April 1, 2010
The Missouri Senate voted Tuesday to shield more than one-quarter of Missouri’s public school districts from a midyear funding shortfall. Declining state revenue led Gov. Jay Nixon to conclude earlier this year that Missouri wouldn’t have enough money to make midyear payments to districts totaling $43 million. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education had […]
April 1, 2010
Education funding is still being heavily debated in the Michigan legislature, with many parents and candidates puzzled by what’s going on and seeking soluti ons. Members of the Northville Democratic Club had a Town Hall Meeting March 9 at the Northville Public Library, inviting three education experts to speak on this hot topic. Speakers included […]
April 1, 2010
Public school districts in San Mateo County stand to lose more than $25 million in state funds through the 2010-11 fiscal year, according to an analysis released Monday by the California Budget Project. However, that amount is just part of the overall budget cuts that districts are bracing for given the state’s $20 billion deficit […]
April 1, 2010
The state Senate shifted rightward Wednesday by pushing plans to give private companies more tax money to manage prison operations and healthcare for the poor. As debate over the state budget began in earnest, the one-two privatization punch drew opposition from Democrats. They managed to soften the blow to the public prison system — job […]
April 1, 2010
It’s been trumpeted as one of the key elements in the Democrats’ plan to expand access to health care for tens of millions of vulnerable Americans. Yet a provision of the newly passed health reform bill that raises doctors’ payments under Medicaid is both temporary and limited in the scope of medical services it covers. […]
April 1, 2010
The House and Senate have substantial differences to work out on legislation that would allow counties to cut back on school spending during tough economic times without losing state aid. Both chambers have passed bills that set guidelines for waivers to the state’s “maintenance of effort” rules for local school funding. The issue has been […]
March 31, 2010
School districts across the state are holding public hearings this week on their dismal budgets, reluctantly asking voters to accept fewer services and higher property taxes as a result of deep cuts to state aid. Education officials said the sweeping cuts will frustrate schools across New Jersey — from wealthy suburbs to vast urban areas. […]
March 31, 2010
The epic year-long quest to improve access to health care for at least 31million more Americans ended Tuesday when President Obama signed the bill that won over the final votes needed to pass the legislation. "It represents a major step forward toward giving Americans with insurance and those without a sense of security when […]
March 31, 2010
A group represe nting Arizona hospitals is pursuing a ballot initiative that would tax the state’s high-income earners to help pay the health-care tab for the state’s neediest kids and adults. The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association expects to file paperwork for the initiative later this week, aiming for a place on the November ballot. […]
March 31, 2010
State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, predicted Tuesday that a bill that "restrains" Medicaid costs will most likely be presented to the Legislature this session. "Medicaid is the Pac-Man in the state budget," Proctor said, echoing a well-used comparison. "It is taking an increasing amount of the state budget, Our two biggest budget items are […]