State and Federal Relations
A ballot measure on Medicaid funding is poised to pass. Some say it could do more harm than good.
Proposition 35 would change how California funds its public health insurance program to address health care shortages in the state.
Virginia goes all in on passenger rail
A new rail bridge into Washington, D.C., is viewed as crucial to expanding rail service in the state, which has seen record-setting ridership in recent years.
The numbers are in: Trump boosted roads. Biden backs biking and walkers.
A new report by the Urban Institute shows how who sits in the White House affects what locals build with federal funds. That means changes are likely in store again after the November election.
Why Buc-ee's is picking a fight with Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida is one of a dozen states that have yet to issue a single RFP using federal dollars to construct EV charging stations. Gas stations see the chargers as an avenue to compete with local power companies.
Supreme Court deals Arizona Republicans a partial victory in voting case
The ruling allows Arizona to require proof of citizenship from people who register to vote using a state-generated form.
Congress could ease rules for small cities seeking transportation money, experts say
Discretionary grants give the president’s administration—and members of Congress—an opportunity to shape transportation policy. But applying for and administering them can be a challenge for local governments.
Biden administration lays groundwork for future bridge projects
The Federal Highway Administration awarded planning grants to 28 projects in 18 states. The announcement follows the president’s surprise decision not to seek another term.
5 things you should know about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
The Democratic nominee for vice president has pushed through big changes during his time as governor, a record that both parties will now scour as Walz becomes Kamala Harris’ running mate.
New anti-immigration laws' real focus is the U.S. Supreme Court, report says
A liberal group warns that laws in Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas that criminalize illegal entry into the country could give the conservative high court a chance to overturn a 2012 decision limiting state and local power over immigration.
The road AHEAD: Maryland to be a test-subject state in new federal hospital model
The federal AHEAD model aims to help participating states implement what’s called a total cost of care model, in which states take responsibility and accountability for health outcomes of their patients.
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Lessons learned from the Medicaid unwinding period
A new report highlights how states have conducted post-pandemic eligibility renewals with the help of federal waivers and data.
Highway humor is over some drivers’ heads
States to drivers: READ OUR WITTY HIGHWAY SIGNS. Feds to states: YOU’RE NOT FUNNY.
The homeowner mutiny leaving Florida cities defenseless against hurricanes
The federal government is refusing to restore eroded beaches in Pinellas County unless homeowners agree to one condition: public access.
Safety-net health clinics cut services and staff amid Medicaid ‘unwinding’
Nationwide, health centers that serve low-income communities face a financial storm created by a sharp rise in the cost of care, a tight workforce and now fewer insured patients.
Inside the Department of Labor’s collaboration with New Jersey to overhaul unemployment programs
A new application for unemployment claims in the Garden State marks the result of a years-long federal effort to help states modernize their jobless aid efforts.
Passenger rail keeps chugging forward during Infrastructure Week
Efforts to expand rail have reached significant milestones in recent weeks, from construction on the Northeast Corridor to new funding on Colorado’s Front Range.
State Medicaid costs poised to surge from pandemic lows
State costs rose by 13% in fiscal 2023 and are expected to increase by an additional 17.2% in fiscal 2024 thanks to the phaseout of enhanced federal aid, provider rate increases and slowing but still elevated enrollment levels.
Montana could be a model as more GOP states weigh Medicaid work requirements
The state has a program that can help Medicaid enrollees get job training, career guidance.
‘Extremely dangerous’: Governors criticize ‘federalization’ of National Guard
Governors from 53 U.S. states and territories object to the Defense Department's plan to move all Air National Guardsman with space-related missions from state to federal control, placing them under the umbrella of the U.S. Air Force, specifically the Space Force.
Neediest areas are being shortchanged on government funds
COMMENTARY | A recent study of the Community Development Block Grant program showed that neighborhoods with the largest share of low- to moderate-income families were less likely to receive CDBG funds than communities that were closer to the 51% threshold.
