State Legislatures articles from February 2002

State Legislatures archives from February 2002

Heart disease and stroke still leading killers. (Statestats).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death for both men and women among all groups in the United States. They are also major causes of disability. Although cardiovascular disease is often thought to affect mostly...

Where you live: Can be hazardous to your health. (On First Reading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Where you live may be hazardous to your health. The wide open spaces, pastureland and forests of rural America would seem to be the optimum environment for good health. But not so, says a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control. ...

Improved organ donor laws desperately needed. (On First Reading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Delaware has joined seven other states in streamlining organ donation procedures, pushed by two legislators who have a personal interest in the issue. The new Delaware law specifies that if a person has clearly indicated his or her wish to...

Despite war, another round of base closures looms. (On First Reading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Although the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent war in Afghanistan have focused national attention on the U.S. military, Congress approved another round of base closures. And states are lining up to respond with a vigorous no. A...

Largest river cleanup in history launched on Hudson. (On First Reading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In what could be the most ambitious river cleanup in the nation's history, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)--supported by New York Governor George Pataki and 32 members of Congress from New York and New Jersey--has ordered General...

States allow needle exchanges. (On First Reading).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Though other public health crises may top the list for a time, HIV has never gone away. And some states are determining that the AIDS epidemic may warrant a loosening of the restrictions they once placed on possession of hypodermic needles. ...

Stateline.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... A KINDER, GENTLER BIKER A proposed law in Ohio would bar discrimination against people who ride motorcycles or wear biker colors. Proponents say it is aimed at thwarting an outdated stereotype, that of the biker thug. Bikers claim they are...

Federalism's ups and downs: It's pretty much agreed that devolution has wanted; and there are considerable pressures for centralization. What's not clear, is why.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Cable TV Program Note Debate on the Federalism Channel has intensified over erosion of state authority. In last night's program, Alexander Hamilton argued that one necessary consequence of the war on terrorism-or any war-is centralization...

Will welfare reform hold up?: With a recession in progress and caseloads increasing, we will soon know if reform has truly transformed the welfare system.
February 1, 2002... What happens to welfare when the economy slows down?" That question has been on the lips of state policymakers for several years. Everybody knew the strong economy could not last. Now with a recession here, officials are faced with...

Whatever happened to the new economy? Given the current economic downturn, questions abound as to whether the "new economy" really means anything for states.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... With the country in the grip of recession, state policymakers are wondering if the growth bonanza of the 1990s holds any lessons for economic development. Or was the bounty of this "new economy" overblown? The answer depends on how you define...

Maverick medicine: Since Western medics discovered the benefits of acupuncture and other Chinese healing methods, lawmakers have had a tough time fitting it all into the traditional model.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Consider Rhett Bergeron, a Louisiana-trained physician who now practices in Georgia, as an uncomfortable symbol in the growing battle between traditional medicine and those who agitate for alternatives. Young and energetic, Bergeron...

States, hunters aim to feed the hungry: Recession has brought an increase in hunger. Here's how states and sportsmen are helping.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... What does hunting deer and elk have to do with food pantries, soup kitchens and feeding the hungry? Quite a bit, as a matter of fact. Several states sponsor programs to ensure that food banks and pantries share sportsmen's bounty with...