One interesting pilot scheme being tried out in Minnesota allows farmers who reduce fertiliser run-off and soil erosion to enjoy an exemption from future state and federal water-quality standards.

ECONOMIST: Nutrient pollution

There are state and federal standards now and the Federal Election Commission must approve voting machine vendors.

CNN: Voting methods under close watch

Working through grantees, it has had significant impact on promoting adoption of state and federal vehicle efficiency standards, more stringent residential and commercial building codes to reduce energy consumption, and development of renewable energy technology.

FORBES: How To Get A Jumpstart On Your Philanthropy

Debates will continue about state versus federal regulation, industry standards and the underlying facts in particular cases.

WSJ: Daniel Yergin on the Shale Gas Revolution: Stepping on the Gas

And even if Washington never gets around to an energy or climate bill, state renewable portfolio standards and tightening federal emissions regulations are going to keep demand for renewables from falling too far.

FORBES: NextEra Energy CEO Predicts Wind Shakeout

The package of bills will be one of the governor's key agenda items during the remainder of the legislative session, along with an overhaul of campaign-finance laws and an effort to codify state abortion laws to match federal standards.

WSJ: Bribe Fight In Spotlight

As the Cuomo administration has more recently pursued an agenda that includes rewriting state law regarding abortions to codify it with federal standards, and has delayed a decision on whether to allow a controversial form of natural-gas drilling in the state, voters have come to believe they perceive a shift in the governor's ideology.

WSJ: Backing For Cuomo Declines Upstate

In fact, national standards can only add to the burden that federal education mandates place on state education departments and local school districts.

CNN: Competition, Not Standards