Published: August 27, 2010
Tags: National Association of State Retirement Administrators, National Conference of State Legislatures, Pommer, Wisconsin Retirement System
By Matt Pommer Public employee pensions are back in the spotlight as several states try to change benefits for current and future retirees. For example, state legislators packed a session on modifying public employee pensions at the recent meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Louisville, Ky. Legislators in Colorado, Minnesota and South [...]
By Shannon McCaffrey AP Writer If you thought state budgets were in bad shape last year, just wait: This year promises to be brutal for lawmakers — many facing re-election — as they scramble to find enough money to keep their states running without raising taxes. Tax collections continue to sputter. Federal stimulus dollars are [...]
Published: December 2, 2009
Tags: American Wind Energy Association, Andersen, Department of Energy, energy, homes, Jodziewicz, Key, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Linowes, National Conference of State Legislatures, property value, Schmidt, turbines, wind, Wind Action Group, wind farm, Wiser
Comments: 1
By SANDY SHORE AP Energy Writer DENVER (AP) — Wind farms have no measurable effect on nearby property values, according to a government report published Wednesday. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory spent three years examining nearly 7,500 sales of homes in 10 communities near two dozen wind energy plants [...]
Published: September 28, 2009
Tags: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, National Conference of State Legislatures, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Public Sector Consultants, Sleepy Hollow State Park, state budget deadline
Kathy Barks Hoffman AP Writer Laingsburg, MI — Economically beleaguered Michigan faces a possible government shutdown — shuttering highway rest areas, state parks, construction projects and the state lottery — if lawmakers fail to reach a budget deal soon. The state with the nation’s highest unemployment rate has a nearly $3 billion shortfall. Federal recovery [...]
Published: May 8, 2009
Tags: budget, Chrysler, Dean Health Systems Inc., deficit, gas tax, Legislature, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Governors Association
Comments: 3
It’s crunch time in Madison as unemployment and tax revenue numbers grow worse. As May started, unemployment numbers were nearing double digits and grim news of layoffs continued to dominate the news. Those news items stretch from next year’s closing of the Chrysler engine plant in Kenosha and the future loss of its 380 jobs [...]