Opinion
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Louisiana Medicaid Waiver Is Delayed
Opinion -The transition of administrations in Washington, DC has caused Louisiana legislators to put off action on Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) Medicaid reform proposal until midsummer, according to a spokesperson for the state legislature. -
W. Va. May Hike Cigarette Tax to Expand Medicaid
Opinion -West Virginia legislators are considering a bill to fund an expansion of the state Medicaid program through an increase in the cigarette tax. The proposal would hike the tax 118 percent, from 55 cents to $1.20 per pack. -
Skeptics Agree on Basics, Refuse to Force Consensus
Opinion -Some in the mainstream print media portrayed the second International Conference on Climate Change as hampered by dissension, exemplified by this observation from the March 9 New York Times: “Global warming’s skeptics are showing signs of -
Arizona Supreme Court Delivers Stunning Blow to School Choice
Opinion -With Arizona’s highest court putting an end to the state’s two targeted voucher programs, supporters are seeking solutions to serve the needs of students destined to be displaced this fall. -
Lessons from California’s Charter Schools of the Year
Opinion -The Oakland Charter Academy in northern California and the Our Community Charter School in the San Fernando Valley have won the Hart Vision “Charter School of the Year” award from the California Charter Schools Association. -
White House Summit Falls Short on Ideas for Actual Reform
Opinion -The White House Summit on Health Care Reform, held in early March, showed how much needs to be done to bring some reality to the health care reform debate. -
Rhode Island Governor Seeks Medicaid Reform
Opinion -With his state among those facing growing budget crises due in part to unfunded health care liabilities, Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R) is asking the federal government for the freedom to reform the state’s Medicaid program. -
Medicaid Grows ‘By Leaps and Bounds’ in Wis.
Opinion -Wisconsin’s state Medicaid program is facing “administrative cuts” due to a 2009 budget shortage, Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has announced. -
Chicago Mayor Wants More Surveillance Cameras
Opinion -Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) says if his Olympic dreams come true, by 2016 there will be a surveillance camera on “every street corner in Chicago”—a statement that has raised concerns among technology and privacy experts. -
Proposed ‘Shield Law’ Excludes Bloggers, Online Reporters
Opinion -Congress is considering a bill allowing reporters to protect the confidentiality of their sources even if ordered to reveal them under subpoena. The proposal does not protect bloggers, freelancers, and citizen journalists.H.R. -
Arizona Bill Would Limit Participation in the Western Climate Initiative
Opinion -The Arizona House Environment Committee has approved a bill to bar state environmental officials from participating in the Western Climate Initiative. -
Colorado Senate Bags Plastic Shopping Bag Ban
Opinion -The Colorado Senate has rejected a bill that would have made Colorado the first state to ban plastic shopping bags.Proponents of the bill had argued plastic bags are not biodegradable and can harm wildlife. -
Activists Challenge Removal of Trees from Levees
Opinion -Environmental activists are threatening to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its policy of removing trees that weaken Seattle-area coastal levees. -
Arizona Appeals Court Upholds Corporate Tuition Tax Credits
Opinion -The Arizona Court of Appeals handed a victory to school choice supporters by upholding the constitutionality of the state’s corporate tuition tax credit program.In Green v. -
Scholarship Tax Credit Bill Struggling in New Mexico
Opinion -Despite recent unanimous approval by the New Mexico Senate’s education committee, a bill to provide tax credits for individuals and companies donating to scholarship programs may have difficulty getting to the full legislative body for a vote. -
Michigan Physicians Blazing an Online Trail
Opinion -Efforts by Michigan doctors to boost their online services over the past three years are paying dividends for patients with chronic health conditions. -
Wyeth Ruling Will Cost Providers, Consumers
Opinion -The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Wyeth v. Levine is likely to increase drug costs, decrease invention of new drugs, and cause a surge in state court drug-related lawsuits. -
Utah, Arizona in Health Record Pilot Program
Opinion -Utah and Arizona have begun participating in a Medicare-centered personal health record pilot program sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. -
Wisconsin Towns Go Wireless
Opinion -A consortium of seven municipal organizations in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin has joined forces to build and operate a high-speed wireless broadband network. -
Hawaii Contemplates Creating Own Version of FCC
Opinion -State legislators in Hawaii have introduced bills to create the state equivalent of the Federal Communications Commission, a move technology experts say will further burden the broadband industry in a high-cost state.Hawaii Gov. -
Obama Under Pressure to Regulate Internet Info-Gathering
Opinion -Self-described public advocacy groups are pressuring the Obama administration to create strong mandates regarding how much information Internet companies can collect on their customers and how it is used.The U.S. -
Florida City Taking a Risk with ‘Free’ Wi-Fi Plan
Opinion -Residents of Hollywood, Florida now have access to a wireless broadband network provided by the city free of charge. -
Flaws Exposed in U.N. Technology Report
Opinion -A United Nations report on the state of telephone and Internet technology gives the United States poor marks, but experts say the country-to-country comparisons are fatally flawed.The report, produced by the U.N. -
Facebook Users Force Change in Site’s Privacy Policy
Opinion -Facebook quickly retreated from a recent change to its privacy policy after thousands of users made online protests and threatened to leave the site.