State_Research_Paper

State Research Paper Rhonda Feimster State and Local Political Processes/POL 215 June 23, 2010 Dr. Aubrey Bentham Nebraska Funding The state of Nebraska receives federal stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In addition, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds are administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. The CDBG Federal funds are made available to the state from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s CDBG program (News, 2010). Interest Groups An interest group is an association or organization of people focused on a common public policy goal. To achieve their public policy goal, interest groups monitor issues, follow activities of state and national legislatures, agencies and other relevant organizations to find out what steps have been taken in regard to their issues. Interest groups routinely work collaboratively or independently to support or oppose legislation and help senators research and draft legislation. They often employ lobbyists, individuals who communicate with public officials to recommend voting in favor of a bill or inform legislators about the negative effects a bill may have on the individuals and organization he or she represents (Nebraska Legislature, 2010). The Center for People in Need is a local organization in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska that focuses on issues related to socio-economic barriers for low-income families. The center’s mission is to provide emergency basic needs, advocate for systemic changes in local, county, state and federal government, implement creative service delivery methods to disadvantaged families and support educational and job skills training for low-income workers (Center for People in Need, 2010). The Center for People in Need actively promotes community involvement in the public policy and state legislation process. They provide information and an efficient means of communicating with policy makers by providing talking points and sample letters to assist residents in drafting letters to policy makers. The Center for People in Need created and provides leadership for the Coalition of Human Service Needs (CHSN). The CHSN is comprised of human service and advocacy agencies interested in public policy and legislative issues. CHSN meets regularly during the state legislative session to discuss legislation, share information and coordinate actions. Also, the Center helps organizations track measures on their legislative agendas. The Nebraska Appleseed organization is part of the network of 16 nonprofit public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico. The Nebraska Appleseed organization focuses on advancing policies and practices that promote self-sufficiency for Nebraska’s working poor families, promote the integration and participation of immigrant populations in state-wide communities, provide safe and adequate child welfare services to children who need protection, increase low-income people’s access to the legal system and support democracy by removing barriers to low-income people’s participation in the electoral and public policy decision-making processes. For many years, Nebraska Appleseed has advocated for more opportunities to pursue education in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families / Aid to Dependent Children program. As recently as April 22, 2010, the Appleseed organization submitted a sign-on letter supporting education and training opportunities for Nebraska’s low-income families to The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee and requested that the letter be sent to the committee’s full delegation (Nebraska Appleseed, 2010). Elections In Nebraska, registered voters cast their votes for state legislators and other public officials every two years. The state’s governor is elected every four years (Nebraska Legislature-Unicam Focus, 2010). The Secretary of State serves as the chief election officer of the state. The Elections Division is responsible for the election process as well as implementing reforms under the federal Help America Vote Act. Nebraska residents interested in running for any public office (non-incumbents) or retaining the office position (incumbents) are required to submit a partisan or non-partisan candidate filing form and if required, the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure commission C-1 form and pay the appropriate filing fee by established timelines to be listed on the primary election ballot. Depending upon which office the candidate is running for, the candidate filing forms are submitted to the office of the Secretary of State, election commissioner, county clerk, city, or village clerk (sos.ne.gov, 2010). State and Local Relations It is important for state and local governments to have a good working relationship so the needs of the Nebraska residents can be met. Clear, direct and ongoing communication is essential to providing the citizens of Nebraska with timely and efficient accessibility to the services necessary to support and sustain individuals and communities. References http://www.nebraska.gov News [Online]. Retrieved 6/23/10, from http://www.governor.nebraska.gov/news/2010/06/21_kearney_tourism.html http://www.sos.ne.gov/dyindex.html#boxingName General Election Filing Deadlines. [Online]. Retrieved 6/22/10, from http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2010/pdf/2010%20General%20Election%20Filing%20Deadlines.pdf Filing Locations. [Online]. Retrieved 6/22/10, from http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2010/pdf/2010%20filing%20locations.pdf Filing Instructions. [Online]. Retrieved 6/22/10, from http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2010/pdf/2010%20filing%20sos.pdf Nebraska Legislature – Unicam Focus. [Online]. Retrieved 6/23/10, from http://nebraskalegislature.gov/education/lesson8.php Center for People in Need. [Online]. Retrieved 6/23/10, from http://centerforpeopleinneed.org/ Nebraska Appleseed. [Online]. Retrieved 6/23/10, from http://www.neappleseed.org/