Original reporting

Though the supporters of Proposition 30 (Prop 30), the California ballot initiative to raise income tax rates on high earners as well as sales taxes across the board, put together a highly successful campaign, some wonder whether the techniques used to sell Prop 30 carry with them the risk of undermining future efforts to bolster government services.

Remapping Debate investigates how advocates for California’s tax-increasing ballot initiative made their case and what lessons the campaign holds for others who seek to bolster government services.

But despite their new legislative power, the tone set by Democrats in Sacramento has been decidedly cautious.

A fully realized Second Avenue subway would replace service lost decades ago, help meet ever growing transit demand, and provide a wide range of economic and environmental benefits to New York City and its residents. Even though the entire line could be built at one time, and even though delay is more costly than action, all that has been funded is a less-than-two-mile stub.

In the face of gains by proponents of fossil fuels, some groups in denial; others hunkering down. Only a few explore new strategies to go on the offensive.

Told to operate like a business but prevented from thriving like one, the Postal Service is the victim of politicians who either wanted it fail or had a remarkable lack of foresight.

Worker beware.

Part 3 of our series on businesses incentives examines the justifications given by state and local officials who favor granting subsidies, but resist disclosing who gets them.

Phenomenon is widespread. Case resolution time rises in 15 states; case backlog grows in 29.

Part 2 of our series on government incentive programs for businesses focuses on the lack of transparency at the local level.

According to the Census Bureau, even during presidential election years, at least a quarter of the eligible electorate has been unregistered in the period from 1980 through 2008. But current voter registration efforts don’t come close to meeting the need, especially because so much of registration under the U.S. system is highly labor-intensive.