Capitol Comments

International Committee Raises Awareness to Neighbors in Canada, Mexico

By Mikel Chavers

Every state needs to have an eye toward international issues—because when it comes to operating successfully in a global economy, states can no longer afford to stay within their own borders, or even their own countries.

That’s according to speakers at Sunday’s International Committee Meeting.

The Council of State Governments’ international programs have historically focused on borders and trade issues, “but there’s a lot more that affects states in the international community,” said Chris Whatley, director of the Washington, D.C., office.

He believes an eye to international issues is beneficial for state government officials. “Enriching international exposure that will help them go back home and legislate better,” Whatley said.
CSG facilitates various international programs in the regional offices, particularly in the CSG Eastern Regional Conference and CSG-WEST.

Governors Discuss Implications of Recovery Act

Three governors will discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act during a moderated panel session at The Council of State Governments' Spring Conference from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday.

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, the current CSG president, was first elected governor in November 2004, and was re-elected in November 2008.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter was first elected governor in November 2006. He previously served three terms in Congress representing Idaho’s first district.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer was first elected governor in November 2004, and was re-elected to a second term in November 2008.

The discussion will be moderated by Matt Miller, the bestselling author of “The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: Letting Go of the Old Ways of Thinking to Unleash A New Prosperity.”

Economic Slowdown Hits the States

By Mikel Chavers

“It will come as no surprise to anyone to know that these are very turbulent financial times and almost every state in the country faces some serious financial challenges,” said Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp, co-chair of the Financial Services Working Group.

“If some people would have had a better idea if what a mortgage is and what it does,” Kopp said, perhaps the financial crisis could have been avoided.

After all, experts say the financial crisis began first with the mortgage meltdown and hit some states harder than others. In fact, Arizona is still dealing with the consequences.

Arizona is basically ground zero when it comes to the foreclosure crisis. Arizona is in contention with Nevada for worst-hit by the foreclosure crisis, according to Sen. Carolyn Allen.

Experts Tout Results-Driven State Government

By Mikel Chavers and Mary Branham Dusenberry

Performance measurement isn’t a fad—it’s here to stay.

That’s according to Saturday’s speakers at The Council of State Governments’ half-day workshop on performance measurement.

“It’s something that clearly has become widely accepted,” said Harry Hatry, director of the Public Management Program at the Urban Institute. “It’s just obvious that you should be concerned about results for citizens.”

After all, all 50 states are doing some form of performance measurement—but they are all doing it in varying degrees, Hatry said.

From measuring how many children have health insurance coverage to measuring how well the state roads are maintained, performance measurement—no matter how complex and daunting the concept sounds—is actually going on in every state already.

Health Care Data at the Right Time, Right Place

By Mary Branham Dusenberry

There’s value in having the right data at the right time at the right place.

That’s the goal of health information technology, said Brian Russon, a strategist for the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft Corporation.

Russon likened today’s health care system to a barbell, with two groups heavily involved in their health—those who utilize the system due to major illness and those who are healthy and are very proactive in their health. The majority of the population, he said, falls in the middle—those who are not highly engaged in the health care system.

“We’ve got a health care system that hasn’t driven the financial burden down to the consumer,” he said.

But that is likely to change, he said. When that happens, people will become much more engaged in their health care, and they’ll need some way to manage that information. Microsoft has developed Health Vault, a consumer-driven health care management program for just that purpose.

States’ Financial Crisis Elevates Financial Literacy Education

By Mikel Chavers

A 16-year-old Idaho girl was renting a walk-in closet in someone’s apartment, had two children already and was in dire straits financially. She was one of the attendants at Idaho’s Smart Women, Smart Money conference—a financial literacy effort of the Idaho State Treasurer’s office.

While attending the free conference hosted and organized by the state, representatives from Merrill Lynch—one of the conference sponsors—was touched by her story and situation and offered her a job.

Not long after, the woman was a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch and was getting married, said Idaho Treasurer Ron Crane. A year after that, she and her husband were starting their own business.

Crane credits success stories like these with the financial literacy conference his office puts on every year. Now, he said, the issue of financial literacy has taken on even greater importance as the nation wallows in the current financial crisis.

Reviewing the ‘YouTube Election’ With Mark Shields

By Mary Branham Dusenberry

The 2008 election was historic, and Mark Shields, a national columnist and commentator best known for his work as moderator on CNN’s “Capitol Gang,” had a front row seat.

Shields will offer his analysis of how Sen. Barack Obama won the presidency, as well as remaining questions going into the Obama administration, during The COuncil of State Governments Awards Luncheon at noon Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Qwest Center in Omaha. In addition, Shields will reveal “the dirty little secret of the American press” during his talk at Saturday’s Awards Luncheon.

This year saw a lot of firsts: Obama is the first African-American elected to the White House; Hillary Clinton was the first woman to win states in a primary; and Sarah Palin was the first female vice-presidential nominee on the Republican side.

Governors Drive Innovations in the South

Southern governors are in a hotbed of innovation in the midst of tough budget times—according to a special roundtable discussion held at the Southern Governors’ Association conference.

“Challenging times give you more opportunity to make substantive change,” Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine saidat the session Sunday, Aug. 10.

The first area ripe for innovation is diabetes treatment and prevention, according to a representative from Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based health care company that specializes in diabetes therapies.

According to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 million people have diabetes nationwide—double the number of people with the disease in the early 1990s.

Southern Governors Discuss Energy, the 100 Pound Gorilla

By Mikel Chaversmchavers@csg.org

In 2005, when Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine was running for office, energy just wasn't on the minds of voters. When Kaine took office in January 2006, the state didn't even have an energy plan, Kaine said Monday at the Southern Governors' Association meeting in West Virginia.

In the more than two years since, Kaine's state--like so many states now--has come up with an energy plan and looked at renewable fuels.

Energy and how the nation provides energy to homes and businesses has gone from a backburner issue to a major issue, Kaine said.

U.S. Secretary of Labor: Governors Need to do More to Prepare States' Work Force

By Mikel Chavers

The states' work force is moving to a knowledge-based economy no longer competing with the state next door, but with regions all over the world. And governors need to focus on training the changing work force—which could be facing a shortage.

That’s according to the discussion from a special policy session Aug. 9 as a part of the Southern Governors’ Association conference at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao helped reiterate that point—because competing in a global economy is her top priority, she said.

“Our economy is increasingly focused on higher-end skills jobs,” Chao said Saturday. The governors will have to address skill levels of workers in the certain areas, according to Chao, including health care, where 3 million workers are needed in the next 10 years.