Big Issues in Government – 2011 and Beyond

Your guide to the issues

Big Issues in Government – 2011 and Beyond The 2010 elections were the most consequential state elections in decades. Many of the nation’s largest states, from California to Pennsylvania to Florida, elected new governors who will take office in January.

These historic elections came against a backdrop of rising citizen anxiety caused by the economic meltdown. Huge state budget deficits and the tax hikes and program cuts that resulted from states’ efforts to address budgets in free fall only added to voters’ sense of frustration.

The challenge for the new generation of state leaders will be to regain the public’s trust. This will require states to tackle some of the toughest policy issues like Medicaid, education, and infrastructure – those that have proven vexing for a generation – while also positioning themselves to address today’s new, recession-induced fiscal challenges.

The following resources are developed to help in crafting such policy proposals.

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Red Ink Rising: Navigating the Perils of Public Debt
Money has been spent that has not been earned, and promises made that cannot be met. This will challenge democratic governance models in many countries, requiring systemic, structural changes to bend the government’s cost curve down.
Closing State Budget Gaps
Faced with one of the worst economic recessions to hit America in decades, state governments are experiencing severe cuts in budgetary expenditure. General fund expenditures in fiscal year 2009 declined by 2.2 percent compared to the previous year. And the outlook for the foreseeable future is no rosier.
The Innovation State
Governments at all levels face daunting challenges. This means that state governments have to become more adept at innovation; they cannot depend on established, age-old practices to meet 21st century requirements. Learn how.
Technology Opportunities and Challenges
Web 2.0 technologies and low-cost online collaborative tools can fundamentally alter the way government and its agencies carry out their business. At the same time, the Internet can serve as a platform to promote unprecedented collaboration, rapid growth also brings with it certain risks.
Education Reform
Today the U.S. constitutes only 14 percent of the total world population of college students, as compared to 30 percent 30 years ago. The future of American competitiveness is highly dependent on producing a skilled workforce with significant abilities in math and science. How can we compete?
State Health Care Reform
When it comes to overall state health care reforms, it is imperative that sustained health care reforms, instead of incremental changes, are carried out. There are four focus areas that can build a solid foundation for systemic reform to improve care and reduce cost. Learn more.
Improving Human Services
Approximately $1 trillion is spent on human services each year in America. From foster care to income assistance to education and training, human services offer a vital support system for those Americans most in need. The programs are in urgent need of modernization.