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Massachusetts

Universal Health Care's Next Steps - PA & IL Plans

Adam Thompson on March 15, 2007 - 8:22am
Illinois gained headlines in 2005 for its first-in-the-nation plan to provide health care for all children in the state, called AllKids.  Pennsylvania followed suit in 2006 with its own Cover All Kids plan.  Now the Governors of each state have proposed comprehensive health care reform packages with the goal of universal access to health care.  The plans build on reforms in Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, but go further in key areas of affordability and system reform.

Cracking Down on Wal-Mart's Favorite Tax Loopholes

Nathan Newman on March 15, 2007 - 8:22am
At the beginning of February, we reported on an expose of special loopholes used by Wal-Mart to slash its state taxes by hundreds of millions of dollars per year.  The scam involves Wal-Mart and other companies dividing themselves into separate subsidiaries, buying land and buildings, then deducting the rent paid to itself as a business expense.  But states are moving to eliminate the loophole and reclaim the lost revenue:

Beating the drug industry at its own game

Adam Thompson on March 1, 2007 - 11:00am
Pharmaceutical companies spend $11.4 billion each year on marketing.  Much of that is spent on salespeople, known as "detailers", who visit doctor's offices to pitch the latest drugs, in order to increase prescriptions for their company's products-- usually at the expense of older, cheaper, and often more effective drugs. 

Children on the Front-Lines of Health Care Battle

Adam Thompson on February 22, 2007 - 11:29am
While President Bush and Congress duke it out over funding and reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program, states are moving forward with universal kids coverage. 

States Limit Mercury Emissions While the Feds Fail to Act

J. Mijin Cha on February 22, 2007 - 11:29am
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania sued the Bush Administration this week claiming they failed to adequately regulate emissions of mercury and other pollutants at older cement plant kilns.  Last December, the EPA announced new limits on mercury and hydrocarbon emissions from cement kilns built after December 2, 2005, but left weak rules in place for kilns from before that date.  The states argue that the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to limit mercury from all kilns, not just new ones.

 

Strengthening Home Rule on Revenue Powers

Nathan Newman on February 15, 2007 - 9:55am
If states won't raise the revenue needed for local needs, the least they can do is let those cities and towns tax themselves.  At least that's the proposal by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, who this week proposed eliminating some of the restrictions that prevent Boston and other towns from raising local revenue through sales taxes, meals taxes or many other fees that comparable cities use.  This proposal joins a slew of other proposals for expanding local revenue options:

Report: US Joins Lesotho and Swaziland with Worst Policies for Families

Nathan Newman on February 8, 2007 - 9:31am
To the embarassment of a country with leaders that bill themselves as supporting "family values," a new report by the Project on Global Working Families finds that US federal policies are some of the least supportive of families in the world. 

Health Care in 2007

Adam Thompson on January 29, 2007 - 1:18pm

As the first month of the 2007 legislative session comes to a close, expanding access to health care is clearly a top priority for governors and legislative leaders across the country. From comprehensive health care for all in California and Pennsylvania to incremental cover all kids in North Carolina and to targeted program expansions in New Mexico, the proposals represent an unprecedented focus in states to address the health care crisis that grips our families and businesses.

Mass Health Care Plan Proves Costly to Individual Citizens

Matt Singer on January 22, 2007 - 3:18pm
“Affordable”? Health Care Plan Could Cost Some Bay Staters as Much as a Third of Their Income New York, NY ”“ The Massachusetts Health Care Plan, negotiated by former Governor Mitt Romney and the legislature, is proving to be expensive, just as critics warned, with the lowest cost plan costing state residents as much as $9,560 per year in out-of-pocket expenses if they suffer a serious illness.

National Popular Vote Moves Forward in North Dakota and Nation

J. Mijin Cha on January 18, 2007 - 11:05am

Legislators in North Dakota are promoting the radical idea that the candidate who wins the most votes for President should actually be President.  The legislature introduced a bill last week to award its electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote nationally.  A national popular vote initiative was passed by both chambers in California last year, only to be vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.  For the upcoming legislative sessions, twenty-nine states have also already lined up sponsors to introduce "National Popular Vote" bills.