With Ohio on more stable financial footing, Kasich's next budget is expected to feature a major income tax cut for Ohioans as well as a reshaping of the state's formula for funding schools.

Minnesota lawmakers are being told to expect a new state economic forecast on Feb. 28, but also being warned that more uncertainty from Washington will cloud the picture.

In Texas, the Senate proposes a $3.1 billion, or 1.6 percent, decrease from current spending while the House would cut spending by $2.2 billion or 1.2 percent.

The Washington State Legislature opens another session today facing greater-than-usual uncertainty.

Texas is well-placed to build on existing strengths relative to other states in the areas of tuition costs, student loan indebtedness and civic education requirements. Moreover, our legislators and universities have committed to increasing graduation rates, online learning opportunities and accountability in public higher education.

Gov. Jerry Brown's new budget presented a plan to pay back nearly $28 billion owed, but various sources estimate the state's debt at hundreds of billions.

DiNapoli said the state's growing debt load could impact its ability to fund road and bridge projects, as well as recovery from major storms in recent years.

Illinois' annual pension fund payment is expected to increase by about $1 billion to nearly $7 billion in the fiscal year that starts in July. That's more than 16 percent of the state's general funds budget, up from 6 percent in 2008.

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Arizona State Legislature will convene with budget prospects in the black.

Gov. Tom Corbett called the pension crisis "a tapeworm in the budget" and laid the groundwork for the pension reform plan that he will announce in his budget address Feb. 5.

Gov. Susana Martinez rolled out a $5.9 billion state budget plan yesterday that includes $101 million in new spending on public schools but no salary increase for teachers or state workers.

Washington Gov.-elect Jay Inslee believes the state can handle its budget shortfall without broad tax increases.

California is predicting a surplus for its next fiscal year, in a turnaround from the steep deficits of recent times, as cost cuts, tax increases and an improving economy have started to put the state on firmer financial footing.

State budget director John Nixon is saying investments in the fiscal year 2014 budget would go into Snyder administration priorities such as "public safety, education, infrastructure, and continuing to pay down our long-term liabilities and build our rainy day fund."

Brown’s budget predicts only the second budget surplus in the last decade, with an $851-million surplus projected at the end of the 2013-14 fiscal year -- if all his proposals are approved by lawmakers.

The fiscal outlook for many states is unsustainable. This eventually may influence the politics of the national budget, both directly (through battles over federal measures to help troubled states) and indirectly (through voters' attitudes toward government).

Governors warned Congress Wednesday that lingering uncertainty over raising the nation's borrowing capacity could hinder their budgets and their ability to foster job growth in their states.

One proposal calls for new employees of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to have the option of choosing a defined contribution plan over the traditional pension plan.

Minnesota House and Senate Democrats ay a deal must include a redesigned tax system that draws more from the state's wealthiest and an on-time and a no-government-shutdown guarantee.

The governor wants to overhaul how the state funds its nearly 10,000 public schools and may cut court and prison spending.