Stateline's "State of the States 2006"

For those unfamiliar, take a look at the excellent website of  Stateline.org.  They had notified readers of their periodic updates that the 2006 "State of the States" publication could be requested, and I put in the request.  The report came in the mail yesterday.  Excellent coverage and analysis.

Some of their predictions include: 

*"Wedge issues" pushed by conservatives:  illegal immigration, state spending caps similar to Coloarado's "Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights," and proposals to require schools to spend a minimum of 65 percent of education dollars in the classroom.

*State efforts to raise the minimum wage (good comments on that topic from Governing Magazine's "13th Floor" blog).

*Hard financial choices:  Medicaid (now taking 22% of state budgets), Medicare drug benefits, money to schools to meet No Child Left Behind requirements.

*Social issues:  Gay rights, abortion, stem cell research

*Eminent domain (post Kelo)

*Criminal matters:  Death penalty, sex offenders

*Government work force and pension obligations (with the coming of GASBE changes)

In addition to "issues to watch" the report includes segments on:  politics, homeland security, aging, health care, taxesa and budget, education, energy, immigration

It's really worth reading.