E-Disclosure of Campaign Finance Information

2012 ◽  
pp. 93-111
Author(s):  
Ramona McNea
Keyword(s):  
Interest Groups ◽  
State Legislatures ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Council ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Focusing Events ◽  
Disclosure Laws ◽  
Setting Theory ◽  
Council Of State

In the United States, disclosure has long been a primary tool for fighting the corruptive influence of money in politics. Recent scandals have helped place disclosure back on the agenda of many the 50 states. Because of the move to electronic governance, many new laws regulating disclosure have taken the form of e-disclosure. Agenda setting theory suggests that interest groups, political context, policy entrepreneurs, focusing events, and state resources influence the ability of issues to reach the institutional agenda (Baumgartner & Jones, 1993; Kingdon 1995). This study uses panel corrected cross-sectional time series analysis to explore which of these factors are motivating increased interest in e-disclosure laws at the state level from 2005-2009. The number of electronic filing laws proposed in state legislatures is the dependent variable (National Council of State Legislatures).

scholarly journals American Society of Clinical Oncology–Sponsored Oncology Student Interest Groups in Latin America

2020 ◽  
pp. 1439-1445
Author(s):  
Andrea Anampa-Guzmán ◽  
Andrea Denise Brito-Hijar ◽  
Cristian Antonio Gutierrez-Narvaez ◽  
Anthony Raul Molina-Ruiz ◽  
Victor Simo-Mendoza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Medical Oncology ◽  
The United States ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

PURPOSE To describe the characteristics of the members of the ASCO-sponsored Oncology Student Interest Groups (OSIGs) in Latin America. METHODS This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. We surveyed 97 OSIG members from three medical schools in Peru and Mexico. We administered a 60-question survey covering topics including personal background, oncology training experience, and professional practice expectations and preferences. RESULTS A little more than one half of the surveyed OSIG members were female. More than one half had a visa to visit the United States and had an advanced level of English. One half of the OSIG members were also ASCO members. Most participants agreed or strongly agreed that participation in their OSIG increased their interest in cancer-related specialties (94%) and provided professional networking opportunities (94%) and that it was accessible to all students (91%). Most participants believed that their OSIG had sufficient resources to carry out its activities. Students were asked to rate their interest when they entered medical school versus at the time of the survey. Most of the members were strongly interested in pursuing surgical oncology. The majority of members were somewhat interested or very interested in palliative care and medical oncology. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first study that provides data on medical student perceptions of the Latin American OSIGs sponsored by ASCO. Student perceptions of medical oncology and the impact of OSIGs were generally positive. Given the shortages of oncology specialists in Latin American and elsewhere, strategies to engage medical students in the pursuit of cancer-related careers are becoming increasingly essential.

Electronic Campaign Finance Reform in the American States

2011 ◽  
pp. 624-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. McNeal ◽  
M. Schmeida
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Campaign Finance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Finance Reform ◽  
Campaign Finance Reform ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Disclosure Laws

With every new election cycle in the United States, there is a call for campaign finance reform. These regulations have come in a variety of forms, each having the goal of rebuilding trust in the voting system and government in addition to regulating election finance. With an eye toward building trust, beginning in the early 1990s, state (as well as local and federal) campaign finance regulatory agencies started implementing campaign reporting procedures that required either the replacement or augmentation of paper filing systems with electronic systems. It is hoped that these new procedures will make summaries and analyses of contributions and expenditures more easily accessible to the public as well as to government watch dogs such as interest groups and the media. The adoption of these electronic reforms (e-disclosure laws) is representative of a public service trend in the United States. Over the last several years, federal, state, and municipal governments have moved increasingly toward government adoption of electronic government (e-government) practices that “refer to the delivery of information and services via the Internet or other digital means” (West, 2004, p. 2). Each of the 50 states has implemented some type of e-government, and the federal government has created a central portal for federal services (West, 2003). This trend toward adopting e-government has not taken place without comment; it has been accompanied by speculation of the impact to both citizens and government units alike. It has been argued that because e-government can deliver services and information around the clock, it may make government more efficient and transparent to the public (Norris, 2001; West, 2003). It also has been suggested that it will make government more responsive to the public through its ability to provide communication options that are quicker and more convenient for users (Thomas & Streib, 2003). Furthermore, an online presence may reduce government costs and allows the timely update of materials and information more quickly than in traditional distribution methods (Pardo, 2000). Others (Jaeger & Thompson, 2004; Pardo, 2000) argue that e-government has the ability to increase political engagement and to create a more participatory democracy. These benefits may increase the likelihood that Internet-based reforms have a greater likelihood of adoption. Interest groups who campaign for electronic disclosure laws in order to reduce corruption and to increase transparency may find themselves aided by public administrators attracted to the cost-cutting promises of e-government.

Facility and state-level factors associated with telemental health (TMH) adoption among mental health facilities in the United States

2019 ◽  
pp. 1357633X1986890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Zhao ◽  
Kim E Innes ◽  
Sandipan Bhattacharjee ◽  
Nilanjana Dwibedi ◽  
Traci M LeMasters ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Telemental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Substance Abuse Disorders

Introduction Telemental health (TMH) is a promising approach to increase access to mental healthcare. This study examined the TMH adoption rates and associations with facility- and state-level factors among US mental health (MH) facilities. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study used linked data for 2016 from the National Mental Health Services Survey ( N = 11,833), Area Health Resources File, and national reports for broadband access and telehealth policies. The associations of facility and state-level characteristics with TMH adoption were examined with multi-level logistic regressions. Results Overall, 25.9% had used TMH. Having veteran affiliation [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 18.53, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI): 10.66–32.21] and greater Information Technology (IT) capacity [AOR(95%CI): 2.89(2.10–3.98)] were the strongest correlates of TMH adoption. Other facility characteristics associated with higher likelihood of TMH adoption were: public ownership, high patient volumes, having comprehensive MH treatments or Quality Improvement practices, having private or non-Medicaid public payers, and treating elderly patients (AORs: 1.16–2.41). TMH adoption was less likely among facilities treating more African Americans or patients with substance abuse disorders. TMH adoption varied substantially across states, with adoption more likely in states issuing special telehealth licences and those with more rural counties. Discussion One in four MH facilities adopted TMH in 2016. TMH adoption varied by multiple facility- and state-level factors. Our findings suggest that: legal/regulatory burden and lower facility IT capacity may discourage TMH adoption; significant racial disparities exist in TMH adoption; and there is a need to increase TMH use for substance abuse disorders.

Interest group lobbying and partisan polarization in the United States: 1999–2016

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Alex Garlick
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
State Legislatures ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Agenda Control ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Partisan Polarization ◽  
Level Data ◽  
The Relationship

Abstact The lobbying activity of interest groups has been overlooked as a contributing factor to legislative party polarization in the United States. Using bill-level data from Congress and three state legislatures, I show floor votes on bills lobbied by more non-profit interest groups are more polarized by party. The state legislative data demonstrate the robustness of the relationship between lobbying and polarization, showing it is not an artifact of party agenda control, salience, or bill content. Increased lobbying from these groups in recent years helps explain high levels of partisan polarization in Congress and an uneven pattern across the state legislatures.

scholarly journals State-Level Implementation of Health and Safety Policies to Prevent Sudden Death and Catastrophic Injuries Within High Schools: An Update

2021 ◽  
pp. 036354652110318
Author(s):  
Samantha E. Scarneo-Miller ◽  
Christianne M. Eason ◽  
William M. Adams ◽  
Rebecca L. Stearns ◽  
Douglas J. Casa
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
School Level ◽  
High School Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Mandated sports safety policies that incorporate evidence-based best practices have been shown to mitigate the risk of mortality and morbidity in sports. In 2017, a review of the state-level implementation of health and safety policies within high schools was released. Purpose: To provide an update on the assessment of the implementation of health and safety policies pertaining to the leading causes of death and catastrophic injuries in sports within high school athletics in the United States. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A rubric composed of 5 equally weighted sections for sudden cardiac arrest, traumatic head injuries, exertional heatstroke, appropriate health care coverage, and emergency preparedness was utilized to assess an individual state’s policies. State high school athletic/activities association (SHSAA) policies, enacted legislation, and Department of Education policies were extensively reviewed for all 50 states and the District of Columbia between academic year (AY) 2016-2017 (AY16/17) and 2019-2020 (AY19/20). To meet the specific rubric criteria and be awarded credit, policies needed to be mandated by all SHSAA member schools. Weighted scores were tabulated to calculate an aggregate score with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 100. Results: A total of 38 states had increased their rubric scores since AY16/17, with a mean increase of 5.57 ± 6.41 points. In AY19/20, scores ranged from 30.80 to 85.00 points compared with 23.00 to 78.75 points in AY16/17. Policies related to exertional heatstroke had the greatest change in scores (AY16/17 mean, 6.62 points; AY19/20 mean, 8.90 points; Δ = 2.28 points [11.40%]), followed by emergency preparedness (AY16/17 mean, 8.41 points; AY19/20 mean, 10.29 points; Δ = 1.88 points [9.40%]). Conclusion: A longitudinal review of state high school sports safety policies showed progress since AY16/17. A wide range in scores indicates that continued advocacy for the development and implementation of policies at the high school level is warranted.

Fiscal Decentralization, Commitment and Regional Inequality: Evidence from State-level Cross-sectional Data for the United States

2009 ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Nobuo Akai ◽  
Masayo Hosio
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Regional Inequality ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Commitment Device

Conventional approaches to fiscal decentralization suggest that decentralization lowers the power of redistribution, but recent theories argue that fiscal decentralization can work as a commitment device. The former effect is argued to cause an increase in inter-county inequality, while the latter suggests a decrease. This article first clarifies the relationship between fiscal decentralization and inter-county inequality by using cross-sectional data for the United States. Our result indicates that the achievement of autonomy by fiscal decentralization in poor (low-income) counties contributes to decreased inter-county inequality, but that this effect is not as large as the dominating adverse effect fiscal decentralization has on rich (highincome) counties.

Sectoral Polyarchy

2017 ◽  
pp. 57-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Bishop
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Potential Solution ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Defence Sector ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Effective Representation

In 1956 Dahl proposed that modern westernised democratic capitalist societies would ultimately evolve into a state of polyarchy, wherein interest groups, compensating for a lack of effective representation would ultimately subsume Government. Whilst Dahl postulated that this would happen at a state level, he was considering the phenomena from the perspective of social groups rather than from Government. Different sectors within a state are subject to different pressures, and consequently it is contended that some are closer to a transition to polyarchy than others. The defence sector is a case in point, and already exhibits many of the characteristics of polyarchy. This chapter will consider the reasons for this, its implications, and potential solution, focussing on issues of competition and risk. Given the UK defence sector unique position in relation to the United States and The European Union it will serve as the barometer for the polyarchic state in this discussion.

Counselors’ Role in Decreasing Suicide in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-186
Author(s):  
Kaprea F. Johnson ◽  
Dana L. Brookover
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Mental Health Professional ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Professional Counselors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes

A mental health professional shortage area (MHPSA) is an area lacking psychiatrists as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Prior research found the lack of psychiatrists can be directly related to adverse health outcomes. The current investigation focused on the United States by state level and the relationship between MHPSAs, suicide rates, and access to professional counselors. Results from a cross-sectional analysis found MHPSAs were highly correlated with suicide deaths. There was a significant inverse relationship between number of professional counselors in an area and suicide deaths, and being uninsured was highly related to MHPSA and suicide. The results support the need for access to professional counselors. Policies incentivizing professional counselors to work in MHPSAs are needed because of their potential role in minimizing suicide deaths.

The Association of Federal and State-level Firearm Restriction Policies With Intimate Partner Homicide: A Re-analysis by Race of the Victim

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Mikaela A. Wallin ◽  
Charvonne N. Holliday ◽  
April M. Zeoli
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intimate Partner Homicide ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Black Populations ◽  
The Impact

Firearms present a significant risk of intimate partner homicide (IPH) among women in the United States, and Black women continue to be overrepresented among IPH fatalities. State-level firearm restrictions for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders (DVRO) and firearm restrictions for those convicted of violent misdemeanor crimes are associated with reductions in IPH. To receive these protections, individuals must engage with the civil or criminal justice system. While access to, and engagement with, these systems may differ between Black and White populations, research has yet to examine the impact of these firearm restriction laws on IPH by racial group. We conducted pooled, cross-sectional, time-series analyses to examine the association of selected firearm restriction laws on IPH by the race of the victims, from 1981 to 2013 for 45 states in the United States. State-level DVRO firearm restrictions were associated with reductions in IPH in the White population only. The inclusion of relinquishment provisions in state DVRO firearm laws is associated with an 11% reduction in IPH and a 16% reduction in firearm IPH for White, but not Black, victims. Similarly, laws prohibiting individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from possessing firearms are associated with a 23% reduction in IPH and a 28% reduction in firearm IPH for White victims only. The federal DVRO firearm restriction law is associated with a 27% reduction in state-level IPH and a 28% reduction in firearm IPH for Black, but not White, victims. Firearm restriction laws may have a limited impact on IPH in Black populations. Future research should examine the factors behind the differential estimated impact of these laws by the race of the victims.

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