I have already written on the incompetence evident in many state legislatures and governments, and now the National Journal has proceeded to analyze which state governments are the most dysfunctional. They have come up with a list of the six most dysfunctional state governments.
On the top of the list is New York, which has seen a paralyzed State Senate, which now has returned to Democratic control by the two rebels who had left the party resuming their membership, and one of them becoming —crazily—the new Senate Majority Leader!  Governor David Paterson remains very unpopular and seems unlikely to be able to win a full term as Governor in 2010, with State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo still seen as likely to challenge him and to win the Governorship over any Republican nominee, including former NYC Mayor Rudy Guiliani. If Cuomo does not run, then Guiliani, if he ran for Governor, would easily defeat Paterson, according to polls.
Second on the list of dysfunctional state governments is Nevada, where sex scandals and criminality seem to reign, even at the Senatorial level with John Ensign. Third is Illinois, with the mess left by the scandal around Rod Blagojevich, impeached and removed from office by the Illinois legislature earlier this year.  Fourth is Alaska, which has not been the same since Sarah Palin ran for Vice President , and she is now leaving office within two weeks. Fifth is South Carolina with the scandal centered around Governor Mark Sanford. And finally, number six is California, with its total meltdown regarding its state budget, and the inability of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democratic legislature to resolve the difference and issuing IOUs, which may not be honored by the state’s banks.
With all of the regular complaints against the US Congress, the states do not make an impressive record, and realize that listing six states does not mean that all of the other 44 states are jewels of outstanding performance, far from it!  There is a great need for reform of how the state governments operate, in order to restore public confidence. Unfortunately, that is not likely anytime in the near future.