CPA thanks its friends and supporters for another successful Summit on the States. The ninth annual meeting—cited by many participants as the best Summit yet—included lively and informative sessions on Fair Share Health Care, identity theft, education reform, messaging strategies for the 2006 campaign season, and racism under the radar. We heartily thank all the attendees, speakers and guests who made the 2005 Summit on the States a success!

The Progressive Agenda for the States 2006: State Policy Leading America features 50 of the most innovative policy solutions being debated and enacted in the states. A wide range of domestic issues—including reproductive health, predatory lending, eminent domain, and municipal wireless internet—are covered.

On Dec. 7, Gov. Jodi Rell signed HB 6080 into law. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Demetrios Giannaros, calls for public funding of all legislative and statewide elections. The law was written to counter public distrust stemming from a series of campaign finance scandals in the state. The bill is currently the most comprehensive state clean elections bill in the nation. Six other states also have some form of clean elections law (AZ, ME, NJ, NM, NC, VT). Read CPA’s Clean Elections policy brief and model legislation.

A bill inspired by the 18-year imprisonment of a man later cleared of homicide charges was signed into law by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle. AB 648, sponsored by Rep. Mark Grundum, requires law enforcement agencies to develop written policies on witness identification procedures that apply to both line ups and photo arrays. Mistaken eyewitness identification is the leading cause of wrongful convictions. Read CPA’s Eyewitness Identification policy brief and model legislaton (pdf). The new law also allows courts to order post-conviction DNA testing and codifies an earlier state Supreme Court decision to mandate the electronic recording of custodial interrogations of juveniles. The electronic recording of interrogations requirement is extended to adults by Rep. Grundum’s bill, which also sets aside funding for law enforcement agencies to purchase the necessary equipment. Read CPA’s Electronic Recording of Interrogations policy brief and model legislation.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed HB 4834, which regulates the payday lending industry by limiting loan amounts and capping finance charges. Introduced by Rep. Bill McConico (see Legislator of the Month), the bill also limits customers to one transaction at a time and requires lenders to obtain licenses. Payday loans usually target low-income workers who use their next paycheck as security to receive short-term high-interest loans. Many believe that this process leads borrowers into a cycle of debt. Read CPA’s Payday Lending policy brief and model legislation.

A bill that sets minimum energy efficiency standards on six common appliances was signed into law by Gov. Mitt Romney on Nov. 22. Rep. Matthew Patrick and Rep. Christopher Fallon introduced HB 4299, which applies to furnaces, floor lamps, boilers, ice-makers, commercial clothes washers, and commercial pre-rinse spray valves. The new law aims to reduce home-heating costs and state energy expenditures. Read CPA’s Energy Efficiency Standards policy brief and model legislation.

A bipartisan effort led by Rep. Katie True brought anti-violence legislation to Gov. Ed Rendell’s desk. HB 1717 gives judges the authority to seize firearms from domestic abusers and establishes a system of accountability for the weapons. In pro-gun Pennsylvania, no gun-restriction measures have been approved since the assault weapons ban in 1993—and that was overturned just two months later. This bill, signed into law in November, also extends the maximum length of protection from abuse orders from 18 to 36 months. Read CPA’s Gun Violence Prevention policy brief and model legislation.

Michigan Representative Bill McConico was disturbed by the payday lending industry—which was unregulated in his state—and its unfettered authority to charge exorbitant fees and interest rates to the consumers most susceptible to its revolving cycle of debt. To address the issue and protect Michigan residents from predatory lenders, he sponsored HB 4834, recently signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Click here to read an interview with Rep. McConico.

Holiday season has arrived, and with it the annual rush to purchase gifts for loved ones. During this time of heightened consumption, it is important to keep in mind the same progressive values that drive our policy decisions. Fair trade products are generally made by small-scale producers—often times cooperatives—under safe, sanitary, and sustainable conditions. The products, which vary from sweatshop-free mainstream clothing to international craftwork to certain foods, are then sold for a fair price in order to maintain a living wage for workers. It is easy to buy these socially-conscious gifts for friends and family online. The following websites provide a great wealth of products as well as explanations of the fair trade movement and ways to get involved: www.getethical.com, www.tenthousandvillages.com, www.gxonlinestore.org, www.nosweatapparel.com, www.newdream.org/buy/, www.americanapparel.net. Katha Pollitt of The Nation also suggests that we remember worthwhile charities that can benefit from our generosity here.