Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
36313
From: "In the News" <inthenews@csg.org> BC: Governor Musgrove Created: 8/8/2002 5:58 PM Subject: CSG's In the News Message: CSG's In The News A weekly news overview from The Council of State Governments http://www.csg.org Text version Last updated: 08/08/2002 NATIONAL Tight times for states improve gamblings odds Faced with massive, unexpected debts, many states are taking a fresh look at gambling as a possible cure to their fiscal woes, triggering what could become the first broad expansion of casinos and slot machines in a decade. The hunt for an antidote to budget shortfalls that doesn't require raising taxes has softened resistance to gaming in Maryland, where opposition once ran high, and in New York, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. It is the chance for states to cash in that is proving irresistible, said Robert McIver, who handles investor relations for International Game Technology of Nevada, one of the nation's largest makers of slot and video poker machines. Without gaming, McIver said, "you're going to have to raise taxes or cut programs. And you know how politicians feel about that." Read the story: Tight times for states improve gamblings odds Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43924-2002Aug4.html See the resources: Gambling expansion tempts cash-strapped state legislatures (Stateline Midwest) CSGs STARS, an electronic database accessible free to all CSG members at www.csg.org or for purchase by calling 1-800-800-1910 Colorado: Lottery posts record sales for past year Rocky Mountain News http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_1310918,00.html Iowa: Court upholds tax ruling for tracks The Des Moines Register http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4788993/18900908.html Connecticut: Casino opponents come together The Hartford Courant http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-anticasino0806.artaug06.story?coll=hc-headlines-local%20%20 Kentucky: Patton suggests expanded gambling Courier-Journal http://courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/08/06/ke080602s253528.htm Indiana gaming commission flexes its muscles The Indianapolis Star http://indystar.com/data/wire/out/0805ap_m741p8b009.html EAST Connecticut: Juvenile programs fall short When the state started offering alternative incarceration programs for juvenile delinquents in the mid-1990s, it expected a drop in the rate of children committing crimes after they left the system. A report to be released today [Aug. 1] will show just the opposite. Juveniles who took part in the state-funded programs in 1999 were more likely to commit crimes after their discharge than youths in the system during 1994, before the programs were implemented. Read the story: Juvenile programs fall short The Hartford Courant http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-juvenilestudy0801.artaug01.story?coll=hc-headlines-local See the resources: Interstate Compact on Juveniles CSGs Public Safety and Justice Policy Group To rehabilitate juveniles, South Dakota must reform system (Stateline Midwest) CSGs STARS, an electronic database accessible free to all CSG members at www.csg.org or for purchase by calling 1-800-800-1910 Juvenile Probation on the Eve of the Next Millennium (Perspectives) CSGs STARS Juvenile Justice: Adult Consequences for Young Offenders (SGN) CSGs STARS Despite promising statistics, juvenile crime remains a top concern in states (Firstline Midwest) CSGs STARS Juveniles Facing Criminal Sanctions: Three States that Changed the Rules (Spectrum) CSGs STARS Juvenile Justice Information Center (California) Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice http://www.jjic.org/ Juvenile Justice Reform Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority http://jja.state.ks.us/reform.htm Recommendations for Juvenile Justice Reform (pdf file) American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry http://www.aacap.org/legislation/articles/everything6.PDF WEST West is wary of new rules governing power sales Federal energy regulators yesterday proposed nationwide rules for power sales aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's energy crisis in California and other Western states. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission wants to eliminate an inefficient patchwork of regulations across the country that allows or even encourages manipulation of energy markets and dampens competition. But officials from many Western utilities worry that the proposals will allow just the opposite. Read the story: West is wary of new rules governing power sales Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/80843_ferc01.shtml See the resources: Standard of Review for Proposed Changes to Market-Based Rate Contracts for Wholesale Sales of Electric Energy by Public Utilities (pdf file) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission http://www.ferc.fed.us/pl02-7-000.pdf Power struggles: Midwest hopes to learn from other states' deregulation woes (Stateline Midwest) CSGs STARS, an electronic database accessible free to all CSG members at www.csg.org or for purchase by calling 1-800-800-1910 The Unfulfilled Promises of Electric Restructuring (NorEaster) CSGs STARS Rocky Mountain Restructuring: What Works for the Western States U.S. Department of Energy http://www.eren.doe.gov/electricity_restructuring/status.html Federal authorities must return to cost-based rates in western wholesale electricity markets (pdf file) Consumer Federation of America http://www.consumerfed.org/fercfilepr.pdf Western States Energy Policy Roadmap (pdf file) Western Governors Association http://www.westgov.org/wga/policy/01/01_01.pdf MIDWEST Indiana: State targets assets hidden from Medicaid It will be harder for Hoosiers who don't want to spend their life savings on nursing home care to get taxpayers to foot the bill, because state officials are closing loopholes in Medicaid law. Many people have avoided going broke by purchasing savings bonds Medicaid cannot touch, investing in rental property and giving it away, or buying annuities meant to preserve their money for children and grandchildren. State officials hope to wipe out all three loopholes this year. Read the story: State targets assets hidden from Medicaid The Indianapolis Star http://indystar.com/article.php?estate07.html See the resources: Health: Medicaid Needs Surgery (SGN) CSGs STARS, an electronic database accessible free to all CSG members at www.csg.org or for purchase by calling 1-800-800-1910 Nebraska: Gov. Johanns Medicaid cuts advance Press & Dakotan http://pressanddakotan.com/stories/080702/new_20020807019.shtml Indiana: Medicaid lawsuit payout less than expected The Courier-Journal http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/08/02/in080202s251686.htm Indiana: Medicaid costs under budget The Indianapolis Star http://indystar.com/article.php?day02.html Washington: Some pharmacies cut off Medicaid patients Seattle Post-Intelligencer http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/81112_medicaid02.shtml SOUTH Missouri: State launches amnesty effort to collect back taxes Missouri's Revenue Department today launched an effort to collect at least $20 million in back taxes from delinquent individuals and businesses. The amnesty program began today and ends Oct. 31, 2002. The taxes must have been due on or before last Dec. 31, so income taxes from 2001 are not eligible, Farmer said. Almost all types of taxes are eligible for the amnesty program, including individual and corporate income, estate, sales and motor vehicle sales and property tax credits. Read the story: State launches amnesty effort to collect back taxes News Tribune http://newstribune.com/stories/080102/sta_0801020906.asp See the resources: Tax amnesty programs win favor in cash-strapped states (Stateline Midwest) CSGs STARS, an electronic database accessible free to all CSG members at www.csg.org or for purchase by calling 1-800-800-1910 Illinois: State lawmakers fear tax cheats may prosper Chicago Sun Times http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-tax05.html Kentucky tax amnesty program offered through Sept. 30 The Cincinnati Enquirer http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/08/01/loc_ky_tax_amnesty.html Michigan: State revenue from tax amnesty is short The Detroit News http://detnews.com/2002/metro/0206/27/d01-524711.htm State tax amnesty programs: 1982-Present The Federation of Tax Administrators http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/amnesty1.html Tax Amnesty Program Missouri Department of Revenue http://www.dor.state.mo.us/tax/amnesty/ In the News is a weekly news overview compiled by The Council of State Governments. In The News Advertising: (800) 800-1910 or email us at sales@csg.org CSG does not endorse the editorial content of the pages to which it links. If you wish to add names to or remove names from the In the News mailing list, email inthenews@csg.org. - Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\CSG's In the News\TEXT.htm - Attachment Filename: C:\archives\governor\mail\Governor Musgrove\_attach\CSG's In the News\Mime.822