Capitol Ideas | 2017 | Issue 6 | The Changing Face of America

SEPT NOV | DEC OCT 2017 2017

THE CHANGING FACE OF AMERICA STATE LEADERS WHO PAVED THE WAY ARE MILLENNIALS THE KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH? TOP DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS IMPACTING STATES WHAT’S IN STORE FOR OUR AGING POPULATION?

10 QU E S TIONS WITH SEN. KELVIN ATKINSON | Nevada

MAY YOUR SEASON BE

MERRY & BRIGHT FR OM YOU R FRIENDS AT TH E COUNC I L OF STATE GOVERN MEN TS

GOV. KATE BROWN

SEN. KELVIN ATKINSON

DAVID ADKINS

CSG 2017 National President Oregon

CSG 2017 National Chair Nevada

CSG Executive Director/CEO

November/December

THE CHANGING FACE OF AMERICA ON THE COVER Nevada state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson serves as the 2017 chair for The Council of State Governments. Atkinson was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2002, and was elected to the state Senate in 2012 by almost 80 percent of the vote. Atkinson believes America is becoming more diverse and elected officials must respond to these demographic shifts by passing legislation that supports many different populations.

Photo Courtesy John Morris

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A NEW AMERICAN DREAM

BREAKTHROUGH LEADERS

STATES OF CHANGE

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

Homeownership is a sign of a healthy economy in America. Post World War II, the American dream was predicated on the idea of the archetypical house with a white picket fence. But reality has interceded into that dream. Since 2005, homeownership rates have been declining.

There have been many “firsts” in the spotlight on the national stage, but our states have a long history of their own firsts. Although some of these elected state leaders may not be household names, their accomplishments set the stage for many to follow in their footsteps.

The U.S. is getting older, more ethnically and racially diverse, and more educated, on average. At the same time, the middle class is shrinking and the “suburbanization of America” is accelerating. But these trends are not affecting all states equally.

The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the majority of the U.S. population will be people-of-color by 2044, but the public school population is already there. Research shows a cultural generation gap, like the one that exists in the U.S., can affect public policy.

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FEATURES

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© AP Photo / File

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CSG THEY TWEETED IT |

the changing face of america

6 REGIONAL ROUNDUP | east 7 REGIONAL ROUNDUP | south 8 REGIONAL ROUNDUP | midwest 9 REGIONAL ROUNDUP | west 10 IN THE KNOW | learning to give 48 FINAL FACTS

SPOTLIGHT: The Changing Face of America

12 A New American Dream

28 States of Change

42 Freshman Orientation

Homeownership is a sign of a healthy economy in America. Post World War II, the American dream was predicated on the idea of the archetypical house with a white picket fence. But reality has interceded into that dream. Since 2005, homeownership rates have been declining.

The U.S. is getting older, more ethnically and racially diverse, and more educated, on average. At the same time, the middle class is shrinking and the “suburbanization of America” is accelerating. But these trends are not affecting all states equally.

This past year, CSG followed four freshman legislators as they navigated their first year in office. In this final installment of the series, we’ve asked them to provide their best advice to those who seek to be the in the next class of freshman legislators.

32 Building Healthier Communities for an Aging Population

44 Leadership Corner: Questions Across Generations

Nearly one in five people in the U.S. will be over 65 years old by 2030. Will these seniors have access to medical care, transportation and housing, as well as the income to pay for it all? Some state leaders are planning now to build communities that can accommodate this impending shift in demographics.

Generational strengths can help elected officials and public office holders across generations lead states to success. From millennials to baby boomers, five government officials discuss what they’ve learned and how different generations can work together to build robust public policy.

14 Breakthrough Leaders There have been many “firsts” in the spotlight on the national stage, but our states have a long history of their own firsts. Although some of these elected state leaders may not be household names, their accomplishments set the stage for many to follow in their footsteps.

24 10 Questions: Sen. Kelvin Atkinson Nevada state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson serves as the 2017 chair for The Council of State Governments. Atkinson talks about his dedication to aging Nevadans and the need for elected officials to respond to demographic shifts through policy.

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26 The Rise of the Millennial Workforce

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A common stereotype placed on millennials in the workforce is that they are constantly job-hopping.

However, research suggests that this label may be misplaced. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows millennial workers are just as likely to stick with their employers as those in Generation X.

34 Shining a Spotlight on Women Veterans There are more women veterans than ever before and states are working to create needed services and supports for them. The percentage of women and minority veterans is expected to continue increasing over the next several decades even as the overall number of veterans decreases.

36 Representative Democracy The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the majority of the U.S. population will be people-of-color by 2044, but the public school population is already there.

Research shows a cultural generation gap, like the one that exists in the U.S., can affect public policy.

publisher DAVID ADKINS

dadkins@csg.org

editor-in-chief KELLEY ARNOLD

karnold@csg.org

staff writer JENNIFER BURNETT

CSG Director, Fiscal and Economic Development Policy jburnett@csg.org

contributing EMILY MCCARTHY managing editor COURTNEY DANIEL writers CSG Graduate Fellow

cdaniel@csg.org

emily.mccarthy@csg.org

associate editors SHAWNTAYE HOPKINS

shopkins@csg.org

LISA MCKINNEY lmckinney@csg.org

technical editor CHRIS PRYOR cpryor@csg.org

DEBRA MILLER

CSG Director, Health Policy dmiller@csg.org

MATTHEW SHAFER

CAPITOL IDEAS, ISSN 2152-8489, NOV/DEC 2017, Vol. 60, No. 6—Published bimonthly by The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511-8536. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Council of State Governments nor the views of the editorial staff. Readers’ comments are welcome. Subscription rates: in the U.S., $42 per year. Single issues are available at $7 per copy. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Capitol Ideas, Sales Department, The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511-8536.

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Mailing lists are available for rent upon approval of a sample mailing. Contact the sales department at (800) 800-1910.

Copyright 2017 by The Council of State Governments. Periodicals postage paid at Lexington, Ky., and at additional mailing offices.

CSG Policy Analyst matthew.shafer@csg.org

WILLIAMS graphic designers THERESA CARROLL RAY CSG Policy Analyst tcarroll@csg.org

CHRIS PRYOR

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rwilliams@csg.org

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CHAD YOUNG cyoung@csg.org

email

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Gov. Kate Brown

OREGON CSG National President

Sen. Kelvin Atkinson NEVADA CSG National Chair

CSG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO dadkins@csg.org

Deputy Speaker Kevin Ryan

Sen. Janet Petersen

Wendell M. Hannaford

Michael H. McCabe

Colleen Cousineau

CONNECTICUT CSG East Co-Chair

CSG EAST DIRECTOR whannaford@csg.org

CONNECTICUT CSG East Co-Chair

CSG MIDWEST DIRECTOR mmccabe@csg.org

IOWA CSG Midwest Chair

CSG SOUTH DIRECTOR fitzgerald@csg.org

Senate Pres. Pro Tem Ron Richard MISSOURI CSG South Chair

Edgar Ruiz

CSG WEST DIRECTOR eruiz@csg.org

Sen. Sam Hunt WASHINGTON CSG West Chair

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David Adkins

Sen. Theresa Gerratana

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what’s happening at csg

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CSG?

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CSG Policy Academies Held in Las Vegas

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CSG 2017 National Conference

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CSG Overseas Voting Initiative Makes Recommendations

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CSG Justice Center Launches Clean Slate Clearinghouse

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CSG Justice Center Hosts 50-State Summit on Public Safety

CSG brings together leaders and decision-makers from across the nation to share innovative ideas every year at its national conference. From cybersecurity strategy to marijuana policy, the CSG 2017 National Conference will explore important policy issues facing states today. Awardwinning historian and best-selling author, Michael Beschloss, will give the keynote address and discuss his book, Presidential Courage. CSG will also continue its tradition of service with the Campaign Against Hunger event, where conference attendees will pack 35,000 meals for the hungry in Nevada. For more information about the conference visit, csg.org/2017nationalconference.

The CSG Justice Center, with support from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, launched the Clean Slate Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse provides people with criminal records, legal service providers and state policymakers with information on juvenile and adult criminal record clearance policies in all 50 states. To learn more visit, cleanslateclearinghouse.org.

The CSG 2017 National Conference will feature two full-day Policy Academies. The Hiring and Retaining Workers with Disabilities Policy Academy will cover innovative state practices on hiring and retaining workers with disabilities, including how the state can be a model employer. The Making Waves with State Water Policies Policy Academy will explore topics such as water quality improvements, droughts, water resource management, integrated water planning and the impacts of new federal regulations. These two policy academies are the final in the series for 2017.

As part of the CSG Overseas Voting Initiative, the CSG Election Administration and Voting Survey Section B Working Group recently released three recommendations to improve a mandated federal survey that tracks voting behavior of overseas absentee ballots from service members and U.S. citizens living abroad. The working group, which consists of 13 state and local election administrators from across the nation, presented its recommendations at the Inclusion & Integrity in Election Administration Symposium held at Auburn University. The recommendations include eliminating redundant survey questions, improving understanding of survey questions and establishing greater outreach to states.

On Nov. 13–14, the CSG Justice Center, in partnership with the Association of State Correctional Administrators, hosted interagency teams from all 50 states to examine local criminal justice trends and identify strategies for reducing crime and recidivism, improving outcomes for people with mental health and substance use disorders, and reducing corrections spending.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance plans to provide support for up to 25 states to host a follow-up State Forum on Public Safety in early 2018. To apply online, visit csgjusticecenter.org.

they tweeted it

They Tweeted It Governor Phil Scott ‪@ GovPhilScott‬‬ • Sept 22 Honored to attend the SCAN Foundation ceremony where VT received the Pacesetter Award for providing long term services & supports for aging

Nancy Landry‫@ ‏‬Nancy_Landry • May 25 Interns who have aged out of foster care in the House. Ed cmte will study mentoring aged-out foster youth through post secondary ed. #LaLege

David Chiu @DavidChiu • Oct 5 Feeling much gratitude today for the coalition of folks that worked so hard for immigrant rights in the workplace #AB450 TY @JerryBrownGov Avery Bourne‫ ‏‬‪@AveryBourne‬‬ • Oct 17 It’s always a privilege to encourage young women to run for office. Thanks ‪@marieclaire‬‬ for including my advice in your campaign guide

Governor John Carney @JohnCarneyDE • Aug 1 The future of our state depends on how well we attract a talented millennial workforce to ‪#Delaware‬‬. # ‪ MillSummit‬‬ # ‪ NetDE‬‬ Rep Sara Feigenholtz @StateRepSara‬‬ • May 29 For too long, the service of LGBT veterans has gone unrecognized. Today this overdue and welcomed addition to our neighborhood was unveiled.

Senator Greg Boso ‪ @gregboso‬‬ • Feb 21 Stories regarding aging, failing transportation infrastructure continue surfacing. Investing now is critical for future demands. ‪#RoadSafety‬‬ Raymond Dehn‫‏‬ @raymonddehn‬‬ • Oct 12 Gentrification is rampant. The time to implement policies to stop this was years ago—but we didn’t do it then, let’s do it now. ‪#SoSideForum

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Terry McAuliffe @TerryMcAuliffe • Sept 27 “VA was 1st state to functionally end veteran homelessness, we have the most vet benefit offices in the US & our new cyber vets program”

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regional roundup

The East CT • DE • MA • MD • ME • NH • NJ • NY • PA • RI • VT • NB • NS • ON • PE • PR • QC • VI ELEPHANTS

HURRICANE HELP

New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a bill in October that outlaws the use of elephants for entertainment, The New York Times reported. The Legislature passed the Elephant Protection Act in June. For years, animal-rights groups have argued that elephants used for entertainment such as circuses and parades were subject to inhumane and injurious treatment. A violation under the new law could result in a fine of up to $1,000.

A Nov. 1 Hartford Courant story reported that about 20 University of Puerto Rico students planned to begin an eight-week term at Central Connecticut State University.

CCSU staff designed a special program to allow students from Puerto Rico to continue their studies while the island recovers from Hurricane Maria.

Classes will be a combination of online and in-classroom learning, and students will have financial help from government grant programs and a CCSU relief effort.

E-CIGARETTES In Rhode Island, electronic cigarettes will be prohibited on school property when a new law takes effect on Jan. 1.

The legislation signed into law in early October also requires liquid used in electronic nicotine delivery systems to be sold in child-resistant packaging, the Associated Press reported. Regular cigarettes were banned on school property decades ago.

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CYBERSECURITY

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A cybersecurity advisory team in Vermont has been tasked with advising Gov. Phil Scott about opportunities to improve cybersecurity in the state. Scott issued an executive order in October that established the 10-person team, which will advise him on readiness, strategy and planning, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The governor will appoint the team members.

RIGHT TO TRY A new law in Pennsylvania will give terminally ill patients access to treatments that have not been fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Pennlive.com reported that Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill in October. It can sometimes take as long as 15 years for clinical trials of a new treatment to get FDA approval.

Thirty-seven other states already have similar laws, referred to as Right to Try laws.

For more on CSG East, visit capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgeast.org.

Massachusetts Unveils Principles for Social Work Students Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently unveiled educational core principles for social workers on the front lines of the opioid crisis. The principles will help ensure that social work students in Massachusetts have the skills needed to confront opioid addiction and help individuals and families.

According to WBUR, the principles include being able to demonstrate an understanding of prevention techniques; assessing a person’s risk for substance use disorders; showing an awareness of how to inform individuals about the risks associated with substance misuse; eliminating stigma; and recognizing substance use disorders as a chronic disease that affects individuals and families physically, mentally, spiritually and socially.

“The most important thing we need to do here is get everybody to understand and accept that they have a role to play in this, and not simply the purview of those who might choose to enter a field or a space where you might see more of this because as we’ve said before, this is everywhere,” Baker said in an Oct. 10 WBUR story.

Nine social work schools in the state have agreed to use the principles in their curriculum.

regional roundup

The South AL • AR • FL • GA • KY • LA • MO • MS • NC • OK • SC • TN • TX • VA • WV VOLVO EXPANSION Volvo Cars is expected to announce an expansion of an automotive plant currently under construction in Ridgeville, South Carolina, about 40 miles outside Charleston, according to The Post and Courier. Volvo will double its investment for the plant, spending $500 million and hiring another 1,900 workers, in addition to the $500 million that already has been committed. When the plant is running at full capacity, it is expected to produce 100,000 vehicles per year and employ nearly 4,000 people. It is Volvo’s first factory in the United States.

GRADUATION PORTAL

Cyber Innovation and Training Center

AGRIBUSINESS Tennessee officials recently announced a new grant to develop agribusiness in the state, the Associated Press reported. The grant, known as the Agriculture Enterprise Fund, will be run by the state Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Department of Economic and

PSYCHIATRIC URGENT CARE A new program in Durham, North Carolina, the first of its kind in the state, offers urgent care specifically for individuals struggling with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders, according to North Carolina Health News. Intended to be an alternative to the emergency room, where mental health or substance abuse patients often wait for hours before seeing a doctor, the program offers more timely care to prevent a medical issue from turning into a potentially dangerous emergency. Eventually, the service is expected to be capable of serving 600 people per month, which potentially could reduce wait times at local emergency departments.

ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is saving more than $40,000 annually on energy costs by switching from fluorescent bulbs to LED lighting, according to the Associated Press. The bulbs, expected to last for about 20 years, were bought by the department at a cost of $118,000, nearly $30,000 of which was returned via a rebate from Appalachian Power.

It is anticipated the new bulbs will pay for themselves in energy savings in two to three years.

For more on CSG South, visit capitolideas.csg.org and www.slcatlanta.org.

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A new cybersecurity center in Augusta, Georgia, currently under construction and scheduled to open in July 2018, will bring together state government, academia, law enforcement and private sector entities to strengthen the state’s cyber workforce and defenses, according to Government Technology. Operating under the auspices of the Georgia Technology Authority, the Hull McKnight Cyber Innovation and Training Center is projected to cost $50 million once the 167,000-square-foot center is completed.

Among its many goals, the center aims to train a future cyber workforce by partnering with nearby higher education institutions, including Augusta University and the local campus for the Technical College System of Georgia. In addition to the academic component, the center will house a cybercrime unit from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, or GBI, comprising 20 full-time staffers. Personnel with the GBI will have a secured area to carry out cyber investigations and, when appropriate, be able to collaborate with other entities occupying the center.

The long-term vision for the center calls for the inclusion of a vigorous private sector presence, allowing tech entrepreneurs and private companies to pool resources and partner regularly with law enforcement officials and the research community. The extent to which private entities will have an opportunity to work with others located at the center has yet to be determined, as there are complex laws governing how a state-owned building leases space to private firms.

The U.S. Army Cyber Command, scheduled to move to nearby Fort Gordon in 2018, is expected to be a key contributor to the emerging cyber ecosystem in Georgia. As a result, it likely will play an important role in collaborating with other partners at the center when it is completed next year.

A new website designed to help Mississippians graduate from college recently was unveiled by the state, the Daily Journal reported. Part of Mississippi’s “Complete 2 Compete” initiative to boost the number of college graduates statewide, the website will provide details on remaining coursework that is required for an individual to earn a degree, as well as options that are available to obtain one. The website is free to users. According to recent data, about 20 percent of Mississippi residents have fouryear degrees, lower than the national average of 28 percent.

Community Development. The goal of the program is to eliminate all distressed counties in the state by 2025 by supporting agricultural and food businesses, farmers, nonprofits, local governments and other entities in Tennessee, particularly in rural counties.

Twenty-five percent of a proposed project’s total budget will be supported by the grant.

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regional roundup

The Midwest IA • IL • IN • KS • MI • MN • ND • NE • OH • SD • WI • AB • MB • ON • SK INTERNET ACCESS Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and State Superintendent Jennifer McCormick announced in October a partnership with EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit organization, to increase and improve high-speed internet in Indiana schools, according to The Indianapolis Star. Indiana officials hope to have high-speed internet in all schools within the next two years. The goal is for every school to have affordable broadband internet, wall-to-wall Wi-Fi and the infrastructure to deliver the high speeds needed for digital learning.

OPIOID EPIDEMIC A study of Ohio’s opioid epidemic shows an economic toll of $6.6 billion to $8.8 billion a year or about the same amount spent annually on K-12 education, The Columbus Dispatch reported. The state has the capacity to treat about 20 to 40 percent of the 92,000 to 170,000 residents who are addicted to opioids or abuse them. This data is from a 22-page report that was released in October by researchers with the C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy at The Ohio State University.

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TUITION POLICY

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The Minnesota State system is considering an overhaul of its tuition and fee policy in response to a growing number of students taking classes at multiple schools at once, according to an October Pioneer Press story. More students have been enrolling in online classes then simultaneously enrolling in

classes at one of the seven universities and one of the 30 colleges. A work group study will examine the policy and make recommendations in the next few months. The group will look at making tuition and fees more equitable, among other things.

LOCAL TAXES The Michigan Legislature has approved a bill that bans local governments from imposing taxes on food, pop or gum, according to the Detroit Free Press. Although some business groups supported the legislation, saying the regulations in communities would be an administrative burden to businesses, the Michigan Municipal League, which represents communities across the state, said laws such as these hamper towns from being able to creatively run communities as they deal with decreasing revenues.

CIVIC EDUCATION State education officials in Nebraska want to define civic education for students and teachers in the state, according to a November story in the Lincoln Journal Star. The Nebraska Board of Education made defining civic readiness part of their strategic plan. The board is expected to vote on a proposed definition, which would help educators know what students should be learning and be better able to measure civic learning. The proposed definition includes having a fundamental understanding of the structure of government and the history that informs policies as well as having the skills to be involved citizens.

For more on CSG Midwest, visit: capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgmidwest.org.

Illinois Surveying Travelers About Welcome Centers and Rest Areas Illinois state officials received about 4,500 responses in two weeks to a public survey launched to assess travelers’ thoughts about highway rest stops and welcome centers in need of repair, according to the Chicago Tribune.

“Many of our rest areas have reached a point where it’s time to evaluate their future,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn.

Of the state’s 30 public rest areas and 11 welcome centers, many are 30 to 40 years old and need to be repaired or closed. These areas are open 24 hours a day and include restrooms, picnic areas, maps, security cameras and more.

“As they reach the end of their useful life, we want to know how best to meet the needs of the traveling public—what features are valued by the public,” said Kelsea Gurski, spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The survey will be used to analyze the existing system and determine a repair schedule. It will also look at the cost of maintaining rest areas and assess the services provided.

The survey was announced on Oct. 11 and closed on Oct. 29.

Closing rest areas is a growing trend in states due to budget shortfalls and driver demand, the Chicago Tribune reported. For example, in 1961, Ohio had 294 rest areas, but the state has 89 today.

regional roundup

The west AK • AZ • CA • CO • HI • ID • MT • NM • NV • OR • UT • WA • WY • AB • AS • BC • GU • MP ORGANIZED CRIME Montana Attorney General Tim Fox announced in October that six Montana Highway Patrol troopers—including trained police dogs—and two agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation would serve on a criminal interdiction team to seize drugs as they move through the state and determine the source of the drugs, the Independent Record reported. The team is part of a program meant to decrease organized crime, mainly through efforts to reduce drug trafficking. The Montana Legislature has approved $1.7 million over the next two years for the program, which also aims to stop human trafficking and firearms trafficking.

A HAMILTON EDUCATION

Washington State to Install New Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations

BAN THE BOX Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order in early November, directing state personnel officials to eliminate questions about

WATER CREMATION California residents will be able to pursue water cremation as early as 2020 after Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that makes it legal to dispose of human remains through water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, aquamation or bio-cremation, SFGate. com reported in October. In water cremation, a body is put in a steel, pod-like vat and bathed in alkaline solution for about four hours. The website reported that the process stems from a growing concern about the carbon footprint of burial and standard cremation.

FINANCIAL AID More than 12,000 high school seniors have applied for a Nevada Promise Scholarship in the program’s first year, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The last-dollar scholarship program covers student fees at a community college after other sources of financial aid have been exhausted. The Nevada Legislature approved $3.5 million for the pilot program modeled after the Tennessee Promise Program.

For more on CSG West, visit: capitolideas.csg.org and www.csgwest.org.

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New electric-vehicle charging stations will be installed across the busiest highways in Washington state by summer 2019, The Seattle Times reported.

The state will contribute $1 million to the project, using money from a $150 electricvehicle registration fee, and it will be matched by about $1.5 million in private spending.

“We need to make electric vehicles a viable option for Washington drivers and an important part of that means making it easy for drivers to charge and go,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said. “This is an exciting step in our efforts to provide drivers cleaner transportation options.”

Fifteen new stations will ensure there is an electric-vehicle charging station within every 30 to 50 miles of roadway, the newspaper reported. Inslee has set a goal to have 50,000 registered electric vehicles in the state by 2020. There were 8,000 of the vehicles registered in the state in 2013.

In Washington, the first $32,000 spent on an electric vehicle is exempt from the state sales tax.

Some students in Utah will be treated to a special matinee performance of Hamilton: An American Musical in the spring. In October, the Utah Board of Education endorsed the Hamilton Education Program, which allows high school juniors from primarily rural and low-income areas to participate in a performing arts and U.S. history curriculum centered on the lives of Alexander Hamilton and the other Founding Fathers, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Each student will have to get a release form signed before seeing the musical at a cost of $10 per ticket.

criminal records on initial job applications, also known as “ban the box,” according to the Arizona Daily Star. More than two dozen other states have similar policies. Ducey said the policy would give some ex-inmates a chance to make their case for employment, and explain their circumstances, at some state agencies.

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in the know

Learning to Give

Sustaining U.S. Philanthropy Tradition Imagine all youth knowledgeable and equipped for lifelong engagement in citizenship as givers of time and talent for the common good. Learning to Give, an online teacher resource, teaches students from kindergarten to high school different ways they can make a difference, as well as philanthropy’s history, culture and values.

We are born with a desire to help others and give. We nurture the practice of giving through example, experience and direct teaching. Without that nurturing—historically provided in the home, in faith-based traditions and in social groups—the practice could fade in time. Because not all youth have this background, Learning to Give provides free online philanthropy education resources for K–12 teachers to incorporate in a classroom setting.

Betsy Peterson

executive director

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L e arning to Give

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Peterson is a former teacher with a focus on experiential learning. She was active with piloting and writing curriculum and leading other teachers through curricular change. Peterson first learned about the impact of philanthropy education when Learning to Give piloted its lessons in Michigan schools, demonstrating that the skills, joy and empowerment of philanthropy could be formalized into teachable knowledge and experience when integrated into all K–12 academic subjects.

Peterson started at Learning to Give as a consultant and has served as an editor, writer, director of curriculum and director.

Learning to Give provides lesson plans, resources and training written by teachers to help students learn their role in giving back to the community. For example, students learn about the work of community nonprofits then volunteer or advocate for an issue. In the process, they learn about their community and practice research skills, empathy, communication and persuasive writing. When students see their work is related to a purpose greater than themselves, their engagement increases.

A 2014 study led by Mark Ottoni-Wilhelm, a professor and writer whose research explores altruistic motivation, found that young people are more likely to give and volunteer if they have been exposed to both conversations about philanthropy, and role-modeling of philanthropic behaviors. Similarly, a 2006 study by Michigan State University on Learning to Give program outcomes found that when teachers expose students to themes in the Learning to Give lessons, students exhibit more charitable attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.

To help teachers and schools get started, an easy-entry initiative called TeachOne provides turnkey lessons and projects four times a year. The lessons are taught in a single classroom, or to the whole school, so students spend a day learning about kindness, giving, justice or stewardship, while building a school culture of a caring community.

Working together for the common good is deeply rooted in our American history. In addition, philanthropy, in its many forms, is the foundation on which our nation was built. The early European settlers were compelled to join together to help each other and share community responsibilities in order to survive. These collaborative experiences started a philanthropic tradition of citizen efforts to promote the public welfare.

When government is limited, the philanthropic sector and individuals can step up to help one another. This balance of limited government and civic participation is a strong tradition in the U.S. These values were carried forward into the new country’s national Constitution. Although the United States Constitution does not specifically address philanthropy, philanthropic values are rooted in the core values and beliefs of America’s Founding Fathers who participated in drafting these fundamental principles of American government.

In the U.S., philanthropy is embedded in democracy and it makes our country unique and strong. Because we do not want to lose this valuable tradition, we must teach its practice, knowledge and skills to the young people of this country at home and at school. The Learning to Give program is one tool to help sustain this practice and culture of civil society.

America’s Changing Face

by John Mountjoy, director of policy & research The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with the phrase we know well, “The only thing that is constant is change.” Smart leaders not only embrace change, they seek it out. In this issue of Capitol Ideas, we examine the changing face of America and how state leaders are not only responding to change, but innovating because of it.

We are an aging nation. By 2030 (just 13 short years from now), one in five people will be over the age of 65. How are states addressing this trend to ensure access to affordable healthcare, transportation and housing—and how do we pay for it all?

Maryland has an answer with its Health Enterprise Zones— a targeted effort launched five years ago that is now paying significant dividends for seniors by reducing health care costs, addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes.

We are also a young nation. Millennials have now passed the baby boomer generation as the largest living population in the United States. States need a strong, committed and healthy millennial workforce if they are to both grow their economies and pay for increased obligations for older residents. While only 5 percent of state elected offices are held by millennials, the group comprises 30 percent of the population. However, a renewed sense of civic duty and increased engagement amongst millennials will likely bring about long-term impacts on state public-policy agendas.

We are a nation of color. By 2044, people of color will make up a majority of Americans. This is almost already true for the under age 18 population. But the American Dream is increasingly out of reach for many. For example, in 2000 a little over 47 percent of black households owned their own homes. In 2015, this number has dropped to just over 41 percent. And while non-Hispanic whites constitute approximately 61 percent of the United States, they hold 82 percent of state legislative offices.

We are increasingly urban. Finally, we are moving to the city in droves—or at least the suburbs. Since 2000, five states have seen unprecedented growth, with Nevada leading the way at 47 percent. Every state added population during this period except Michigan. The Western and Southern regions of the U.S. are the big winners in terms of net in-migration with, predictably, the Midwest and Rust Belt continuing to lose populations due to out-migration. Good news if you are Florida—five of the top 10 fastest growing metros are in your state.

In This Section 14 – Historic Firsts 26 – The Millennial Workforce 28 – Demographic Shifts 32 – What Are States Doing to Improve Health Factors?

34 – Serving Our Veteran Population 36 – Growing Diversity of Elected Officials 44 – Questions Across Generations

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12 – Demographic Changes and Homeownership

11

the changing face of america

New American Dream

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

by Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene

12

Homeownership is a sign of a healthy economy in America. Post World War II, when soldiers returned home and there was a shortage of housing stock for these returning Americans, the American dream was, in large part, predicated on the idea of the archetypical house with a white picket fence.

But reality has interceded into that dream.

Since 2005 or so, unnoticed by many, homeownership rates from coast to coast have been declining. In fact, based on Census data, every state but two—Alaska and South Carolina—experienced a decline in average quarterly homeownership rates from the first and second quarters of 2005 to the first and second quarters of 2017. For those states that

experienced declines, the median decline was five percentage points. Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada and Ohio had the steepest declines with the homeownership rates falling by more than 8 percent in each.

Although there appears to be some evidence that homeownership rates may begin to tick upward again, “it is unlikely to recover to its previous peak levels,” according to the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

The trend lines have been even sharper in the black population, according to the Urban Institute. “In the last 15 years, black ownership rates have declined to levels not seen since the 1960s,” Urban Institute indicated in an October 2017 paper.

A decade and a half ago, 47.3 percent of black households owned their own homes; in 2015 it was 41.2 percent. The biggest reason, reports the Urban Institute, “Black homebuyers bought homes at the peak of the bubble at higher rates than whites and Asians, having often been offered subprime loans even when they qualified for prime loans.”

There are a number of reasons behind the drop in homeownership. Perhaps the most obvious was the same that particularly afflicted the black community—a housing bust that was created by ultra-low interest rates that persuaded people to buy homes they couldn’t afford, which were subsequently foreclosed upon.

demographic changes & homeownership “A friend of mine used to call them renters with an option to default. If you make free money available to people they’ll take it,” said Jonathan Spader, senior research associate at Harvard University.

more difficult for young people, who are making a reasonable living, to buy a starter house.

•

One wrinkle here, according to an op-ed piece

by The Washington Post’s Charles Lane, is that the marketplace following those foreclosures might well be a more economically stable one.

If the oversold market was nothing but a bubble, it didn’t represent true homeownership, but rather a fictional world of people who owned their homes on paper, but not in reality.

Still, even to the extent that Lane’s argument holds up, there are a number of other contributing factors, some of which were listed in a paper released by Spader and Christopher Herberts in December 2016, Waiting for Homeownership.

•

•

“Whenever we have a major financial crisis, coupled with too easy credit, credit becomes tight,” said Barry L. Ritholtz, chairman of Ritholtz Wealth Management. “All the data says that banks have tightened their credit requirements, like generals who are fighting the last war.”

Student loan debt, which has been increasing for some years now, makes it

A growing portion of young people are making the decision to stay in their parents’ homes for a longer period of time than in previous generations thanks to student debt, cost of housing, tight credit and so on. According to a study done by the Pew Charitable Trusts, “As of 2016, 15 percent of 25- to 35-year-old millennials were living in their parents’ home. This is 5 percentage points higher than the share of Generation Xers who lived in their parents’ home in 2000 when they were the same age (10 percent), and nearly double the share of the Silent Generation who lived at home in 1964 (8 percent).”

•

Falling household incomes following the Great Recession.

•

The limited supply of available homes in many of the nation’s fastest growing geographic areas. “As prices have begun to recover there’s a growing concern in fast-growing markets about available homes, related to unavailability of land and geographic constraints,” Spader said.

2005

in percentages

68-76

There are several very significant issues that have been unfolding as homeownership has declined. The first one is the ability of young households to build wealth. Homeownership “provides stability and security,” Spader said.

While it’s easy to plan on setting aside a certain portion of income in a bank account every month, it’s equally simple to forgo a few months’ worth of savings for a trip to the Bahamas. On the other hand, skipping the mortgage payments—which eventually create real personal equity—isn’t likely to happen, except in instances of economic stress.

Then there’s the ripple effect that home owning has on the economy as a whole. When someone buys a house they buy appliances, furniture, maybe even a lawn mower or some rose bushes for the back yard. When someone buys things for their homes, that’s’ very much a job creator and much of that stimulus takes place in the region in which the home is built,” Ritholtz said.

About AboutBarrett Barrett and and Greene Greene CSG Senior Fellows Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene are experts on state government who work with Governing magazine, the Volcker Alliance, the National Academy of Public Administration and others. As CSG senior fellows, Barrett and Greene serve as advisers on state government policy and programming and assist in identifying emerging trends affecting states.

59-67

2017

50-58

40-49

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United States Homeownership

77-85

According to the paper, researchers haven’t been able to come to clear-cut conclusions about “the relative contributions of each factor.

Instead the trajectory of the homeownership rate reflects the complex interplay of these factors with other demographic, economic and housing market trends.”

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the changing face of america

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BREAKTHROUGH LEADERS 14

historic firsts

STAT E L E A DE RS W H O PAV E D T H E WAY

by Courtney Daniel

Our elected and appointed officials are beginning to reflect the growing diversity of our nation. While there have been many “firsts� in the spotlight on the national stage, our states have a long history of their own firsts. Although some of these elected state leaders may not be household names, their accomplishments set the stage for many to follow in their footsteps.

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the changing face of america

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Photo Courtesy of the Old Stone House Museum, Brownington, Vermont

16

ALEXANDER LUCIUS TWILIGHT

F I R S T A F R I C A N - A M E R I C A N E L E C T E D TO A S TAT E L E G I S L AT U R E Alexander Lucius Twilight, born in 1795 in Corinth, Vermont, became the first African-American elected to a state legislature in 1836. According to Middlebury College’s online history archives, Twilight graduated from Middlebury in 1823 also becoming the first African-American to earn a degree from an American college or university.

historic firsts

© AP Photo / Bob Child

FIRST WOMAN ELECTED GOVERNOR IN HER OWN RIGHT Ella Grasso, born May 10, 1919, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, became the first woman elected governor without succeeding a husband in 1975. Grasso began her political career in 1952 when she was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. According to History, Art & Archives, during her service in the state Legislature, Grasso fought for equal rights and a law forbidding housing discrimination.

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ELLA GRASSO

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the changing face of america

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Photo Courtesy Archives of Michigan

18

CORA REYNOLDS ANDERSON

F I R S T N AT I V E A M E R I C A N W O M A N E L E C T E D TO A S TAT E L E G I S L AT U R E Cora Reynolds Anderson, born in Michigan in 1882, became the first Native American woman elected to a state legislature in 1925. According to Michigan Women’s Historical Center & Hall of Fame, Anderson served one term and worked on issues related to public welfare during her time in the Michigan House of Representatives.

historic firsts

© AP Photo / File

FIRST ELECTED AFRICAN-AMERICAN GOVERNOR

Lawrence Douglas Wilder, born Jan. 17, 1931, in Richmond, Virginia, became the first elected AfricanAmerican governor in U.S. history in 1990. According to the Virginia Historical Society, Wilder was named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass and poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Previously to being elected governor of Virginia, Wilder served five terms in the Virginia Senate and as lieutenant governor.

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LAWRENCE DOUGLAS WILDER

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the changing face of america

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Photo Courtesy Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue, Historical Society of Pennsylvania Digital Library

20

CRYSTAL BIRD FAUSET

F I R S T A F R I C A N - A M E R I C A N W O M A N E L E C T E D TO A S TAT E L E G I S L AT U R E Crystal Bird Fauset, born June 27, 1894, in Princess Anne, Maryland, was the first African-American woman elected to a state legislature in 1938. According to the Crystal Bird Fauset Institute, Fauset later served as a race relations advisor to the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Before Fauset was elected to represent the 18th District of Philadelphia, she worked as a public school teacher.

historic firsts

Photo Courtesy the Office of Gov. Kate Brown

F I R S T O P E N LY L G B T P E R S O N E L E C T E D G O V E R N O R

Kate Brown, born June 21, 1960, was elected governor of Oregon in 2016. She previously served six years as secretary of state and 17 years in the Legislature. Gov. Brown’s calling to public service stemmed in part from her early legal career where she experienced discrimination first hand on the basis of her gender and identity as a bisexual. She entered public service shortly after to champion issues of equity and equality. Since 1997, Kate has been married to her husband, Dan.

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KATE BROWN

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the changing face of america

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Š AP Photo / Mike Fiala

22

GARY LOCKE

FIRST CHINESE-AMERICAN ELECTED GOVERNOR Gary Locke, born Jan. 21, 1950, became the first Chinese-American governor when he was elected in Washington state in 1996. Locke served as secretary of commerce and ambassador to China during the Obama administration.

According to the National Governors Association, Locke was born to immigrant parents and worked in his father’s grocery store as a young man. He later earned his undergraduate degree from Yale.

historic firsts

© AP Photo / Susan Montoya Bryan

F I R S T H I S PA N I C W O M A N E L E C T E D G O V E R N O R

Susana Martinez, born July 14, 1959, in El Paso, Texas, became the first Hispanic woman elected governor when she was elected as New Mexico’s governor in 2010. In 2013, Martinez was named as one of Time magazine’s top 100 most influential people in the world. Before being elected governor, Martinez was a prosecutor for 25 years and served as a district attorney.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

SUSANA MARTINEZ

23

the changing face of america

TEN QUESTIONS WITH

Kelvin Atkinson

by Courtney Daniel

Nevada state Sen. Kelvin Atkinson serves as the 2017 chair for The Council of State Governments. Atkinson was first elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2002, and was elected to the state Senate in 2012 by almost 80 percent of the vote. Atkinson believes America is becoming more diverse and elected officials must respond to these demographic shifts by passing legislation that supports many different populations.

1

As The Council of State Governments’ national chair, what do you see as the most important role for CSG in the states?

“As I see it, the role that CSG plays in the states is an important one. With legislative bodies having more and more turnover, mainly because of term limits, it is important to have an organization such as CSG. It has become the ‘go to’ place for folks to get educated quickly on policies and legislation from the states. Their role in helping to shape legislators through their various programing is essential.”

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2

24

What advice do you have for elected officials on how to use CSG to foster the exchange of insights and ideas between states?

“I would and have always encouraged elected officials to use CSG as a resource. I have encouraged them to attend the annual conferences and even apply to the various regional leadership academies! I honestly believe that all new legislators should be mandated to attend one of the academies within their first two years.”

Photo Courtesy John Morris

3

What inspired you to run for office and live a life of public service?

“I honestly just wanted to help people. I had been working for a county commissioner for five years and I was his neighborhood liaison and felt I was doing a pretty good job of it. I decided that I wanted to serve my own district and my own community. So I decided to step up and put myself out there. Working for the commissioner made me realize how much I really like helping others.”

10 questions

4

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?

“There are a few, but what I talk about most is being recognized by my peers. Twice, my peers have chosen me to lead. I was the first African American to chair CSG West and the first African American to chair the national CSG. Also, being the assistant majority leader of my Senate body is nothing I would have ever dreamed of for myself. It is truly an honor to serve.”

Demographic shifts are reshaping America. What policies do you believe will be important to respond to a more diverse nation?

5

“As we see America becoming more and more diverse, our legislative bodies are becoming more and more diverse as well. I have seen legislation introduced by legislators enhancing opportunities and advancements for minorities and other diverse groups. I see that trend continuing as the nation becomes more accepting of one another and one another’s differences.”

industry, and even the Raiders and the Golden Knights to our state. I have and continue to promote and work on apprenticeship legislation in the construction field to ensure we are boosting our workforce.”

8

How can Nevada support young people so they graduate prepared to enter the workforce?

“We can continue to work with the local unions and local colleges to make sure we are providing the education necessary for our folks. Our goal in creating jobs in our state is to make sure those jobs go to our local citizens. Therefore, we need to continue to educate our citizens so that they are prepared to take on these jobs as they become available.”

Families face many issues from health care to affordable child care. How can Nevada work to help parents and children secure the resources they need?

9

“I do believe that Nevada and our governor have been leaders in making health care affordable for all of our citizens. It is one of the many reasons the governor has fought to make sure our medical subsidy is

As we see America becoming more and more diverse, our legislative bodies are becoming more and more diverse as well. I have seen legislation introduced by legislators enhancing opportunities and advancements for minorities and other diverse groups. I see that trend continuing as the nation becomes more accepting of one another and one another’s differences.” » Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada

As the baby boomer generation retires, how important will it be to pass legislation to support the health and happiness of senior citizens?

6

7

What policy issues have you been focused on in Nevada to attract new industries and boost the workforce?

“Nevada has been known for quite sometime as the gaming capital of the world. However, over the past few years we have put the focus on diversifying our economy, creating new job sectors and new workforces. We have welcomed companies like Switch and Tesla, the solar

Voting is integral to the democratic process. How can Nevada ensure every person has an opportunity to vote for their leaders?

10

“I would like to see automatic registration for all. We can have ‘opt out’ provisions at the DMV, but I like the idea of automatic registration. I believe that everyone should have the right to vote for their elected officials and I believe that this would go a long way in ensuring every eligible citizen is at least registered and receiving voting information.”

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

“This issue has always been high on my list. I was raised by my grandparents and understand the struggles of seniors. It is very important that we continue to support and pass legislation that supports the happiness of our senior citizens. Health care has always been a major issue for seniors and making and keeping health care and medication affordable for seniors is critical.”

protected for our citizens. Child care is always an ongoing debate here in the state. Some of that can be resolved with more schools that offer pre-K. When we were operating with more of a surplus, we were on the road to making sure we had more schools, but when we went through the recession like every other state, that was one of the first programs we cut. We have to work to get that back into the budget. It will help a lot of families and children.”

25

the changing face of america

The R ise of the Mi l lenn ia l Work force

by Ray Williams and Matthew Shafer A common stereotype placed on millennials in the workforce is that they are constantly job-hopping. However, research suggests that this label may be misplaced.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor suggests that millennial workers are just as likely to stick with their employers as their older counterparts in Generation X.

26

In January 2016, 63 percent of employed millennials had worked for their current employer at least 13 months. In February 2000, 60 percent of Gen Xers reported similar job tenure. Looking at longer tenures, 22 percent of millennial workers had been with their employer for at least five years as of 2016, almost the same as the share of Gen X workers, 21.8 percent in 2000.

Richard Fry, senior researcher at Pew Research Center, said in a recent article “the job-hopping millennial characterization does not fit the broad millennial workforce.”

Deloitte Consulting Group’s annual millennial survey reinforces reports that loyalty among

millennial workers is on the rise because of a desire for stability in a world of uncertainty.

American millennials are now more likely to stay with their current employer beyond five years than to leave within two. The atmosphere of threat and turbulence was cited as the reason most would prefer a permanent, full-time job rather than working freelance or on a flexible, short-term basis. Additional key findings include increased pessimism about the future, a positive view of business as a vehicle of positive change, and a fear of automation posing a threat to jobs and creating a sterile workplace.

Demographic Shifts Newly released Census data shows Colorado, the District of Columbia and North Dakota have experienced the largest demographic shifts among millennial workers. Since 2010, Colorado has experienced a 14 percent increase in the millennial population, the District of Columbia a 30 percent increase and North Dakota an 18 percent increase. In the same report, Illinois, Mississippi and New Mexico round out the bottom three states,

experiencing a negative net population shift within the same time period. Illinois had a negative 2.3 percent shift, Mississippi had a negative 4 percent shift and New Mexico a negative 3 percent shift.

According to Pew Research Center, millennials have surpassed the baby boomer generation as the largest living population in the United States, leading some states to implement strategies to target this growing demographic.

In September 2017, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu implemented the Millennial Advisory Committee after seeing only a 0.2 percent increase in millennials in the workforce since 2010.

“The council will offer insights and policy recommendations to attract and retain a millennial workforce and work to address other issues that millennials face all across the Granite State. I look forward to working with the council to develop steps to continue to make sure New Hampshire works for everyone,” Sununu said in a press release.

North Dakota’s leaders have also been thoughtful in developing strong workforce

14%

NORTH DAKOTA

COLORADO

D.C.

the millennial workforce

Since 2010, Colorado has experienced a 14 percent increase in the millennial population, the District

18%

30%

of Columbia a 30 percent increase and North Dakota an 18 percent increase.

“These powerful technological forces are fueling an underlying change in our economy,” Burgum said in his 2017 State of the State State address.

According to Iverson and Bradley, North Dakota made a $43 million investment to advance UAS research and development, while collaborating with statewide organizations to build this emerging industry.

“We have committed about $16 million for infrastructure projects essential to establish an unmanned aerial systems training academy at the Grand Sky UAS business and technology park in Grand Forks,” Iverson said.

development strategies to engage and sustain this sector of the labor force. Jesse Bradley, communications manager at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, and Kevin Iverson, manager of Census Data at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, discussed specific strategies to capitalize on the workforce and population influx.

“North Dakota is more focused on attracting businesses that attract the millennial demographic, more than targeting the millennial worker itself,” Bradley said. “We try to target four to five industries that are at the forefront of technology and more likely to attract younger workers”.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford lead the state’s efforts to expand workforce development, UAS operations, research and development, and education in North Dakota, all of which they say are contributing to their millennial population growth.

State leaders in North Dakota have implemented a comprehensive package of state incentives to stimulate growth in all sectors and to create a broad-based energy strategy that maximizes all North Dakota's energy resources.

“North Dakota is a great place to be right now,” Bradley said. “We've recently been named the best state for entrepreneurs, the best state

Newly released Census data shows Colorado, the District of Columbia and North Dakota have experienced the largest demographic shifts among millennial workers.”

North Dakota is also focused on comprehensive and socially conscience energy policies, issues that are more likely to resonate with millennials, according to the Brookings Institute research data.

“We are one of the only states with a multi-resource energy policy, guided by the efforts of the EmPower North Dakota Commission,” Iverson said. “North Dakota’s future is one where many of the energy sectors have the potential to not only grow, but also develop new economies based on value-added opportunities related to energy resources.”

The EmPower North Dakota Commission is a collaborative effort among leading energy

for young adults, and the best state to raise a family. North Dakota continues to offer a business-friendly environment by creating growth and enhancing the quality of life for our citizens.”

North Dakota’s current initiatives could explain their upward trend in economic activity, millennial demographic shifts and the lowest unemployment in the nation.

With the millennial population at the forefront of state economic activity and growth, as well as the current and future workforce, states are beginning to acknowledge the need for comprehensive initiatives to target and sustain a vibrant millennial workforce.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

According to Bradley, North Dakota is home to a growing cluster of the unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, research, business and military interests.

industries within the state. They meet regularly to proactively develop and maximize North Dakota’s natural resources, partnering traditional energy industries with emerging renewable energy industries.

27

by the book

The U.S. is getting older, more ethnically and racially diverse, and more educated, on average. At the same time, the middle class is shrinking and the “suburbanization of America” is accelerating. But these trends are not affecting all states equally.

by Jennifer Burnett

THE U.S. IS GETTING OLDER According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median age in the U.S. in 1970 was 28.1. By 2010 that had grown to 37.2, and it is predicted that by 2050, the median age will be 39 years old.

STATE WITH OLDEST POPULATION IN 2016 (YEARS)

40

MAINE

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

35

28

STATE WITH YOUNGEST POPULATION IN 2016 (YEARS) 30

UTAH 25

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

demographic shifts

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES ARE DOWN

EVERY STATE BUT TWO —Alaska and South Carolina— experienced a decline in average quarterly homeownership rates from the first and second quarters of 2005 to the first and second quarters of 2017.

ALASKA MILLENNIALS

SOUTH CAROLINA

are more likely to rent.

The homeownership rate for Americans under 35 is less than 35 percent.

Homeownership rates peaked in

2005 but have been on the decline ever since.

SUBURBS ARE GROWING, RURAL AREAS ARE SHRINKING According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, new regional patterns of growth and decline have emerged in recent years. Primarily, nonmetro populations are declining and metro areas are growing. Fivethirtyeight.com calls this the “suburbanization of America.”

SHRINKING POPULATION Only one state lost population from 2000–2015;

FIVE STATES GREW BY 30% OR MORE FROM 2000 34%

35%

37%

47%

IDAHO

TEXAS

ARIZONA

UTAH

NEVADA

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30%

29

by the book

WOMEN CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE LABOR FORCE According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor force participation rate for women has steadily increased over the last seven decades, increasing from 32.7 percent in 1948 to 56.8 percent in 2016. The rate hit a peak of 60 percent in 1999. Women aged 25–44 have the highest participation rates at 74.5 percent.

60

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE 56.8

50

STATE WITH LOWEST LABOR FORCE RATE FOR WOMEN

WEST VIRGINIA In 2014, Alaska had the highest women’s labor force participation rate, while less than half of women are in the labor force in West Virginia.

40 30

STATE WITH HIGHEST LABOR FORCE RATE FOR WOMEN

32.7

20 10

ALASKA

0

1948

2016

THE U.S. IS MORE RACIALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE THAN EVER

STATE WITH LOWEST PERCENT NON-WHITE:

In 1970, the non-Hispanic white population constituted 83.2 percent of the U.S. population. In 2014, that figure stood at 62.2 percent. By 2060, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts the percent of the U.S. population that is classified as non-Hispanic white will fall to 43.6 percent.

(PERCENTS)

One Race

97.5%

93.8%

77.5%

68.5%

Non-Hispanic White

62.2%

43.6%

Black or African-American

13.2%

14.3%

Asian

5.4%

9.3%

American Indian and Alaska Native

1.2%

1.3%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Highlander

0.2%

0.3%

2.5%

2.6%

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White

30

2014 2060

Two or More Races

VERMONT

STATE WITH HIGHEST PERCENT NON-WHITE:

HAWAII

demographic shifts

4.0 3.5

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE 3.7

STATES WITH HIGHEST AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD

3.0 2.5

THE MAKEUP OF FAMILIES IS CHANGING Household size is falling. In 1940, the average household size was 3.7; by 2010, the average was 2.6. In 1940, less than 1 in 10 households had only one person. By 2010, more than a quarter of households had only one person.

STATES WITH LOWEST AVERAGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD

Utah

3.19

North Dakota

2.32

2.0

Hawaii

3.04

Vermont

2.35

1.5

California

2.97

Wisconsin

2.42

1.0

Alaska

2.87

Iowa

2.43

0.5

Texas

2.86

Maine

2.44

0.0

2.6

1940

2010

PERCENT OF POPULATION THAT IS NON-WHITE Racial and ethnic diversity varies significantly across states. The state with the lowest percentage of a nonwhite population is Vermont, while the state with the highest percentage is Hawaii. States in CSG’s Western region have the highest average percentage nonwhite population at 37.9 percent, followed closely by CSG’s Southern region at 36.3 percent. The states in CSG’s Midwest region have the lowest average percentage nonwhite population among all the regions at 21.8 percent.

025%

51 75%

Source: The U.S. Census Bureau

75% +

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26 50%

31

the changing face of america

BUILDING Healthier COMMUNITIES FOR AN Aging POPULATION S TAT E S A R E FAC I N G A N U N D E N I A B L E C H A L L E N G E F O R T H E F U T U R E — nearly one in five people in the U.S. will be over 65 years old by 2030. Will these seniors have access to medical care, transportation, housing, and the income to pay for it all? Fixed incomes and high health care costs associated with aging are at odds. Some state leaders are planning now to build communities that can accommodate this impending shift in demographics.

by Debra Miller and Emily McCarthy

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Maryland discovered some surprising senior needs through a larger endeavor called Health Enterprise Zones, or HEZs, that targeted five impoverished areas of the state with poor health outcomes. A group of state officials, academic leaders, public health experts and community leaders came together to devise plans to improve the five communities. Under SB 234, adopted in 2012, Maryland appropriated $4 million for a period of four years for the HEZs. The law set out four goals for the HEZs: to reduce health disparities; to reduce hospital admissions and re­ admissions; to reduce health care costs, including emergency room visits; and to improve health outcomes, Johns Hopkins University professor Michelle Spencer said. Spencer was director of prevention and health promotion for the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and led the early efforts of the HEZs.

32

“We need innovative solutions to address health disparities in our communities,” she said. “This project took the time and commitment of many people that want to see improved conditions for our citizens.”

“One of the surprising things we discovered was that many seniors calling 911 simply wanted someone to talk to or needed help with activities of daily living.

They should not have to turn to emergency services for help.”

what are states doing to improve health factors?

The Annapolis Community Health Partnership, or ACHP, built a health clinic within the Morris H. Blum senior housing facility for its residents and the surrounding community to provide better access to primary care. Data from local resources revealed that in one year there were 220 medically related 911 calls from the Morris H. Blum building. In six months alone, 73 Morris H. Blum residents experienced 175 emergency department visits, with 38 resulting in admissions. Fewer than 10 Morris H. Blum residents accounted for 41 percent of those 175 emergency department visits. Spencer said the clinic has been able to reduce medical 911 calls, emergency department visits, and admissions and readmissions among the Morris H. Blum residents.

“One of the surprising things we discovered was that many seniors calling 911 simply wanted someone to talk to or needed help with activities of daily living. They should not have to turn to emergency services for help.” » Michelle Spencer, Johns Hopkins University Professor and former director of prevention and health promotion for Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

perform in the home. Currently, 36 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted the CARE Act.

In the U.S., a majority of long-term care for seniors One of the earlier states to adopt the CARE Act is carried out by family and friends, or “caregivers.” was Oklahoma in 2014, as a way to reduce costly But this poses additional challenges for local em- hospital readmissions and enable individuals ployers and the caregivers. Providing care can lead to continue to live independently in their own to missed days of work, additional out-of-pocket homes. In 2013, the state spent almost $63 milspending, and mental and physical stress on lion for hospital readmissions within 30 days of caregivers. According to AARP, caregivers spend discharge for Medicaid enrollees. $7,000 each year on average for out-of-pocket costs associated with care for another person not “This important new law will ensure that patients reimbursed by any insurance or program. are properly cared for after they are released

What Is the AARP ACT?

for people with disabilities and rates of transitioning longer-stay nursing home residents back into the community.

State Sen. Tony Lourey is confident that Minnesota is moving in the right direction.

“We are faced with an aging workforce, and we have to be prepared to keep them engaged in working, staying engaged in their community and encourage them to take care of themselves,” Lourey said.

Minnesota has launched a variety of community initiatives that support and engage seniors. The

The CARE Act improves coordination and communication between family caregivers, their loved ones and hospitals.

“We need to develop solutions that ensure a smooth transition from one facility to another, and that caregivers receive the instruction they need for the growing number of complex medical tasks they are performing at home,” said Dr. Jean Accius, vice president of Independent Living/ Long-Term Services and Supports at the AARP Public Policy Institute.

To assist caregivers, AARP developed the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable Act, or CARE Act, which they have been urging states to adopt since 2014.

1) The name of the caregiver must be recorded in medical records when a patient is admitted into a hospital or rehabilitation facility.

2) The caregiver must be notified if the patient is discharged or transferred to another facility.

3) The hospital or rehabilitation facility must provide live instruction to the caregiver for any medical tasks that the caregiver will need to

Honoring Choices program was designed to help Minnesotans plan for the future, including the development of a written plan for loved ones and health care providers to follow. Lourey said this program is part of a larger initiative to encourage a better quality of life for seniors.

AARP has maintained a strong focus on long-term care for seniors over the years, establishing the Long-Term Services and Supports Scorecard, or “We strive to encourage conversations with LTSS Scorecard, in 2011. The LTSS Scorecard mea- seniors about the quality of life they want for sures progress across the states with 23 key pertheir elderly years,” Lourey said. It is all about formance indicators of a high-quality system of helping them create the life they want. If they care for older adults, people with disabilities and can continue to work, volunteer and stay family caregivers. In the 2017 LTSS Scorecard, Wash- engaged in our community—that benefits everyone.” ington ranked number one, Minnesota ranked number two and Vermont ranked number three.

AARP hopes that states will continue these “The overall finding from the scorecard has been types of discussions and be open to a different that changes in the states are slow and somewhat approach for their state. uneven, and that there is a wide variance in “State resources will be challenged as this segment services,” Accius said. “We want states to use this of the population grows. Community-based care tool to identify opportunities for improvement.” will be a critical component for success,” Accius said. “And states need to consider partnering States made significant progress in reducing inappropriate use of antipsychotic medication and with the private sector and other stakeholders in improving support of family caregivers, he said. the community. The conversations need to be Improvements are needed in employment rates happening now.”

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The AARP CARE Act features three critical components:

from a hospital,” bill sponsor Rep. Harold Wright said in a press release after the bill passed. “It is critical that caregivers are given the appropriate information to ensure optimal post-release care.”

33

the changing face of america

Shining a Spotlight on Women Veterans

by Shawntaye Hopkins An exhibit that features large portraits of Oregon women veterans made its debut in February then traveled the state before making its way to the East Coast.

Dubbed “I Am Not Invisible,” the exhibit aims to create a dialogue about women veterans and includes a diverse group of women, ages 27 to 102, representing each military branch from across the state.

“As a woman veteran, you often feel invisible,” said Elizabeth Estabrooks, women veterans coordinator at the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or ODVA, who spearheaded the project.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Today, there are more women veterans than ever before and states are working not only to recognize this population but also to create needed services and supports for them. The percentage of women and minority veterans is expected to continue increasing over the next several decades even as the overall number of veterans decreases.

34

Women are not new to the armed forces.

They have served since the American Revolution when many women disguised themselves as men in order to fight. Each decade since then has presented more opportunities for women to serve in increasingly varied capacities.

Although not officially recognized as veterans until well after World War II, women comprised 9.4 percent of the total veteran population in 2015 and could comprise 16.3 percent of all living veterans by 2043, according to a report published in February 2017 by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, titled Women Veterans Report: The Past, Present, and Future of Women Veterans.

serving our veteran population Estabrooks, an Army veteran, said the invisibility that women veterans often feel applies to policies, veteran affairs offices and social settings. Often data, including data about homelessness and suicide, does not accurately reflect women veterans. This can limit conversations, for example, about the high rate of suicide among women veterans compared to their civilian counterparts.

The default image of a veteran is usually a white male. Estabrooks said she doesn’t want to replace that image but rather expand it so it also includes women. She wants people to “think black women, transgender women, Latina women, immigrant women, young women, old women.”

“I want people to think ‘woman’ when they think veteran in addition to thinking ‘men,’” she said.

Office under the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, or GDVS. Georgia state Sen. Larry Walker III sponsored the bill.

“We want to make sure that all our veterans know how much we appreciate their service and that they are taken care of, treated with respect and receive the veteran benefits they have earned,” Walker said in a Georgia Senate press release.

There are about 750,000 veterans in Georgia and about 93,000 of those veterans are women.

GDVS Assistant Commissioner Dan Holtz said an officer in the GDVS Appeals Division previously advocated for women veterans as an additional duty. Now, the new office and its director are better positioned under the GDVS Central Office and more attention is being placed every day on advocacy for women veterans.

Percent of veteran population who are women

Women veterans are receiving more and more recognition across the state each year, Sin said. The third week of March has been designated Women’s Military History Week, during which the governor issues a proclamation and events are held that recognize the achievements of women who have served in the armed forces.

Sin said statewide surveys reveal that one of the biggest problems among women veterans is lack of recognition. Programming and policies such as an initiative that launched in 2015, allowing California veterans to obtain a veteran designation on their driver’s licenses, have helped women to identify themselves as veterans and helped mend ideas about what a veteran looks like.

I want people to think ‘woman’ when they think veteran in addition to thinking ‘men.’”

Source: Women Veterans Report: The Past, Present, and Future of Women Veterans.

The women veterans coordinator position in Oregon was created after Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 3479 in 2015. In the role, Estabrooks focuses on outreach, advocacy, data, research and policy. She works with community partners to help women veterans receive needed services and ensure they are not forgotten.

Governmental offices and positions focused on women veterans are being created at a fast pace across the states.

In May, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation that established a Women Veterans

In California, Lindsey Sin was appointed deputy secretary of Women Veterans Affairs in December 2011 to advocate for women veterans on issues, including housing, sexual assault and health care.

The position has existed since the mid-1990s.

But during Sin’s tenure, the office has grown and created more ways to learn about the 143,000 women veterans in the state and reach out to them, including the creation of a roster of women veterans, websites and social media.

“Women veterans are becoming a larger and larger makeup of the veterans population ... services are going to need to be aligned to the needs of women,” she said.

Photo Right: Elizabeth Estabrooks, woman veterans coordinator at the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, stands with portraits from the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

“My role is to make sure that those connections are being made around the state and that people are thinking about women veterans,” she said.

“It’s not all about claims, it’s not all about appeals, it’s about women veterans,” Holtz said.

35

the changing face of america

Representative Democracy

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

by Lisa McKinney

36

growing diversity of elected officials

THE CULTURAL GENERATION GAP The United States’ cultural generation gap, a term coined by demographer William Frey to describe large differences in the racial, ethnic and cultural makeup of different generations, and the policy implications of this gap, provide a case study in why diverse demographic representation in statehouses matters. About 80 percent of U.S. seniors are white, while about 50 percent of the population under age 18 is white. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the majority of the U.S. population will be people-of-color by 2044, but the public school population is already there. Research shows a cultural generation gap—a large demographic divergence between seniors and kids—like the one that exists in the U.S., can affect public policy. These effects on policy demonstrate the value of having people in public office that represent the diverse generations, genders, races and socio-economic statuses that make up the U.S. population.

U.S. POPULATION WHITE

61%

HISPANIC

17%

BLACK

13%

ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER 5% MULTIRACIAL/OTHER

3%

AMERICAN INDIAN/ NATIVE ALASKAN

1%

“The basic idea of the cultural generation gap is that the voting population is not the same as the general population,” said Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program. “We see the demography is changing very dramatically, especially in growing areas of the country, a lot of the voting age population may have different interests that don’t benefit this growing population.”

STATE LEGISLATURES “The basic idea of the cultural generation gap is is not the same as the general population.” » William Frey, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program

82%

BLACK

9%

HISPANIC

5%

MULTIRACIAL/OTHER

3%

ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER 1% AMERICAN INDIAN/ NATIVE ALASKAN

0.5%

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

that the voting population

WHITE

37

the changing face of america

U.S. ADULT POPULATION

VS

STATE LEGISLATORS

55% 30%

BABY BOOMERS

30%

DIFFERENT POLICY PRIORITIES Regardless of race, ethnicity or culture, young people often have different policy priorities than their older counterparts. Young people may be more focused on funding for schools, affordable higher education options and job training opportunities, while older people are often more concerned about Medicare funding, property taxes and social security, for example. When there are large differences in the cultural makeup and social economic status of the generations, these differing priorities are often exacerbated.

The U.S., like most societies, functions on the concept of generational fairness—a sort of unwritten agreement that seniors will invest in younger generations’ success, both because they rely on it for their own future security and for the future security of the country. For example, the growing retiree population will depend on the next generations’ taxes to continue funding Social Security and Medicare. As a result of the baby boom and increased life-spans, by 2033 seniors will outnumber youth for the first time in U.S. history, putting additional pressure on subsequent generations to be economically productive.

University of Southern California Demographer Dowell Myers quantified the economic significance of children in his state, estimating that because of the growth of the ratio of seniors to children, children born today will carry twice the economic burden as children born in 1985.

5%

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Young people may be more focused

38

MILLENNIALS

on funding for schools, affordable higher education options and job training opportunities, while older people are often more concerned about Medicare funding, property

AVERAGE AGE

AVERAGE AGE

U.S. ADULT POPULATION

GOVERNORS & STATE LEGISLATORS

taxes and social security …

growing diversity of elected officials

DIFFERENT SPENDING PRIORITIES But studies have shown that U.S. seniors are less likely to support spending on young people when the demographic characteristics of that generation are largely different than their own. A September 2017 report from PolicyLink and the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California found that states with the biggest cultural generation gaps “tend to spend less” on K–12 public education per capita. When there are significant demographic differences in younger generations compared to their own, U.S. citizens are more likely to vote “no” on local tax referendums to fund public schools and are more likely to support spending cuts, according to a 2012 working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

This puts a diverse generation of youth who are already at a disadvantage—Latino, black and Native American children are more likely than white children to grow up in poverty and less likely to graduate high school— at even greater risk.

U.S. ADULT POPULATION

VS

STATE LEGISLATORS

12%

GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL DEGREE

40%

33%

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

33%

67%

LESS THAN A BACHELOR’S DEGREE

4%

College degree data is unavailable for 23 percent of state legislators.

However, Frey said when we look forward 10 or 15 years, “the demography is baked in the cake” and the diversity of elected officials will likely increase as millennials, who are a diverse population, continue to age and run for public office in greater numbers.

“That is clearly the wave of the future,” Frey said.

When there are significant

GOVERNORS’ LEVEL OF EDUCATION

demographic differences in younger U.S. citizens are more likely to vote “no” on local tax referendums to fund public schools and are more likely to support spending cuts …

WITH A

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

WITH AN

ADVANCED DEGREE

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

generations compared to their own,

39

the changing face of america

WOMEN MAKE UP

51%

OF THE U.S. POPULATION

WOMEN FILL: 25.8%

OR 1,398 OF STATE HOUSE SEATS 22.4%

OR 442 OF STATE SENATE SEATS

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

24%

40

OF STATE EXECUTIVE POSITIONS

6

AND

GOVERNORS

12

LT. GOVERNORS

WHY RECRUITMENT MATTERS Although women have made substantial progress over time in increasing their presence in state government, there has been a leveling off of women in state legislatures and slight decline of women in statewide elective official positions since the turn of the century, according to Women in State Government: Still Too Few by Susan J. Carroll, published in 2016’s The Book of the States. This recent trend is evidence that an increased presence of women in public office over time is not inevitable and that concerted efforts to recruit more women and minorities into public office are necessary if diversity is to be increased.

“There is a recruitment problem,” said Carroll, a senior scholar at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics. “Some of (the decline) is that we saw large increases in the 70s and 80s and it is a lot easier to go from tiny numbers to double or triple those numbers than it is to have large increases when you already have larger numbers of women there. You have to keep and replace the ones who are there plus add to those numbers. To some degree there is bound to be a slowing down over time in the absence of a lot of effort to increase the proportion of women.”

Research shows that the lack of women in state government is more of a recruitment issue than an electability issue—not enough women are running for office. There were 92 fewer female candidates running in general elections for state legislature seats in 2012 than in 2010 and only 70 more women than in 1992. When women do get on the ballot, there are no consistent gender disparities in win rates, according to a 2017 report from Rutgers University. There are a number of reasons why women aren’t running, according to Carroll. Research suggests that women aren’t as politically ambitious as men. Studies that have looked at candidate pools— professions that candidates are frequently from, such as law—and found that the women in those professions are less likely to say they are interested in running for office than men are.

They also have concerns about fundraising, particularly in states where it is expensive to run for office.

ARE

WOMEN

“While there has been research at the Congressional level that women can and do raise as much money as men do, when we survey, women—and even a good proportion of men—will say that it is harder for women to raise money than men,” Carroll said.

There is also the problem of matching open seats to women who are ready to run, according to Carroll.

growing diversity of elected officials

“One of the issues is the problem of turnover and having enough open seats in the right places for women to run—people often stay in office for a long time,” she said. “But even when there are open seats created by things like term limits, there are often no women candidates in that area ready to run, which points to the need for recruitment efforts for when there are open seats and winnable races.”

There are also larger societal problems that make women less likely to run. Research shows that women think they have to be more qualified than men before they run for office and they are also more likely to wait until their children are grown to run, both of which make the pool of willing women candidates older than the pool of male candidates.

“Even though men and women in state legislatures are roughly the same age, men have often been in office longer,” Carroll said. “Men who have children and families are often seen as having a support system, but for women families are often seen as a liability. Younger women are trying to juggle careers and starting families, and we know that women still do a disproportionate amount of household labor and child care. Running for and holding office is like having another full time job and it is very difficult for a lot of younger women.”

A 2008 study from the Center for American Women and Politics found that 26 percent of female state representatives said it was entirely their own idea to run for their first elective office, while 43 percent of their male colleagues said it was their idea to run. Additionally, 53 percent of female state representatives and 28 percent of male representatives said they had not thought seriously about running for office until someone else suggested it.

Taken together, these findings show that active recruitment efforts will be essential to increasing the proportion of women in office.

“Our research shows women respond to encouragement and recruitment,” Carroll said.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

Research shows that the lack of women in state government is more of a recruitment issue than an electability issue—not enough women are running for office.

41

freshman orientation

PART 5

by Kelley Arnold

A

s the legislative calendar year draws to a close, so does the first year of service for the four outstanding freshman legislators we have chronicled this year in Capitol Ideas. CSG would like to thank Rep. Micah Caskey, Rep. Theresa Mah, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou and Rep. Maria Syms for allowing us to tell their first-year stories; for each, it has been an honor to be included in their first year of learning, serving and growing. To wrap up our series, we asked the soon-to-be seasoned sophomores to provide their best advice to those who seek to be the in the next class of freshman legislators.

What advice would you give someone thinking about running for legislative office?

With apologies to Nike: Just Do It! Don’t let the worries, the stress and the reasons not to run stop you. Just do it.

There’s no perfect way to do it, you just have to take that first step. There will always be excuses, there will always be reasons not to run for office. Let’s face it, if you’re reading this, you’re already the type of person who reads magazines about governance in America. If not you, then who else should be running for legislative office? Don’t we deserve to have people like you in office? Don’t we need minds like yours voting on legislation? Just do it. I’m not asking you to take up arms against the British, I’m just asking you to step forward and prove to the world, yet again, that the strength of America is in its people. Take that leap of faith. Run for legislative office. Just do it!

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

CASKEY

42

I have been asked for advice about this more times than I can count since I got elected. The advice I always give is about the need to get involved in other campaigns first to gain a familiarity with the experience of running for office. It’s important to get firsthand experience with door-knocking and talking to voters because as a candidate, you will be doing that all day long. If that’s not something you are able to do, I would think twice before running. I would also do my due diligence and analyze previous or analogous elections to see if there is a realistic path to victory. Also, strategizing and writing up a clear campaign plan is essential. Finally, I would be very upfront about the time commitment and personal costs associated with running for office or being an elected official. Having a supportive spouse or partner is important; they must recognize and support the fact that the time you spend away from them and family is going to be a way of life, not just a one-time thing during the campaign.

MAH

If you are thinking about it, just do it.

Don’t let in those internal questions about whether or not it is your turn, or whether or not it is the right time, or whether or not you’re ready, or whether or not you’re the right person.

It is your turn. There’s never a right time. Everyone feels not ready. And if you want to make change in your community, you are the right person. In his farewell address, Obama said, “If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.” Many people self-select out.

Especially women and women of color. They convince themselves that they’re not ready, they don’t have enough experience, or that there’s a better candidate out there. It is a fact that women have just as much chance of winning a race as men, but we just don’t run as often. True, it is harder. True, we don’t have the built-in pipelines.

True, we don’t have the same kind of support and backing. But how do we create those things if we never try to break the mold of who is running for office in the first place?

NIOU

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE REP. MICAH CASKEY

ILLINOIS STATE REP. THERESA MAH

Get involved! Volunteer on the local level and get to know the people you want to represent. By building relationships and understanding citizen priorities, you can better formulate ideas that will help improve your community and state. My experience as a town councilwoman, assistant United States attorney and assistant Arizona attorney general is invaluable to me in formulating policy. It offers me the unique perspective of local, federal and state laws and how they interact. My experience also enabled me to build important relationships in my state so I understand the priorities of the people I represent.

SYMS

What is one thing you would have done differently as a legislator in the past year?

Like every overzealous whippersnapper, I spent too much time reading bills that weren’t yet on the floor or before my committee. As a rookie, it was hard for me to see the big picture at times, and I didn’t have a good sense of how much or how (not) fast things moved. I wasted a lot of energy on things beyond my purview.

CASKEY

This is more of a wish more than something I can actually do differently: I would have just liked to have been able to stay in district more often. While the Assembly is in session, I do a lot of traveling back and forth between my district and Albany. People NIOU

voted for me so I could legislate in Albany, but I miss home a lot. I love being in the community because my community is full of such amazing, unique people that continue to inspire me, renew my energy, and remind me of why I ran for office in the first place. There’s a lot of work that has to be done in Albany, but the goal is to bring it all home. Everything from legislation protecting affordable housing to expanding financial services, you do it for the community.

When you’re part of a community this great, it really makes you miss them when you’re away.

SYMS As a representative, you always feel you are being pulled in many different directions. It sometimes can be a challenge to find the right balance to keep your legislative agenda on course, be responsive to constituents and colleagues and still find time for family and yourself. I think this is a challenge people face in all professions and there is always an opportunity to improve that balance. I will continue to work on that in the next session.

How will the experiences of your freshman year shape your sophomore year?

I decided last January to not sponsor or co-sponsor any legislation this first year, while I was trying to find my sea legs. I still think that was the right decision for me; now, having spent a year in the chamber, I think I understand how to be a better listener. It is so easy to get wrapped up in one’s own great ideas that we can miss a lot of great ideas from other people. The challenge, of course, is including as many of those great ideas into legislation as possible, but it’s an impossible challenge if you can’t even hear others’ great ideas. I am hopeful that I can hear more great ideas from others and can help them weave those into solid pieces of legislation.

CASKEY

ARIZONA STATE REP. MARIA SYMS

The main way in which the experiences from my first year will shape my sophomore year is that I am more aware of the session schedule and deadlines. I am already planning ahead and convening meetings with stakeholders on bills that I plan to file for the spring. Working with stakeholders and advocates was key to the success of the bills I passed this year. Do more earlier is what I plan for my second year.

MAH

NIOU I had the opportunity to build several coalitions in my first year in office, and I look forward to building on them as we gear up for the next session. For example, in my first session, I spearheaded a coalition of legislators and advocates to push against budget cuts to senior centers, through the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, or NORC, program. We were able to not only stop several cuts, but we pushed and received more funding for the NORC program. Having a network of colleagues that care for and are familiar with an issue is critical, and I look forward to using these relationships to secure resources for my constituents moving forward. I find the power of coalition building to be the best way to navigate policy issues. This was demonstrated by the work we did last year, and it will continue to shape my work as a legislator in the future.

SYMS Like all life experiences, we continue to build on the lessons learned. Having been through it once, I now have a better understanding of how the process works and how to be impactful. I also understand how fast paced the session can be, so I am already working on legislation for 2018 that can be ready on opening day. It is also helpful that I know my colleagues better and we can build coalitions to further an agenda of improving our economy and providing better educational opportunities for all Arizonans.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

The one thing I would have done differently as a legislator in the past year is perhaps built more support for one of my bills before calling it and having it voted down. I had a productive year having passed five bills and getting them signed into law, but there’s always the desire to have a more perfect record and not have any bills voted down.

MAH

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN YUH-LINE NIOU

43

the changing face of america

Millennial

Generation X

Baby Boomer

Birth Years:

Birth Years:

Birth Years:

1981-2000

1965-1980

1946-1964

Current Age:

Current Age:

Current Age:

18-37

38-53

54-72

Questions Across Generations With age comes wisdom. With youth comes new ideas. These generational strengths and many more can help elected officials and public office holders across generations lead states to success. From millennials to baby boomers, four government officials discuss what they’ve learned and how different generations can work together to build robust public policy.

by Courtney Daniel

Ryan has worked in public service for about six years, and is currently the policy director for the Delaware state Senate Democratic Caucus.

NOV/DEC 2017 | CAPITOL IDEAS

WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO SERVING IN YOUR ROLE?

44

Millennial Carling Ryan

Policy Director, Delaware General Assembly Toll Class of 2016

I’m relatively new to my current role, but I would offer the following advice for those entering public service at their state legislature: always try to be patient, and maintain a sense of empathy for the people you’re working to help each day.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? I’m most proud of my ability to excel in my career while pursuing a master’s in public administration.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? That every person’s career map is different and unique, and success in your career can be measured in many different ways.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES? Technological improvements have made constituents and stakeholders more aware of governmental processes and public meetings, and have encouraged them to seek answers and information on various issues more quickly from government officials and staff. It’s been beneficial in that information is more accessible to the general public, and has allowed for transparency initiatives to be implemented and applied to government activities.

leadership corner WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO SERVING IN YOUR ROLE? First, I would say to never forget what a privilege you have to serve the people of the legislative district that you represent. In Nebraska, only 49 people have the power to make laws for the entire state. I remember the first time I walked into my legislative chamber to be sworn in as a senator and I was in awe of the honor and enormous responsibility of this job.

Millennial Sara Howard Nebraska Senator Toll Class of 2016

Howard was first elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2012 and was re-elected in 2016.

She serves as a state senator in Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature representing parts of midtown Omaha.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS CAN SERVE AND WORK TOGETHER?

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? In 2009 my sister, Carrie, passed away from an opioid overdose. Two years later, while my mother was serving in the legislature, she passed our first prescription drug monitoring program to prevent opioid misuse. By 2016, technology and funding circumstances had changed and I passed legislation that was a complete overhaul of her initial bill (sorry mom!). By building on my mother's work and improving access to the prescription drug monitoring program, I hope fewer families will experience what my family went through. It's what I am most proud of because it is a legacy for Carrie.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING STATE GOVERNMENTS TODAY? I think the most immediate issue is how to adjust and provide resources under a new federal administration that is seeking to cut taxes and reduce national revenues by trillions of dollars in the first 10 years of policy implementation. Constituencies expect certain services to be available and be delivered efficiently, but many have not been asked to invest in these services with their tax dollars at the local level.

States have been able to avoid raising local taxes by supplementing their budgetary priorities with federal dollars, but in the wake of these federal spending cuts, they will likely be forced to take hard positions on which services are deemed most important, and raise revenues or cut spending accordingly.

Although I had a pretty good idea of what was involved with being a state senator as my mother served eight years in the Legislature prior to my election, you never fully realize all that is involved until you are actually in office yourself. While Nebraska technically has a part-time Legislature, in reality it is more than a full-time job with all of the commitments both during the session but also during the interim. I'm very fortunate to have had my mother's experience to learn from, and an incredible husband to support me!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES? As a Millennial legislator, I don't have a true comparison of how the legislature operated prior to laptops and cell phones. One of my core values in this role is to be as accessible as possible, and technology has provided further avenues for my constituents to reach me, and for me to share the experience with them. I have folks who send letters and call, but I also have college students who send Snapchats, or peruse my Facebook to see what I'm working on. If I pass a piece of legislation, meet with a school group, or attend an event, I'll post it so the people I serve can see how hard I am working for them.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS CAN SERVE AND WORK TOGETHER? I think that regardless of age there are things that unite all of us who do this work: a dedication to our community, faith, family and to serving others. Remembering our similarities and not discounting a colleague’s experience because of their age (both older and younger) will help with collaboration. At the end of the day, we all have very similar values, and the exact same job, so we really aren't so very different.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING STATE GOVERNMENT TODAY? In Nebraska, the budgetary health of state government continues to be the issue that consumes most of our time and energy.

Because of declining state revenues, the Legislature has had to make some extremely difficult decisions when it comes to spending that impact everything we do from infrastructure to corrections to child welfare.

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Generally, I think that older generations should abandon the notion that things should be done a certain way because “that’s the way they’ve always been done.” Younger generations bring valuable new ideas on how to reach out and connect with various constituencies and are emerging from academic environments churning out new best practices in performance management and measuring organizational outcomes.

Conversely, younger generations need to be cognizant and respectful of the value of institutional knowledge in any organization, especially as it pertains to civil servants.

Older generations may be well aware of longstanding roadblocks to issue implementation that could help inform new strategies to policy changes.

Second, I would advise them to really get to know their colleagues, regardless of party. In Nebraska we are all nonpartisan, and there have been other senators where I never knew what their party affiliation was, but I did know the names of their grandchildren. Even though it is a polarized time, the best way to overcome that is to build relationships based on more than just the work.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER?

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the changing face of america WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO SERVING IN YOUR ROLE?

Generation X Jacey Skinner

General Counsel/Legislative Director, Office of the Governor, Utah Toll Class of 2017

Skinner has served as general counsel to Gov. Gary Herbert for the past four years. She also acts as the governor’s legislative director where she manages the coordination, analysis, and implementation of all legislation with the Legislature, the Governor’s Cabinet, the Judiciary and other stakeholders.

When I started my job, a general counsel in another state told me that he made a list of all the things that he needed to accomplish each week and then quickly realized that he never got to a single thing on his list. He told me to get used to lying awake each night, hoping that things on your list don’t blow up. With that in mind, my advice is to keep things in perspective, prioritize the things that really matter over the things that will take up all of your time. You will deal with both literal and figurative fires: keep your attention for those.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? There isn’t one thing I am most proud of. What I am proud of generally is that I have been part of an amazing team, and that together we have been able to accomplish really substantive and positive things for our state. I am equally as proud of some of the mistakes and pitfalls that I have been able to help our state avoid. No one ever sees those, but I think that is often the most important role of the general counsel.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? Everyone’s viewpoint is valid. If you have a question about something, chances are that someone else does too. Just because someone

Hill was appointed to the Idaho State Senate on Christmas Eve 2001. He has served as president pro tem of the Senate for the past seven years.

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WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO SERVING IN YOUR ROLE?

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All of the sudden, many people treat you better, praise your accomplishments, even laugh louder at your jokes than they used to. Don’t let it go to your head!

Baby Boomer Brent Hill

Sen. President Pro Tempore, Idaho Toll Class of 2013

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? One of my major goals was to restore people’s confidence in their state government. With the help of my colleagues, we have achieved greater transparency, more open communications with constituents, and a higher level of civility.

has power and an impressive title, doesn’t mean they always know the answer or will get it right.

If you have a question, ask it. If you have something to add, add it. If you don’t make the point, it is possible that no one will. That being said, always listen more than you talk. Always be the most prepared person in the room, but walk in and assume you know the least.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES? In my view, technology has enabled us to communicate and resolve issues much more quickly than we could have in the past.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS CAN SERVE AND WORK TOGETHER? In my opinion, people from different generations don’t need any special advice as to how to serve or work together. Approach each colleague with the same respect, the same willingness to listen, learn, and work together. If we do, the result will be that we take from each other the best that we have to offer and each generation will learn to work better and smarter.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING STATE GOVERNMENTS TODAY? Continuing to work together in an increasingly divisive and uncivil political environment.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? I wish I had understood more quickly how sincere, honest and downright good most state legislators are. They are making significant sacrifices—often leaving jobs and families to serve their friends and neighbors back home.

Although we may disagree on the methods to achieve our goals, we all want to make our states better places to live, do business and raise our families.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES? Technology has allowed government to become more efficient and accessible to the citizens. It allows the public to watch its government at work and have better access to the agencies and services available.

leadership corner WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO SERVING IN YOUR ROLE?

Generation X Sen. Wesley Bishop Louisiana Senate Toll Class of 2017

Bishop has served in public office for about seven years. He was elected to serve as a Louisiana state representative in a special election in 2011 and was re-elected in 2012. In 2016, Bishop was elected to serve as the state senator for the 4th District of Louisiana, which represents the City of New Orleans.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS CAN SERVE AND WORK TOGETHER? Be patient. Your way of doing things may not be the only way or even the best way. Backgrounds, attitudes and ideas of all generations can work together to better analyze issues and make us all more effective as public servants. Let us listen to one another, learn from one another and respect one another.

My advice would be to stick to your core values, but be open to new ideas from new and different people. In addition, I would advise them to remember how you got to office and also the people who helped you get there.

Lastly, you can’t please everybody—no matter what you do—and don’t take any criticism too personal. Also, don’t assume that your constituents know what you’re doing. Assume that they don’t and find ways to tell them what you think they should know.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? On my first day in office, my governor and the house speaker announced that they would support a measure that would allow for the merger of my alma mater with a neighboring university. The idea was ill-conceived and not wanted by most citizens of my city and my district. In addition, this action would deny real educational opportunity to many of my constituents.

Without knowing many of my colleagues in the legislature, our team went to work to fight off this legislation in both the House and the Senate. In the end, we were successful in defeating the measure.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING STATE GOVERNMENTS TODAY? One of the important issues facing states today is our relationship with the federal government. Federalism has been debated since the birth of our nation. Achieving the right balance between the individual states and the Union they have joined will help us all be more effective in protecting the rights, freedoms, and opportunities of the citizens we serve.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER? I wish I knew that there are some people in your district who will never agree with you— no matter how logical your position is or how much sense it makes. You will never know why some people feel that you should do things differently. Always remember that although everyone has an opinion, you are the only one with a vote. After seeking advice from both supporters and non-supporters, always do what you think is in the best interest of your people, even if they sometimes don’t realize it.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPACTED THE WAY GOVERNMENT OPERATES? I feel that technology has provided a mechanism to allow government to operate in a more efficient and transparent manner. In addition, it allows for citizens to really keep up with what is going on in real time. It affords the public with the opportunity contact your representatives on a consistent basis and track how well they are doing at representing your interest.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS CAN SERVE AND WORK TOGETHER? I would advise them that you can acquire knowledge from anybody and that you’re never too young or too old to learn. Conversations should be intergenerational in order to maximize productivity and to understand the other side’s perspective. It really does help when you reach across the aisles.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING STATE GOVERNMENTS TODAY? The biggest issue facing state governments today is getting people to look past party lines to find the best bipartisan ideas/solutions that will benefit our citizens. In this environment of ever-decreasing resources, it is crucial to think outside of the box in an effort to help our people.

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Remembering our similarities and not discounting a colleague’s experience because of their age (both older and younger) will help with collaboration. At the end of the day, we all have very similar values, and the exact same job, so we really aren’t so very different.”

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final facts

Home Means

by Shawntaye Hopkins The Silver State’s official state song, “Home Means Nevada,” by Bertha Raffetto of Reno, was adopted in the 1930s. The CSG 2017 National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, convenes policymakers to discuss top issues affecting states, and it serves as a homecoming among friends in state government. This year, home means Nevada.

Nevada

Nevada is pronounced

“Nev-ADD-a” The state’s name comes from a Spanish word meaning

snow-covered.

The nation’s richest silver deposit, the Comstock Lode, was found in Western Nevada in the1850s.

Nevada became the 36th state on Oct. 31, 1864.

although many people outside of the state refer to it as “Nev-AH-da.”

BOULDER CITY, NEVADA, was created for the thousands of people working on the construction of Hoover Dam. Workers lived in squatters’ settlements before the city was created.

Over half of the top 20 biggest hotels in the world are located

in Las Vegas.

The Iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign at 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South

has welcomed travelers since 1959.

Tailor Jacob Davis of Reno, Nevada, INVENTED JEANS IN THE 1870S in a partnership with Levi Strauss, a German immigrant. Davis wanted to make a pant strong enough for local miners.

The Council of State Governments

thanks the first responders For Working tirelessly to protect their fellow Americans.

The Council of State Governments 1776 Avenue of the States Lexington, KY 40511

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COMING IN CAPITOL IDEAS’ NEXT ISSUE !

CSG 2018 Legislative Session Guide