GOVERNING Magazine October 2012
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25th Anniversary Issue THE STATES AND LOCALITIES October 2012 $4.50 “I’m not running against Obama!” State races should focus on state issues. But try telling that to voters. GOV10_01.indd 1 9/19/12 3:52 PM 100 Blue Ravine Road Designer Creative Dir. Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 Editorial Prepress Cyan Magenta Yellow Black ® PAGE 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Other OK to go VOL. 26, NO. 1 10.2012 FEATURES 24 ALL POLITICS IS NATIONAL Can you ever really separate federal issues from state elections? By Alan Greenblatt SPECIAL SERIES 32 STAY AT HOME, MOM States are searching for aff ordable ways to allow seniors in need of long-term care to remain in their homes. By Dylan Scott 38 LAST RIGHTS Aging baby boomers want control of their end-of-life care. By Jonathan Walters 44 HEALTH IT AND THE AGE BOOM Advances in telehealth and better exchanges of health data could fundamentally change the nation’s health-care systems, especially for older patients. By Dylan Scott 48 JUDGMENT CALL Police in Milwaukee have overhauled 911 and the way they respond to serious crimes. By John Buntin 56 GOVERNING IN 2037 This month marks Governing’s 25th anniversary, so we asked leaders for their predictions on how government will A caregiver readies have changed 25 years from now. the room for her client By Ryan Holeywell who returned home after three years in a 62 BLACKOUT nursing facility. A cyberattack could leave large parts of the nation in the dark and under siege. Cover: Iowa Senate By David Hatch candidate Matt PHOTO BY KRISTINA KRUG Reisetter. COVER PHOTO BY CLIFF JETTE October 2012 | GOVERNING 1 GOV10_01.indd 1 9/18/12 8:20 AM 100 Blue Ravine Road Designer Creative Dir. Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 Editorial Prepress Cyan Magenta Yellow Black ® PAGE 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Other OK to go DEPARTMENTS 4 Publisher’s Desk 6 Letters OBSERVER 9 The Felon Vote Its impact could be even greater than any other set of voter laws. 10 Bidding for Your Job To save money, some cities are making employees bid for work. 12 Monetizing Prevention 20 The experiment with social impact bonds begins. SHUTTERSTOCK.COM POLITICS + POLICY PROBLEM SOLVER 14 Dispatch 66 Get Out of Jail (But Not for Free) Virginia helps parents keep up with child support A quixotic adventure breaks the payments and stay out of lockup. range barrier for electric cars. 16 Potomac Chronicle 68 Smart Management What felled Alabama’s performance measurement plan? The Libor scandal has cost states and localities millions. FLICKR/THE CBI 70 Idea Center 17 FedWatch In an eff ort to mobilize young voters, Washington state turns to Facebook. 16 Alaska offi cials want to be free of the Voting Rights Act. 72 Tech Talk 18 Health “Best of the Web” winners showcase must-have features for successful government websites. States race to set up health exchanges in time. 74 Public Money 20 Green Government Consolidating governments is hard to do, but the idea keeps coming up. Can credit-exchange programs clean up lakes and streams? 76 Last Look 22 Economic Engines Upstate New York has a Halloween-ready house. What is public today—police, roads—was once very private. 23 Urban Notebook OF CONGRESS/BAIN NEWS SERVICE LIBRARY Are governments ready to embrace grassroots urbanists? 22 2 GOVERNING | October 2012 GOV10_02.indd 2 9/18/12 10:24 AM 100 Blue Ravine Road Designer Creative Dir. Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 Editorial Prepress Cyan Magenta Yellow Black ® PAGE 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Other OK to go In this school, employee protection gets straight A’s. “Being able to offer Aflac – at no cost to us – while giving our staff peace of mind and confidence really makes a difference. It’s a no-brainer.” “We are very much a family and providing Aflac to our staff shows they’re valued, appreciated and cared for. It means a lot to us.” Hear the rest of Milton’s story at aflac.com/milton Milton Gonzalez Principal McAllen, Texas Individual coverage underwritten and offered by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, individual coverage underwritten and offered by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York. Some policies may be available as group policies. Group coverage underwritten and offered by Continental American Insurance Company. Policies may not be available in all states. Aflac pays cash benefits directly to the insured, unless assigned. There may be indirect administrative or other costs to the employer. Individual’s travel expenses for securing this testimonial were paid by Aflac. NAD1215 100 Blue Ravine Road Designer Creative Dir. Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 Editorial Prepress $ZBO .BHFOUB :FMMPX #MBDL m PAGE Other OK to go PUBLISHER’S DESK Publisher Erin Waters Editor Tod Newcombe Executive Editor Jonathan Walters Editor-at-Large Paul W. Taylor Managing Editor Elizabeth Daigneau Senior Editor Zach Patton Our Silver Anniversary Associate Editor Jessica Mulholland Chief Copy Editor Miriam Jones; Copy Editor Elaine Pittman n October 1987, the fi rst issue of Governing rolled off the Staff Writers Ryan Holeywell, Dylan Scott presses. It was an auspicious time for state and local govern- Correspondents John Buntin, Alan Greenblatt ment. America was heading in a new direction after decades Contributing Editors Penelope Lemov, Steve Towns Iof federal growth that stretched as far back as the Franklin D. Columnists Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene, William Fulton, Peter A. Roosevelt era. By the mid-’80s, President Ronald Reagan had Harkness, Donald F. Kettl, Alex Marshall started to downsize the federal sector, forcing states and localities Editor, Governing.com Kathy A. Gambrell to be more creative in raising revenue and generating new ideas. Deputy Editor, Governing.com Caroline Cournoyer Governing founding publisher Peter Harkness saw an oppor- Data Editor, Governing.com Michael Maciag tunity to “follow the story,” and put the eff orts of state and Social Media Specialist, Governing.com Brian Peteritas local government into a national perspective at a time when Creative Director Kelly Martinelli the rest of America’s media remained preoccupied with Wash- Design Director & Photo Editor David Kidd ington. Peter envisioned a magazine that would cover state Art Director Michelle Hamm and local politics, policymaking and the business of govern- Senior Designer Crystal Hopson ment, and it would identify the problems, highlight the places Illustrator Tom McKeith and spotlight the people who Production Director Stephan Widmaier make a diff erence. The magazine Chief Marketing Offi cer Margaret Mohr positioned itself as fi ercely inde- Marketing Director Meg Varley-Keller pendent and nonpartisan. The idea succeeded as Governing Founder & Publisher Emeritus Peter A. Harkness came to be recognized nationally Advertising 202-862-8802 as the source for those who work Associate Publisher, Infrastructure Marina Leight for and with states and localities. Associate Publisher, Finance Erica Kraus We’ve grown a lot since 1987, Associate Publisher, IT Fred Kuhn taking our journalistic expertise Account Director Jennifer Gladstone on politics and policies beyond the Account Manager Kori Kemble print publication to events, digi- Offi ce Manager Alina Grant tal platforms and research. The Digital Media Associate Elisabeth Frerichs Erin Waters, Publisher result: new and exciting formats Media Account Coordinators Hillary Leeb and Lauren Mandell for reaching and connecting with Marketing/Classifi ed [email protected] states and localities, while continuing to tell compelling stories CEO Dennis McKenna that enlighten as well as inform. COO Paul Harney Our experience comes to bear as state and local govern- CAO Lisa Bernard ments face some of their biggest challenges since the 1940s. Our Executive Editor Steve Towns coverage, distributed across many platforms, will serve state Executive VP Cathilea Robinett and local leaders who are dedicated to fi xing the problems they Reprint Information face and help them to set a new course for the future. Challeng- Reprints of all articles in this issue and past issues are available ing times push individuals and organizations to do more and (500 minimum). Please direct inquiries for reprints and licensing to to exceed previously held expectations. I look forward to the Wright’s Media: 877-652-5295, [email protected] future and to covering the people, problems and practices of Subscription/Circulation Service state and local government. Eenie Yang [email protected] In celebration of our silver anniversary, staff writer Ryan http://www.governing.com/subscribe Holeywell asked fi ve thought leaders for their predictions on what government will look like in 25 years [see “Governing in 2037,” Governing (ISSN 0894-3842) is published monthly by e.Republic Inc., with offi ces page 56]. We’ve also reached out to our readers on Facebook and at 1100 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 1300, Washington, D.C. 20036 and at 100 Blue Twitter. Visit governing.com/25years to see their answers, and Ravine Road, Folsom, CA 95630. Telephone: 202-862-8802. Fax: 202-862-0032. Email: [email protected]. Periodical postage paid in Washington, D.C., and at chime in with your thoughts on what state and local government additional mailing offi ces. Copyright 2012 e.Republic Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- will be doing in the next 25 years. duction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Governing, Governing.com and City & State are registered trademarks of e.Republic I look forward to hearing from you about our coverage.