THE STATES AND LOCALITIES September 2013 Harmeet Dhillon, vice chair, California Republican Party Remaking California is the GOPat the heart of the Republican Party’s identity struggle. GOV09_Cover1 new.indd 1 8/13/13 1:41 PM __________Designer __________Creative Dir. 100 Blue Ravine Road Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 __________Editorial __________Prepress 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Page # __________Other ____________OK to go BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN VOL. 26, NO. 12 09.2013 FEATURES 28 PARTY CRASHERS The conservative Republican movement was born in California. Will it also die there? By John Buntin 36 CAN WE FIX CHEATING? Teacher evaluation systems always seem to lead to dishonest behavior. States hope Common Core will be diff erent. By Dylan Scott 42 SHARING THE LOAD Connecticut is breaking up the traditional caseworker model—and getting help to people faster. By J.B. Wogan 50 DAMMED UP Even as states set ambitious renewable energy goals, the investment in hydropower has been reduced to a trickle. By Elizabeth Daigneau 54 A PLACE OF THEIR OWN Since 1895, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York has operated a home for volunteer fi refi ghters. By Jonathan Walters Photographs by David Kidd A fi re engine on display at the Museum of Firefi ghting in PHOTO AND COVER PHOTO: DAVID KIDD PHOTO AND COVER PHOTO: DAVID Hudson, N.Y. September 2013 | GOVERNING 1 GOV09_01.indd 1 8/12/13 3:44 PM __________Designer __________Creative Dir. 100 Blue Ravine Road Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 __________Editorial __________Prepress 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Page # __________Other ____________OK to go BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN DEPARTMENTS 4 Publisher’s Desk 6 Letters OBSERVER 9 Still a Safe Bet? As gambling expands, states are crowding each other out. 10 Up Against a Walmart A living wage bill in D.C. drew the ire of large retailers. 11 When Obese Isn’t Obese Policymakers debate the limitations of body mass index. KIDD DAVID POLITICS + POLICY PROBLEM SOLVER 14 Assessments 58 Behind the Numbers States can’t resist the temptation Legislative changes could knock millions off food to boss their localities around. stamps and hinder administration. 16 Dispatch 60 Smart Management Public offi cials need to keep their Benchmarking is a valuable tool. So why do so many fi ngers off the delete button. localities resist using it? FLICKR/BENSON KUA 18 Potomac Chronicle 62 Better Government 62 Congress is back, but don’t Cutting public safety too much can cost more than expect it to do anything. it saves. 19 FedWatch 64 Tech Talk The White House has a plan to CIOs need a little help from their friends. win over anti-Obamacare states. 66 Public Money 22 Health Special districts are growing like weeds—and raising California tackles runaway tax burdens as they proliferate. hospital pricing. 68 Last Look 24 Green Government Does a new term mean a new offi cial portrait for Some say converting waste into California Gov. Jerry Brown? energy is underutilized in the U.S. 26 Economic Engines 10 After 26 years, columnist William Fulton is moving on. 27 Urban Notebook FLICKR/WALMART CORPORATE FLICKR/WALMART More and more cities are rethinking parking mandates. 2 GOVERNING | September 2013 GOV09_02.indd 2 8/13/13 1:40 PM __________Designer __________Creative Dir. 100 Blue Ravine Road Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 __________Editorial __________Prepress 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Page # __________Other ____________OK to go BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN IMAGINE HAVING $1.5 BILLION FROM DAY 1 INTRODUCING MUNICIPAL ASSURANCE CORP. FROM ASSURED GUARANTY. It’s not often you can describe a new fi nancial company as being “proven” and “trusted.” But right from the start, Municipal Assurance Corp. is backed by $1.5 billion in claims-paying resources. And as part of the Assured Guaranty group of companies, we don’t have the start-up risks you get from a start-up. How else are we diff erent? We have the proven underwriting and surveillance capabilities already in place. We have the experience and the economy of scale you’d expect from a proven leader that’s helped over 11,000 municipal credits reduce financing costs. And our investments and insured portfolio generate positive earnings, from day one and for years to come. So if you’re looking for something new in muni-only bond insurance, look no further than Municipal Assurance Corp. Visit us online at MACmunibonds.com Municipal Assurance Corp. New York, New York. MAC is not licensed in all jurisdictions, including California. See MACmunibonds.com/licenses for additional detail. __________Designer __________Creative Dir. 100 Blue Ravine Road Folsom, CA 95630 916-932-1300 __________Editorial __________Prepress 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 5 25 50 75 95 100 Page # __________Other ____________OK to go BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN PUBLISHER’S DESK Publisher Erin Waters Executive Editor Zach Patton Editor-at-Large Paul W. Taylor Managing Editor Elizabeth Daigneau Senior Editors Tod Newcombe, Jonathan Walters Why Counties Matter Chief Copy Editor Miriam Jones; Copy Editor Elaine Pittman Staff Writers Liz Farmer, Ryan Holeywell, Dylan Scott, J.B. Wogan f you ask the average American citizen what part of our gov- Correspondents John Buntin, Alan Greenblatt Contributing Editors Alan Ehrenhalt, Penelope Lemov, John Martin, ernment owns and maintains 44 percent of the roadways and Steve Towns spends $68.3 billion on health-care services, I don’t think you Columnists Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene, Mark Funkhouser, Iwill get the correct answer. If you ask a government employee William Fulton, Peter A. Harkness, Donald F. Kettl, Justin Marlowe, which government entity spends a combined $472 billion on law Alex Marshall enforcement, education, construction and human services, a few might know, but many won’t. The answer, if you haven’t guessed, Deputy Editor, Governing.com Caroline Cournoyer is America’s counties. They employ 3.3 million people and have Data Editor, Governing.com Mike Maciag 19,300 elected offi cials, but knowledge of what they do is woe- Creative Director Kelly Martinelli fully inadequate. Design Director & Photo Editor David Kidd In July, the National Association of Counties (NACo) hosted Art Director Michelle Hamm its annual conference in Fort Worth. The event borrowed NACo’s Illustrator Tom McKeith current—and relevant—campaign, “Why Counties Matter.” Matt Production Director Stephan Widmaier Chase is closing in on his fi rst year as executive director of the Chief Marketing Offi cer Margaret Mohr organization, and I think his new Marketing Director Meg Varley-Keller perspective has helped motivate members to take up the charge in Founder & Publisher Emeritus Peter A. Harkness making the counties’ reach, role Advertising 202-862-8802 and importance better known. Associate Publisher, Infrastructure Marina Leight I was honored to take part in the Associate Publisher, Finance Erica Pyatt event and appreciated the oppor- Account Director Jennifer Gladstone tunity to host a discussion with a Account Managers Christin Evans, Elisabeth Frerichs few prominent county executives Offi ce Manager Alina Grant who are achieving results, despite Media Account Coordinators Rebecca Carbone, Kendra Kelly, Hillary Leeb, challenging circumstances. Few Kelly McEldrew, Katie Skinner Marketing/Classifi ed [email protected] leaders serve as better examples than the Oakland County, Mich., e.Republic Inc. Erin Waters, Publisher Executive L. Brooks Patterson. CEO Dennis McKenna Oakland County shares a border Executive VP Cathilea Robinett with Detroit, and Patterson has served the county for 21 years. He CFO Paul Harney CAO Lisa Bernard fi rst entered government service as a public defender there, and during those 16 years, he never lost a case. Later, as county execu- Reprint Information tive, he exhibited resiliency and good judgment in anticipating Reprints of all articles in this issue and past issues are available the economic decline and holding the county to a strict three-year (500 minimum). Please direct inquiries for reprints and licensing to rolling budget, which resulted in a $250 million surplus during Wright’s Media: 877-652-5295, [email protected] a time when neighboring cities and counties were experiencing Subscription/Circulation Service the opposite. Patterson believes in identifying and recruiting tal- Eenie Yang [email protected] ented people and then stepping aside to let them do their job. He, http://www.governing.com/subscribe along with fellow county executives in Ulster County, N.Y.; Athens Governing (ISSN 0894-3842) is published monthly by e.Republic Inc., with offi ces County, Ohio; and Cook County, Ill., to name a few, are the best at 1100 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite 1300, Washington, D.C. 20036 and at 100 Blue refl ections of what counties do and why they matter. 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 During the event, former NACo president and Douglas County, additional mailing offi ces. Copyright 2013 e.Republic Inc. All rights reserved. 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