GOVERNORS
GOP govs ponder challenges ahead 

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Session ends badly in PA
 

The week in session
Bird's eye view
Hot issues
In the Hopper
State recaps available this week 
Upcoming elections
 

Nanotechnology's supporters claim it will revolutionize the world and make millions for those who develop it; others say it will destroy life on earth. This makes the science of being small a big problem. 

Growing your next big industry: Nanotechnology

Hypesters say there are big bucks in nanotechnology -- where scientists arrange atoms to create new molecule shapes and infinitesimally small machines on a scale 80,000 times smaller than a human hair -- but there is one tiny little problem. According to its harshest critics, nanotechnology could eventually destroy all life on the planet.

Horrific fear scenarios aside, there is little doubt that nanotechnology will eventually touch every facet of our lives. According to Lux Research, by 2014 nanotechnology -- which comes in two basic flavors: wet (anything to do with drugs or molecular technology for the body) and dry (anything to do with machines, materials or electronics) -- will be $2.6 trillion market. But the big question is what should government do about it today?

Advocates, of course, want to fund research to the hilt. But nanotechnology's critics, including such notables as Britain's Prince Charles, urge caution and regulation. Hysterics worry that rampaging self-replicating nano-robots will multiply out of control and rearrange matter molecule by molecule, converting the world into gray goo. (Although the prince recently stated that he never used the term "gray goo" he did ask, "How are we going to ensure that proper attention is given to the risks that may... ensue?")

Others contend that nanotech is a fad, or worse, an easy way to pry research dollars out of tight government fists. In recent years, firms looking for venture capital plied this by adding cyber, then biotech, to their names. Some critics contend that nanotechnology groups learned from that example, and are just using the name as a way to get their hands on government cash. 

"The prefix phenomenon happened when a lot of grant money became available," says Dr. David. M. Berube of the University of SOUTH CAROLINA NanoCenter. "A lot of integrated science centers that specialized in chemistry and engineering merged together to form nano programs. Some states (CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, TEXAS) have outstanding nanotechnology programs, with others it is mostly window dressing."

With so much venture capital, why should government, which has a poor track record for picking winners in the marketplace, fund any research? Because, boosters say, sexy startup firms cluster around university or government research locations and are often started by the professors, post-docs or grad students. Also, the university creates a steady talent pool to staff a burgeoning nanotech industry. 

Currently, there are 76 bills in statehouses that at least refer to nanotechnology in some form. They range in size from a MINNESOTA bill (HB 2549) that would create "nanotechnology zones" to CONNECTICUT's $200,000 to fund a "nanotechnology study" (HB 5033) to $2 million in COLORADO (SB 72) to "be invested in qualified nanotechnology businesses" that will stay in the state for five years. In NORTH CAROLINA, the Governor signed off on $3.8 million for UNC's Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (HB 1699 and SB 1354). A proposal in ILLINOIS to create $15.8 million grant to Argonne National Laboratory for the Nanotechnology Institute (SB 3361) survived a line item veto and was enacted.

In late 2003 President Bush also signed the "21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Pub. L. No. 108-153)" that authorizes $3.7 billion for nanotechnology research and development from 2005-2008.

Of the top 10 states for nanotechnology profiled by the industry trade magazine Small Times earlier this year, almost all got a jump start with publicly funded research. 

"With the exception of   ARIZONA, each state in the top 10 list claims title to a national laboratory or to some of the most acclaimed state and private science and engineering universities in the nation," writes Candace Stuart in the March/April issue. "Those as well as industrial centers like Motorola Research Labs in Tempe, Ariz., form the crucible for scientific and technological discoveries."

States have a lot of options. "Government can establish the infrastructure with research funds and matching funds, centers of excellence, commercialization infrastructure to get innovations to market. All these can layer upon layer to great effect," says Sean Murdock, Executive Director of the NanoBusiness Alliance.

"It is important for all these states, cities and municipalities to look at their native industries to see where they are positioned to be excellent. Create the infrastructure to make that happen. Grow the commercial base they have rather than import from other areas," says Murdock.

For states to benefit from nanotech they have to focus on keeping the tax base in place. "States need to foster partnership between startups, existing products and old line companies," says Murdock. "Right now many of the startups partner with Japanese and Korean companies and so the value of that innovation goes overseas. It is a travesty for the United States."

Not so in California, where the state's robust nanotech transfer effort, the California NanoSystems Institute, has funded over $100 million to state firms using 250 federally funded research grants. It has also facilitated the transfer of intellectual property to other companies.

"What's required is more than writing a check," says Derek Boston, CNI's Senior Vice President. "States have to take a portfolio approach. For every ten efforts, six will be failures, two or three will be a singles or doubles and one is the home run that pays for all the money you spent."

While federal law usually governs intellectual property law, there are some state specific issues, such as who owns the patent that was discovered with partial state funding. States need to look at local laws to ensure that state law helps rather than hurts commercialization efforts. 

"Say you developed a nanoparticle polymer at a state university and you want to commercialize it. Some states will mandate that you have to submit your startup to competitive bidding," says Berube. "That state law is saying that you have to advertise your trade secret in order to get funding."

"We need to broaden the scope of what is getting funded," says Scott Mize, President of the Foresight Institute, a nanotech thinktank. "We need to fund more basic types of research, we need to research the building blocks as well as the more advanced form like building nanoscale molecular machines."

"If you look at the top 10 nanotech products of 2003, they are consumer products like tennis balls, better sunglasses and stain-resistant pants," says Mize. "These are great products, important steps in commercializing nanotech, but government should focus on the major problems facing humanity, such as global warming, making sufficient drinking water, fighting AIDS, making agriculture more productive, etc."

The U.S. Patent office has established Class 977 for nanotech inventions. However, working on such a small scale, scientific disciplines converge, as do existing patents, leading to legal disputes. The patent rules are currently being hammered out, but it could take years. 

For business leaders, after funding and patent clarity, the third major federal issue is fear of regulation. 

In addition to the mad science gray goo scenario, which even nanotech opponents admit is way beyond the current level of the technology, nanotech business leaders worry about unnecessary fear mongering. Some media critics have urged the public in print to rise up against nanotechnology, painting it as the next big science threat after genetically modified food. Others warn that advances in nanotechnology will reduce markets for commodities from poor nations.

"There are lots of groups in the business of declaring what's wrong with something new," says Mize. "They are very anti-technology and anti-globalization. It is a knee jerk reaction to something new or something they don't understand. We need to engage in respectful and serious dialog to address those concerns, to get to the truth of the matter and have everyone be happy with the outcome."

The nanotech industry sees regulation as a way of squelching progress. "Don't regulate until regulations are justified," says Berube. "Where there are a lot of roadblocks, researchers will just go to a foreign location...Japan, China and the European Union are serious competitors. If states don't have development consortiums to find local business relationships with local nanotech firms, the other countries will."

-- By DON LIPPER

Don Lipper is a California-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to the State Net Capitol Journal.

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This story is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague, former SNCJ Editor Melanie Smith. 

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Budget & taxes

CONGRESS JUST SAYS NO TO INTERNET TAXATION: Heeding a call from anti-tax advocates and the high-tech industry, Congress last week approved S 150, legislation that renews through 2007 a ban on states taxing Internet access. The bill does allow the nine states that already impose such taxes -- HAWAII, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW MEXICO, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, WASHINGTON, and WISCONSIN -- to continue doing so, also through 2007. The 27 states which currently tax high-speed DSL lines did not fare as well, as the legislation requires that practice to end by November 2005.

The bill drew immediate praise from state governors, who were dead set against a permanent ban on access taxes. Nervous governors also feared the measure would wipe out as much as $20 billion in state and local taxes on local and long-distance telephone service, but S 150 also ensures that governments can continue to tax all telephone services, including calls made over the Internet. In a statement after the vote, Raymond B. Scheppach, executive director of the National Governors Association, said, "The nation's governors are pleased that Congress agreed on this reasonable extension of the previous ban on state and local taxation of Internet access. The temporary moratorium is fiscally fair and preserves existing state and local government revenues."

Congress deftly avoided, however, dealing with the other Internet tax bugaboo -- applying state sales tax to online purchases -- during an election year. While nobody knows when that tricky subject will be addressed, S 150 heads to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. (STATELINE.ORG) 

STATES' FISCAL SQUEEZE ENDING? A new report from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of NEW YORK says only eight states were forced to raise taxes in 2004, a significant drop from previous years. The eight states that hiked taxes -- ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEW JERSEY, OKLAHOMA, RHODE ISLAND, and VIRGINIA -- raised a total of $2.6 billion in additional revenue, a hefty chunk but nonetheless a steep decline from the $7 billion gathered in 2003. Most of the tax increases came as a result of legislative action, but three (California, Colorado, and Oklahoma) were the result of ballot measures approved by voters. Only two states actually cut taxes in 2004: IOWA, which restarted an energy sales tax phase-out the state had suspended, and NEW HAMPSHIRE, which sliced $30 million from its general fund to pay for a reduction in property taxes. The Iowa cut cost the state about $63 million. The report also said that this year's tax hikes are the last that can be directly attributed to the 2001 recession that started most states spiraling downward into years of historic budget deficits. (STATELINE.ORG)

BUDGETS IN BRIEF: The PENNSYLVANIA House rejected a Senate-approved plan that would have given millions of dollars in tax breaks to cable giant Comcast in exchange for moving its corporate headquarters several blocks into a new skyscraper in downtown Philadelphia. Comcast had touted the promise of thousands of new jobs at the new building, but opponents, including Republican lawmakers and major office landlords in Philadelphia, said the nation's No. 1 cable company hardly needed a government handout (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE). * ALASKA wildlife officials have proposed doubling the cost of hunting licenses as a means of raising $9 million a year to fund improvements in the state's wildlife management system. Advocates say the fee hikes -- including a $5 increase in the cost of fishing licenses --   will fund the replacement of aging sportfish hatcheries, new predator control measures and basic management costs. The request must first be approved by the Last Frontier Legislature (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS). * NEW JERSEY Gov. Richard Codey (D) ordered all state departments to enact emergency savings measures to prepare for looming budget cuts. State finance analysts are expecting an approximate $4 billion shortfall in the 2005 budget. The request came on the same day the state said tax collections for July through October were down 2.3 percent from previous estimates (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). * Gov.-elect John Lynch (D) of NEW HAMPSHIRE echoed Codey's sentiments, telling all state department heads they will need to justify every dollar they hope to spend in the upcoming budget (NASHUA TELEGRAPH). * CONNECTICUT Gov. M. Jodi Rell (R) has ordered an immediate and indefinite ban on all out of-state travel by state employees. Although one critic, Democratic lieutenant governor Kevin B. Sullivan, derided the ban as "insignificant" and "symbolic," Rell's budget chief, Marc S. Ryan, said the freeze could save the Constitution State as much as $1.8 million in the current fiscal year. The state is anticipating a $1 billion budget gap next fiscal year (HARTFORD COURANT). 
 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

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Politics & leadership

SESSION ENDS BADLY IN PA: PENNSYLVANIA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has never had a warm relationship with the GOP-controlled Legislature, but the winter chill in the air turned downright frosty last week as lawmakers ignored Rendell's midnight plea to have them stay around the Capitol until Nov. 30, the legally mandated end of the session. Rendell lobbied lawmakers not to go as soon as they hinted at cutting the session short, saying "There are still major things that need to be done. It would be irresponsible for us not to fix the funding gap that exists for mass transit. It makes no sense."

Lawmakers did not agree, abruptly ending the 2003-04 session 10 days early. That move left much of Rendell's agenda on the table, including a possible gasoline tax hike designed to pump $110 billion into the state's floundering mass transit system and an $800 million environmental investment bond. An angry Rendell made it clear in a post-session news conference that he would no longer support a 20 percent pay raise that legislators had asked for. He also announced he would veto changes Republicans had just made the day before to improve a new law legalizing slot machines. That veto would doom a provision that has so far gained broad acceptance, a ban on a 1 percent ownership stake in gambling casinos by public officials. 

GOP leaders reacted with anger of their own, as a representative for House Republican leader Sam Smith said Rendell "has proven to be impossible to negotiate with in any reasonable fashion." Republicans claimed Rendell had waited too long to begin discussion on taxes for transit funding, and had tried "to cram that down our throats." They also saw red over the failed pay hike, accusing Rendell of playing a game of quid pro quo with legislative pay hikes in order to force the tax increases for mass transit. Rendell bristled at the charge, saying lawmakers "haven't made their case. How could anybody go back to regions where mass transit is important and say, `We couldn't find money for mass transit, but we found $15 million for a pay raise.' How could you possibly do that? It's an absolutely unsupportable position. It makes no bloody sense at all."

Rendell could have the last laugh, as a little-known provision in the state's oil franchise tax is expected to go into effect on Jan. 1 anyway, hiking the state gasoline tax by 3.8 cents a gallon. Although the bulk of the revenue would go to PennDOT, the state transportation authority, officials there joined Rendell to say they would be willing to cut their shares to raise $190 million to fund public transit. (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW)

RETRIBUTION FOR ALASKA COUP: The aftermath of an attempted coup in the ALASKA HOUSE ended just about how most observers thought it would -- with a "woodshed" meeting that saw angry Republican leaders strip two wayward GOP members of prized committee chairmanships. Although the majority of the rebellious Republicans went unpunished, Reps. Mike Hawker and Nancy Dahlstrom paid dearly, losing leadership of the House Special Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Oil and Gas respectively. Hawker and Dahlstrom were part of a group of 12 Republicans who attempted to band together with all 13 House Democrats to seize control of the chamber in order to reinstall recently deposed House Speaker Pete Kott into his old position. The rebellion lasted only about 48 hours, ending after new House Speaker John Harris (R) convinced the participants that Kott had greatly exaggerated the number of Republicans who were defecting. But while Hawker and Dahlstrom decided to face the music, two more rebels -- Kott and Rep. Gabriel Ledoux (R) -- decided to skip the disciplinary meeting. Neither was available for comment. (ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS)

POLITICS IN BRIEF: Democrats in OHIO said they will join a lawsuit brought by two third-party presidential candidates seeking a recount of Buckeye State presidential ballots. The two primary plaintiffs, Green Party candidate David Cobb and Libertarian Blair Bobier, said they do not want to overturn President Bush's victory, but do want to investigate reports of voting irregularities in the Nov. 2 election. (LOS ANGELES TIMES). * MINNESOTA Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) called on Gopher State lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a one-day special session to address funding state construction projects. Pawlenty urged the session as a way to make headway on the funding bill before the start of the new session, which will feature a much slimmer Republican advantage (68-66) than in recent years. But the outcome of the session might not be what Pawlenty hopes it will be, even if the session comes off in December like he wants. Bonding measures need 81 votes to pass the House, which was exactly the number of seats the GOP held before Nov. 2. But since then, three Republicans have resigned to take executive branch jobs and one is now a senator, leaving only 77 available to vote (MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO). 
 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

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GOP GOVS PONDER CHALLENGES AHEAD: The Republican Governors Association got together in New Orleans last week, but the tenor of their conversation was anything but a Big Easy. Although most made public happy faces over the numerous GOP positives brought on by the re-election of President George W. Bush and strong Republican gains in Congress, others voiced grave concerns about a number of issues kicking around the Beltway that could quickly send their respective trains skidding off the tracks. 

MASSACHUSETTS Gov. Mitt Romney, himself a likely presidential candidate in 2008, noted that governors need Washington to figure out what it will do with Social Security and other entitlement programs for the poor. "We have an enormous age wave about to hit our safety net programs, our senior programs," he said. "How do we deal with that? Now is a political opportunity." MISSISSIPPI Gov. Haley Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chairman, also chimed in on social spending issues, saying the Bush administration needs to make resolving the ongoing fiscal crush of the federally mandated Medicaid program on cash-strapped states a top priority in 2005.

"The biggest challenge for most governors is Medicaid," said Barbour. "You can't get control of the federal budget if you don't get control of health care."

Both issues are so far on the Bush administration radar. The President has continually expressed strong support for overhauling Social Security by allowing younger workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax into personal accounts,   and Health and Human Services director Tommy Thompson -- a former   WISCONSIN governor -- has proffered a plan that would give states block grants for Medicaid that would allow them greater flexibility in how they oversee the program. Thompson's idea drew kudos from some governors, while others expressed worry that it could end up cutting the amount of federal money their states receive. 

ARKANSAS Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has become a staunch crusader for health care issues since undergoing a weight loss program that saw him lose over 100 pounds in the last year, joined in the health care chorus, but urged a more proactive effort from governors in the process. Huckabee said that while it is important for governors to force Washington into taking some kind of action, they should not expect to just be able to complain and expect things to happen. "I think we have to go [to the administration] and say we have a plan," Huckabee said. (WASHINGTON POST) 

BLAGOJEVICH WEIGHS OPEN RECORDS BILL: Open-records advocates in ILLINOIS are pressuring Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) to veto newly passed legislation that would allow people with certain non-violent drug and prostitution convictions to have their convictions hidden from prospective employers and the public. Supporters say the bill would give thousands of ex-convicts a better chance to ease back into the workplace and thus improve their odds of staying out of prison. The bill would allow eligible candidates to ask a judge to seal their records after four years, provided they have not committed any new crimes and can show they are drug and alcohol free. 

But the Illinois Press Association is lobbying Blagojevich to reject the measure, saying the public has a right to have access to all criminal records. That resistance has drawn a strong response from Rep. Connie Howard (D), the bill's sponsor. "We're not talking about mass murderers or individuals who committed heinous crimes," she said. "We're talking about individuals who probably have done more harm to themselves than anyone else." Blagojevich initially indicated he would sign the measure, but has since backed off, citing a need to give it greater review first. The hesitation rankled Howard, who said Blagojevich needed to "show some courage" by signing the bill. (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES)

GOVERNORS IN BRIEF: A federal judge rejected a request by the WASHINGTON Republican Party to force the Evergreen State's most populous county to stop counting some ballots in the recount of the governor's race. The GOP wanted the court to ban the hand counting of ballots in King County that could not be read electronically. The full hand count could stretch into December (NEW YORK TIMES). * IOWA Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) withdrew his name from consideration to be the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The move was widely viewed among Democratic insiders as proof that Vilsack, seen as a rising star in the party, will make a presidential run in 2008 ( DES MOINES REGISTER). * KANSAS Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) asked wind energy developers to voluntarily refrain from planning any new projects across almost 3 million acres of Sunflower State prairie. A Sebelius spokesperson said the request would give the governor time to pull together not only a wind energy plan but also a plan for economic development and financial incentives for counties that will not be able to develop wind power (KANSAS CITY STAR). 
 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

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Bird's eye view

Small tech's big players

While nanotechnology focuses on making things small (see SNCJ Spotlight in this issue), the industry itself is growing larger by the day. But according to industry trade magazine Small Times, the effort to go big in the world of ultra-miniature has taken fire in some states more than others. The publication recently listed its top 10 nanotechnology states, and while technology hubs like California and MASSACHUSETTS (2) understandably grace the list, there is also representation from Rust Belt stalwarts like MICHIGAN (8) and OHIO (10). The Buckeye State joins CONNECTICUT as one of two new additions to the 2004 list - Ohio placed 17th last year, while the Granite State was 14th. The accompanying map shows the states and their order of rank.  To see the full story, visit the Small Times Web site at http://www.smalltimes.com/.
 

-- By RICH EHISEN

 

Hot issues

BUSINESS: A NEW JERSEY Assembly committee approves AB 3482, a bill that would bar the Garden State treasury from investing pension funds in companies that do business in Sudan. The federal government already prohibits American companies from doing business with the Sudanese government, which is accused of committing genocide in the Darfur region. This marks the first divestiture proposal since the state pulled investments in South Africa in the 1980's. It moves now to the full Assembly (STAR-LEDGER   [NEWARK]).

CRIME & PUNISHMENT: The WASHINGTON Supreme Court rules that people convicted under the Evergreen State's felony murder law prior to it being reworked in 2003 cannot be held to its current standards. The decision could mean that as many as 300 prisoners serving time for murder will have their convictions set aside (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER). * A MINNESOTA court rules that the Gopher State's implied consent law, which allows officers to automatically revoke the driver's license of a motorist that refuses to consent to a roadside drug or alcohol test, is unconstitutional. The presiding judge agreed to stay his ruling in order to let the Minnesota Court of Appeals hear the case (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS). * A NEW JERSEY Assembly committee endorses AB 698, legislation that makes it a crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine to take nude or otherwise compromising pictures of an unwitting person by any means, including via cell phone. It moves to the full Assembly (STAR-LEDGER [NEWARK]). 

EDUCATION: A UTAH legislative task force rejects a proposal to impose limits on school construction costs and campus size in districts that accept state funding for such projects. The task force said such restrictions would usurp the power of local school boards (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE). 

ENVIRONMENTAL: Wildlife officials in ARKANSAS announce that military personnel assigned to overseas duty who come to the state on leave may now hunt and fish without a license. Service people must have a copy of their leave papers and military identification to be eligible (ARKANSAS NEWS BUREAU). 

HEALTH: The ILLINOIS Senate narrowly rejects a proposal that would have given the Prairie State's endorsement to embryonic stem cell research. The mostly symbolic measure failed to gain approval by two votes (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). 

SOCIAL POLICY: A VERMONT court rules that both parties in a same-sex civil union are legal parents of a child, regardless of which is the biological parent. The Green Mountain State ruling is in direct contrast to an earlier decision by a   VIRGINIA court, which held that only the biological parent had legal status. Both decisions stem from the same case, a bitter child custody fight between two women who were joined in a civil union in Vermont (WASHINGTON POST). * The KENTUCKY Supreme Court rules that Bluegrass State human rights officials can now investigate private country clubs to determine if they deny membership based on race. The state Human Rights Commission already has the right to investigate public clubs. The ruling, however, only pertains to whether such clubs are eligible for tax breaks. State law allows clubs to discriminate when choosing members, but members of those clubs cannot deduct their membership dues as a business expense (WASHINGTON POST). 

POTPOURRI: The FLORIDA Supreme Court overturns teen curfew laws in two Sunshine State counties, raising the possibility of similar action throughout the state. The laws were challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, which successfully argued that they illegally target young black men (MIAMI HERALD).
 

-- Compiled by RICH EHISEN

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Once around the statehouse lightly

WILL HE OR WON'T HE? That is the question many political junkies in NEW JERSEY are asking about newly installed Gov. Richard Codey. The Democrat became governor only two weeks ago upon the resignation of James McGreevey, and folks now want to know if Codey will run for a full term as governor in 2006. With that in mind, Codey quieted the audience at a recent League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City when he took the podium and announced that he had "made a decision." One interested attendee, notes the Newark Star-Ledger, was Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, who is expected to enter the gubernatorial fray himself. Speaking in hushed tones, Codey revealed how he and his wife had engaged in "soul searching" talks on the subject. The governor then announced: "We are not getting another dog." The audience laughed. No word on whether Corzine was amused.

NEVER MIND THE TAB. Theme song for the administration of ALASKA Gov. Frank Murkowski these days? "Good News." In this case, though, the chariot ain't coming. The printing bill is. As the Anchorage Daily News reports, Murkowski's minions recently published a 12-page newspaper insert extolling the virtues of none other than Frank Murkowski on the occasion of his second anniversary as chief executive. More than 146,000 copies of the insert were stuck into Alaskan papers at a cost of $23,993. The administration reports that a paltry 6 cents per copy was spent on the paper, but that only included the cost to print it. Inserting, shipping and miscellaneous fees upped the per-copy price to 16 cents, but who's counting?

QUEEN FOR A DAY. It's not every day that Little Rock, ARKANSAS, is the epicenter of anything; much less the nation's yearning for celebrity gawking. But the recent opening of the Clinton Presidential Library brought an array of human glitter to the Ozarks gateway and with it, a new sense of pride for local townsfolk. According to The Associated Press, the likes of Robin Williams, John Kerry, Howard Dean, Al Franken, Bono, Mary Steenburgen, Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman -- not to mention former presidents Bush and Carter and current President Bush -- all descended on Little Rock for the event, causing traffic jams and more. Local businesses were delighted with the neighborhood's new cash cow, as were civic promoters. "We strutted our stuff," said one. And then, everyone went home -- including the Clintons, who now consider themselves residents of NEW YORK. Remains to be seen how many of the glitteri come back.

IF IT HAS A PULSE, TAX IT. One event that has a growing pulse in NEW HAMPSHIRE these days is the charity poker tournament. Now the state wants to grab a share of the proceeds, reports The Nashua Telegraph. Members of the House Finance Committee are mulling over whether to tax high-stakes poker profits. Not the money taken in by winners, but the cash that promoters earn to set up and run the games. Granite State law allows charities to hold up to 10 Monte Carlo fundraisers each year, and some take in thousands of dollars. About 30 charities have applied to the state attorney general for permission to run games -- so potential revenue to the state is starting to look like more than budget dust. Bluff, anyone?
 

-- By A.G. BLOCK

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Executive Editor: A.G. Block
Associate Editors: Rich Ehisen, Korey Clark
Editorial Advisor: Lou Cannon
Correspondents: Richard Cox (CA), Steve Karas (CA), 
Bruce McKeeman (CA), Kelli Harvell (FL), Linda Mendenhall (IL), 
Lauren King (MA) and Ben Livingsgood (PA)
Design: Richard Hansen, Heather Conway

Copyright 2004 State Net
ISSN: 1521-8449