News
LA: Judge Deals a Setback to Louisiana’s Voucher Program
Judge Timothy Kelley of State District Court ruled that the way in which the state finances its new voucher program violates the state Constitution, as it relies on money intended in “plain and unambiguous” terms solely for public schools. In a statement, Governor Jindal called the decision “wrongheaded and a travesty for parents across Louisiana” and vowed to appeal. But it was not the crippling setback it could have been. New York Times
CA: California Court of Appeal Shoots Down Traffic Camera Company
The second highest court in California on Thursday issued an order summarily denying a traffic camera company’s attempt to overturn election results from last month. American Traffic Solutions (ATS) was upset when 15,682 voters approved Measure N, requiring city officials to remove red light cameras once it is certified in the next two weeks. TheNewspaper
TX: Toll roads calling it quits on cash
You won’t find yourself digging around for change in the car much longer. Starting January 1, 2013, toll ways in Central Texas will no longer accept cash as payment. Cash only lanes will be a thing of the past. For some drivers, not having the option isn’t a welcome change. “It’s just real inconvenient,” says Zach Fletcher, “I always have change in my car, so it’s real inconvenient for me, so I don’t really like it.” Purchasing a TxTag account isn’t appealing to some drivers. “Now we’ve got to go with the TxTag and the credit card and all that stuff,” says Marvin Massingill. KXAN.com
MS: Hinds Looks at Jail Privatization
After a series of high-profile incidents at Hinds County’s Raymond Detention Center that sometimes bordered on comical, the county will look at the possibility of privatizing some or all of the jail’s operations. Jackson Free Press
PA: Pa. House Democratic lawmakers blast away at Gov. Tom Corbett’s lottery House Democratic leaders teamed up on Monday to blast Gov. Tom Corbett and his exploration of the idea of outsourcing management of the Pennsylvania Lottery to a foreign corporation. Calling the administration’s pursuit of this potential deal “too secretive,” House DemocraticHouse Democratic Leader Frank Dermody says Gov. Tom Corbett’s consideration of privatizing the Pennsylvania Lottery “stinks.”
OH: Budget Hearing Raises Questions About Parking Privatization
Cincinnati City Council members today focused a lot of attention on a contentious plan to lease city parking assets during a Monday committee presentation on the 2013 budget. Cincinnati CityBeat
NE: UHC review committee recommends moving forward with health service privatization
The University Health Center Request For Proposal (RFP) Evaluation Committee has recommended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln go forward with plans for Bryan Health to construct and operate a new health center. “The next step would be for the university to go into negotiations with Bryan Health and iron out the details to see if a contract could be resolved of the negotiations,” said UHC director Dr. James Guest, who was one of the committee members. Daily Nebraskan
T.S.A. Skips a Hearing on Terminating the T.S.A.
The director of the Transportation Security Administration, John S. Pistole, had declined to testify before this particular subcommittee on two previous occasions, despite angry criticism from some members who are longtime agency critics…. On the other hand, the hearing last Thursday seemed to have an agenda, which was that the T.S.A. should be replaced by private security companies — you know, like the ones that were accused of hiring poorly trained, underpaid screeners at airports before Sept. 11 brought a somewhat more intense focus to checkpoint security. New York Times