The Alabama Legislature gave final approval Thursday to the state General Fund budget for fiscal 2014, sending the $1.75 billion spending plan to Gov. Robert Bentley.

Joint Finance Committee also votes on measures on streetcar, taxes, prohibition of soda bans.

With no dissenting votes, Nebraska lawmakers on Thursday advanced the biggest pieces of the $7.8 billion, two-year state budget package.

Illinois got a good deal on a $300 million bond sale today, illustrating what happens when the Chicago economy and not the state's pension obligations drive how investors look at the state's creditworthiness.

Kansas legislators reconvene this week facing a decision about Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to stabilize the budget by canceling a scheduled sales tax decrease.

Hawaii lawmakers took modest steps to address the state's record $25-billion in unfunded liabilities during the 2012 and 2013 legislative sessions but taxpayer watchdogs are critical that not enough is being done to address looming debts.

Gov. Mike Pence on Wednesday signed into law Indiana's $30 billion, two-year state budget that keeps spending increases below the inflation rate and provides Hoosiers more than a billion dollars in tax cuts.

The chairman of the Appropriations Committee said it worked to fund the state's priorities and recognized the need to maintain a healthy rainy day fund, or cash reserve balance.

Gov. Tom Corbett described a stark choice: Without overhaul, he said, growing pension costs will crowd out funding for education, public safety and other government functions.

State Treasurer Janet Cowell, the pension fund's sole trustee, wants more flexibility on asset allocation.