The Real State of the States ... I watch, listen and read so you don't have to (part 1)

Each year, I watch, listen or read the state of the addresses from every governor in the nation.  The annual ritual gives me better insight into the priorities of each governor and a sense of what issues or opportunities could arise from those priorities.  It allows me to better serve my clients and develop better advocacy strategies.  Simply put, it makes me a better state lobbyist.

This year I am starting what will be an annual tradition - highlighting the state of the state addresses.

In 2010, the country elected the largest class of new governors.   So in 2011, most governors had just received the keys to the mansion and were still finding their way around.  Fast forward four years, and the country elected the largest class of incumbent governors.  And now in 2015, many of those governors are considering their legacies via state of the state or inaugural addresses.  

This post is the first of three posts that will cover the 2015 State of the State addresses.  Two will cover speeches from incumbent governors.  A third will focus on newly-elected governors, as they outline the goals of their first (and maybe only) term in office.

Click HERE for Governing (www.governing.com) collection of video and/or text of all the addresses.

This week, I'm highlighting the two longest serving governors in America and the current chair of the RGA and next chair of the DGA, as they all won reelection in 2014.

• California Governor Jerry Brown (January 5, 2015)

Governor Brown's legacy is certainly secure as he enters the second term of his second stint as governor, and fourth term over all. Hard to believe he was sworn in for his first term 40 years ago. In his address, he highlighted the success of several programs including: two recent ballot initiatives (Save Water and Save Money), and his record paying down the debt.

"Over the next four years and beyond, we must dedicate ourselves to make what we have done work, to see the massive changes in education, healthcare and public safety are actually carried out and endured. The financial promises we have already made must be confronted honestly so they are properly funded. The health of our stat depends on it."

The governor's address touched on several programs in areas of education, healthcare and public safely (corrections). He touched on his next phase of pension reform program and his plans for funding long-term infrastructure - including a fund to invest in bridges and roads.  All part of what I believe Governor Brown believes legacy to be - returning the state to fiscal health.

One thing I learned?  Governor Brown was a former Jesuit priest.

• Iowa Governor Terry Brandstadt (January 5, 2015) 

Governor Brandstadt is another governor whose legacy is all but assured, even before he gave his record sixth traditional Condition of the State address.  Governor Brandstadt will soon become the longest serving governor in history.  Hard to believe he needs more of legacy than that.

However, after informing the audience that the condition of Iowa is strong, he dove into the theme of his address - "Together, we can."

"Together, we can," strengthen school safety; invest in rural infrastructure; make college more affordable; and make Iowa the most transparent government in the land.  Those represent the goals of the governor's agenda over the next four years. 

• Tennessee Governor Bill Haslem (February 7, 2015)

Governor Haslam started his state of the state address by saying it would be the shortest in state of the state in Tennessee history - mainly because he gave his second inaugural address two weeks before.  I pulled from both speeches to get a sense of what Governor Haslam would like to be most remembered for.

I think it is clear that Governor Haslam wants to be remembered for vastly improving the state's education system - both K-12 and higher education.  Both speeches and his budget priorities point to that.  The state has made significant statistical improvements over the last four years and the governor wants to continue them.  He also wants to ensure access to higher education and continue his program of making Tennessee community and technical colleges affordable (if not free) for every citizen of the state.  

The governor talked about how these important education improvements and reforms would lead to better jobs, economic growth and a better Tennessee for all. 

• Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy (January 7, 2015)

Governor Malloy led off on several significant accomplishments - raising the minimum wage, reducing the uninsured by half, and legislation aimed at reducing gun violence.  But his speech was all about transportation and infrastructure.

"To be competitive regionally, nationally, and internationally, we need a transformation. For our roads, bridges, rails and ports, even our walkways or bikeways. We need to change the way we commute, the ways our businesses move their products, and the ways we get around our cities and towns. It's time for a Connecticut to establish a collective vision for the next thirty years. A vision for a best-in-class transportation system."

Among some short term goals, Governor Malloy called for widening I-95 state-wide and fixing its entrance and exit ramps, and a significant improvement of the state's commuter rail lines and bus lines.  He also called for a transportation lock box, ensuring all transportation funds are actually spent on transportation projects.

Next week, I'll look at some of the 2016 presidential contenders.

RIP Dr. Alan Rosenthal

I just read the New York Times obituary for Dr. Alan Rosenthal.  If you have been involved in state government at any time since before I was born and virtually anywhere in the country you have probably met him, read one of his books, took his class, heard him speak or simply watched him modernize your state legislature.  I met him on a number of occasions and talked with him in depth a handful of times (we share a strong dislike for term limits).  I wouldn't say I knew him well, but few people have had as big an impact on my career as Dr. Rosenthal.  I will miss him.

The man was a giant in the study of state government.  He really helped push the professionalism of state legislatures - calling for professional staffs, non-partisan legislative budget offices and pay for legislators.  It is hard to believe Connecticut had a biennial legislature not that long ago  (and my guess is many Nutmeg State residents would gladly go back to those days).

There a many reasons that I will remember him.  I loved his books - The Third House is THE book on state lobbying.  He had a unique insight to state government and access that rivaled anyone I know.  He loved to share stories with anyone that would listen, which is probably why he wrote so many books.

But the one reason I will always remember him, is because he is most responsible for shaping the way I look at state government.  It is why I love working with state legislatures and legislators so much.  It is why Dr. Rosenthal never stopped being a cheerleader for state legislatures.

People in state government loves to refer to Justice Brandeis' quote about states being the laboratories of democracy.  To Dr. Rosenthal, states legislatures were more than that. To Dr. Rosenthal, the legislatures were the drivers of democracy.  In one of my favorite books Engines of Democracy, Dr. Rosenthal compares state legislatures to the little engine that could.  The engine/legislature pulls democracy over the big hill into the station. But instead of the cheers that the little engine got in the story, this train is more likely met with indifference or even jeers.  Dr. Rosenthal never stopped cheering that train when it got into the station, because he knew what hard work it took to get there.

In a fitting tribute - the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) set up a site of testimonials to the late, great Dr. Rosenthal.  Please take a look here and here.

For my tribute, I am going to go back and read a book or two, and continue to be cheerleader for state legislatures - the true engines of democracy.

Welcome to mob advocacy's new blog

Welcome to The State of the States - the new mob advocacy blog.  In this blog, we will share our thoughts on state and local government and political news, interesting or trending legislation and thoughts on life in a small (but growing) start-up firm.

We at mob advocacy are very excited this week.  In addition to launching this blog and preparing for our website to go live, we signed a new client - Student Veterans Advocacy Group (SVAG)!  mob advocacy will manage SVAG's national state legislative campaign aimed at increasing educational opportunities for veterans and their families.  You may not know this, but due to a change in the 2011 GI Bill, veterans can only get reimbursed for the cost of in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.  Since active duty military rarely meet state resident criteria, they are forced to make up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.  That cost usually makes it too expensive to attend.  We say, Vets have sacrificed... Vets have earned it... so, Let Vets Go!  (if you see #LetVetsGo on twitter, please retweet, especially to your governor and state legislators) 

At the end of the week, mob advocacy will be attending the summer meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA) in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The NGA meetings are a great opportunity to build relationships with governors and their key staff members, discuss issues our clients are currently having or expect to have in the next legislative session, and learn about the important issues facing our state governments (and sometimes even sharing ideas for solving them).  mob advocacy will represent our clients at the meeting.  Should you be one of them?  If you have legislative or regulatory issues in your state (or several states), we should talk.

Healthcare is always a big discussion at NGA meetings. With the recent U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision upholding most of the Affordable Care Act this meeting will be no different.  Many governors and state legislatures will spend the next twelve months deciding if and how to implement some, all or none of the law.  Health exchanges and the optional Medicaid expansion will certainly be hot topics.  Almost no one thought SCOTUS would decide to make Medicaid expansion optional, not even the National Association of State Medicaid Directors [read a great article here].  Now several governors, like Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) [article] , have announced they are not expanding their Medicaid programs and others, such as Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) [article], are weighing the options.

Thanks for reading.  Feel free to comment, suggest a topic, ask a question.  Follow my twitter feed (@mob_advocacy) throughout the NGA meeting (#NGA2012) , and look for our post-NGA wrap up next week.

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