State Net ************************************************** C A P I T O L J O U R N A L ************************************************** News & Views from the 50 States ================================================================= Volume XVI, No. 28 Monday, September 15, 2008 ================================================================= ##### TOP OF THE NEWS ##### SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ............................1 * Financial services industry going old school BUDGET & TAXES ............................2 * Feds seize Fannie and Freddie POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ............................3 * Election season heats up in Northeast UPCOMING ELECTIONS ............................4 GOVERNORS ............................5 * Schwarzenegger faces recall UPCOMING STORIES ............................6 HOT ISSUES ............................7 IN THE HOPPER ............................8 ONCE AROUND THE STATEHOUSE LIGHTLY ............................9 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ...........................10 *** The next issue of Capitol Journal will be available on September 22nd. ***************************************************************** ***** #1--SNCJ SPOTLIGHT ***** Financial services industry going old school Insurance and investment sales representatives have been spending a lot of time studying Social Security, Medicare and estate planning lately, judging from the proliferation of professional certifications like "Senior Specialist" and "Retirement Adviser" in the marketplace. But along with this spike has come the potential for abuse, leading lawmakers and regulators to figure out how to prevent poorly trained or unethical financial advisers from preying upon vulnerable older citizens. According to the New York Times, the number of certified senior advisors has increased by 78 percent over the past five years, and at least two dozen senior certification programs now exist nationwide. Legitimate programs offer extensive training, conduct rigorous exams and specify continuing education requirements. A number of programs, however, are geared towards marketing and selling practices and offer no financial training. Many of these courses last only a few days, and some of the designations can be earned simply by paying a fee. The less rigorous certification programs achieve their aim. A recent survey conducted by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which oversees nearly 5,000 brokerage firms, found that a quarter of senior investors were told by an investment professional that the professional was specially accredited to advise them on senior financial issues, and half of the investors indicated they were more likely to listen to his or her advice because of that. But the glut of senior certifications has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in complaints and investigations related to senior sales practices the last couple of years. Consequently, lawmakers have begun to take notice of insurance and investment sales representatives with inadequate training. In 2007, MASSACHUSETTS started the ball rolling by issuing regulations that bar the use of credentials implying agents have special expertise in servicing senior citizens, unless the credentials meet certain standards. Later that year, the NEBRASKA Department of Banking and Finance, Bureau of Securities issued an Interpretive Opinion that was even more specific. The notice listed acceptable designations that could be used by broker-dealers and investment advisers on business cards, stationary, and advertising materials. Although the intent of both state regulatory actions was supported by the industry, many have expressed concerns about a state-by-state regulatory approach and encouraged the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) to standardize guidelines governing the use of senior-specific certifications. As a result, the Task Force on Senior Designations was created to formulate uniform accreditation standards that could be adopted by every state. The task force released its Model Rule on the Use of Senior-Specific Certifications and Professional Designations in April 2008. The model, which incorporates provisions from the MASSACHUSETTS and NEBRASKA rules, prohibits the use of senior specific designations that are misleading. It also designates how a non-accredited entity can attain certification through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and regulator-approved educational institutions. Furthermore, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) recently issued a bulletin to remind insurers that they would be held accountable for agents who sell their products using misleading designations. The NAIC also released a consumer alert warning seniors to question the credentials of individuals who represent themselves as senior or retirement specialists. The industry's guidelines have prompted legislation concerning insurance and securities sales designations in more than a dozen states, including high senior-population centers like CALIFORNIA and FLORIDA. In CALIFORNIA, lawmakers this year approved companion Assembly Bills 2149 and 2150, which bar brokers and agents from using a senior designation unless they have completed a specific number of hours of training first. Violators would face a loss of license. Both are now with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), who is expected to sign them into law. FLORIDA Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has already signed SB 2082, which makes using trumped up or phony designations a misdemeanor. Senior advocacy groups like AARP supported those and other measures across the nation. In an interview, AARP spokesperson Christina Clem said bills like the CALIFORNIA and FLORIDA measures are a good start, but much more must be done at both the state and local levels to ensure greater safeguards are in place to protect seniors from the industry's bad actors. "We encourage all state lawmakers to address this issue," she says. "It would be a lot easier if we had a national standard, but the reality is that these efforts usually have to start at the state level before Washington will act." That may already be in the works. U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WISCONSIN) has introduced the Senior Protection Act of 2008, which would provide state grants that would enhance senior investment protection efforts. The grant program would allocate resources for staff, training and technology to identify, investigate and prosecute fraudulent behavior. The bill would also encourage states to distribute educational materials to increase awareness. The bill is unlikely to generate serious momentum before the end of this year, but prospects for passage look favorable in 2009. That may or may not be a good thing, according to Will Schuck, a spokesperson for CALIFORNIA Assemblyperson Patty Berg, who authored AB 2149 and AB 2150. "We would certainly support a federal statute as long as it is stronger than what we have at the state level," Schuck says. "But I would never want to give up strength for uniformity." In the meantime, since many products are sold by independent agents who are not affiliated with one specific company, many financial services companies are assuming greater responsibility for safeguarding their own reputations. Some now maintain a list of approved certifications that can be used by their sales representatives, while others prohibit the use of senior-specific designations altogether. Still others have set firm certification and training standards to assure competency. Since the public's trust is at stake, the industry will likely continue to embrace the efforts of federal and state lawmakers to help weed out the spurious students from the legitimate ones. But AARP's Clem still worries that the industry's self-regulation may not be enough to counter the worst of the fraudulent operators out there. "For the folks who scam seniors and other consumers, a system without strict enough penalties will just not work. These people find all kinds of creative ways to do what they do, and there has to be some kind of real teeth to how we deal with them." "When it comes to enforcement," Clem adds, "You really have to have a hammer." -- By David Guisti and Rich Ehisen David Guisti is a director in State Net's Financial Services Division in Washington D.C. ***************************************************************** ***** #2--BUDGET & TAXES ***** FEDS SEIZE FANNIE AND FREDDIE: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may have been hoping to muddle through the mortgage crisis by raising fees and interest rates enough to offset their increased borrowing costs and lack of capital. But the door was slammed on that possibility last week when Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., with the backing of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Housing Finance Agency head James Lockhart, seized control of the companies and authorized the Treasury to start buying mortgage-backed securities. That level of government involvement in the financial world hasn't been seen since the Great Depression. But Paulson et al evidently concluded that Fannie and Freddie couldn't adequately reconcile their obligations to shareholders with their responsibilities to homeowners, and that the economy wasn't going to recover until there was more stability in the housing market. The two companies reportedly didn't go quietly into conservatorship, but they didn't have much of a choice. Operating on a business model that relied upon the perception that they had the backing of the federal government, taking on the feds in court would undoubtedly have led to a quick death in the marketplace. As a result of the takeover, the companies' directors and top executives will lose their jobs, and shareholders will lose their dividends as well as most of their ownership stake. But the holders of trillions of dollars in Fannie and Freddie debt and mortgage-backed securities will get all of their money back plus the interest they're owed, and low-interest loans will continue to be available in the struggling housing market. (WASHINGTON POST) US HIGHWAY FUND RUNNING ON EMPTY: A federal trust fund used to pay for highway construction will run out of money by the end of this week unless Congress makes a major deposit, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced last week. The fund had an $8.1 billion balance at the start of the fiscal year, Oct. 1, but payments are currently exceeding collections by $8.3 billion, according to the Transportation Department. The shortfall is due to a "significant, precipitous drop-off" in road travel and, consequently, the fuel-taxes the fund relies on, Peters said. She said that in order to conserve cash the department would begin slowing payments to states, reimbursing them for construction projects on a weekly basis rather than twice daily as it does now. Peters' announcement was a reversal of policy for the Bush administration, which a little over a month ago dismissed a congressional bailout proposal as a "gimmick and a dangerous precedent" that would increase the federal deficit. Which prompted a back-handed complement from one congressional lawmaker. "I'm glad the administration has for once set aside its blind ideology and come on board with what Congress has been trying to do," said U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OREGON), who chairs the House highways subcommittee. (BLOOMBERG.COM) BUDGETS IN BRIEF: KANSAS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) said last week that she will ask the Legislature again to approve a 50-cent increase in the cigarette tax to help provide health insurance for low-income residents. Legislative leaders said the proposal would probably get about as far as it did last session: nowhere (LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD). * Last week the CALIFORNIA Legislature rejected the budget plan proposed last month by the minority Republican Party (see "CA REPUBLICANS OFFER ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PLAN" in Sept. 8 issue of SNCJ). * To avoid having to cut education funding as a result of declining lottery ticket sales, FLORIDA intends to tap $48 million from an unclaimed property account (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES). * Faced with a budget deficit for 2010 that could reach $1 billion, HAWAII Gov. Linda Lingle (R) issued emergency orders last week for the state to start cutting spending. Legislators say balancing the budget may require laying off workers (HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN). * For the first time in 20 years MARYLAND officials voted to raise the amount the state can borrow for schools, roads and other projects. Some fiscal leaders had urged restraint with a possible $1 billion budget shortfall on the horizon, but Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D) administration said that without the increase, the state would have to scrap $800 million in planned construction projects over the next two years (BALTIMORE SUN). * OHIO Gov. Ted Strickland (D) ordered $540 million in budget cuts and adjustments due to revenue shortfalls. Those cuts are on top of the $733 million in cuts the governor ordered in late January to the two-year state budget that ends in July 2009 (TOLEDO BLADE). * The ILLINOIS House voted last week to explore leasing the state lottery to a private company to provide billions of dollars for construction projects (DAILY HERALD [ARLINGTON HEIGHTS]). * NEW YORK Gov. David Paterson (D) warned business leaders at a forum in Manhattan last week that a tax hike may be necessary to get the state out of its fiscal troubles (DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE [ROCHESTER]). * LOUISIANA state officials said last week that Hurricane Gustav has cost the state and the federal government $470 million combined so far (TIMES-PICAYUNE [NEW ORLEANS]). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #3--POLITICS & LEADERSHIP ***** ELECTION SEASON HEATS UP IN NORTHEAST: Last Tuesday, NEW YORK Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) easily won his first primary challenge in over two decades. The 15-term assemblyman claimed 68 percent of the vote -- according to unofficial results -- despite the endorsement of one of his two neophyte challengers, Paul Newell, by the New York City's three major newspapers. A couple of Silver's fellow veteran Democrats, however, didn't fare as well. Sen. Martin E. Connor, a former Senate minority leader who'd been in office since 1978, was defeated by Daniel L. Squadron in District 25, covering parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, and Sen. Efrain Gonzalez, a Bronx incumbent under federal investigation for corruption, was defeated by former state senator Pedro Espada Jr. in District 17. In VERMONT, where turnout -- at under 10 percent of registered voters -- was on pace to be the lowest in the state's history, Democrats chose attorney Tom Costello to take on incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie in November. And in the only other statewide primary in the Green Mountain State, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D) took nearly 90 percent of the vote against his Democratic opponent, all but assuring his re-election because the GOP isn't fielding a candidate. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-NEW HAMPSHIRE) and former Democratic Granite State governor Jeanne Shaheen bested little-known challengers in their respective primaries -- former state Rep. Tom Alciere, and lawyer Ray Stebbins, respectively -- setting the stage for a U.S. Senate race rematch in November. In 2002, Sununu, then a congressman, edged out Shaheen, then governor, by 4 percentage points. But Sununu is now considered to be one of most vulnerable incumbents in the Senate, largely because VERMONT has shifted Democratic in recent years. (NEW YORK TIMES, BURLINGTON FREE-PRESS, CONCORD MONITOR) FL CAMPAIGN STRATEGISTS MAKE 'REPUBLICAN' DIRTY WORD: In the weeks leading up to FLORIDA's primary elections on Aug. 26, attack ads targeting Democratic legislative candidates and backed by groups with good-government-sounding names flooded the state's airwaves and mailboxes. For instance, the People for a Better Florida Fund sent out mailers accusing two former legislators in a Democratic senate primary in South FLORIDA -- Ken Gottlieb and Tim Ryan -- of having "taken tens of thousands in campaign money from Bush backers and Republican special interests." Similarly, a mailing by the Florida Consumer Alliance said Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando "sold us out to Republican special interests," and a TV ad referred to his opponent, Maurice "Doc" Woodard, as a "George W. Bush Republican." In truth, the ads had little to do with partisanship. Gottlieb and Ryan voted against legislation in 2003 that would have imposed caps on medical malpractice awards, a top priority for the traditonally Republican-supporting doctors behind People for a Better FLORIDA Fund. Siplin, likewise, voted against several bills backed by the trial lawyers and labor unions who formed the Democratic-leaning Florida Consumer Alliance. And Woodard opposed school vouchers, the pet issue of the sponsors of the TV ad assailing him as well as former Gov. Jeb Bush (R). But the groups seized on an issue more likely to resonate with voters. (The strategy appears to have worked for the doctors, at least. Gottlieb and Ryan were narrowly defeated by the third Democrat in the primary, Eleanor Sobel, another former House member who is married to a doctor and was one of only six Democrats in the chamber who supported the medical-malpractice caps.) Rep. Dean Cannon (R), who helps oversee House races, called the anti-GOP messages in the primary races "creative thinking." But Erin VanSickle, spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Florida, said the strategy wasn't really anything new. "Democrats accuse each other of being like Republicans in primary races, that is what they do," she said. "Republicans accuse each other of being like Democrats in primary races, that is what they do. It is called politics." On this instance, however, it appears to be a case of Republicans and Democrats accusing Democrats of being like Republicans when it's to their advantage. POLITICS IN BRIEF: Last week, the ILLINOIS House resoundingly rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich's (D) attempt to rewrite ethics legislation aimed at preventing him from granting state contracts to campaign donors. The 110-3 vote reflected lawmakers' contempt for an administration besieged by corruption investigations (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). * WASHINGTON state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D) is challenging a voter-approved law requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. Brown contends the state constitution specifies only that it takes a simple majority to pass laws (NORTHWEST PUBLIC RADIO [PULLMAN]). * FLORIDA's "no match, no vote" law, passed in 2005, went into effect last week. Voter registration information for individuals registering to vote must now match identification information in other state databases or the individuals will only receive provisional ballots on Election Day (PALM BEACH POST). * The KANSAS state Supreme Court is considering whether to allow judges to express their personal views on issues like abortion, capital punishment and gay marriage. Some believe the public would be better served by knowing where judges stand on such matters, but the state's code of ethics for judges bars them from discussing how they would rule on any given subject (KANSAS CITY STAR). * ARIZONA, MISSOURI and NORTH CAROLINA took top honors in this year's Innovations in American Government Awards given by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. ARIZONA was recognized for its unique prisoner re-entry system, MISSOURI for its success with rehabilitating juvenile offenders and NORTH CAROLINA for its college preparation program for disadvantaged youths (STATELINE.ORG). -- Compiled by KOREY CLARK ***************************************************************** ***** #4--UPCOMING ELECTIONS ***** (09/11/2008 - 10/04/2008) 09/16/2008 Massachusetts Primary Election House (All) Senate (All) US House (All) US Senate (John F. Kerry) 09/20/2008 Hawaii Primary Election House (All) Senate 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 16, 18, 22, 23 US House (All) 09/23/2008 Mississippi Special Election House District 114 (Guice) 10/04/2008 Louisiana Special Primary House District 18 Senate District 9 US House (All) US Senate (Mary L. Landrieu (Rescheduled from 9/6/08)) ***************************************************************** ***** #5--GOVERNORS ***** SCHWARZENEGGER FACES RECALL: The cold war between CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and the state's politically powerful prison guards' union turned hot last week as the union announced plans to launch a recall campaign against him. In filing the recall petition last Wednesday, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) cited "catastrophic leadership failings and inept management" that it says have left the state in worse fiscal shape than when Schwarzenegger took office five years ago. Union leaders specifically cited the state's $17 billion budget gap as a prime reason why the governor should be recalled. Schwarzenegger's staff was quick to dismiss the effort as little more than another salvo in what has been a long-running public relations battle between the union and the governor, noting that the CCPOA has been wrangling for a new long-term contract -- and a significant pay raise -- for the last two years, something Schwarzenegger and lawmakers have resisted. Nonetheless, Schwarzenegger's political team wasted little time in responding to the filing. Staffers sent out a flurry of press releases, organized conference calls with reporters and encouraged the governor's political allies to send out statements of support for him. Schwarzenegger political adviser and former communications director Adam Mendelsohn took the lead, saying the recall is the union's attempt to strong arm the governor into acquiescing on the pay hike while also derailing a redistricting initiative he has championed that goes before voters in November. "This is a union that has a history of throwing a lot of money at political issues," said Mendelsohn. "We can't be so naive as to think it's not serious." While Schwarzenegger's staff and confidants are taking the recall threat seriously, Schwarzenegger himself brushed it aside, saying "I will not be intimidated by anybody that is demanding more money than the state can afford and that demands deals more than the state is wanting to give." The irony of Schwarzenegger possibly being recalled after sweeping into office himself in the historic recall of former Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 was not lost on long-time Capitol observers. But while Schwarzenegger's approval ratings have dipped dramatically in the wake of the ongoing budget mess, many expressed doubt that voters would be overly responsive to what is essentially a wage fight that doesn't directly impact them. San Jose State University political science professor Larry Gerston said a recall would be a "long shot" even if Schwarzenegger's standing with voters continues to fall. "People are frustrated, that's for sure. But I'm not sure the frustration manifests itself enough with the governor," said Gerston. (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, LOS ANGELES TIMES, SACRAMENTO BEE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, CAPITOL WEEKLY [SACRAMENTO]) PALIN ETHICS PROBE GOES ON: The head of the ALASKA Legislative Council refused a request from a Republican lawmaker last week to remove the Democratic state Senator in charge of an ongoing ethics investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin (R). Republican Rep. John Coghill asked the Legislative Council to remove Sen. Hollis French after the senator told the media that the probe's results were going to be an "October surprise" that is "likely to be damaging to the administration." Sen. Kim Elton, the head of the Legislative Council and also a Democrat, turned down the request, saying French's comments had already been "corrected in a very public way in the media." Investigators have already said they do not intend to subpoena Palin on the matter. Meanwhile, several media outlets also reported last week that Palin received more than $17,000 in per diem expenses for 312 nights she spent at her home in Wasilla during her first year and a half in office. Palin's aides defended the per diem payments, saying she was entitled to them because she was working out of her Anchorage office, which is nearly 600 miles away from the state capital of Juneau. (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK TIMES) SCHWEITZER FACES VOTE-TAMPERING PROBE: MONTANA Secretary of State Brad Johnson has asked state Attorney General Mike McGrath to investigate a complaint that Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D) engaged in vote-tampering in the November 2006 election. The complaint was filed by a Republican activist over a July 14 speech Schweitzer gave to a lawyers' group in Philadelphia in which he said he took steps on Election Day to help Democrat Jon Tester unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns. The complaint alleges that Schweitzer bragged that "he designed a plan to threaten poll watchers on Indian reservations," while personally applying pressure to elections officials and manipulating the media "for purposes of diminishing a call for a recount." Schweitzer denied the charges, saying he was only attempting to liven up his speech. "I was just joking around and making it colorful," Schweitzer said. "I can now see it was offensive to some people, and I'm deeply sorry if I offended anyone." (BILLINGS GAZETTE) GOVERNORS IN BRIEF: OHIO Gov. Ted Strickland (D) released new guidelines that require the payment of prevailing wage for workers on projects involving state support for environmental cleanup or the purchase of machinery and equipment with state dollars (CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER). * RHODE ISLAND Gov. Don Carcieri (R) announced that the state Department of Corrections and the federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have signed an agreement in principle that would allow early release for some illegal immigrants in Ocean State jails as long as they agree to go back to their home country and not return to the United States. The program would apply only to those inmates serving time for non-violent crimes. Participating immigrant inmates who do return would face a revocation of parole plus an additional 20 years in federal prison (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL). * NORTH CAROLINA Gov. Mike Easley (D) proposed that the Tar Heel State require new buildings to be 30 percent more energy efficient than those built to national standards. Easley said he wants the state to be one of the most energy efficient in the nation (NEWS & OBSERVER [RALEIGH]). * VERMONT Gov. Jim Douglas (R) announced that the Green Mountain State will raise the eligibility limit for receiving food stamps from the current 130 percent of the federal poverty level to 185 percent, equivalent to a salary of about $19,300 for an individual, $26,000 for a couple and $39,300 for a family of four. Douglas said the state will also eliminate current restrictions on assets. The new rules go into effect next January (BURLINGTON FREE PRESS). * WASHINGTON Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) became the latest chief executive to propose a four-day work week for some state employees as a money saving device during tough budget times. For now, Gregoire's plan is considered experimental and is expected to impact only a few hundred workers. Governors in UTAH, NEW YORK and COLORADO have mulled or ordered similar programs (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #6--UPCOMING STORIES ***** Here are some of the topics you will see covered in upcoming issues of the State Net Capitol Journal: - Prison health care - No Child Left Behind - Battling sprawl ***************************************************************** ***** #7--HOT ISSUES ***** BUSINESS: A federal judge blocks a key portion of a recent Congressional overhaul of the nation's bankruptcy laws that requires lawyers to give specific advice to bankruptcy clients, including not incur any further debt. The judge determined that the restriction was too broad. The U.S. Department of Justice is considering an appeal (ASSOCIATED PRESS). * NEW JERSEY Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signs AB2867/SB1919, a measure that grants developers a two-year extension of permits on building projects that have been postponed due to the national economic slowdown. The so-called "Permit Extension Act" also revives projects with permits that expired after Jan. 1, 2007 (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). HEALTH & SCIENCE: The SOUTH CAROLINA Supreme Court rules that Palmetto State cities can ban smoking inside public places but can't jail people who light up anyway. The justices ruled that towns can't make violating the smoking ban a crime because there is no statewide ban (ASSOCIATED PRESS) * NEW JERSEY Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signs AB1908/SB1217, which requires Garden State health officials to develop an autism, intellectual and developmental disability training course and curriculum for first responders, including emergency medical technicians, police officers and firefighters. New emergency personnel will be required to complete the training as a condition of certification; currently licensed responders will get three years to complete the training (NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR). SOCIAL POLICY: The FLORIDA Supreme Court rules that the Sunshine State's 31-year-old ban on homosexuals adopting children is unconstitutional because it singles out a group for punishment. The ruling leaves MISSISSIPPI as the only state to forbid gay adoption (MIAMI HERALD). POTPOURRI: KENTUCKY Gov. Steve Beshear (R) signs emergency regulations banning the use of anabolic steroids in thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing in the Bluegrass State. Owners or trainers who violate the new regulations face suspensions of up to 60 days for the first infraction. The changes take effect immediately (KENTUCKY POST.COM). * NEW JERSEY Gov. Jon Corzine (D) signs AB839/SB989, which requires Garden State motorists to secure their wheelchair bound passengers with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards approved securement device (NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR). -- Compiled by RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #8--IN THE HOPPER ***** At any given time, State Net tracks tens of thousands of bills in all 50 states, US Congress, and the District of Columbia. Here's a snapshot of what's in the legislative works: Number of 2008 prefiles last week: 17 Number of 2009 prefiles last week: 156 Number of Intros last week: 359 Number of bills enacted/adopted last week: 173 Number of 2008 prefiles to date: 20,733 Number of 2009 prefiles to date: 1,131 Number of Intros to date: 89,016 Number of bills enacted/adopted overall to date: 26,365 -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (measures current as of 09/11/2008) Source: State Net database ---------------------------------------------------------------- States in Regular Session: DC, MI, PA, US States in Recess: IL, NJ, NY Special Sessions in Recess: CA "a", CA "b", CA "c", CT "b", CT "c", CT "d", DE "b", PA "a" States in Extended Session: CA(Budget) States in Informal Session: MA States in Skeleton Session: OH States in Perfunctory Session: IL Special Sessions "a"-"x" States Currently Prefiling or Drafting for 2009: AL, FL, KY, MT, ND, NV, VA States Adjourned in 2008: AK, AL, AZ, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NM, OK, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY State Special Sessions Adjourned in 2008: AK "c", AK "d", AL "a", AR "a", CT "a", DE "a", KY "a", LA "a", LA "b", ME "a", MS "a", NC "b", NH "a", NM "a", NV "a", NY "a", OR "a", VA "a", VA "b", WI "c", WI "d", WI "e", WV "a", WV "b" Letters indicate special/extraordinary sessions -- Compiled By JAMES ROSS (session information current as of 09/12/2008) Source: State Net database ***************************************************************** ***** #9--ONCE AROUND THE STATEHOUSE LIGHTLY ***** AND YOU ARE? Ever since his near-disastrous "Year of Reform" special election in 2005 almost destroyed his political career, CALIFORNIA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has abruptly moved away from some of the positions his Republican cohorts hold most dear, particularly with his support of gay marriage and raising taxes to help bridge the state's gaping budget gap. So it should come as no surprise that, as the Los Angeles Times reports, the Governator recently told a German magazine that he intentionally avoids the Golden State's GOP leadership because they are "so out-there" politically. In fact, so rarely does he interact with his own party that at a recent gathering to discuss the state's budget impasse, Republican lawmakers wore name tags so he would know who they were. Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines shrugged the snub off, saying, "You've got to have a sense of humor about this...He's in our family, like it or not." YES, BUT I BET HE KNOWS HER: While many of his fellow Republicans are a mystery to him, you can bet that Schwarzenegger wouldn't have any problem recognizing CALIFORNIA Assemblywoman Nicole Parra. As the Sacramento Bee reports, the men's magazine Maxim recently ranked Parra, a Central Valley Democrat, number four on its list of "The World's Hottest Politicians." Parra was not the only state lawmaker on the list, however, as MICHIGAN state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer was listed at number eight. ALASKA Gov. Sarah Palin -- surprise! -- also made the list, coming in second to an Italian politico named Mara Carfagna. Who says the media doesn't care about real issues? ALL DOLLED UP: Speaking of Gov. Palin, you might say the hits keep on coming. As reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the CONNECTICUT-based Web site Herobuilders.com has latched onto the recent bit of Palin fever by introducing an action figure in her likeness. Actually, it is three action figures, including a "super action" figure in a microscopically short skirt and sporting a thigh holster for her gun. Option two features a somewhat more conservative business suit -- though with a seriously plunging neckline -- while Sarah III is decked out in a "naughty schoolgirl" motif. Lest you think Herobuilders.com is unduly singling out the stylish former beauty queen, it also offers dolls in the likenesses of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Eliot Spitzer, and others. Or, if candy is more your speed, political junkies can get a McCain or Obama Pez dispenser. What a world. PLANE TO NOWHERE: Not everyone is as caught up in Palin hysteria. As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, PENNSYLVANIA officials were crowing last week over successfully selling a state-owned airplane for several hundred thousand dollars more than it cost 16 years ago. While Palin has made copious political hay out of selling a jet purchased with state funds by former Gov. Frank Murkowski -- regaling cheering crowds at the recent Republican National Convention with her tale of putting the plane on eBay -- Chuck Ardo, a spokesperson for Gov. Ed Rendell, noted that Palin ultimately sold the plane through a private broker, and at about a $600,000 loss to boot. "It just goes to prove that a high-flying but inexperienced politician is no match for a down-to-earth professional when it comes to selling state planes," said Ardo, who added that his state's plane was sold via ads placed on two aeronautical Web sites. -- By RICH EHISEN ***************************************************************** ***** #10--IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ***** It has been a rough eight years for the relationship between states and the White House. As noted in the September 8 issue of SNCJ, state officials are hopeful that will change next year, regardless of who's sitting at the president's desk. In case you missed it, the article can be found on our Web site at http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal/09-08-2008/html ***************************************************************** State Net Publications """""""""""""""""""""" Editor: Rich Ehisen - capj@statenet.com Associate Editor: Korey Clark - capj@statenet.com Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Steve Karas (CA), Bruce McKeeman (CA), Jeff Kinnison (CA), Linda Mendenhall (IL), Lauren King (MA) and Ben Livingood (PA) Graphic Designer: Vanessa Perez ***************************************************************** To receive future issues in PDF or HTML format contact our Help Desk at 800/726-4566 or email helpdesk@statenet.com. To unsubscribe, go to http://statenet.com/unsubscribe *****************************************************************