In an effort to close a $142.4 million budget gap in the state’s Medicaid budget over the biennium, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has announced a series of requests for information (RFIs) to understand how other states are dealing with increased rolls during the national recession. Key areas the governor hopes to understand include performance-based management, [...]
Since 2004, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has made a dozen trips abroad, looking to attract money to the state economy. During her weekly radio address, Gov. Granholm said her “investment missions” have netted the sate nearly $2 billion, creating or retaining more than 20,000 jobs.
According to a new report by government market research firm INPUT, provisions of the federal healthcare reform law will send upwards of $600 million to state and local governments for insurance exchanges over the next four years. Federal provisions mandate that states have legislation for health insurance exchanges by 2011 and implement operational exchanges by [...]
An independent audit of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently found multiple issues with the agency’s maintenance, project development and fiscal management practices. In an announcement Tuesday, Governor Bob McDonnell approved an action plan submitted by the agency that includes better use of information technologies and performance measurement. The VDOT action plan is response [...]
IBM has officially launched its Smarter Cities Challenge, a competitive grant program that will award $50 million in technology and services to 100 municipalities worldwide. IBM experts will also provide city leaders with recommendations on smart growth and streamlined service delivery. The program represents the company’s largest philanthropic investment to date. According to the company, [...]
According to an announcement by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, the state has cleared an important hurdle in getting federal approval for offshore wind power generation off its coast. Maryland follows Delaware as the only states to have planning recommendations accepted by the federal government.
In an effort to help states build and maintain a workforce tooled to work in a clean energy economy, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices has released a new issue brief. Higher education systems, training programs and private industry will have to work in tandem to develop a clean energy workforce, the brief [...]
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has saved over $2 million during the initial cycle its Supplemental Drug Rebate Program. Along with the Medicaid Retrospective Drug Utilization Review, North Carolina expects to save more than $90 million annually using a system managed by Falls Church-based CSC.
Code for America has announced its inaugural class of technologists meant to aid city governments across the nation with open-source, off-the-shelf solutions to save money and improve services. According to CfA, these fellows will begin their service-year in San Francisco before getting their assignments to the 2011 Code for America cities, including Philadelphia, PA; Boston, [...]
Beyond the well covered national elections there are many state and local seats including 37 Governorships up for grabs. Do you have a story about your polling place? Want to sound off? Leave a note here.
