Gary Mohr, Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, spoke about creating a culture of competition in corrections.

It may have taken nearly 80 years, 1,128,904 voters (59%) and 5 State Supreme Court Justices but Washington's prohibition-era government monopoly on the sale of liquor has finally ended.

Politicians are forcing public pensions to take more risks with taxpayer money and public workers' retirements. Recent accounting reforms actually will make the crisis worse, according to a study just released by three economists. They call for "drastic reform." Congress actually has the power to impose something drastic now.

In March, Kristen De Pena asked, "Is reading bills a thing of the past?"  Illinois State Representative Mike Bost answered her question with a resounding "Yes" and then some on the floor of the Illinois House.

The threat posed by underfunded pension liabilities is hardly unique to state government. A recent back and forth between Mercatus Center scholar Eileen Norcross and officials from the town of Warwick, Rhode Island demonstrates the blindness of some public officials to recognizing the approaching fiscal fiasco. Although this instance specifically regards a city pension, lessons can be drawn that apply equally to state pensions. 

Far more worrisome for many lawmakers and taxpayers is the additional cost to fund tuition waiver programs, an arguably repetitive option to comprehensive federal and state student assistance. 

A report from the Cato Institute suggests that federal gas taxes be replaced with user fees levied on a vehicle-mile basis.

In Illinois, the House and Senate are working on their respective budgets. Senate Democrats have introduced their budget that includes facility closures, layoffs and spending cuts for most state agencies, while leaving education funds the same as last year.

Alabama lawmakers hastily passed the state budget last week, failing to allow adequate time for lawmakers and citizens alike to review the state's spending plan.

This all boils down to who gets to pick taxpayers' pockets first, public pensioners or municipal bond investors? More people are waking up to the hard reality that when it comes to state and local government, somebody has to lose money over the next few decades. The National Association of Bond Lawyers is worried enough about it to issue "Considerations" for advising clients who think they're getting safe investments.