Headlines
1. Senate panel considers public-private partnership for infrastructure funding
2. Leasing Calif. lottery may pay half of state’s bet
3. Ex-Rendell firm bills Pa. $1.8M — report
4. GA: Tax breaks for groups that send kids to private school OK’d
5. Texas panel nixes talk of school vouchers for dropouts
6. Priv. of WV wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about upkeep and sprawl
7. IN: Welfare privatization critics call lawmakers to investigate problems
8. CO: Legislators agree to increase payments to prison company
New Summaries
1. Senate panel considers public-private partnership for infrastructure funding
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee held a hearing
Tuesday on legislation to create a public-private partnership to
finance needed improvements in the nation’s infrastructure. CQ Politics
2. Leasing Calif. lottery may pay half of state’s bet
The state is not likely to get a $37-billion up-front payment if it
enters a long-term lease of the state lottery to private investors, a
legislative analyst said Tuesday, adding that such an arrangement would
probably provide less than half that amount. Los Angeles Times
3. Ex-Rendell firm bills Pa. $1.8M — report
Gov. Ed Rendell’s former law firm has billed the state $1.8 million as
special counsel for privatizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a pet
project of the governor’s, according to documents posted on an Internet
site. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
4. GA: Tax breaks for groups that send kids to private school OK’d
Corporations that give money to nonprofit groups that send children to
private school could get a 75 percent tax credit on their overall
income tax bills under legislation passed Tuesday by the Georgia House.
In a 92-73 vote that fell mostly along party lines, the chamber passed
House Bill 1133. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5. Texas panel nixes talk of school vouchers for dropouts
A special state committee on high school dropouts on Tuesday appeared
to nix the idea of a private school voucher program for those students,
but left open the possibility of the state contracting with private
firms to help dropouts complete their education. The Dallas Morning News
6. Privatization of WV wastewater treatment plants raises concerns about upkeep and sprawl
Where our wastewater goes is directly related to where we build and
grow as a city. Next Tuesday, the COG’s Special Wastewater Issues
Committee is expected to make a recommendation about whether or not to
condone private wastewater treatment plants, often called "package
plants," a move that could have significant implications on growth and
development in the Lowcountry’s rural areas. Charleston City Paper
7. IN: Welfare privatization critics call lawmakers to investigate problems
Advocates for senior citizens say problems with the rollout of
Indiana’s privatized welfare system has cost some people their food
stamps and other benefits. Three investigators for senior groups say
the implementation in 12 northern Indiana counties is especially
failing senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other low-income
clients who have difficulty with wait times at a new call center or
applying via the internet. WLFI.com
8. CO: Legislators agree to increase payments to prison company
State lawmakers have approved of a compromise to increase the per diem
rate Colorado pays its largest private prison company, Corrections
Corporation of America, after a battle between the state and the
company this year. GJSentinel.com