Medicaid expansion has nothing to do with improving health care and everything to do with improving the image of politicians. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that expanding Medicaid will have no major positive effect on the health of Iowa residents.

The state Legislature's decision this year to reject Medicaid expansion was the correct decision for Florida. There is little evidence that growing the health-care program for the poor would improve the health of state residents.

Detroit is not unique in the nature of its problems, but the scope of Detroit's problem is breathtaking. Detroit's unfunded long-term debt (mostly pensions and retirement benefits) is $14.9 billion. Detroit's debt to asset ratio is 33:1. To give some perspective, General Motor's debt to asset ratio was 20:1 in 2009.

Being offered millions of dollars in the short term is certainly an enticing proposal. But governors and legislators need to recognize the long-term effects of Medicaid expansion will leave their states' taxpayers holding the bag.

There is a fundamental budget debate, happening right now in Indianapolis. Indiana currently has a large budget surplus - $2 billion. Gov. Mike Pence and a few members of the legislature believe that the funds belong to taxpayers and that taxpayers should get their money back. Others in the legislature, however, believe that the surplus belongs to the government and that politicians are entitled to spend it all.

California leads the nation in many categories with the state claiming first place trophies for highest pension debt and largest budget debt. California's debt problems, however, may only get worse as Washington's "cliff" trickles down to the Golden State.

This is only the second time in history that federal regulators have accused an American state of securities fraud, so it is significant. It puts other states on notice that regulators are not only aware of such practices but prepared to take action against them.

The border between Illinois and Wisconsin is more than just a boundary between Bears fans and Packers fans, or a line of demarcation between those who will and will not qualify as true Cheeseheads. The state line also is the difference between a sound approach to state public pensions and a failure to act on a public pension crisis that worsens by the day.

Tragically, Texas legislators too often leave the public out and present legislation as a fait accompli. This is especially true when legislators create their state budget.