TIPS FOR DEALING WITH THE MEDIA PAGE 32 February 2015 STATE BUDGETS Sunshine on a Cloudy Day Gift Bans Sports Stadiums Motorcycle Helmets FEBRUARY 2015 VOL. 41 NO. 2 | CONTENTS Is your state home to oNe oF the largest ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT projects in the country? MARK VERBECK Nuclear operatioNs traiNiNg maNager, georgia power I’m one of 5,000 workers building the future of nuclear energy in Georgia. america’s nuclear energy industry employs energy expertise and components for the 100,000 workers and is growing with $740 billion global market over the next renewed global potential. Five new reactors 10 years. in georgia, south carolina and tennessee have created tens of thousands of well- We are working to keep nuclear energy an paying jobs. When finished, these facilities important part of america’s energy future. will provide affordable electricity and boost the economy for decades. global projects also are creating thousands of american jobs. Worldwide, 71 nuclear power plants are being built and more than 170 reactors are in the planning stage. Get the facts at nei.org/jobs this means more demand for u.s. nuclear #futureofenergy CLIENT: NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute) PUB: State Legislatures Magazine RUN DATE: December SIZE: 7.5” x 9.875” Full Page VER.: Jobs/Mark - Full Page Ad 4CP: FEBRUARY 2015 VOL. 41 NO. 2 | CONTENTS STATE LEGISLATURES NCSL’s national magazine of policy and politics FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 4 SHORT TAKES ON NCSL NEWS The latest on NCSL’s resources and services 5 STATESTATS How states are doing on measures of health 6 NEWSMAKERS Who’s making news from around the country 8 TRENDS Childhood vaccines. funding passenger trains, the problem with painkillers, population shifts and giving kids a healthy start 12 STATELINE News from around the nation—from toy guns to tax talk to water © 2015 BRUCE HOLDEMAN worries and more 14 SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY By Erica Michel and Mandy Rafool 18 ON RECORD Strong revenues brighten state fiscal forecasts, although some worry Sari de la Motte, Nonverbal Communications Expert tax relief and sluggish growth could dampen the party. 17 AN OLD-FASHIONED PRICE PLUNGE By Arturo Perez What does the dramatic drop in oil prices mean for state budgets? 20 THE GIFT By Peggy Kerns and Natalie O’Donnell Wood In an effort to show they mean business when it comes to ethics, legislatures continue to shore up laws that ban gifts from lobbyists. 23 TEAM PLAYER By Louis Jacobson These 10 tips can help boost the success rate of sports stadium built with taxpayers’ money. “When you show that you are both competent and that you care, 26 HITTING THE OPEN ROAD that’s when charisma happens.” By Douglas Shinkle The debate over requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets revs up 32 TOOLBOX once again. How to make your next media interview a less prickly experience By Gene Rose 28 HELPING THE HELPERS By Julia C. Martinez 35 THE FINAL WORD New state laws support millions of Americans who minister to aging NCSL Staff Chair Peggy Piety, Indiana Senior Staff Attorney, on her relatives and form the backbone of the nation’s long-term care system. challenges, priorities, inspiration and hidden talent STATE LEGISLATURES | FEBRUARY 2015 STATE LEGISLATURES A National Conference of State Legislatures Publication STATESTATS | 5 SHORT TAKES ON NCSL NEWS Executive Director William T. Pound Director of Communications Karen Hansen FORUMtate legislators and legislative staff descended on the nation’s capitol Editor Julie Lays Sto lobby Congress on states’ rights issues, hear from national experts EXPERTISE including U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and economist Beth Assistant Editors “If Congress does not act, Mary Winter states will have to look at Ann Bovino, and network with one another during NSCL’s Annual Forum. Jane Carroll Andrade other funding solutions.” Web Editors Nevada Edward P. Smith —NCSL’s Mick Bullock, in The Assemblywoman Mark Wolf Washington Post, on extending the Highway Irene Bustamante Copy Editor Trust Fund Adams (D), left, and Leann Stelzer Kansas Senator Elaine Contributors Bowers (R), co-chairs Glen Andersen of NCSL’s Legislative Julie Bell “The pervasiveness of these Dick Cauchi services has really made this Effectiveness Michelle Exstrom Committee, compare Pam Greenberg go from zero to 60 and it’s Karmen Hanson made legislators sit up and notes during a Jeff Hurley take notice.” “Building Trust in Martha King a Polarized World” Donna Lyons Rich Williams —NCSL’s Douglas Shinkle in the Hartford session. Ann Morse Courant, on the popularity of ride-sharing Art Director Bruce Holdeman From left, Mississippi Advertising Sales Manager “Reflexive partisanship— Senators Bill Stone (D) LeAnn Hoff disagreeing with someone and Briggs Hopson (303) 364-7700 (R) discuss the .................................... or an idea just because she NCSL Officers or he is the person saying Marketplace Fairness President Senator Debbie Smith, Nevada it—is the plague of our time.” Act and transportation funding with fellow President-Elect —Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Jon Mississippian U.S. Senator Curt Bramble, Utah Meacham, speaking at NCSL’s Symposium Representative Gregg Staff Chair for Legislative Leaders in December Harper (R). Margaret Piety Sr. Staff Attorney, Indiana .................................... Denver Office 7700 East First Place FOCUSED Denver, Colorado 80230 (303) 364-7700 Washington, D.C. Office 444 North Capitol Street, N.W. Suite 515 Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 624-5400 Website www.ncsl.org/magazine .................................... State Legislatures (ISSN 0147- 0641), the national magazine of policy and politics, is published monthly by the National Conference of State Legislatures except July/August and October/ November, which are combined. Postmaster: Send address changes to: State Legislatures, 7700 East First Place, Denver, CO 80230. © 2015, All Rights Reserved. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect NCSL policy. Members of NCSL’s Study Group on International Education pose with Go to www.ncsl.org/bookstore/ to subscribe. Annual rates: U.S.—$49; Max Baucus, U.S. ambassador to China (center), in Beijing during a tour of foreign—$55; teachers—$25 (promo China in November. The study group—which includes 24 legislators and code SLMTEA). Single copy: $6.50. six legislative staff—is meeting with national and international experts to Letters to the editor and requests learn about education reform from high-performing countries. for permission to reprint may be mailed to Julie Lays in the Denver office or e-mailed to her at: julie. [email protected]. Send subscriptions The Alabama team, including Representatives Ed Henry (R) and changes of address to the and April Weaver (R), second and third from left, take a photo Marketing Department in Denver. break during NCSL’s invitational seminar, “State Strategies to Periodically, NCSL rents mailing Improve Health System Performance” in December. Seven states labels to other organizations. If you participated, working together to find innovative and effective prefer your name not be included please send a written request. ways to improve their health care systems. State Legislatures is indexed in the PAIS Bulletin and Expanded Academic Index. It is also available in microform and electronically through University Microfilms Inc. (UMI) at (800) 521-0600. STATE LEGISLATURES A National Conference of State Legislatures Publication STATESTATS | 5 Treading Water on Health Care The Portion of Adults With a Regular Source of Health Care tate health care systems improved in some areas from 2007 to 2012—hospital 2007 2012 readmissions declined and childhood immunization rates went up, for example. But U.S. 80% 78% overall, states showed little or no progress in cutting costs, increasing efficiency Alabama 82 80 or coordinating care, according to a recent report by The Commonwealth Fund, a Alaska 72 63 S Arizona 76 75 nonpartisan foundation that supports research on health and social issues. Arkansas 84 78 The number of Americans with access to primary health care fell in half the states and more California 72 73 Colorado 79 77 people delayed getting treatment, according to the report. People who seek care in emergency Connecticut 87 86 rooms as a last resort drive up costs. Delaware 90 87 Researchers looked at 42 health indicators over the five years, which included the Great Recession DC 80 79 Florida 78 76 and preceded the coverage expansion and other reforms of the Affordable Care Act, including the Georgia 80 75 rates of obesity, adult smoking, breast cancer deaths and infant mortality, along with areas such Hawaii 88 85 as the number of adults who went without care because of the cost and number of nursing home Idaho 73 71 Illinois 82 83 residents with pressure sores. Indiana 84 82 “More often than not, states exhibited little or no improvement. Access to care deteriorated for Iowa 84 83 Kansas 84 79 adults, while costs increased,” the report says. Kentucky 85 81 With health care consuming, on average, 30 percent of state budgets (the bulk for Medicaid Louisiana 79 77 and state employees), legislators take keen interest in finding ways to strengthen the system to Maine 89 88 Maryland 84 84 accommodate more people, including creating payment models that support primary care and the Massachusetts 89 89 medical home model of care. The latest Scorecard report indicates they have their work cut out for Michigan 86 84 them. —Martha King Minnesota 80 76 Mississippi 77 74 State Health Systems Missouri 84 79 Montana 72 73 Nebraska
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