The House remains at a standstill as a bloc of Republican representatives is calling for at least $250 million in cuts before they will consider next year's budget. The cuts, contained in two proposals presented to Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration, call for cuts across a series of departments as well as possible furloughs or decreases to state contracts.

The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday passed a $27.7 billion spending plan that would erase many cuts proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett, setting the stage for negotiations over the state budget that must be in place by July 1.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel took his case for pension reform directly to rank-and-file members whose contributions he wants to raise and whose retirement benefits he's proposing to cut.

Gov. Jerry Brown is targeting a new part of the budget to close a widening deficit by seeking to reduce state worker costs in his revised spending plan, according to sources with knowledge of his plans.

The budget needs another vote in each chamber, but lawmakers appear to be on track to meet Friday's constitutional deadline.

Spending from the Education Trust Fund next year would drop as much as $141 million, 2.5 percent, compared to this year.

Gov. Corbett said that despite a recent uptick in revenue, his administration will think long and hard before rushing to restore steep cuts proposed in next year's state budget.

Alabama's legislators are scrambling this week to come up with a funding solution that would allow them to appropriate an additional $200 million to Medicaid in the FY2013 budget.

Reflecting increased state tax revenues in recent months due to an improving economy, the bill provides $50 million for the Accountability Block Grants used by school districts for kindergarten and pre-school programs. The accountability grants were zeroed out in Corbett's proposal.

An increase in jobs the past 12 months will bolster state income tax receipts.