Report: 11 states emerging from recession
By David Harrison, Special to Stateline.org, posted 11/05/2009

It’s going to be a long, hard climb out of the current economic downturn for many recession-ridden states hit hard by the housing crash, unemployment and shrinking revenues. But as the national economy starts its slow recovery, 11 states and the District of Columbia are showing signs of emerging from the recession, according to a new report. Read More

Politically Uncorrected: Until the bitter end
By G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young, syndicated columnists, posted 10/23/2009

Since 1970 Pennsylvania has had an unbroken string of two term governors – Milton Shapp, Dick Thornburgh, Bob Casey, Tom Ridge, and now Ed Rendell. Most of them have behaved in a familiar pattern. They fashioned modest second term agendas, exhibited little stomach for long nasty political fights, and were largely content to let the legislature have its way. Each, by the waning years of his second term, had lost interest, influence, or both in state policy and politics. Consequently, they, like the proverbial “old soldier,” were content to just “fade away” as their terms ended. Read More

Bloomberg's "PlaNYC" continues forward moves
By Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, posted 09/27/2009

NEW YORK–So ambitious was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “PlaNYC” for America’s lead city, first unveiled on Earth Day 2007, that it set a new standard for 21st century planning in U.S. cities. Read More

Politically Uncorrected: The Goldilocks principle in American Politics
By G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young, syndicated columnists, posted 09/11/2009

In politics, text and subtext don’t always tell the same tale. This time, however, they do. The text in question can be found in almost any story this summer about the Obama administration. Some recent column titles from Real Clear Politics paint the picture poignantly: “It’s time to take back the healthcare debate,” “Obama has failed to answer the difficult questions,” “Obama must inspire passion and conviction.” And so forth! Read More

City parks' grand rebirth
By Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, posted 09/06/2009

ST. LOUIS — City sponsors were so nervous about the unveiling of their new downtown park this summer that they arranged for an ice cream truck to park at the site on opening day, just to attract passerbys. Read More

Could the recovery act help reinvent government?
By Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, posted 08/23/2009

If you think the Obama administration’s $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is just one big government boondoggle, check out some top regional implementation strategies. Read More

Prison spending hits a brick wall
By Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, posted 08/16/2009

In a season of deep deficits and alarming program cuts, why aren’t states more seriously focused on reducing their swelling prison populations? Read More

Spontaneous metro policy: Could this be true?
By Neal Peirce, syndicated columnist, posted 08/09/2009

A funny thing happened since the inauguration as city-watchers waited for the Obama White House’s Office of Urban Affairs to take shape. In effect, the office became less necessary. And for urban and metropolitan America, that’s good news.

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Getting it right for community colleges and the nation's workforce
By David Shaffer, in a commentary for Stateline.org, posted 07/15/2009

President Obama's proposed $12 billion program for the states' community colleges comes as good news in a tough time for the nation's two-year schools, writes David Shaffer, a senior fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, State University of New York at Albany, in a commentary for Stateline.org. But the long-term impact of the president's program will depend in part on whether the final legislation, and its implementation, aim at fixing the right things, Shaffer writes. Read More

State political trends in 2007, 2008 showcased in "Out There" columns
By Louis Jacobson, Special to Stateline.org

The political seasons of 2007 and 2008 are chronicled in a series of "Out There" columns written by political journalist Louis Jacobson and published by Stateline.org. Read More