Trends and Transitions

he “Green Zone,” a film about the U.S.- Iraq Twar released in March, stars Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan and … Texas Repre- sentative Allen Vaught. Actually, Vaught, an Iraq War veteran and vice chair of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, has a small part in the film, which incorporates many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. A captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, Vaught was the de facto mayor of Fallujah during the early part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was injured in a roadside bomb. He received the Purple Heart among other commendations, and was contacted by the author of the book on which the film is based about some technical aspects © COPYRIGHT: UNIVERSAL2010 STUDIOS. of the war. Vaught plays a staff officer dur- Matt Damon in a scene from the film “Green Zone. ing a scene, and says it was “a great honor to have a small a part in the ‘Green Zone.’ I on Balfour, Georgia senator and presi- sentative Joel Robideaux was elected to the have not seen the entire film, but I expect it D dent of NCSL, has withdrawn from the chamber’s second leadership post. Robide- will be a great tribute to the veterans of the Iraq congressional race to replace retiring Con- aux was challenged by Representative Noble War.” The director, Paul Greengrass, whose gressman John Linder. Ellington. After the vote, Tucker reassigned other films include the “Bourne Ultimatum,” Ellington to the Insurance Committee, con- allowed Vaught to name his character after his uanita W.s Goggins, civil rights trailblazer sidered a far less influential spot than his son, Jonathan Vaught. J and the first African American woman place on the House and Government Affairs elected to the South Carolina legislature, Committee. Tucker also told Ellington that iona Mas became California’s first Asian froze to death alone in her home at age 75 his apartment in the Pentagon Barracks across F American to be named speaker pro tem of in March. Just a year ago a stretch of High- the street from the Capitol would be let to him the Assembly. Ma was appointed to the post way 5 was renamed in honor of the woman on a month-to-month basis. Two other Repub- by Assembly Speaker John A. Perez. Ma, a who led a life of exemplary public service. licans who supported Ellington—Representa- former member of the San Francisco Board of She was a school teacher, founder of a tutor- tives John LaBruzzo and John Schroder— Supervisors, was first elected to the Assembly ing company and the first black woman del- lost their membership on the Appropriations in 2006. She served as majority whip before egate from South Carolina to the Democratic Committee. Tucker appointed Representa- assuming her new leadership position. National Convention. She defeated a white tives Rosalind Jones and James Armes III, male incumbent in 1974 and headed off to the both of whom had supported Robideaux, in eorgia Senators David Adelman resigned State House. “I am going to Columbia to be a their place. “In this process you only have Ghis seat in March to become the U.S. legislator, not just a black spot in the House your word, and there are a couple of folks ambassador to Singapore. The 45-year-old chambers,” she said at the time. She worked who broke their word,” Tucker said. lawmaker was elected to the Georgia Senate in to reduce the student-teacher ratio, expand 2002. His departure leaves the minority cau- kindergarten and improve public health. “She ormer Tennessees House Democratic cus with a membership of 19 out of 56 seats. was truly a mover and a shaker, so well-liked F Leader Kim McMillan stepped out Adelman, who was attorney general and taught and so well-loved by so many,” said Repre- of the race for governor, deciding instead political science at the University of Georgia, sentative John King, who represents the seat to run for mayor of Clarkesville. A month is studying Mandarin and hopes to strengthen Goggins once held. before, Senate Democratic Leader Jim Kyle ties between the island off the southern tip of dropped out of the race. Mike McWherter, the Maylay peninsula. “Singapore is a coun- ouisiana sHouse Speaker Jim Tucker has a businessman and son of former Governor try that punches above its weight,” Adelman Lreshuffled committee appointments fol- Ned McWherter, is the only Democrat left in says. “It’s a relatively small country, but it has lowing a close-vote challenge to his choice the race. Three Republicans will face off in a powerful economy.” for speaker pro-tem. In a 53-48 vote, Repre- the August primary.

MAY 2010 state legislatures 7 Trends and Transitions

cards or a passport while traveling. Or there is Internet Imposters the Wisconsin man who posed as a woman on Facebook to get high school boys to send him aryland Delegate Chris Shank has two nude photos that he later used for blackmail. M Facebook pages—his own and another Three states have passed laws specifically one that a fan set up. Since he has no con- targeting Internet or online impersonation. In trol over that one, it caused him some con- Hawaii, anyone who uses personal information cern. “There’s some inherent risk, but we’ll to pose electronically as someone else without see how it goes,” Shank says. At least it was a their permission is guilty of a misdemeanor. supporter who set up the second page. In New York, impersonating someone is also On the other hand, the Connecticut Repub- a misdemeanor, if done to benefit from the site sites so broadly that it is difficult to distin- lican Party set up Web pages for every mem- or to injure or defraud another. It’s also against guish them from other kinds of websites. ber of the House Democratic caucus, all with the law to pretend to be a public servant. Other states have similar criminal imper- similar Web addresses using the Democrats’ In Texas, it’s a third-degree felony to create sonation laws, although they don’t specifi- real names. The pages have prominent head- a website on a social networking site using the cally refer to online impersonation. Individu- lines like “Raising Your Taxes,” but there name or persona of another with the intent to als also could be sued for exploiting someone is a notice at the bottom of the page saying harm, defraud, intimidate or threaten. Texas else’s name or likeness without permission they are paid for and authorized by the Con- also prohibits sending an e-mail, instant mes- under state “misappropriation of likeness” or necticut Republican Party. The GOP also set sage or text claiming to be another person, “right to publicity” laws. up parody Twitter accounts in the Democrats’ without his or her permission, if the intent is As online crimes increase, state lawmak- names, but they were shut down for violating to harm or defraud. The Texas law, in par- ers are likely to consider adding provisions the company’s terms of service agreement. ticular, has raised First Amendment concerns. to address the problem. Internet imperson- Another kind of Internet impersonator pre- Opponents claim the word “harm” could be ation bills have been introduced this year tends to be a Facebook friend who asks for interpreted too broadly. Some legal experts in California, New York, Pennsylvania and money after claiming to have lost cash, credit also claim the law defines social networking West Virginia.

Ready, Set, Action n the last decade, tax incentives for film film industry on their economies as well. In I and entertainment productions have , lawmakers in 2009 increased the spread across the country. State officials 25 percent film tax credit to 30 percent and have used the programs to lure filmmakers to eliminated the phase-down of the credit. their states for many reasons, including job California, long known for its film indus- creation and tourism promotion. Currently, try, enacted its first film incentive program 45 states and Puerto Rico offer motion pic- in early 2009. ture incentives. These incentives include tax Other states have taken a critical view of credits, rebates and exemptions. these tax expenditures in light of the cur- Critics and advocates, however, disagree rent fiscal situation. With huge budget defi- on their effectiveness on stimulating the cits and waning revenues, some lawmakers economy, creating jobs and luring tourists. are taking a closer look at tax credits for Tax credits in Michigan seem to have filmmakers. Last year, Kansas suspended spurred business in that state, hard hit by its film production income tax credit for layoffs and plant closings. In 2007, before two years, Connecticut reformed its film Michigan offered a tax credit for production tax credit, and Wisconsin scaled its back. In costs, two films were made there. In 2008, Iowa, amid scandal on the misuse of funds, after enacting the credit, 35 producers chose the state partially suspended its program. to film in Michigan, and by mid-2009, 85 The debate on the economic impact of movies already were made or had applied film industry incentives is sure to continue, to within the state. In 2007, movie makers especially as the fiscal pressure on the states spent $2 million in Michigan; in 2008, that is prolonged. Given the varied experiences number was up to $125 million, according of states with these programs, however, leg- to USA Today. islators will continue to wrestle with whether Other states are touting the impact of the to call “action” or “cut” in their state.

8 state legislatures MAY 2010 Trends and Transitions PUBLIC REPORTING: Smile, You’re on Red Light Cameras Tracking Infections unning red lights and causing crashes early 20,000 people in the die each year R result in about 800 deaths and 137,000 N from the superbug methicillin-resistant Staphylococ- injuries injuries every year, according to the cus aureus, or MRSA. Another 94,000 suffer from life- Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In an threatening infections contracted while in hospitals. The effort to curb these statistics, more than 400 costs associated with treating hospital-acquired infections communities have turned to automatic red are estimated to be more than $4 billion annually. light and speed cameras. Red light cameras are triggered when a car enters the intersec- tion after the light has been red for a prede- termined time. The camera technology allows cities to enforce traffic violations efficiently without using scarce personnel. State automated enforcement laws vary. Some states, like Georgia, authorize enforce- ment statewide, whereas others, like New York, allow only certain communities to use the technology. Some cities use camera enforcement without state enabling laws. The Texas Department of Transportation studied 56 intersections and found that collisions decreased 30 percent after red light cameras were installed. A Philadelphia study found that the combination of extended yellow lights and red light camera enforcement nearly eliminated red light running. So far this year, 23 state legislatures are debating nearly 100 bills relating to red light cameras and automated enforcement. Lawmakers in Missouri and Public reporting laws are aimed at encouraging hospitals Tennessee are considering legislation that would prohibit the use of red light to improve infection control efforts, help consumers make cameras altogether. Other proposals up for debate across the country include more informed health care decisions, improve health care establishing statewide red light camera programs and lengthening yellow light results and reduce the number of preventable infections, cycles. says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2005, the number of states with laws requiring health care facilities—acute care hospitals, nursing homes, States With Red Light Camera Laws ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis centers and correc- tional facilities—to report data related to hospital-acquired infections has increased from five to 27. In 2009, 11 states enacted 15 laws related to health- care-associated infections. Alabama passed the Mike Den- ton Infection Reporting Act, which requires hospitals to report surgical site infections, ventilator-associated pneu- monia, and central line-related bloodstream infections. The reports go to the National Healthcare Safety Network, a web-based surveillance system managed by the CDC. Washington expanded a 2007 public reporting law by enacting legislation that aims to reduce the spread of MRSA through testing high-risk patients and performing pre-surgical screenings. And a Massachusetts statute pro- hibits health care facilities from charging for services pro- vided because of a hospital-acquired infection or serious reportable event. (quote) So far in 2010, Hawaii, Maine, , New Mex- ico and Washington have introduced legislation to require n Allow city and local governments to use cameras. statewide public reporting of hospital-acquired infections; n Prohibit red light cameras, photo radar or both. expand the types of health facilities required to report these infections; or clarify preexisting rules for screening Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, March 2010. high-risk patients for MRSA.

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