Join the Center for Policy Alternatives for “Breaking the Cycle: Practical Solutions for Juvenile Justice Reform.” Legislators and experts will discuss media and messaging strategies, the impact of gangs, and much more. To learn more, contact Diallo Brooks at 202-956-5150 or dbrooks@cfpa.org.

Daily updates on state policy, values-based leadership and messaging strategies, and a forum for your comments! State Action Blog

2006 has just begun, but we are already accepting applications to the 2007 class of Flemming Fellows! Please contact Quinta Martin at 202-956-5132 or qmartin@cfpa.org for an application.

The movement toward higher minimum wages – a central piece of the progressive economic platform – continues to roll through the states. By veto-proof margins, Rhode Island’s legislature approved HB 6718 sponsored by Representative Charlene Lima, raising that state’s minimum wage to $7.10 on March 1, 2006 and again to $7.40 on January 1, 2007. Republican Governor Donald Carcieri, who vetoed a similar bill last year, was forced to drop his opposition.
In the last two years, progressives have been consistently successful in their attempts to increase the minimum wage. Maryland overrode a GOP governor’s veto in 2006. Six states (CT, HI, MN, NJ, VT, WI) had minimum wage victories in 2005. And in 2004, efforts to boost the minimum wage were triumphant in four states (FL, ME, NV, NY) and the District of Columbia. As many as 11 states (AZ, AR, CO, MI, MO, MT, NV, ND, OH, OK, SD) may have ballot initiatives on the minimum wage in 2006. Read CPA’s Minimum Wage policy brief and model legislation.

First introduced 30 years ago, HB 2661 was enacted by the Washington legislature in February. The bill extends legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in housing and employment. Sponsored by Rep. Ed Murray (see Legislator of the Month), the law makes Washington the 17^th state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and the 7^th state to cover gender identity and expression. Now 48 percent of the U.S. population is protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and more than 25 percent are protected from discrimination based on gender identity and expression. Read CPA’s GLBT Anti-Discrimination policy brief and model legislation.

Tennessee has responded to ethics crises on the federal level by enacting legislation aimed at curbing misconduct by lobbyists and public officials. Tennessee’s SB 396/HB 1801, sponsored by Sen. Roy Herron and Rep. Randy Rinks, creates an independent ethics commission to regulate lobbyists, sharply curbs “wining and dining” by lobbyists, bans cash contributions over $50, prohibits lobbyists from making campaign contributions, bans the governor from fundraising during the legislative session, and requires more openness in the legislature through open meetings and online disclosure of payments made to legislators. Governor Phil Bredesen has signed the bill.

As the largest consumer of energy, Governor John Lynch wants the state to set an example and reduce its energy consumption by 10 percent. The executive order also creates a Clean Fleet Program, which will require state agencies to ensure that the state’s 4,000 vehicles are energy- and cost-effective. Read CPA’s Energy Efficiency Standards policy brief and model legislation.

Governor Ted Kulongoski created a taskforce on equality by executive order this month. The taskforce will analyze current law and consider changes that may be necessary to ensure that all Oregonians are protected from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Read CPA’s GLBT Anti-Discrimination policy brief and model legislation.

Voters in Louisiana can cast their ballots early at satellite polling locations in the event of an emergency thanks to SB 22, sponsored by Sen. Derrick Shepherd. The satellite polling places will be ready for the April 2006 election. HB 12, sponsored by Rep. Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, suspends the current law that requires first-time voters to appear in person when an emergency has been declared. Instead, the voter will be allowed to cast his or her ballot by mail. Both victories will facilitate voting for Louisiana’s thousands of evacuees. Read CPA’s Early and Absentee Voting policy brief and model legislation.

Washington recently enacted HB 1515, which adds sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to civil rights legislation. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Ed Murray, had introduced the bill in each of the previous ten years. Read our interview with Representative Murray to find out why this was the anti-discrimination bill’s year.

Ethics Reform is the issue of the hour at the federal level and is a potent issue at the state level as well. Many ethics discussions relate to campaign finance reform—a concept voters broadly support. For the Campaign Disclosure Project, public disclosure of contributions is critical to achieve a high ethical standard in politics. Their website, www.campaigndisclosure.org, aims to bring about greater transparency and accountability to money in state politics by assessing each state’s current disclosure laws, providing analysis of how each state could strengthen their disclosure laws, and offering model legislation. Citizens will find information about meaningful reform. State legislators and advocates will appreciate the research-based model legislation.