CSG's "The Book of the States" »
State Governments & Legislatures
Capital Closeup: Conflicts of interest inevitable in legislatures; rules that govern legislator recusal and voting vary from state to state
by Tim Anderson ~ May 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Legislating is not a full-time job for most of the Midwest’s 1,550 state lawmakers — at least when it comes to pay. And Nicholas Kusnetz of the Center for Public Integrity says a majority of voters have embraced the idea of a “citizen legislature” — individuals from different walks of life gather in the capitol, conduct the state’s business, and then return to their homes and places of employment. It sounds good in theory, Kusnetz says, but he adds that states should do more to address an unavoidable reality: the slew of conflicts of interest that arise when lawmakers rely on outside income. More »
Pay raise for governor, state legislators mulled in Minnesota
by Tim Anderson ~ May 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
More than a decade has passed since Minnesota legislators and the state’s governor last received a salary increase. That may change since this year, if the Legislature follows through on a pay raise recommended by Minnesota’s 16-member Compensation Council, a mix of state legislators, judges and members of the executive branch.
As in most Midwestern states, legislative service in Minnesota is considered “part time.” Members receive $31,140 a year, a figure in the mid-range for states in this region. The council says salaries need to be raised so that individuals “are not deterred by loss of income from running for office. Otherwise, we face the prospect of a Legislature that is not representative of Minnesota’s citizenry.” In April, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports, the Minnesota Senate approved a plan to make the salary of legislators one-third of that of the governor. The same measure would boost the governor’s salary from $120,000 to $128,000 by 2016, thus boosting legislators’ wages by about 35 percent.
In 2012, annual legislative salaries in the Midwest ranged from a high of $71,865 in Michigan to a low of $6,000 in South Dakota. Legislators are paid a per-day salary in Kansas ($88.66 during session) and North Dakota ($152 during session).
Only in the Midwest: Every four years, the race for president starts in Iowa, and leaves a lasting impact on the state’s political process
by Mike McCabe ~ April 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
For most presidential candidates, the road to the White House begins in Iowa. Since the 1970s, the state’s presidential caucuses have served as the nation’s first real test of voter interest in competing candidates, and have launched the successful campaigns of presidents from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama. As important as they are to the candidates themselves, the Iowa caucuses are significant in other ways as well. More »
Capital Closeup: States vary on gun rules in capitol buildings
by Tim Anderson ~ March 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
When Minnesota legislators opened hearings on a series of gun control proposals in February, interested onlookers packed committee hearings. And some of those in attendance were likely packing heat. More »
Only in the Midwest: At more than 300,000 people, Ohio's Senate districts are largest in region — and among largest in nation
by Mike McCabe ~ February 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Across the Midwest, the average state representative serves just over 58,000 constituents, while the average state senator represents almost 122,000. Both of these numbers are slightly lower than the corresponding national averages, and state-specific figures vary significantly, depending on population size and the number of seats in each legislative chamber. In North Dakota, for example, each legislator represents just over 14,000 constituent; at the other end of the spectrum, Ohio stands out as the state with the region’s largest legislative districts. More »
Wisconsin lawmakers eye change in process for when bills take effect
by Tim Anderson ~ February 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The legislature passes it, the governor signs it into law.
The path for a bill to become a law is well known, but there is another step that is more obscure and less uniform — when enacted measures actually take effect. Early this year, Wisconsin lawmakers appeared likely to change the unique process currently in place in that state, namely that the secretary of state must publish an act before it can take effect. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a bill passed by the Senate in late January would instead allow legislation to take effect two days after the governor signs it. The change was spurred by controversy over a 2011 measure that limited collective bargaining rights for public employees. That bill was passed by the legislature and governor, but the secretary of state delayed publishing the act for months due to a court order. The goal of the 2013 legislation is to eliminate such delays in the future.
In most states, laws generally take effect on a particular day (for example, July 1 in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota, or 90 days after the end of session in Michigan). However, state legislatures also typically have the flexibility to change the effective date through emergency clauses or other means.
Capital Closeup: Median age of Midwestern state legislators is slightly below national average; lawmakers span seven decades in age
by Kate Tormey ~ January 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
While the average legislator in this region is in his or her 50s, Midwestern state legislatures have many different generations of members working side-by-side. Nationwide, the average age of a state legislator is 57, according to Adam Brown, a political researcher at Brigham Young University. In the Midwest, however, it was slightly lower in 2012: 54. More »
Michigan recall law for state legislators gets revamped
by Tim Anderson ~ January 2013 ~ Stateline Midwest »
One of the five states in the Midwest that allows for voter recall of state legislators has made significant changes to the process. Michigan’s HB 6060 and HB 6063, signed into law in December, reduce the amount of time to gather recall-petition signatures (from 90 days to 60 days) and change the format of the recall election. There will no longer be an up-or-down vote on the current officeholder. Instead, voters will choose between the officeholder and a challenger. Lastly, mlive.com reports, the new laws place limits on when legislators can be subject to a recall. House members, who serve two-year terms, are exempt in the first six months or last six months of their term in office. State senators cannot be recalled in the first year or last year of their four-year term.
Several Michigan legislators have been the targets of recall campaigns in recent years, and one member of the House was ousted from office in 2011. That same year, many lawmakers in Wisconsin had to fend off recall elections, including more than a quarter of the members of the state Senate.
Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota are the other three Midwestern states with provisions to recall state legislators from office.
New year, new faces: Legislative turnover high in many states as a result of 2012 elections
by Tim Anderson ~ December 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The 2013 legislative sessions in the Midwest will begin soon with hundreds of new lawmakers taking office, but with a balance of power between the two major political parties that remains largely unchanged. More »
National study puts North Dakota on top of list of best-run states; four other
Midwest states
in top 10
by Tim Anderson ~ December 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Five of the nation’s 10 best-run states are in the Midwest, a study by the financial news service 24/7 Wall St. concludes, led by North Dakota and its oil-fueled economic boom. The state rankings are based on a host of factors, but most center on fiscal and economic conditions — for example, state credit ratings, unemployment rates, GDP growth, and levels of debt relative to personal income and state revenue.
On those measures and others, North Dakota ranks above most or all other states. States with agriculture-driven economies tended to place high on the list, including:
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Nebraska (ranked third), which has the second-lowest unemployment rate and debt per capita in the country;
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Iowa, (ranked fifth) which has a low debt burden and a high credit rating; and
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South Dakota (ranked seventh), which has low taxes and a pension system that is funded at close to 100 percent.
Minnesota rounded out the top-10 list, thanks in large part to that state’s low poverty and crime rates, as well as the relatively high percentage of residents who have health insurance and a high school diploma.
Only in the Midwest: In Kansas, requirement that census data be adjusted makes for unique redistricting process — and results
by Mike McCabe ~ November 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
When the 2012 session of the Kansas Legislature adjourned last May, lawmakers left one important piece of business unfinished. More »
In Indiana, lottery sales and marketing put in hands of private firm
by Tim Anderson~ November 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Indiana lottery officials announced in October that they were handing over day-to-day operations of sales and marketing to a private contractor. This decision to outsource services is designed to boost state revenue from the Hoosier Lottery, with officials projecting an annual increase of $100 million during the first five years of the integrated services agreement.
Gov. Mitch Daniels noted in a press release following the decision that his state’s lottery revenues “lag far behind most states.” GTECH, the company handling sales and marketing for Indiana, will receive performance incentives. According to The Wall Street Journal, Hoosier Lottery officials expect revenue to increase when they begin to sell tickets at grocery stores, big-box stores and discount stores. Illinois was the first state to hand over management of its state lottery.
The Chicago Tribune reported in July that in the first year of this new arrangement, the lottery turned a record profit. Net revenue, though, was still less than promised. According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, ticket sales from state-administered lotteries in the Midwest range from $2.3 billion in Ohio to $23 million in North Dakota.
Change in lobbying laws has changed culture inside state capitols
by Laura Tomaka ~ October 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
State laws seek to middle ground on lobbying and policymaking: Accept lobbying as a part of the policymaking process, but regulate the activity to guard against the dangers of lobbyists having an undue influence. More »
Minnesota now lone Midwest state to publicly finance legislative races
by Tim Anderson ~ October 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In Minnesota, close to 400 people are running for seats in the Legislature as nominees of the state’s two major political parties. A vast majority of them — 87 percent — have received a public subsidy for their campaigns.
The recently released state data show the extent to which candidates have bought into Minnesota’s public financing system, which provides the subsidy in exchange for a candidate agreeing to abide by spending limits. The limits in 2012 for legislative races range between $34,300 and $90,000.
In all, this year’s candidates are receiving $1.9 million in public subsidies, the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board reports. The money comes from a tax check-off program and a $1 million general-fund appropriation.
Minnesota is the only Midwestern state that provides direct public financing to legislative candidates. Wisconsin did away with its Election Campaign Fund last year, and in Nebraska, a 1992 campaign-finance law was ruled unconstitutional this summer by the state Supreme Court. Under this law, a subsidy was provided to a candidate who agreed to a spending limit and whose opponent exceeded it.
Only in the Midwest: Illinois has unique partisan system of electing, retaining judges
by Mike McCabe ~ September 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Although judicial elections have long been a mainstay of the electoral landscape in many states, they have seldom attracted the same level of attention routinely paid to partisan contests for legislative seats or constitutional
offices. In recent years, however, a number of high-profile supreme court races have increasingly called attention to the means by which judicial officers are chosen. More »
Ohio voters will get final say on who should draw political maps
by Tim Anderson ~ September 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Ohio voters will decide in November whether the task of redistricting should be taken away from state elected officials and put in the hands of a 12-member commission.
The proposed constitutional amendment would have an immediate impact; the ballot proposal calls for new maps to be redrawn prior to the 2014 election.
Under current Ohio law, the General Assembly is put in charge of the congressional map while a five-member board of state elected officials has purview over state legislative districts. In contrast, the newly formed 12-member commission could not include current and former officeholders, their family members, or lobbyists and big political donors.
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, six U.S. states already have put politician-free commissions in charge of redistricting. In the Midwest, legislatures get at least the first crack at drawing and/or approving new political maps. Iowa, though, is often singled out for its unique process: Nonpartisan legislative staff develops a map, which then must be approved or rejected, without modification, by the legislature. If the legislature fails to approve staff’s first two plans, it may amend the third map as it would any other bill.
Capital Closeup ~ Gains made by women in state legislatures have largely stalled over past decade
by Laura Kliewer ~ July/August 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Representation of women in state elective office has increased in the Midwest over the past 35 years, but since the late 1990s, the gains have slowed — and even stopped in some instances. More »
Only in the Midwest ~ Michigan's term limits law puts lifetime cap on legislative service
by Mike McCabe ~ June 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Four states in the Midwest — Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio and South Dakota — have term limit laws for legislatures. But Michigan's law stands apart from the other three in one important respect. More »
In Minnesota and Kansas, redistricting maps drawn by courts
by Tim Anderson ~ June 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The once-a-decade task of redrawing state political maps tends to bring with it some unexpected twists and turns, and the latest round of redistricting has been no exception.
In Kansas, lawmakers were unable to agree on a plan for new congressional and state legislative districts. As a result, The Wichita Eagle reports, the work was turned over to a three-person panel of federal judges. Minnesota is the other Midwestern state where the redrawing of political maps was put in the hands of the judiciary. In that state, the GOP-led Legislature’s plan was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. This stalemate resulted in a five-member panel of state judges drawing the new maps, which pair a “staggering” 46 incumbent state legislators, the website Ballotpedia reports.
Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin are among the states where legislature-approved maps have faced court challenges. As of May, none had been overturned, though a federal court ruling in April ordered Wisconsin to redraw two Assembly districts. In Ohio, meanwhile, an effort is under way to change the redistricting process via a ballot initiative. According to the Dayton Daily News, initiative supporters want a “politician-free” commission to draw the maps. A legislative task force has also been exploring ways to change the process in Ohio.
Capital Closeup ~ Recent disputes focus public attention on state laws determining effective date of bills
by Tim Anderson ~ May 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
When can and do bills enacted into law actually take effect? It is a question that usually merits scant attention outside the walls of state capitols, but over the past two years, the institutional issue has become part of the bigger story over the future of public employee union laws in the Midwest. More »
Only in the Midwest ~ Sizing up the Minnesota Legislature: The pros and cons of policymaking in the Midwest’s largest legislative body
by Mike McCabe ~ April 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
High above the main entrance to the Minnesota
State Capitol building, the Quadriga, a striking gold-leafed copper sculpture of
a four-horse chariot and figures, keeps steady watch over the grounds that
surround it. But it’s what is inside the historic, 107-year-old
landmark that really sets the Minnesota Capitol apart from others in the
Midwest. More »
Which states in the Midwest post the salaries of employees on their websites?
by Tim Anderson ~ April 2012 ~ Question of the Month »
As part of websites created over the past five years to improve state-spending transparency,
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota post the salaries of public employees. In Kansas, wages can be viewed by job title and
agency. More »
After huge GOP wins in 2010, partisan control of Midwest's legislatures up for grabs again
by Tim Anderson ~ April 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
When voters go to the polls this November, much of the attention will be focused on the race for president and partisan control of the U.S. Congress. But the elections will also determine which party enjoys majorities in the Midwest’s 20 partisan legislative chambers. More »
Study says states need to do more to prevent risk of corruption
by Tim Anderson ~ April 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The state of Nebraska grades out best in the Midwest in a new national study measuring the risk of corruption in all 50 states. More »
Capital Closeup ~ In most Midwestern states, legislatures can initiate special sessions, but it is an authority used sparingly
by Ilene Grossman ~ March 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
For decades, Nebraska legislators have had the statutory authority to call themselves into special session. They never have, but last year, Sen. Annette Dubas and some of her colleagues started taking steps to make state legislative history. More »
Putting power in states’ hands: Compact aims to improve process for siting transmission lines
by Ilene Grossman ~ March 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Many states in the Midwest are increasing their production of electricity, often through the development of wind energy, and power companies are looking to export that excess electricity to other states. To do this, though, additional transmission capacity is needed. More »
Only in the Midwest ~ Indiana’s second-in-command afforded powers second to none compared to region’s other lieutenant governors
by Mike McCabe ~ February 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The office of lieutenant governor in Indiana carries with it an array of responsibilities and duties that is unmatched in the Midwest and in most other states in the nation. More »
What are Midwestern states’ rules regarding protests and demonstrations in capitol buildings?
by Kate Tormey ~ February 2012 ~ Question of the Month »
A. In the last year, state capitols in the Midwest have become hotbeds of political protest as lawmakers have debated highly contentious issues. That activity has led, in some states, to a re-examination of rules that aim to seek a balance between public safety and public access. More »
Iowa requiring close look at impact of new agency rules on jobs
by Tim Anderson ~ February 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In Iowa, any proposed new rule or regulation by a state agency must be accompanied by a “jobs impact statement” — the effects, positive or negative, of the state’s action on employment in the private sector.
The requirement is the result of a gubernatorial executive order signed in 2011. Iowa legislators now want to make the rule more permanent, by passing legislation that would require jobs impact statements no matter who is serving as governor.
According to the Sioux City Journal, HF 2042 was the first bill approved this year by the Iowa House and did not receive a single no vote. (It had not yet been considered by the state Senate as of late January.) Like the executive order, the bill calls for an analysis of the cost of any new administrative rule on local governments and businesses. Whenever possible, too, the jobs impact statement must determine the per-employee cost of implementing or complying with a state rule.
Some states require that economic impact analyses be done on proposed legislation. A 2011 study by the state of Connecticut found that at least seven states (none of the seven were in the Midwest) have such requirements, some of which focus specifically on a bill’s effects on jobs and small businesses.
Capital Closeup ~ Selecting committee chairs: Process is largely controlled by leadership, but Nebraska is one notable exception
by Tim Anderson ~ January 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In Nebraska, the jockeying to become chair of one of the state’s 14 standing committees can last from the day one session ends to the day the next session is ready to begin. More »
Ohio lawmakers begin decade-long review of state Constitution
by Tim Anderson ~ January 2012 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Since being adopted, Ohio’s 161-year-old state constitution has been amended more than 160 times.
It has much less frequently been given a systematic, thorough review by lawmakers and other state leaders. But starting this year, in a process that will run through 2021, a 32-member group of state legislators and others has been tasked with studying the Ohio Constitution and exploring ideas for changing it. The Constitutional Modernization Commission was established as the result of legislation (HB 188) signed into law in 2011.
Any constitutional amendments proposed by the commission will require a two-thirds vote of members before being sent to the General Assembly for consideration, The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Ohio voters will have the ultimate say on any proposals. They will also decide this year whether the state should hold a constitutional convention. Such a vote takes place once every 20 years. Thirteen other states require periodic votes on whether to hold constitutional conventions, including Illinois (every 20 years), Iowa (every 10 years) and Michigan (every 16 years), according to CSG’s “The Book of the States.” In recent years, residents in those three states all voted not to hold conventions.
Indiana legislature will reduce paper trail by relying more on iPads
by Tim Anderson ~ December 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Like other state legislatures, the Indiana General Assembly uses lots and lots of paper — an estimated 17 tons every session. For a single piece of legislation last year (the state’s budget bill), a total of 133,080 pages were printed out. That is the equivalent of 16 trees.
In 2012, though, Indiana lawmakers hope to use a little less paper under a pilot project that will have them relying more on iPads. According to the Northwest Indiana Times, two legislative committees will go “paperless“ next year. Committee reports and documents will be distributed electronically, via iPads. Meanwhile, the state will examine ways to build out the technologies needed to expand the use of computer tablets as lawmakers familiarize themselves with the devices.
An Indiana Legislative Service Agency study found that 18 states have already launched paperless initiatives. In the Minnesota Legislature and Wisconsin House, one or more legislative activities have been converted to a paperless process. The Kansas and Ohio legislatures have also taken steps to reduce the use of paper. The same study estimated that during Indiana’s 2011 session, $550,000 was spent “moving paper.” This total includes actual paper and equipment costs as well as the time that staff devotes to distributing, filing and retrieving paper documents.
Capital Closeup ~ Michigan ends health benefit for legislators now only available in 2 Midwestern states: Ohio and Illinois
by Tim Anderson ~ December 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Michigan Rep. Joel Johnson says he entered elective office this year looking to save taxpayers money whenever and wherever he could. Within weeks, he found one of his first targets: a health care benefit for him and his legislative colleagues. More »
Only in the Midwest: Most states rely heavily on income tax, but South Dakota hasn’t
had one in 70 years
by Mike McCabe ~ November 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
South Dakota, like most other states, adopted a statewide tax on personal income early in the last century — only to abandon it during World War II, when sales tax revenues soared nationwide. More »
Supreme costs: Five Midwestern states have among most expensive
judicial
elections in nation
by Tim Anderson ~ November 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The trend toward big spending on state supreme court races took at least two new turns during the 2009-10 election cycle, according to a report issued in October by three judicial watch groups. And at the center of these changes are several states in the Midwest. More »
Major decisions coming on future of Kansas’ retirement system
by Tim Anderson ~ November 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Change is coming to Kansas’ pension plan for public employees. But what form it takes remains uncertain, as a study commission of lawmakers and non-government officials readies recommendations for legislative consideration in 2012.
According to The Topeka Capital-Journal, some kind of defined-contribution system — either for all new workers, or a “stack plan” that puts worker salaries above a certain level into a 401 (k)-style plan — will likely be proposed. Earlier this year, the Legislature approved higher contribution rates for public employers and workers. Those changes would take effect in 2014, but are contingent on the Legislature voting on the commission’s recommendations.
Like most states, Kansas currently employs a defined-benefit model, tying retirement benefits to a worker’s years of service and salary. One exception in the Midwest is Michigan, which uses a defined-contribution plan. According to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators, Indiana and Ohio have hybrid defined-benefit/defined-contribution plans for state employees. Nebraska, which once had a defined-contribution system, now uses a “cash balance” plan: Each worker has a retirement account and is guaranteed a 5 percent return on investment. Upon retirement, the worker can set up an annuity or get a lump-sum payment.
The map-maker: Using the ‘competition model’ as an alternative to current redistricting process
by Tim Anderson ~ October 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
He was fascinated by maps as a child, teaches physics at Northern Illinois University, and is a former alderman and mayor who helped redraw ward boundaries in his hometown. It is no wonder that Illinois Rep. Mike Fortner has taken a keen interest in redistricting since joining the state General Assembly in 2007. More »
Awarding innovation: CSG honors cloud-computing efforts in Michigan, wellness program in Nebraska
by Jennifer Ginn ~ October 2011 ~ PDF of Stateline Midwest article »
They are dissimilar programs trying to tackle very different issues in state government. But a new wellness plan for Nebraska state employees and a cloud-computing initiative in Michigan have least one thing in common: They have been identified as among the nation’s most innovative and exemplary programs in state government.
Both were selected as winners of 2011 CSG Innovations Awards and recognized at a ceremony in October at The Council of State Governments’ National Conference. More »
Capital Closeup ~ 11 ways to staff a Midwestern legislature: Data on staffing levels show wide variety in level — and type — of resources provided to region’s lawmakers
by Laura A. Tomaka ~ October 2011 ~ PDF of Stateline Midwest article »
The way individual state legislatures structure themselves can depend on a number of varying factors, and chief among those is the use of staff. Staffing patterns in the Midwest’s 11 state legislatures differ greatly — with variation seen in everything from the total number of people employed by the legislature, to the size of personal and partisan caucus staffs, to the staffing of committees. More »
Jobs in state, local government falling in most Midwestern states
by Tim Anderson ~ October 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In Ohio, the Dayton Daily News reports, the state and its local governments are shedding jobs and increasingly replacing full-time workers with part-time employees.
The Sioux Falls Argus Leader tells a similar story in a September article about trends in South Dakota: The number of state and public workers fell 4 percent between 2009 and 2010, and the decline is expected to continue in 2011 as the result of budget cuts. Fiscal woes have also led the Illinois governor to propose closing seven state-run facilities, including a prison, resulting in the loss of nearly 2,000 state workers, the Bloomington Pantagraph reports.
Across the country, the number of jobs in state and local governments is shrinking, recent U.S. Census Bureau data show. In Illinois and Ohio, for example, there were 10,000 fewer full-time state and local government workers in 2010 than there were in 2009. Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota also reported drops. South Dakota had the region’s sharpest percentage-point decline.
In the U.S., education (K-12 and higher education) accounts for half of the full-time jobs in state and local government. Higher education accounts for nearly one-third of the jobs in state government and 40 percent of the payroll.
Only in the Midwest ~ A look at the broad budgetary powers given to the Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance
by Mike McCabe ~ September 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In 1911, lawmakers in Wisconsin approved a flurry of sweeping and innovative
proposals that distinguish that year’s legislative session, even a century
later, as one of the most significant in the state’s history.
Among the
measures enacted that year were the nation’s first state income tax law, the
first state worker’s compensation law, a minimum-wage requirement for women, a
bill regulating child labor and another establishing a new Industrial
Commission. But one of the most enduring legacies of the 1911 session was a measure that
established a new joint legislative committee charged with overseeing the state
budget process. More
»
Nebraska near top of list of ‘most educated’ state legislatures
September 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »How educated are state legislators compared to the citizens they represent? That was the question The Chronicle of Higher Education set out to answer this summer by examining the educational backgrounds of the nation’s 7,000-plus state legislators. It found significant variations among the different legislatures, but at least one commonality: A state’s elected officials are much more likely to have college degrees than the general public. Nationally, 75 percent of legislators have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to about 30 percent of all Americans.
Here are some findings for the Midwest:
• The region’s smallest legislative body is its most educated. In Nebraska’s 49-person Unicameral Legislature, 87 percent of members have a bachelor’s degree or higher (third-highest in the nation). Five other Midwestern states have rates higher than the national average: Illinois, 81.9 percent; Minnesota, 83.9 percent; Ohio, 80.3 percent; and Wisconsin, 77.5 percent.
• South Dakota has the region’s lowest percentage of legislators with bachelor’s degrees (60.9 percent). Indiana (73.4 percent), Iowa (71.3 percent), Kansas (68.6 percent), Michigan (72.9 percent) and North Dakota (68.9 percent) also fall below the U.S. average.
2011 becomes election year due to surge in recall campaigns
August 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »Five states in the Midwest allow for the recall of state legislators, and it is an electoral procedure being used now more than ever before in the region.
This summer, more than a quarter of the Wisconsin Senate faced the prospect of being recalled; most of the nine sitting senators prevailed in their elections. Meanwhile, an effort is under way in Michigan to remove a legislator who serves as chair of the House Education Committee. These recall drives were launched in the two states following contentious debate over taxes, spending cuts and collective bargaining.
Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota are the three other states in the region that provide for the recall of state legislators. In Kansas, a petition must include signatures equal to 40 percent of the votes cast in the previous election for the position held by the officeholder. The other states use a 25 percent requirement (usually based on votes cast by the electoral district in the previous governor’s race). In Minnesota, the state Supreme Court must determine if there are sufficient grounds for a recall. Elected officials in that state can be removed from office for one of three reasons: “malfeasance,” “nonfeasance” or a “serious crime.” Like Minnesota, Kansas sets specific grounds for a recall. That is not the case in Michigan, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Sizing up the size of legislatures part of redistricting discussions
August 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »The latest round of redistricting has some lawmakers re-evaluating the size and number of legislative districts in their states.
In North Dakota, The Bismarck Tribune reports, this sort of re-examination has in the past led to a reduction in senators and representatives. The Legislature currently has 141 members, down from 159 in the 1980s. However, some lawmakers have suggested reversing this trend. Adding new members, they say, would keep already large rural districts (where population is declining) from having to greatly expand. The North Dakota Legislative Council estimates the 10-year cost of adding a district (three legislators per district) at $1.2 million. The North Dakota Constitution allows for as many as 162 members and as few as 120.
Most constitutions in the Midwest establish the exact size of legislatures or set size limits. (The lone exception is Minnesota, where size is prescribed by statute.)
Most states are already at their limit. One state that is not is Nebraska, whose Unicameral Legislature has 49 members. A proposal was made this year to increase the size to the 50-member maximum. LB 195 failed to advance, as did another proposal (LB 233) to eliminate four districts. The Unicameral must have between 30 and 50.members.
Brownstein: Era of political volatility, extreme partisanship resulting in inadequate policy response to nation's critical policy challenges
by Tim Anderson ~ MLC Annual Meeting Edition 2011 ~ PDF of Stateline Midwest article »
In political terms, two years seems like a long, long time ago. In the Midwest, Barack Obama had captured victories in seven of the 11 Midwestern states, and Democrats had gained control of a majority of the region’s partisan legislative chambers and governorships. More »
Turbulent economic, political era ahead for ‘patchwork Midwest’
by Jennifer Ginn ~ MLC Annual Meeting Edition 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
In 1950’s “All About Eve,” Bette Davis utters the famous quote: “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” Considering how fractured the country is, and the continuing toll wrought by the Great Recession, state legislators in the Midwest might want to be thinking about fastening their own seat belts.
That was the message of Dante Chinni, co-author of “Our Patchwork Nation” and a speaker at the Midwestern Legislative Conference Annual Meeting in July. More »
The minority rules: Measuring the power of majority party, rights of minority in legislatures
by Tim Anderson ~ June 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »The balance between the powers of the majority party and procedural rights of the minority in legislatures is an institutional issue not often discussed beyond the walls of state capitols. But this year was an exception, the result of the closely watched “walkouts” this year by two minority-party caucuses in the Midwest. More »
Ohio mandates audits of state agencies to improve operations
May 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »Seeking greater efficiencies in state government operations, Ohio lawmakers are turning to the power, expertise and resources of the state auditor for help. Legislation passed in April (SB 4) requires that four performance audits of state agencies be conducted each biennium. Those audits can be of the entire agency or of a particular program or entity within it. The state auditor will consult with the governor and legislative leaders on what agencies to review each biennium.
SB 4 also establishes a new fund to make loans available to state agencies to pay for the costs of the performance audits. At the conclusion of each agency review, the auditor will offer recommendations for cost savings and operational improvements. Agencies that do not follow the recommendations will have to report back to the legislature on why the proposals were not implemented.
In a 2008 report, The Pew Center on the States recommended that legislatures expand the capacity of auditor general’s offices in order to improve government performance. That Pew study, “Grading the States,” singled out three Midwestern states for having strong auditing systems in place: Kansas, Michigan and Minnesota.
Inside Census 2010, Part 3: Population loss in Midwest's cities continues, with ‘black flight’ among the latest trends seen by demographers
by Tim Anderson ~ May 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
The story of the population and economic decline of some of the Midwest’s largest, historically most important cities did not begin in 2000 and will likely not end in 2010. Nonetheless, data from U.S. Census 2010 are striking in showing the extent of the out-migration from many of this region’s central towns. More »
Only in the Midwest ~ Distinctive legislative rules in North Dakota — including allowing all bills to receive votes on the floor — reflect commitment to openness
by Mike McCabe ~ May 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
Across the country, no two legislatures go about the business of lawmaking in exactly the same way.
Still, for the most part, the basic procedures used in most capitols are similar enough that a visiting legislator would quickly recognize key features of the process in almost any state.
Here in the Midwest, however, one legislature stands apart from the rest, thanks to a unique combination of traditions, operating authority, customized rules and subtle nuances that make it unlike any other in the region. More »
Big split over unions: Debate over collective bargaining puts eyes of the world on Midwest, and fight over future of state laws has just begun
by Tim Anderson ~ April 2011 ~ PDF of Stateline Midwest article »
From the moment a restructuring of Wisconsin’s collective bargaining system was introduced, it became clear to legislators that state politics and policymaking — and their own jobs — were going to change as well. More »
Inside Census 2010, Part 2: Data show sharp population drop in rural Midwest; Kansas employs new strategy to help reverse trend
by Tim Anderson ~ April 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
One
constituent had just called Sen. Jeff King to tell him about having to leave
rural southeast Kansas due to a lack of broadband access. Another sent an e-mail
worried about losing the local grocery store.
These stories have become all
too familiar to King, who represents a part of the state that is experiencing
steep declines in population. More »
Another type of budget debate: Annual vs. biennial budget cycles — Which is most advantageous to legislatures?
by Ilene Grossman ~ April 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
State leaders are always looking at ways to save money, especially when
budgets are tight. The most obvious way to save money is through budget and
program cuts. But some states are also exploring options to refine their budget
processes in hopes of spurring more-effective long-term fiscal
planning. More »
Only in the Midwest ~ 74 years after it was created, Nebraska Unicameral remains a unique part of nation’s political system
by Mike McCabe ~ February 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
A senate, a house of representatives, majority and minority caucuses and partisanship leadership structures — these are some of the common features of state legislatures across the country. From coast to coast and in almost every state, bicameral legislatures are the American norm, with one noteworthy exception here in the Midwest. More »
What kind of population variations among state legislative and U.S. congressional districts are legally permissible?
by Tim Anderson ~ February 2011 ~ Question of the Month »
The once-a-decade task of redistricting is now in full swing in the Midwest, a region that will lose six seats in the U.S. Congress as the result of reapportionment and that, like the rest of the country, continues to see shifts in population from rural to metropolitan areas. More »
Midwestern states prepare for redistricting in 2011
by Kate Tormey ~ January 2011 ~ Stateline Midwest »
As the legislative session began in Iowa, state officials started the process of redrawing the state’s legislative and congressional districts.
But in Des Moines, the process won’t be the same as it is in other Midwestern state capitals, where legislators get the first crack at reconfiguring political districts based on new population data. More »
Inside Census 2010, Part 1: Midwest will lose money and influence as a result of 2010 Census results
by Tim Anderson ~ January 2011 ~ PDF of Stateline Midwest article »
In a decade when the U.S. population grew at the smallest rate since the 1930s and the Great Depression, every Midwestern state failed to keep pace with the nation’s 10-year growth rate of 9.7 percent.
One consequence of the 2010 Census for the 11-state Midwest will be the loss of five congressional seats — and five votes in the U.S. Electoral College. The new census data, which were released late last year, will also be used to determine state-by-state allocations of federal funding. More »
How do states in the Midwest handle recounts in legislative and statewide elections?
December 2010 ~ Question of the Month »
Election recount laws vary greatly in the Midwest. In some states, recounts are automatically triggered in close races. In addition, a number of states in this region allow candidates, election officials or the voters themselves to request recounts. More »
Minnesota streamlines legislative committee structure
December 2010 ~ Stateline Midwest »The number of legislative committees in Minnesota will be significantly reduced over the next biennium, a move that leaders say will save the state money and free up lawmakers to spend more time with constituents.
The changes were announced in November and will take effect in early January. The streamlining of legislative committees is expected to result in savings of $500,000 or more. Legislative leaders say the change also should make it easier for the public to follow the lawmaking process. The House will have 24 legislative committees and divisions, down from 36. The number of Senate committees and divisions was cut from 25 to 16, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
According to The Council of State Governments’ “The Book of the States,” the number of legislative committees varies widely from state to state. Nebraska, the only U.S. state with a unicameral legislature, had 14 legislative committees in 2009 — fewest among the 50 states. In contrast, Illinois had 85.
The number of standing committees in the eight other Midwestern states is as follows (as of 2009): Indiana, 43; Iowa and Michigan, 46; Kansas, 63; North Dakota, 23; Ohio, 48; South Dakota, 27; and Wisconsin, 64.