2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

Paper The Rehnquist Court and the New Right Regime:Mitchell Pickerill, Washington State UniversityCornell W. Clayton, Washington State UniversityOverview: This paper explores the connections between theSupreme Court and the emergence of a "conservative politicalregime." Our focus in this paper is on how certain conceptionsof judicial power became entrenched in the Court as a result ofthe "judicialPaper Judicial Review of Acts of Congress, 1880-1929Keith E. Whittington, University of Texas, AustinTom Clark, Princeton UniversityOverview: Making use of an original database of the judicialreview of federal statutes, this paper examines the politicaldeterminants of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down oruphold the acts of Congress during a period of historic judicialactivism.Disc. George I. Lovell, University of Washington38-8 HUMAN SERVICES POLICY IN THESTATESRoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 3:45 pmCarol S. Weissert, Florida State UniversityAgenda Setting and Denial in the States: Nonprofit HospitalTax ExemptionLinda S. Millsaps, North Carolina General AssemblyOverview: Examines state agenda setting in tax policy,comparing it to prevailing federal theories of agenda setting anddenial. Considers the costs, benefits, and policies associatedwith property tax exemption for nonprofit hospitals and charitycare.Liberal or Conservative? State Choices to Expand HealthInsurance CoverageEthan M. Bernick, University of North TexasNathan Myers, University of Nevada, Las VegasOverview: This research focuses on the state efforts aimed atdecreasing the number uninsured individuals. Specifically, arethe politics that lead a state to adopt a tax incentive differentfrom the politics that lead a state to adopt a coverage program?American Federalism and Civil Rights Enforcement: TheFair Housing Act from 1973 to 2004Charles Lamb, University at Buffalo, SUNYEric Wilk, University at BuffaloOverview: Using a thirty-one year dataset obtained from HUD,we examine the effectiveness and efficiency of federal versusstate and local enforcement of the Fair Housing Act between theCarter and Bush II administrations.Mark C. Rom, Georgetown University39-301 POSTER SESSION: URBAN AND LOCALPOLITICSPresenter Interstates and Cities: Assessing the Impact of theInterstate on Modern Urban EnvironmentsRoom TBA, Board 8, Fri 3:45 pmZachary A. Callen, University of ChicagoOverview: Despite its size, little analytic attention focusesdirectly on the Interstate. This analysis aims to use geographicanalysis to better understand the impact of the interstate onurban spaces.Presenter The Price on Local Governance-Do the Municipal ReformsLead to Better Efficiency?Room TBA, Board 9, Fri 3:45 pmKaifeng Yang, Florida State UniversityJunyi Hsieh, Florida State UniversityOverview: Various municipal reforms as being efficient driveshave swept through many American local governments frompast to nowadays, but practitioners and researchers have notreflected reliably on how these reforms contribute to municipalperformance.Presenter A Re-examination of the Distributive Politics ModelRoomTBA, Board 10, Fri 3:45 pmHoward A. Stern, West Virginia UniversityOverview: This study offers an expanded distributed politicsmodel that utilizes a more comprehensive approach thatconsiders a variety of contextual factors ignored by traditionalmodels. The federal CDBG program will serve as a case study.Presenter A Theory of Urban ScenesRoomTBA, Board 11, Fri 3:45 pmDaniel A. Silver, University of ChicagoTerry N. Clark, University of ChicagoOverview: This paper argues that analyzing the nature andpower of scenes as distinct social formations can help tounderstand recent changes in political agendas that emphasizethe importance of culture, consumption, and valuecommitments.40-3 CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES IN THESTATESRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Fri 3:45 pmRichard C. Fording, University of KentuckyState Prison Gang Policies: A Comparative AnalysisErin L. Bumgarner, Randolph Macon CollegeOverview: An increasing number of states are facing thegrowing problem of gang violence and gang recruitment in theirprisons. This analysis looks at various policies and evaluatestheir effectiveness in controlling gangs in prison.Going Soft on Crime? The Politics of Criminal ReentryPolicies in the StatesGarrick l. Percival, University of Minnesota, DuluthOverview: This paper examines whether the get tough approachto crime at the federal level of government, in fact maskssignificant variation in how state governments approach thecrime problem. An examination of states' criminal reentrypolicies is examined.Restoring Voter Rights in the States: The Beginning ofPolicy Change?Kathleen Hale, Kent State UniversityRamona McNeal, University of Illinois, SpringfieldMary Schmeida, The Cleveland Clinic FoundationOverview: This paper uses policy adoption and implementationtheory to explain variation in felony disenfranchisement lawsacross the states.Problem Definion and Punitive Correctional Policy: TheRole of the MediaFred A. Meyer, Ball State UniversityRalph E. Baker, Ball State UniversityOverview: This paper examines the role of the media inmaintaining punitive correctional policy at a time when thecrime rate has been declining. Q-methodology is used to studyprint, audio and video news personnel in a medium-sizedmidwestern city.Deterrence Reconsidered: A Theoretical and EmpiricalCase Against the Death PenaltyAri Kohen, James Madison UniversitySeth K. Jolly, Duke UniversityOverview: The debate about whether or not the death penaltydeters potential murderers has a long and contentious past.Kenneth E. Fernandez, University of Nevada, Las VegasRichard C. Fording, University of Kentucky40-17 THE POLITICS OF MONEY: TAXATIONAND EXPENDITURE POLICYRoomChairPaperPaperTBA, Fri 3:45 pmJustin H. Phillips, Columbia UniversityThe Evolution of Tax Burdens and the Political ConflictOver TaxesJeffrey M. Stonecash, Syracuse UniversityOverview: Analysis of the origins of current conflicts over taxpolicy. Review of growing inequality, shift of burden to theaffluent, and growing class political divisions and the resultingfocus of Republicans on cutting taxes.State Rainy Day Funds: Responses to Fiscal Shocks underRules vs. DiscretionShanna Rose, SUNY, Stony BrookOverview: This paper addresses the puzzle of why tax andexpenditure limits, balanced budget rules, and other restraintsare not more effective in promoting fiscal responsibility.184