Governing: State and local government news and analysis
WEBState and local governments face a tight labor market and a competitive disadvantage with the private sector. But salaries aren’t the only issue, with cities, counties and states all grappling ...
The Increasing Trend of Lawmakers Overriding Ballot Initiatives
WEBFrom 2010 to 2015, about 21 percent of citizen initiatives were altered by lawmakers after they passed. From 2016 to 2018, lawmakers altered nearly 36 percent of passed citizen initiatives. • In ...
The Rise, Fall and Mutation of Political Machines - Governing
WEBJacob Arvey, the legendary Chicago political boss of the 1940s, had something important that he liked to tell novices about how to succeed in politics. “It’s very simple,” he would say ...
How America’s Three Constitutions Define the Nation - Governing
WEBMay 16, 2021 · The Constitution established a new, stronger national government for the United States. It created two houses in Congress, and established minimum eligibility requirements for the president and ...
The Political Power of Sheriffs Is Rarely Seriously Challenged
WEBSheriff elections are mostly uncompetitive, attracting limited pools of candidates that incumbents themselves work to shape and limit. In one recent cycle, 40 percent of them ran unopposed ...
The Pros and Cons of Privatizing Government Functions
WEBNov 29, 2010 · Problems from poorly conceived contracts can create cost increases that surpass the costs of in-house services, and if there’s shoddy contract oversight, a government is vulnerable to corruption ...
Why Does America Have Primaries? - Governing
WEBThe original purpose of primaries, they say, was to make government more responsive to the will of the American people. Instead, they argue, primaries have hijacked government on behalf of ...
The Biggest Social Issues to Watch in 2024 - Governing
WEBThe Biggest Social Issues to Watch in 2024. Legislatures across the nation are confronting several social issues including crime, drug use, immigration and poverty. These issues will continue to ...
If Congress Cuts Section 8 Housing, These States Will Suffer
WEBThe Housing Choice Voucher program helps 2.3 million households pay rent. Biden has called for small increases to the program, while GOP leaders are eyeing cuts that will hit some states ...
A Road Map for Dealing With Government’s Workforce Crisis
WEBThe city’s water crisis, The Washington Post wrote, was a “systemic failure at every level of government” caused in part by a shortage of city Class A water operators — highly trained ...