SHORT TAKES NEWS FROM NCSL.

• Position: National Conference of State Legislatures

"That's how we as people experience education."

Joan Wodiska on blending the lines "between K-12, college and training to meet the needs of the future workforce, in Diverse Education.

"In a lot of states, you can't fundraise during session."

Tim Storey on one of the obstacles faced by legislative leaders who wish to run for governor, in Stateline.

"It has been much less common for women to run and serve with infants and toddlers... Few state legislatures and capitol buildings have fully figured out how they will accommodate nursing mothers."

Katie Ziegler on how mothers have historically waited to run for state legislative office until later in life, on NPR.

"There's a perception among some people that this is giving special rights to bicyclists and legalizing an unsafe behavior."

Douglas Shinkle on proposals to allow bicyclists to roll through stop signs, in Stateline.

"Quality is paramount. All research points to that."

Matt Weyer on a Montana proposal to expand the Head Start preschool program, in the Billings Gazette.

IDEAS

Health Trends Initiation

Forty legislators from 20 states attended NCSL's Health Seminar for Newer Legislators in La Jolla, Calif., this spring. Attendees got a dose of the complexities and trends in health care insurance, prescription drugs, public health, behavioral health and more. NCSL's health department organizes nearly 40 seminars and meetings each year, helping to connect state legislators and legislative staff, and keep them up to date on emerging topics and innovative policies.

Fiscal Leaders Look Forward

Because state budgets transcend every action taken by state legislatures, NCSL operates a robust Fiscal Affairs Program. Its eight staff members track state budget and tax trends, publish a monthly newsletter, "The Fiscal Link," and issue three major annual reports--"State Budget Actions," "State Tax Actions" and "State Budget Update." Currently, they are busy tracking how states are responding to the recent...