” or “Big Ethics.” These values—many know them as a moral compass—guide our behavior when we face the ethical quandaries not covered by the little e. The Big E pilots us throughout life, in and out of politics. Once you decide on the morals and values that will guide you—your Big E—it will be easier to navigate the gray areas of decision-making in today’s complex world. Bad decisions can lead to severe personal consequences—from well-known Big Ethics resignations, like Nixon’s after Watergate, to the less-publicized departures of several Versus Little legislators following sex-related scandals last summer. And in all cases, public trust Ethics suffers. Conversely, good decisions—those consistent with your values—will elicit trust and admiration from others and, perhaps, bolster the public’s faith in their thics can be discussed in the governing conduct, though some codes, government along the way. framework of “little e” and like California’s and Illinois’, are more —Mark Quiner “Big E.” “Little e,” or “little comprehensive than others. Mark Quiner is director of the Center for Ethics in ethics,” refers to the guidelines But no code can cover every ethical E Government at NCSL. expressed in written laws, policies, rules dilemma a legislator might face. Rules and or regulations that help us when we face regulations rarely address, for example, Have you dealt with a Big E dilemma recently? the dilemmas and decisions of daily life. what may be considered proper—or We’d love to hear about that or other questions From travel reimbursement to ex parte improper—behavior toward a staffer, or or comments on ethics. Email Ethan Wilson at communication, every state has provisions where a legislator should draw the line [email protected]. Comments from Constituents Re: “A Degree of Savings” the public-private partnerships involved in Re: ”Tackling Tuition” By Jessica Hathaway, March 2016 the variety of approaches states, counties By Roger Fillion, March 2016 and municipalities have adopted. The Special thanks to Jessica Hathaway and promise of CSAs combined with financial Very thorough. Well done! the editorial staff for the excellent article literacy education is creating more Thanks for shining light on this issue. on children’s savings accounts (CSAs), opportunities for students to be successful. —Oregon Senator Mark Hass “A Degree of Savings,” in the March The economic benefits might also lead to a issue. The article is historically correct, reduction in the nation’s escalating child- Got Comments? Send them to comprehensive and informative. The poverty rate. “A Degree of Savings,” as [email protected] concept of CSAs started with the Asset written, captures it all. Development and Education movement, —New Hampshire Representative as noted by the author, who also described Mary Stuart Gile MAY 2016 4 STATE LEGISLATURES SHORT TAKES ON NCSL NEWS NCSL EXPERTISE SUPPORT Training “It says a lot that these Arkansas Representative David Hillman, left, chats four groups came with Mark Quiner, director of NCSL's ethics center. together on this issue of Quiner conducted a training session for Arkansas state pre-emption.” House members on using their personal values to Melanie Condon on how guide them through decision making in ethically the National Governors Association, gray areas. You can find Quiner conducting ethics Environmental Council of the States and trainings around the country all year long. Association of State and Territorial Health Officials joined NCSL to push Congress to preserve state authority to regulate chemicals in the Toxic Substances Control Act, in Bloomberg BNA. CONNECTIONS “They’re either going to ask the state for more State Visit money or increase Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick welcomes property taxes.” NCSL’s Anne Teigen, who was an intern for the Max Behlke on the limited Kansas Legislature in 2005, just before joining choices localities have to make up NCSL. As the Sunflower State’s personal NCSL revenue losses if Internet access taxes are liaison, Teigen has been back to visit every banned, in fedscoop.com. year since. “They’re weighing the core values of a state against each other.” Brenda Erickson on the challenge legislators face preparing budgets that provide government services yet minimize taxation, in crosscut.com Webinars IDEAS Webinars on the hottest issues in agriculture, energy, environment and transportation policy “After legislative sessions are offered every other Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. conclude, we might be Go to www.ncsl.org/magazine to register or to watch archived able to determine if any webinars. Upcoming topics include: trends actually exist." • Is That Safe to Drink? An Examination of State Water Infrastructure, Jake Lestock about new May 12 state regulations on fantasy sports, in The • Navigating the FAST Act: Exploring State Highway Safety Incentive Macon Telegraph. Grants, May 26 • GMOs: A Recipe for a New Label? June 9 “It’s going to be a long- • The Future of Distributed Solar Energy, June 23 term effort to slowly get lead out of our system.” Grant News Doug Farquhar on efforts The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded NCSL’s Education Program a three-year grant to to eliminate exposure to work with legislators and legislative staff on improving the way we prepare young people for lead, in The Trentonian.