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.

It is well understood that the federal government must make spending cuts-these cuts will most likely drastically change the amount of federal dollars that are allocated to the states. Unfortunately for most states, dependence on federal funding has continually risen since 2008.

Illinois lawmakers failed to fix the state's pension mess in the lame-duck session that ended Tuesday.

The question of what to do with the surplus is proving just as contentious as debate over the shortfall two years ago, and will most likely frame much of the wrangling throughout the fast-paced 140-day regular session.

State government has its own fiscal pain to deal with, and views are mixed at the Capitol on how to proceed.

Canton Republican to play role in crafting budget.

The drilling binge has led a financial turnaround that puts the state in position to stop the bleeding in education funding and other areas, longtime Texa budget observers say.

A plan to solve Illinois' $95 billion pension crisis appeared to be in its death throes Monday in the Illinois House as sponsors conceded they hadn't rounded up enough votes to pass it as an adjournment clock ticked ever closer to conclusion.

Just as Colorado's state budget is finally showing signs of improvement, the first bill Senate Democrats will introduce when the legislative session opens Wednesday provides $120 million in tax breaks in the form of tax credits.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter on Monday proposed eliminating Idaho's personal property tax, a move that would cost $141 million in tax revenue but provide a boost to business leaders who say the tax is a drag on the economy.

State lawmakers on Sunday dropped hot-button issues dealing with guns and marijuana but kept alive hopes of reforming pension.

In Nebraska, the gap between projected revenues and estimated expenses is less than $200 million.

One third of of the Missouri state budget is financed with federal money.

Illinois deliberately delays paying its bills in an effort to manage its broken finances. The practice shifts the burden onto all sorts of state contractors, including long-term care facilities, which must borrow money and, in some cases, leave jobs vacant as they wait on the state.

While many of the cuts included in the $35.5 million curtailment package take effect immediately, they don't become permanent until the Legislature acts on them.

Texas is one of only four states whose legislatures convene in regular session every two years.

Senate President-elect Keith Faber has developed a new committee structure that includes, for the first time in more than 20 years, finance subcommittees designed to examine specific aspects of Gov. John Kasich's budget.