Archives

2008

September

Sep 04: Landmark Land Use Bill to Cut Sprawl and Carbon Emissions

August

Aug 25: Making College Affordable for All
Aug 21: Inside PSN: Interview with Thomas Frank on Conservatives and the Wrecking of Government as We Know It
Aug 18: Election Integrity – How We Lost It and How States are Getting It Back
Aug 11: While US Olympians Excel, US Health Care Under-performs
Aug 07: Inside PSN: Progressive States Network Welcomes New Co-Chair, New Board Members
Aug 04: Helping Poor and Working Families Build Financial Assets

July

Jul 31: Future State Toxic Toys Laws to Be Preempted Under Federal Consumer Protection Legislation
Jul 28: Inside PSN: Building a Progressive Majority in the States, 2008
Jul 21: Session Roundups: DE, LA, VA, AZ
Jul 17: Cleaning up Pollution in Ports to Save Lives
Jul 14: Bills that Made a Difference in 2008
Jul 10: States Still Leading Feds on Minimum Wage
Jul 07: Session Roundups: RI, SC, KS, IL
Jul 03: Session Roundups: NH and TN, plus Special Sessions in NV, WV KY, and WI

June

Jun 30: Supreme Court and the States: Business Wins, Voting Rights Lose, and a Mixed Bag on Criminal Justice
Jun 26: "Drill Now" Usual Rightwing Diversion from Real Energy Independence Policy
Jun 24: Inside PSN: The 2008 Progressive States Network Annual Gala
Jun 19: Illinois Legislature Passes Pay-to-Play Contracting Reform, Bill Awaits Governor's Signature
Jun 16: Session Roundups: ME, MN, MO, OK
Jun 12: Arbitration: "Set up to squeeze small sums of money out of desperately poor people"
Jun 09: State Policies for a $4/Gallon World
Jun 05: Mass. Health Care Reform One-Year Later: Clear Successes and Challenges Emerge
Jun 02: The New Voter Suppression and the Progressive Response

May

May 22: Largest Privatization Deal in U.S. History Proposed for Pennsylvania Turnpike
May 19: Telehealth: Merging of Technology and Medicine Leads to Improved Healthcare
May 15: State Session Roundups: CO, IA, CT, and MS
May 12: Eliminating Health Disparities, Achieving Equity
May 08: Session Roundup: HI, VT, NE, FL
May 05: Averting Layoffs and Revitalizing the Manufacturing Economy: Lessons from the Great Lakes States
May 01: Supreme Court Upholds Indiana Photo ID Law, Undermines Voting Rights

April

Apr 28: Climate Justice: Promoting Equity in Dealing with Climate Change
Apr 24: Toxic Toys Update: States Pushing Forward with Bold, Comprehensive Legislation
Apr 21: State Session Roundups: MD, WV, IN, GA, KY & ID
Apr 17: Tough Wage Enforcement Law Approved in Iowa Senate
Apr 14: Voter Registration: Steps States Can Take to Help Voters Register and Keep Them Registered
Apr 10: Stopping Profiteering in "Not-for-Profit" Hospitals
Apr 07: Extending Rights to Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender Americans
Apr 03: ME Sen. Passes NPV | Bush's Proposed Gutting of State Insurance Regulation

March

Mar 31: Promoting Smart Biofuels Policy at the State Level
Mar 27: Immigration Policy in the States- Mid-session Developments
Mar 24: Focus on Prescription Drug Reform
Mar 20: Short Sessions, Mixed Results: WA, WI, OR, WY, UT
Mar 17: Expanding Access to Justice in the Courts
Mar 13: Paid Sick Days & Paid Leave Bills Approved in D.C. and New Jersey
Mar 11: Making Voting Easier Assists Record Turnout in Presidential Primaries
Mar 06: Protecting Worker Freedom from Mandatory Meetings
Mar 03: Health-Care-for-All On the Installment Plan

February

Feb 28: States Criminalizing Immigrant Workers through State "Identity Theft" Legislation
Feb 25: Mass Transit Projects Provide Transportation Equity and Workforce Development
Feb 21: States Barred from Protecting Consumers Hurt by Faulty Medical Devices, Says Supreme Court
Feb 19: Dos and Dont's of Coping With State Budget Crises
Feb 14: Cracking Down on Misclassification of Workers-- And Raising Tax Revenue
Feb 11: Mapping and Deploying High-Speed Broadband
Feb 07: President's Budget Would Devastate State Services
Feb 04: State Immigration Policies & Politics in 2008

January

Jan 31: Low-Income Tax Relief, California Health Care and Public Financing in Washington
Jan 28: National Popular Vote- A Voter Turnout and Civil Rights Issue
Jan 24: Aiding States to Stimulate the National Economy & New Models for Health Care Reform - WI and WA
Jan 22: Protecting our Children: States Take Action Against Toxic Toy
Jan 17: Toll Increases for Public Investment, Affordable Housing Plans & Hate Crime Laws
Jan 14: Dealing with the Foreclosure Crisis at the State Level
Jan 10: Health Care Employer Mandate Approved by Appeals Court in Landmark Decision
Jan 07: Building a Progressive Majority: Bills for 2008
Jan 03: States Call for Moratorium on Home Foreclosures

2007

December

Dec 20: Health Care Reform in California, Climate Change's Impact on Low-Income Households, & the Economic Costs of Anti-Immigrant Legislation
Dec 17: Presidential Platforms and State Policies
Dec 13: Privatization Conference Call
Dec 13: Reducing the Mortgage Crisis, Abolishing the Death Penalty, & the Passenger's Bill of Rights
Dec 10: Privatizing in the Dark: The Pitfalls of Privatization & Why Budget Disclosure is Needed
Dec 06: Using Child-Support Payments, Gutting Anti-Terror Funding, & WA's Broken Tax System
Dec 03: Apollo's Fire and Updates on Family Leave and Paid Sick Days

November

Nov 29: Affordable Housing Conference Call, Privatizing Mental Health Services & Trans Fat Bans
Nov 26: Pay Dirt: Restoration Economies Uncover Gold (and Green)
Nov 19: Individual Mandates and the Problem of Affordability
Nov 15: Ranking the States on Online Disclosure of Govt Contracts, Subsidies and Lobbying
Nov 12: Fighting the Anti-Immigrant Movement in the States
Nov 08: Election Night 2007: Progressive Gains but a Mixed Night on Ballot Initiatives Around the Country
Nov 05: Economic Strategies for Nurturing Innovation and Job Growth
Nov 01: Stopping Toxic Toys

October

Oct 29: The Fight Against Global Warming: Another Way States Can Rein in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Oct 25: Auto Emissions Standards, SCHIP Continued, and Wal-Mart's Tax Evasion
Oct 22: Progress Amidst Conflict: California and Illinois Wrap up Sessions
Oct 18: Colorado Health Care at a Crossroads: Building a Path to Health Care for All
Oct 15: States Promoting Contraception to Reduce Pregnancies and Abortion Rates
Oct 11: How Exploited "Independent Contractor" Truckers Drive Pollution in Our Ports
Oct 04: MI & MD: Solving State Budget Crises with New Revenue
Oct 01: Why States Matter

September

Sep 27: Municipal Broadband Internet Moving Forward
Sep 24: New Polling: Paid Sick Days and Family Leave Overwhelming Political Winners
Sep 20: Industry Looks to Federal Rules to Preempt State Regulation
Sep 17: Criminal Justice Reform at the State Level
Sep 13: Will special session yield California health care reform?
Sep 10: Utility Decoupling: Giving Utilities Incentives to Promote Energy Efficiency
Sep 06: Housing Slump Hits Tax Revenues in Selected States

August

Aug 30: Labor Day: How States Can Protect Workers Rights
Aug 27: Student-Led Think Tank Advances Progressive Policy Reforms
Aug 23: Bush Blocks SCHIP - States and Congressional Leaders Vow to Fight Back
Aug 20: Eliminating Health Disparities
Aug 09: Investing in Crumbling Infrastructure in the States Before It's Too Late

July

Jul 31: Taking the Lead: 2007 State Legislative Successes in Enacting Progressive Policy
Jul 26: Conference Call: Healthy Wisconsin
Jul 17: Progressive States at NCSL in Boston
Jul 09: OpenLeft

June

Jun 18: Taking the Lead: An Interim Report on State Legislative Successes in Enacting Progressive Policy

May

May 29: Progressive States on YouTube
May 16: David Sirota & Lou Dobbs on Trade

April

Apr 27: States Sprint Past the Feds on Renewable Energy

March

Mar 26: Facing RACE: A National Conference

February

Feb 16: States Taking Action Against Iraq Escalation
Feb 05: Twenty States Introduce Resolutions Against Iraq Escalation
Feb 02: Health Care Cuts: Has President Bush lost it?
Feb 01: Think that high oil prices are a bad thing? Try telling that to Exxon Mobil.

January

Jan 26: Toll Road Giants Buy Media Critics
Jan 26: Blue and Green: So Happy Together
Jan 11: A Case Study in the Minimum Wage
Jan 08: Silicon Valley's Little Known Dirty, Polluting Secret
Jan 02: Arlington County Greens It Up

2006

December

Dec 21: Renewable Portfolio Standards
Dec 12: Penny Wise, Pound Foolish on Global Warming
Dec 08: Outrages of the Week
Dec 07: Local Officials Can Fight Vote Suppression
Dec 05: Can't Afford to Get Sick

November

Nov 28: State Blogs Discuss the PSN Agenda
Nov 28: PA: Recounts Concluded, Democrats Win the State House
Nov 28: "The real action will be at the state level"
Nov 27: Playing to Win
Nov 13: Oregonians say "no, but yes" to limits on campaign contributions
Nov 10: What is Happening in Montana?
Nov 08: Election 2006: Great News for Progressives
Nov 01: CA: Prop 90 Poses Major Threat to State

October

Oct 31: D.C. Faces Obstacle in Pursuing Smart Growth: The Feds
Oct 31: OR: The beginnings of a universal health care bill
Oct 27: Outrages of the Week
Oct 20: The Truth About Card Check
Oct 20: Outrages of the Week
Oct 18: CA: Schwarzenegger Tries to Amend Global Warming Law By Executive Order
Oct 18: The Anti-Government Revolution Sputters
Oct 17: Wildcatting Wal-Mart
Oct 13: Outrages of the Week
Oct 12: PA: Wal-Mart Workers Win Battle in State Court
Oct 06: CO: Legislator Takes Questionable Gift, Ducks Question, Gets Thrown Under Bus
Oct 06: Outrages of the Week
Oct 04: VT: State Hauled to Court While Defending Consumer Rights
Oct 03: NY: Policy Drives Water Consumption Way Down
Oct 02: Wal-Mart Moves to Cut Wages
Oct 02: IL: Low Wage Daley Strikes Again

September

Sep 29: CO & GA: Good Court Rulings for Democracy
Sep 29: Outrages of the Week
Sep 28: OR: Good News in Spending Fight
Sep 27: Wal-Mart to Gut Health Care Options
Sep 27: OR: Confused Anti-Government Radical Encourages Voters to Trust the Feds
Sep 22: Outrages of the Week
Sep 22: BIG Win: Appeals Ct. Upholds California Pro-Labor Law
Sep 21: KS: Attorney General Coaching Churches to Get Political
Sep 20: CO: Is Trailhead Laundering Corporate Money?
Sep 20: CO: Rightwing Secretary of State Ignores Some Laws, Invents Others
Sep 19: MT: TABOR Kicked Off the Ballot...Again
Sep 19: WA: Primary "Day" in Washington
Sep 15: CO: The Trailhead Gives Way to a Bizarre Path
Sep 15: OR: Rightwing Churches Playing Politics?
Sep 15: The Private Health Insurance Market Fails
Sep 15: Outrages of the Week
Sep 13: MT: Three Rightwing Initiatives Knocked Off Ballot for Fraud
Sep 12: MI: Stepping Up to Fight Cervical Cancer
Sep 11: Chicago Mayor Vetos Retail Living Wage Law
Sep 11: NV: Court Rules Measure 37 Clone Violates Single Subject Rule
Sep 08: Outrages of the Week
Sep 07: GA: Perdue Buddy Helps Him Have a "Happy Accident"
Sep 03: CA: Progressive Agenda in Bills Going to Governor
Sep 01: OK: Justices Rule TABOR Signatures Gathered Illegally, Measure Off the Ballot
Sep 01: AK: All in the Family

August

Aug 31: CA: Deal Cut on Global Warming Package, Popular Vote Advances to Gov
Aug 29: OR: Coward Rich -- Too Scared to Defend His Ideas
Aug 29: California Passes Universal Health Bill
Aug 28: Op-Ed Responds to Misleading Ads; Berman Pledges to Expand Buy
Aug 25: Outrages of the Week
Aug 23: CA: Major Boost for National Popular Vote Plan
Aug 23: MT: Attorney General Goes to Bat for Hard Working State Employees
Aug 22: GA: Perdue Buddy Helps Him Find the Magic Kingdom
Aug 22: Rightwing Operatives Launch Dishonest Campaign Targeting Public Employees
Aug 21: David Sirota and Joel Barkin -- Live in Colorado
Aug 21: NCSL Emerges as Lobbying Loophole as States Crack Down on Ethics Issues
Aug 21: US: State Anti-Immigrant Bills May Be Illegal
Aug 21: Outrages of the Week: Dumpster Diving, School Privatizers Stand Up for Public Teachers, and Damn Fast Signature Gathering
Aug 18: Health Care: Why Employer Responsibility is Needed
Aug 16: OH: Voting Problems So Severe, They May Not Be Solved by 2008
Aug 15: TX: Lobbyist Turned Consultant Hooks Buddy Up With State Investment
Aug 11: Progressive States at NCSL
Aug 11: Outrages of the Week: Governor Gift Gaffe
Aug 11: FL: What the People Really Want -- A Progressive Agenda
Aug 08: US: Governors Gettin' Angry
Aug 07: CO: Leaving Children Uninsured Has Serious Consequences
Aug 04: Outrages of the Week: Corruption in Colorado, Feds Threaten to Cut Worker Wages, and Rightwingers Play Politics
Aug 04: ME: Better Numbers on TABOR Spending Cap Proposal
Aug 03: Bad Minimum Wage Bill Dies in the Senate
Aug 03: Corruption in Colorado? Follow the Trailhead
Aug 03: IL Judge Uphold Hotel Workers Rest Breaks Law

July

Jul 31: The US House Minimum Wage CUT Bill
Jul 31: New TomPaine.com Piece on Eminent Domain
Jul 28: Outrages of the Week: More Racism in Colorado, Partisan Voter Suppression, and the Right Ditches Federalism
Jul 28: Under Cover of Wages, Congress Eyes Gutting State Health Care Proections
Jul 28: NCSL: Progressive States Partners With National Labor Caucus, AFL-CIO, and the American Federation of Teachers
Jul 28: Piece Meal Reform
Jul 27: Chicago: Groundbreaking Retail Workers Living Wage Law Passes
Jul 25: CA, IL: State Aid for Stem Cell Work After Bush Veto
Jul 25: CA: State Rules FedEx Drivers Employees, Not Contractors
Jul 21: John Kerry Jumps on Vote-by-Mail Bandwagon
Jul 21: Outrages of the Week: Hypocrites and Racists in the Statehouse?
Jul 20: During Record Profits, Oil Companies Demanding and Receiving Tax Breaks
Jul 20: Fair Share Decision: Setback for Maryland, but Not For Other States' Reform
Jul 19: CA: San Francisco Approves Universal Health Care
Jul 18: Drug Costs Soar on Medicare Part D
Jul 17: Improving Property Tax Systems
Jul 17: Hunger, Poverty, and Indicator Issues
Jul 14: MT: Clergy Come Out in Support of Minimum Wage Hike
Jul 13: Stop Governor Fletcher's Political Censorship in Kentucky
Jul 10: KY: Progressive Blogger Goes to Court Over Censorship
Jul 10: MT: Cracking the Property Tax Nut
Jul 07: MA: Minimum Wage Hike Moves Forward, Omits Cost-of-Living Adjustments
Jul 07: NC: Public Financing Pilot Program Advances
Jul 07: Outrages of the Week: 7/7/06
Jul 05: CT: Health Care for All a Major Issue in Political Campaigns
Jul 03: UT: Moderation on Immigration is Politically Sound
Jul 03: MT: A Tax Rebate for Regular Folks

June

Jun 30: Outrages of the Week
Jun 29: MT: Governor Proposes Fair Tax Rebate
Jun 21: IL: Chicago Advances Ordinance to Raise Wages
Jun 21: Poll: Overwhelming Support for Publicly Financed Elections
Jun 21: CA: San Francisco Proposes Universal Health Care
Jun 20: The Minimum Wage in Your State
Jun 20: FL: Insurance Companies Believe in Global Warming
Jun 19: A Bill of Goods for Taxpayers
Jun 16: DE: State Set to Up the Minimum Wage
Jun 09: CA: Keeping the Retirement System Honest
Jun 08: MN: State Moves to Promote Plug-In Hybrids
Jun 08: OR: Focus on TABOR Ends Bid for Corporate Accountability
Jun 06: Congress Preemping State Power
Jun 06: Why Progressive Power Matters in Statehouses
Jun 05: Beyond the Minimum Wage: New Policies to Raise Wages
Jun 01: Progressive States Board Member Leads Charge to Protect 25,000 Workers

May

May 31: ALEC Pitches Downward Spiral
May 31: CO: Gov. Owens Continues Rightwing Record
May 31: Welfare Does Not Breed Persistent Poverty
May 30: CA: National Popular Vote Advances
May 30: Wal-Mart Increases Poverty
May 30: Drilling for Oil in New York City
May 26: MA: Senate Votes for $8.25 Minimum Wage
May 23: An Indication of How Out-of-Touch NFIB Is
May 23: UT: Union Payroll Deduction Ban Unconstitutional
May 22: Voting by Mail-- In the Dispatch
May 22: FL: Rightwing Mayor Say Affordable Housing is "Communist"
May 18: IN: Rushed Social Services Privatization Condemned
May 17: Feds Fail on Immigration...Again
May 16: NY: Protecting Domestic Workers From Abuse
May 15: Corporate Tax Subsidies and Taxpayer Standing
May 15: NC: Minimum Wage Moving Forward
May 15: KY: Voters Want Fletcher to Resign Amid Scandal
May 15: MO: Legislature Removes Campaign Contribution Caps
May 15: NY: Time for Management to Bear Responsibility for Decisions
May 12: TX: Revolving Door Between Texas Leg and Tobacco Lobby
May 11: KY: Governor Ernie Fletcher Indicted
May 11: The Time to Tackle Corruption
May 10: VT: Maybe Universal Health Care
May 08: The Importance of the Veto
May 05: Uninsuring the Insured
May 04: