Toll Fellows

Healthcare 2012: A Closer Look

23.6% - Numbers are a funny thing.  When you're talking about a tax rate, 23.6 percent seems a lot smaller than when you realize that same number is the amount of state budgets taken up by Medicaid expenses in 2011.  Medicaid is the single biggest budget item for states and it is eating away at funding that was once going to seemingly "safe" areas like education. The budget tight rope has states looking for ways to bring down Medicaid costs, from reducing eligibility to expanding managed care. At the same time, states are watching the Supreme Court's consideration of challenges to the Affordable Care Act as they gear up to implement associated new policies.  Health care has been a huge topic in statehouses for several years and promises to remain so in 2012.  To equip state policymakers with the information they need, CSG has identified the Top 5 issues in the area - check it out!

Fiscal and Economic Issues 2012: A Closer Look

Since 2009, state budget shortfalls have been staggering and, even as the economy shows signs of turning around, states project shortfalls of more than $100 billion in 2012!  Facing ongoing fiscal constraints, states will continue to focus on jobs and the million-dollar question of how to create them.  In addition, as funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act runs out and in the face of continuing demands by big ticket items like education and Medicaid, federal funding questions will continue to leave states scrambling to increase revenues. As a result, 2012 may end up being the year of tax reform.  CSG seeks to help you explore all of these fiscal issues and questions with it's Top 5 issues of 2012 - check it out!

Education 2012: A Closer Look

Just a few weeks ago, Indiana and Minnesota became the first states to file for waivers from No Child Left Behind.  How many states will follow this lead in 2012?

Whether it's seeking No Child Left Behind waivers, adopting Common Core State Standards, implementing new performance pay incentives for teachers or tackling tenure reform, a number of education policy discussions will dominate state houses across the country.  CSG education policy lead Pam Goins explored the Top 5 issues she sees facing states in the area of education this year.

Energy and Environment 2012: A Closer Look

$20 billion - That's the average annual support states have relied on for more than 30 years that will be lost as a result of Congress allowing ethanol production tax credits to expire.  In a federal election year where partisan gridlock may slow or completely stop Congressional action on a number of important issues, CSG lead energy and environmental policy analyst Brydon Ross has identified the Top 5 issues facing states - including the loss of federal energy incentives like the ethanol tax.  Other areas CSG monitor for states this year include growing efforts by states to require fracking disclosures, the siting and construction of energy pipelines to help meet consumer demand, and clean air regulations.

2004 Toll Trey Grayson featured on NPR

Former Ky Secretary of State and current Director of Harvard's Institute of Politics, Trey Grayon was featured this morning on NPR.  Grayson was interviewed for a piece highilighting the increased notoriety of Secretaries of State.  Grayson attributes much of the attention to increased public awareness of the voting process following the 2000 presidential elections.

Check out the full story here!  Great job Trey!

Make your resolution stick

At the beginning of each year many people make resolutions and set new goals.  I am going to workout more. I'm going to stop smoking.  I'm going to read more.  I'm going to be a better listener.  I'm going to spend more time with my kids/family.

Have you set one of these or a similar goal for yourself?  This short (less than 4 minutes) video offers some great insight on how it is much easier to achieve a new goal if you focus on the first 30 days.  Enjoy!

 

2009 Toll Fellow Matt Dunlap annouces run for US Senate

Former Maine Secretary of State and member of the 2009 Toll Fellows class, Matt Dunlap has launched a campaign for the US Senate.  Dunlap is competing in the Democratic primary and ultimately hopes to unseat incumbent US Senator Olympia Snowe. 

Prior to announcing his run for the Senate, Dunlap spent six years as the Secretary of State and eight years in the state House of Representatives.

CSG Past Chair Kim Koppelman mounts US Congressional campaign

North Dakota state Representative Kim Koppelman, a member of the 2000 Toll Fellow class and a former national CSG Chair, announced Monday that he is seeking the Republican nomination for his state's open congressional seat.  Koppelman joined a growing field of primary candidates seeking to fill the seat currently occupied by Rep. Rick Berg, who is now running for the US Senate.

2007 Toll Fellow Tonya Williams joins VP Biden's team

Tonya Williams announced last week that she will leave her position as Congressman G.K. Butterfield's chief of staff to become Vice President Joe Biden's new Director of Legislative Affairs.  Prior to joining Butterfield's staff, Williams served as the North Carolina Senate President's General Counsel.

Congratulations Tonya!

Madeleine Albright on the women in government

Former U.S.Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks with her characteristic frankness and humor about the importance of having women leaders, her experiences in a male dominated profession and why women's issues are anything but "soft."  This is a short, to the point, enjoyable clip that women and men alike can learn from.