Maiden Newsletter, August 1st, 2003
ALICE offers high-wage, low-waste, worker-friendly, publicly-accountable state and local policy. Our website serves as a collaborative clearinghouse for local elected officials, activists, organizations, and issue experts who want a map and a vehicle to take the high road.
High Road: Strengthening Unemployment Insurance
Since the tragedy of September 11th - and in the wake of our national
economic downturn -- more than half of the state legislatures are actively
considering measures to strengthen unemployment insurance (UI). The
unemployment rate increased to 6.4% in June, according to the most recent
report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is not only the highest
unemployment rate since the beginning of the recession in March 2001, but
also the highest unemployment rate since April 1994. UI reform is now an
urgent state priority as our nation's first line of defense in economic
downturns. Unfortunately, millions of unemployed Americans are outside of
the program's safety net. To see model legislation and educational documents
about UI reform in the states,
click here.
Low Road: ALEC's Electronic Government Services Act
The "Low Road" will regularly shine light onto harmful state trends by
tracking the worst in state practices. These less-than-model pieces of
legislation are spawned by radical right "think tanks" that put profits and
private interests over people and the public trust.
This year, the American legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) essentially
rolled out a "Fee-Dumb of Information Act" where citizens are charged to
look at their own information. This act requires government agencies to
strip public documents from state web sites, and then asks citizens to pay
for the information previously made available for free. The defeat of ALEC's
"Electronic Government Services Act" in Ohio is a good case study of what
happens when this group isn't able to fly its privatization schemes below
the public radar screen.
read more
ALEC -- Founded by right-wing activist Paul Weyrich -- promotes itself as a
membership organization of state lawmakers. Follow the money trail and
you'll find corporations control the group's issue-specific task forces,
wield veto power over proposed model legislation, and equip right-wing
legislators with ready-made bills to advance special interests. To see the
report on ALEC,
click here. To see why the
clout of lobbyists is growing, check out a recent
Christian Science Monitor
story. Read
more
Trail Blazers: High Road Leaders in the States
Montana: Prescription Drugs
Montana Senator Jim Elliott described the story of his innovative
prescription drug legislation as a saga, but one devoid of romance. His
passion, as well as a campaign promise to address the rising cost of
prescription drugs, motivated him to sponsor SB 473. Go to the CPA website
to
Read more...
New York:
Public HAVA Hearings
As reported by DEMOS, the New York State Board of Elections began public
hearings on the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) this month. Advocates in Albany and New York
City testified that the New York HAVA draft plan is too vague, with
inadequate information about a wide range of topics, from the content of
voter education and poll-worker training, to the type of "mail in
registration" that requires voters to submit identification.
http://www.demos-usa.org/demos/
Minnesota:
Affordable Housing
Despite a bad economy that has dominated his first 18 months in office,
Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly is within striking distance of fulfilling a
promise to build 5,000 new housing units in the city by 2005. To see more,
click here.
Stories from the States
West Virginia: Tax credit rules unfair to poor
Charleston Gazette
Pennsylvania: Welfare advocates urge outreach
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Iowa: Program safeguards low-income families
Press & Dakotan
Rhode Island: Higher minimum wage is enacted
The Providence Journal
Idaho: Tax exceptions, exclusions up for scrutiny by task force
Idaho Statesman
Alaska: State plans to beef up oil industry inspections
Anchorage Daily News
California: Farming pollution permits upheld
Sacramento Bee
Nebraska: State considers renewable energy
Press & Dakotan
Massachusetts: Governor seeks to curb building on public parkland
The Boston Globe
New Hampshire: Ten governors will try regional approach on greenhouse gases
Foster's Daily Democrat (AP)
Georgia: Limits sought on new McMansions
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ohio: Injured-workers bill overturned, fine-tuned (ALEC Bill)
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Arizona: Napolitano's drug plan cuts costs for seniors
The Arizona Republic
Hawaii: Back-to-school health care offered
Star Bulletin
Florida: Vouchers are under increased scrutiny
Tallahassee Democrat
f you have innovative state legislation you like to share with the rest of the country, send it to Andy Gussert, ALICE National Director, care of andy@highroadnow.org