POS3122 Final Exam

What is Florida's law regarding campus carry?

ban carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus

What is the definition of a state fiscal year? Why is this important for state budgeting?

(July 1-June 30)The window in which states must end the year with a balanced budget.

What is the difference between horizontal and vertical equity? What are taxes that are examples of each?

(Regressive)Horizontal equity is based on the idea that those who have the same amount of wealth, or similar levels of income, should be taxed at the same rate as others within that same income bracket. (Progressive)Vertical equity is a method of collecting income tax in which the taxes paid increase with the amount of earned income. The driving principle behind vertical equity is that those who have the ability to pay more taxes should contribute more than those who are not.

What is tax capacity? Tax yield? How does Florida fare on these measures?

-How capable a state is in paying its taxes. -Is the greatest amount of tax revenue per capita. We have higher tax capacity but we are the 47th in state tax yield

What are the four funding sources in state budgets?

-State Taxes -Intergovernmental revenue (federal funds) -State Charges and fees -Misc such as lottery revenue

What are the three unique elements related to morality politics?

1.Interest groups are distinctly active despite limited economic gains 2.Those who engage in morality politics debates experience a unique political frustration because of the black and white nature of their policy desires 3.Morality politics can be difficult to implement and enforce

What pending Florida Supreme Court case deals with education spending? (Canvas reading)

A ruling in 1996 in the state of florida that all students are to recive quality and equal education across the state. However this has been reopened as this outcome of this has proved otherwise or ineeffective.

What are annual and biennial budgets? Which do most state use?

An annual budget is a plan for an organization or company's expenditures for a fiscal year. Biennial budgeting is the practice of preparing and adopting budgets for two-year periods.most states use annual budgets. Smaller states tend to use biennial

Is Criminal Justice a federal/state issue or largely a state issue?

As far as it being relevant to the states, it is a very serious issue, having the control of a police force and a judicial system that most citizens are effected by, although ruled by both federal law and state law. It is a combination of both although the states have a huge part in criminal justice, as they generally pass more specific criminal laws and regulations.

What are the trends in state budgeting?

Cuts in state-only programs (K-12;higher ed) More user fees (tuition) More concern with performance measures Selling properties and roads Voter distrust of governments and unwillingness to pay taxes

What are differences between federal and state budgeting? ***

Federal government spends money on defense, social security, medicare States have many tax options where federal relies on income tax TELs/no spending or taxing limits States Get rainy day funds

Florida leads the nation in some aspects of opioid overdose policy. It is behind in other aspects. What are these?

Florida does not have a program for people that overdose. Many people are uninsured

How does Florida compare to other states in terms of education funding? How does Florida compare with other states in terms of teacher salaries?

Florida is in the bottom ten for lowest education spending across the nation, with only 8,000 per student, relative to New Yorks 20,000. Median salary florida is in the bottom ten lowest in teacher salaries relative to the rest of the nation with 48, 000 dollars per year.

How does Florida compare to other states in terms of the rate of uninsurance?

Florida ranks at a low 42nd in the rates of uninsured citizens. Uninsured rate for children is 7 percent

How does Florida's Medicaid spending compare to those of other states (as a percent of the budget

Florida uses 31% of its budget on medicaid, where the national average it 29% so it is not far from the average

Florida just passed Amendment 5—a new constitutional amendment. What was this proposal and how does it affect Florida's ability to increase taxes?

Forces enactment of tax laws to be a 2/3 majority, thus making it harder to impose higher taxes.

The discussion in class on school safety provided a number of policy options apart from metal detectors and more police. What were these options?

Gun control, arming teachers and providing mental evaluations to students

What policy area makes up the largest percent of states' total spending? What is the second largest spending area?

Healthcare, and education

Do you think a Florida initiative would fare better? Why or why not?

I do not think so as we remain a republican trifecta and as a highly red state, the initiative would not go very far.

How does state budgeting differ from federal budgeting? What is the single most important difference? How does that requirement define state budgeting?

If the federal government decides it wants to spend more than it is collecting in taxes, it can. The federal government can finance its operations by selling long-term U.S. Treasury bonds. State governments cannot run deficits at least not in the same way the federal government does. Virtually all states- except Vermont follow this rule. Finally, balanced budget rules may be more effective when enforced by an independently elected state supreme court than when enforcement depends on a court appointed by the politicians who write the budget

What are the criteria by which we evaluate taxes? Be prepared to evaluate selected state taxes.

In terms of yield (tax collected per person), elasticity(how stable revenues from the tax are), exportability(other people pay), acceptability(how well liked it is) and administration.

If you had to recommend a new funding source for Florida, what would it be and why?

Legalize weed

One political commentator noted that Florida is "cheap and proud of it." What evidence do we have that Florida is cheap?

It has relatively low tax rates

How does most public policy relate to economic costs and benefits?

It is reliant on the utility of policy decisions that are based on gain.

What is notable about Florida and Stand Your Ground?

It removes the legal responsibility to retreat from a dangerous situation and allows the use of deadly force when a person feels greatly threatened.

Florida adopted medical marijuana by initiative in 2016 What has happened since (what problems have arisen)?

Legislation is making it harder for marijuana businesses to start up in florida.

Florida and other states collect substantial revenues from gambling (lotteries and Seminole gambling). What are the advantages and disadvantages of this revenue source?

Lotteries are something that disproportionately affects the poor, and gambling feeds into an addiction. The pros of gambling are that the proceeds go to fund education grants such as bright futures and other scholarship programs.

What are the trends in intergovernmental funding of education policy across all states? How well does Florida fit this trend?

Mainly State and Local/ more recent federal engagement (NCLB) Dissatisfaction with quality Florida spends very little on education relative to the rest of the nation

General fund spending?

Many states respond to fiscal crisis by accelerating the shift toward financing higher education with fees and tuition, while reducing general fund revenues spent.

What is Medicaid expansion?

Medicaid expansion is the ability to extend heath care aid to more individuals usually those of lower income and without children.

What are Florida's estimating conferences? Why are these noteworthy (compared to other states)?

Mid-year correction where governor can issue executive order, legislature may have to enact taxes, or delay program implementation, usage of rainy day funds We need them when faced with hurricanes

How does morality politics differ from most public policy?

Morality policy has little economic impact. It is where government supporting one set of values at the expense of another set of values. , where public policy has impact on the economy.

What was a recent example of where two states gave tax breaks to lure a big company to their states? What evidence is there that these tax breaks work? Do you support or oppose them? (Canvas)

New York and Virginia to lure Amazon to build a location in their state. I oppose them as they pit cities or states against each other and leave less money for education and public works that ultimately do more to lift local economies and improve livelihoods.

Did Florida expand Medicaid?

No

Is Florida generous in its Medicaid spending per recipient? How do we know?

No the national average is 6,000 dollars per recipient and Florida is about 4,000 per recipient.

Idaho, Nebraska and Utah passed initiatives calling for Medicaid expansion in 2018. Is this an option for Florida? Why or why not?

No, Florida appears to have been won by Republicans who oppose it. This is a republican trifecta state

Which funding source makes up the biggest component of total revenues? Which gives the legislature the most discretion?

Non general fund budget, politicians have the most discretion over general fund revenues (gas tax is non general as it is specifically used for road infrastructure)

Are all morality politics based on religion?

Not necessarily, people do not need religion to have morals.

Environmental protection is an intergovernmental issue although many feel that it should be primarily funded by the federal government. Given the readings on Canvas and the discussion in class, is the federal government leading the effort at dealing with climate change?

Not particularly, the states have taken it up on themselves in a place where the federal government should be financially aiding these zones so that the states can focus on other issues.

Environmental protection is an intergovernmental issue although many feel that it should be primarily funded by the federal government. Given the readings on Canvas and the discussion in class, is the federal government leading the effort at dealing with climate change?

Not particularly, the states have taken it up on themselves in a place where the federal government should be financially aiding these zones.

How can this cycle be applied to same sex marriage policy. Does it apply to other examples of morality politics?

Policy Equilibrium: -Sodomy laws Policy Shock: -Hawaii 1993—state court right to marry -Defense of Marriage Act 1996/ overturned 2013 U.S. v. Windsor -Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges 2015—states must recognize Return to Policy Equilibrium: -Right to marry and be recognized by other states

How can this cycle be applied to abortion policy. Does it apply to other examples of morality politics?

Policy equilibrium 1960s and before: -State regulation, largely around health -NOW/Catholic and Evangelical Protestant Leaders Policy shock: -Roe v. Wade (1973)• Return to Policy Equilibrium: -State regulation—moral issue

The policy cycle includes policy equilibria and policy shocks. How does this work?

Policy equilibrium—most things stay the same. Policy shock—war, technology change, unusual political event (supreme court case) Return to policy equilibrium.

What are positive things about states' budgeting processes? What are negatives about these processes?

Positive: -Varied and stable revenue systems -Rainy day funds Negatives: -States cannot run deficits -States are taking on more and more responsibilities -Populace is anti-tax, anti-government -Restrictions on Taxing and spending (TELs)

In your Canvas reading, what issues are raised about innovation of charter schools? How might the state deal with these problems?

Problems: -charter schools strain traditional schools and school districts financially. -Lax regulation of charter schools has created opportunities for financial mismanagement and criminal corruption. How to Deal with these Problems: -Require for-profit companies associated with charter schools to report their expenditures and profits for each school they operate. -the legislature shouldevaluate the appropriate amount of funding the state can afford to offer in educational choices to parents and students.

What are some problems with the prevalence of charter schools in Florida? (Canvas reading)?

Raising practical concerns about how some charters are governed and whether the schools, free to experiment, are falling short on the promise that they would light the way as classroom innovators.

Why is morality policy more difficult to reach consensus on than other policies?

Relates to basic principles or core values.Morality politics defined with perceptions that some behavior threatens our moral values.

What are the two components of state budgets?

Revenues and expenditures

What is Florida doing about climate change? What might the state do?

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)has begun to conduct forward-looking analyses for flood management projects outside of the restoration, CERP agencies do not adequately take these changes into account in project planning and have not systematically analyzed these threats in the context of the CERP,

Why is Medicaid such an important health policy area for states?

States have the largest responsibility when it comes to taking care of healthcare among their citizens, it accounts for the majority of their total expenditure.

What reasons did legislators give for refusing to expand Medicaid? (Canvas)

That it would be too expensive, takes away from the freedoms of those who want to choose their own coverage plan.

What happens if a state doesn't have enough money at the end of the fiscal year?

They use a rainy day fund.

How might state legislators be encouraged to spend more on education spending/teachers salaries?

Through merit plans, to reward teachers for doing their work and showing improvement in their classrooms, through things such as the FCAT or standardized tests.

What is general revenue?

Unallocated funds acquired through business and property taxation. Monies that may be utilized for any purposes as received at the state and local levels of government. A state applies funds to a variety of activities, like homeless shelters, as an example. These funds are not governed by law.

How does Florida compare to U.S. state average spending? What areas do we spend a greater percentage of our spending on? What areas do we spend a smaller percentage of our spending on?

We spend the most on Medicaid, and transportation, and we spend less on K-12, HIgher Ed, corrections, and welfare.

What is the definition of public policy?

What government does, why it does it and how it does it.

What are the limitations on trust fund spending?

When revenues are low, some states and cities forgo contributing to trust funds or borrow from the funds in order to make it appear that their budgets balance. For many state governments and some local governments, obligations to fully fund public employee retirement pension accounts may be a looming crisis. It is easy to forgo collecting revenues to cover the costs of pension funds, but as the deficits in such accounts grow over time it becomes harder to make up lost ground. 374

Does Florida have a sales tax? Individual income tax?

Yes to sales tax, no to individual income tax

Does Florida have a sales tax? Individual income tax?

Yes,

Is dealing with the Everglades an intergovernmental issue? Why or why not?

Yes, CERP has shown that both the state and federal government have been a joined effort from both parties to restore the everglades.

What are examples of morality policies?

abortion, death penalty, same sex marriage

Own-source revenues?

all revenues collected by state & local government from its own sources (excluding federal transfers).

What are rainy day funds? Why are they necessary for state budgeting?

fund to be used in times of crisis. A large surplus can become a target for anti tax activists, as it illustrates that government is collecting more revenue than it needs to spend.

Total revenues?

is the total receipts a seller can obtain from selling goods or service to buyers

Why were three recent initiatives in Colorado, Washington and Arizona disappointing for environmentalists? (Canvas)

notably pitted environmental advocates against deep-pocketed oil and gas groups, which outspent the proposals' proponents despite outside support from donors such as former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg. in states like Colorado, Arizona, and Washington, isthat voters reject policies that would make energy more expensive and less reliable tothem, their families, and the larger economy,

States draw from a variety of taxes and fees. What are the two that account for most of state revenues?

property taxes, sales taxes

What is the tax-service paradox?

situation in which people demand more government services but do not want to pay for them through higher taxes

Which taxes are 'more acceptable' to the public? Which 'least acceptable.'

state income taxes more politically acceptable than federal income and local property taxes,

What are the two components of every tax?

tax base(A tax base is defined as the total value of assets, properties or income in a certain area or jurisdiction. ), tax rate(the percentage of the tax base that must be paid in taxes)

What are the two components of every tax?

tax base(the amount to which a tax rate is applied), tax rate(the percentage of the tax base that must be paid in taxes)

Total revenues?

total amount gained from providing services

How would you describe Florida's policy in terms of prison reform? What are some possible suggestions for future Florida policy here?

tough-on-crime 85% return to crime, changing theft charges from 300 to 1500 as inflation has risen, give police the power to issue civil citations instead of arrests for juveniles caught for misdemeanors, provide reentry programs

What are examples of tax breaks for businesses? What are arguments in favor of using public dollars for those businesses?

•Cash grants and loans•Sales tax breaks •Income tax credits and exemptions •Free Services Property tax abatements •Infrastructure promises—roads, bridges, helipads _____________________________________________ •Jobs, jobs, jobs (and good ones) •Direct and indirect economic effects •Gov. Cuomo (NY): "All things being equal, if we do nothing, they're going to Texas." •"Incentives are not subsidies, they are investments." consultant to project

How does state budgeting work in terms of a timetable?

•Estimate of revenues •Early Fall—Agencies prepare estimates •Fall—Budget office prepares initial budget •Jan.—Governor presents budget •March-June—Legislature acts on budget •July 1 (Oct. 1)—New fiscal year begins

What are the arguments against tax breaks for businesses?

•Inefficient and unnecessary •Leaves less money for education and public works •Incentives aren't that persuasive to companies •Money to big corporations instead of support for smaller, needier companies