On the Edge States Face a Crisis If Retirees Go Broke
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HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR REACTORS? PAGE 7 June 2017 On the Edge States face a crisis if retirees go broke. Behind in Child Support, Behind Bars Guided by the Evidence The Dirty Pool of Catfishing Delivering America’s Energy Future Electricity truly is the energy that powers our way of life. It runs our homes and businesses and makes innovation possible. The electric power industry supports more than 7 million American jobs and contributes $880 billion— or 5 percent—to our nation’s GDP. EEI’s member companies make significant investments each year to build smarter energy infrastructure and to transition to even cleaner generation sources. Today, almost one-third of our energy mix comes from zero-emissions sources—nuclear energy and renewables, such as hydropower, wind, and solar. The energy grid will continue to deliver safe, reliable, affordable, and increasingly clean energy and will integrate a wide range of technologies that will benefit customers well into the future. Together, we are delivering America’s energy future. To learn more, visit www.eei.org/future © 2017 by the Edison Electric Institute. All rights reserved. JUNE 2017 2 STATE LEGISLATURES A National JUNE 2017 VOL. 43 NO. 6 | CONTENTS Conference of State Legislatures Publication Executive Director William T. Pound Director of Communications Karen Hansen Editor Julie Lays NCSL’s national magazine of policy and politics Assistant Editor Kevin Frazzini Contributing Editor FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Jane Carroll Andrade Online Magazine Ed Smith (UN)READY FOR RETIREMENT Page 10 SHORT TAKES PAGE 4 Mark Wolf BY ANNA PETRINI Connections, support, expertise and Advertising Sales Manager States face a costly future if their citizens fail to save enough for ideas from NCSL LeAnn Hoff retirement. (303) 364-7700 [email protected] STATESTATS PAGE 6 Contributors Understanding the basics of Medicaid Michelle Exstrom Karmen Hanson Martha King Alison Lawrence TRENDS PAGE 7 Meghan McCann Dan Shea The latest on small-scale nuclear Rich Williams reactors, cyberbullies called catfish, Art Director aging at home, the connection Bruce Holdeman between health and education, and the NCSL President Senator Daniel T. Blue war on opioid addiction North Carolina NCSL Staff Chair Raúl E. Burciaga STATELINE PAGE 18 Director, Legislative Council Service From George Washington’s distillery to New Mexico sunscreen in schools and more Denver Office 7700 East First Place Denver, Colorado NEWSMAKERS PAGE 24 80230 (303) 364-7700 A look at who’s making news under the Washington, D.C., domes Office 444 N. Capitol St. N.W., Suite 515 Washington, D.C. OPINION PAGE 30 20001 Some thoughts on Supreme Court Justice (202) 624-5400 Neil Gorsuch’s contentious confirmation State Legislatures (ISSN 0147-0641) is process published 10 times a ©2017 BRUCE HOLDEMAN year by the National Conference of State Legislatures. BEHIND BARS, BEHIND IN PAYMENTS Page 20 THE FINAL WORD PAGE 31 ©2017, All rights reserved. Reproduction BY JANE HOBACK Hawaii House Speaker Emeritus JOSEPH SOUKI in whole or in part For parents in prison, unpaid child support bills can become a “Listen first and then ask questions … without permission is prohibited. Requests crushing debt. compromise at times if need be.” for permission to reprint may be emailed to Julie Lays at: julie. [email protected]. FACTS BEFORE FUNDING Page 26 Opinions expressed in this magazine BY ALLISON HILTZ SL ONLINE do not necessarily reflect NCSL policy. Evidence-based policymaking can arm lawmakers with You can find more information and links to State Legislatures is indexed in the PAIS information about what works. resources on topics covered in these pages Bulletin and Expanded at SL Online. Academic Index. Annual subscription NEW MEXICO’S VETO WAR Page 29 rates: U.S.—$49; Go to ncsl.org/magazine foreign—$55; BY DAN MCKAY teachers—$25 (promo code SLMTEA). The battle over the budget reaches new heights in the Land of Single copy: $6.50. Periodically, NCSL Enchantment. rents mailing labels to other organizations. If you prefer your name not be included please send a written request. Postmaster: Send address changes to: State Legislatures magazine, 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230. STATE LEGISLATURES 3 JUNE 2017 SHORT TAKES ON NCSL NEWS SUPPORT The Women’s Legislative Network NCSL America’s female legislators are trailblazers and visionaries, experts, mentors, Democrats and EXPERTISE Republicans, solution-seekers and problem-solvers. “Federal law pre- And all of them are automatically members of empts state law, but NCSL’s Women’s Legislative Network—the bipartisan sometimes it creates organization that helps women connect, learn and a floor instead of a lead together. Join them at the Legislative Summit in ceiling for actions that Boston in August. The network is planning dynamic can be taken by the sessions on STEM education and communication skills. states.” Visit ncsl.org/wln to learn more. Rachel Morgan on how New York’s ban on higher health insurance From left, Tennessee Representative Brenda Gilmore; premiums for older residents does Katie Ziegler, NCSL liaison to the Network; and South not conflict with federal law, which Dakota Representative Kristin Conzet caps age-based premiums, on PolitiFact.com. “It seems to be an organic rising. It’s not like there’s somebody behind the IDEAS scenes pushing this legislation.” Nuclear Knowledge Jon Griffin on growing state efforts NCSL staff travel to states to offer expert to regulate protests, in the Indiana testimony and other assistance more Lawyer. than 80 times a year. In May, NCSL’s Dan Shea and Kristy Hartman testified before “They’ve allowed the newly created Pennsylvania Nuclear people to take some Energy Caucus—the nation’s first bipartisan, action to protect their bicameral caucus focused on nuclear information.” issues. They presented information on Pam Greenberg on nuclear power trends in the U.S. and fielded the increasing number questions about what states are doing to of state laws requiring businesses prevent nuclear power plants from closing. and the government to notify people of security breaches that Pennsylvania Representative Becky Corbin could compromise their privacy, on discusses nuclear power with NCSL staffer CBSNews.com. Dan Shea. “It’s definitely picked up the last few years, both on the ballot measure and legislatively.” Caring for Foster Youth Jackson Brainerd on Maryland Delegate C.T. Wilson—a efforts to increase the minimum former foster care youth—helped wage, in Bloomberg BNA. host Foster Youth Day in Annapolis, Maryland, to teach the kids about the “It’s a living and legislative process. NCSL’s Meghan breathing document.” McCann and Nina Williams-Mbengue Brenda Erickson on were on hand to engage lawmakers on how it’s not uncommon issues affecting older youth in foster to amend state care. Check out NCSL’s Extending constitutions, on KUNM. Foster Care Policy Toolkit at ncsl.org/ magazine. Pennsylvania’s proposal is “a good first step.” From left, McCann and Williams- Ben Husch on a Mbengue, Delegates Vanessa Atterbeary comprehensive bill to and Wilson, and, in front, Joy Jones, regulate the testing of Wilson’s chief of staff. autonomous vehicles, on TRIBLive.com. JUNE 2017 4 STATE LEGISLATURES SHORT TAKES CONNECTIONS Intercontinental Collaboration A delegation from the Conference of State Colorado Senate Legislatures of Nigeria visited NCSL’s Denver President Kevin headquarters in March to explore whether Grantham dons a NCSL could be a model for an effective traditional Nigerian member organization for the 36 states in shirt during a visit Nigeria. The group formed last year to “ensure with members of the independence, quality, effectiveness and the Conference of engender unity of purpose among the 36 State Legislatures of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.” The Nigeria. delegation heard from more than a dozen staff on NCSL’s history, mission, structure, budget, communications and constituent services. The group also visited the Colorado General Assembly. NCSL has assisted various countries striving to establish democracies through grants from the U.S. State Department. NCSL’s Center for Ethics in Government As many lawmakers quickly discover, very few ethical questions have clear and easy answers. Turn to NCSL’s Center for Ethics in Blurred State Lines Government for answers to your legislative Assembly Speaker Vincent ethics questions. From in-person ethics Prieto welcomed Illinois training to easy-to-access, robust online Senator Toi Hutchinson, resources, including 50-state data, we can NCSL’s vice president, to the help you tackle topics such as financial New Jersey Capitol in March. disclosure requirements, conflicts of interest, They discussed the value gifts and honoraria, revolving-door laws, of collaborating through ethics oversight entities and more. Visit ncsl. NCSL and the importance org/research/ethics. of bipartisanship. NCSL’s leadership alternates between parties every year. Networking in New England NCSL has a wealth of information and resources for state legislatures along witih a state liaison or two Mark Quiner and Ethan Wilson are NCSL’s for every state to tell members all ethics experts. about the organization. Find out who your personal contact to NCSL is by searching for state liaisons at Trending Topics ncsl.org. Transportation Knowing how other states tackle | MAR 2017 tough issues can save states time Connecticut Senate President and money. The NCSL transportation Pro Tem Martin Looney, left, shows Traffic team’s Traffic Safety