Proposition 13 and State Budget Limitations: Past Successes and Future Options

June 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of Proposition 13, a landmark tax limitation measure approved by California voters in 1978. Proposition 13 triggered one of the nation's largest state and local tax reductions by immediately cutting California property taxes by $5 billion. But Proposition 13's impact went far beyond tax relief in California. It launched a wave of tax limitation efforts in other states and created momentum for the large federal tax cuts passed in 1981. Although Proposition 13 limited property taxes, it failed to impose long-term discipline on state and local budgets in California. Indeed, total state and local revenues (including federal aid) in California have risen from 19.4 percent of personal income the year after Proposition 13 passed to 24.6 percent today. Rapidly expanding spending since the mid-1990s has put the state into a fiscal crisis with record budget gaps currently being reported. Proposition 13's focus on property taxes was too narrow to limit overall state and local government budgets in California. However, a number of states in the past decade have enacted broader tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) that attempt to control overall government growth. This paper discusses how well-designed TELs can restrain spending and provide tax relief. TELs combined with other mechanisms to terminate unneeded government programs should be pursued in all state and local jurisdictions to close current budget gaps and counteract the tendency of governments to collect ever-larger shares of Americans' income

RRS Charles Darwin Cruise 141, 01 Jun-11 Jul 2002. Satellite Calibration and Interior Physics of the Indian Ocean: SCIPIO

RRS Charles Darwin Cruise 141, SCIPIO (Satellite Calibration and Interior Physics of the Indian Ocean) provided a multidisciplinary survey of the Mascarene Ridge system in the western Indian Ocean. The principal objectives were to (a) study the flow of water masses through the Ridge system, together with their decadal-timescale variability, (b) assess the energy fluxes and mixing arising from internal waves, (c) collect in situ data for the calibration of sea-surface temperature and ocean colour sensors on the ENVISAT satellite, (d) investigate the biogeochemical properties of the water masses, and (e) measure the heat fluxes and winds, and the airflow disturbance around the ship. The survey comprised three sections parallel with the Ridge near 64°, 60° and 57° E, joined by two other sections at 8° and 20°S. The sections comprised CTD, LADCP, and biogeochemistry (nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, biogenic gases, CFC tracers and light levels) stations to full ocean depth, at typical spacings of about 60-80 nm. At several of these the CTD and LADCP were cycled continuously for a semidiurnal tidal cycle to study the internal waves, and the smaller 12-bottle CTD frame was used throughout (usually with 6 bottles) in order to reduce mixing effects from the trailing wake. Underway measurements were made with the shipboard ADCP, TSG, radiosondes, XBTs, and of surface meteorology, skin surface temperature, and zooplankton. The ship's EM12 swath bathymetry system was operated continuously, and used to study certain key areas in detail. In addition, MMP (a cycling CTD) and bottom-mounted ADCP moorings were successfully laid and recovered near 8°S, 60°E, and a first deployment of the ARGODOT turbulence probe was made near 20°S, 57.5°E

Campaign Finance Regulation: Lessons from Washington State

Extensive regulations govern campaign finance at the state and national levels. Congress has recently passed the McCain-Feingold law that restricts contributions and electoral advertising. Many states, including Washington, have similar regulations. Washington's regulations limit contributions from individuals, political action committees, and political parties. Overall, campaign finance regulation in Washington State has been able to reduce the sums spent on campaigns for the state legislature. Contrary to the claims of proponents, campaign finance regulation has hindered electoral competition in the state. Incumbents were less likely to face either primary or general election challengers after the regulations went into effect. In addition, candidates who challenged incumbents during the general election were less likely to win. Proponents of contribution limits hope to pass new regulations in additional states and expect McCain-Feingold to enhance electoral competition. The experience of Washington State suggests that both aspirations are unlikely to become reality

The New Hampshire, Vol. 105, No. 25 (Feb. 1, 2016)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire

The New Hampshire, Vol. 67, No. 40 (Mar. 15, 1977)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire

The New Hampshire, Vol. 67, No. 03 (Sep. 17, 1976)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire

The New Hampshire, Vol. 108, No. 06 (Oct. 4, 2018)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire

Shoreland and Riparian Buffer Regulations for the Town of Raymond PREP Local Grants Program 2008 Final Project Report

In September of 2007, SNHPC applied to PREP’s Local Grant Program seeking $5,000 to help develop local shoreland protection ordinances consistent with the state’s Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act regulations. This project was modeled on similar PREP-supported projects completed in the towns of Candia and Deerfield. The Raymond Conservation Commission served as the primary municipal board involved with this project. PREP funded the project and ensured that it was coordinated with other natural resource planning efforts underway with the town via the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition

The New Hampshire, Vol. 105, No. 47 (Apr. 28, 2016)

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire