States

And the Shoes Will be on Other Feet

April 6, 2017 Congress

The US Senate changed their rules today, requiring only a simple majority to end debate over Supreme Court nominations. This so-called “nuclear option” reduced the votes required from 60 percent plus one to 50 percent plus one. The change was accompanied by much drama.  It’s probably fair to assume that a similar change will come […]

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Jon Stewart Gets it Right

October 11, 2013 Health Insurance

I hardly wish ill to my fellow citizens, even those who live in states that receive more in Federal revenue and other benefits than they pay for in Federal taxes. But I’m rapidly approaching the point when I will revel in the reversing of the financial flows from the self-punishing, mostly Southern states to the […]

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Are You Kidding Me? No Property Taxes at All?

May 29, 2012 Property Taxes

North Dakota is considering … voting on a Constitutional amendment … abolishing property taxes. I say go for it. Leave the place to wingnuts and survivalists. Those with IQs, both intellectual and social, above mediocre and anyone who prefers that their children be educated will flee. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities has a […]

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Taxes Are Not the Only Factor in Migration

May 8, 2012 Business

We hear a lot in New York about how taxes cause people to emigrate, either directly or indirectly because businesses leave. This is particularly a concern when younger people leave. So it’s interesting to see that New Hampshire, a notoriously low tax state (neither a sales nor an income tax), is also suffering from an […]

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The Patient is Recovering, but not Recovered

April 13, 2012 Economics

The Census data regarding state tax collections are now in for 2011. Here’s the report from Governing Magazine and here’s a summary quote: Total tax collections jumped in all 50 states last fiscal year, with oil-rich areas pocketing significant additional revenues. State financial data released today by the Census Bureau shows governments collected $763.7 billion […]

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Well, it’s Not Like Local Governments are all Flush. Krugman on the Economic Effects of Municipal Retrenchment

March 5, 2012 Budget

In Today’s New York Times, Paul Krugman writes States of Depression. In discussing the sluggish economic recovery, he says: But one significant factor in our continuing economic weakness is the fact that government in America is doing exactly what both theory and history say it shouldn’t: slashing spending in the face of a depressed economy. […]

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What Will the Client Transition from Fee-for-Service to Managed Long Term Care Look Like?

December 20, 2011 Forecasting

We’ve already talked a little bit about how New York is undertaking a fundamental change in its Medicaid program. Similar changes are underway in many states. As part of this change, Medicaid clients in long term care are being transitioned from fee-for-service programs to various forms of managed care, including managed long term care. How […]

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The Next Generation of Medicaid in New York

December 12, 2011 Budget

I used to write a lot about New York’s Medicaid program here (here are the Medicaid posts). But then, just as a cap on growth of local government (New York City and counties outside NYC) Medicaid liabilities was created, I went to work for one of those counties. The county liability is now fixed by […]

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If the Federal Government decides not to pay its bills

July 19, 2011 Default

Mathew Yglesias does a nice summary of how the pain (and whatever) will roll downhill if the Federal Government decides not to pay its bills. Actually, Yglesias says “can’t pay its bills.” I think it’s a matter of Congressional choice. Note which states are most likely to suffer the most.

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All Payer Claims Datasets

June 17, 2011 States

About half the states have or are working on databases that encompass the bulk of claims for health services, both for hospital inpatient, ambulatory care, and pharmacy. It’s about time. Why’s that? Because it broadens policymaker’s perspective on what is actually happening in healthcare systems. For decades, most states have had databases that encompass all […]

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