February 2012

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    Articles

  • HEADLINES : CALIFORNIA

    Gov. Jerry Brown signs measure to boost state's cash flow

    The Los Angeles Times | by Chris Megerian | February 4, 2012

    Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Friday expanding the state's ability to borrow from dedicated funds to cover day-to-day expenses.

  • HEADLINES : GEORGIA

    Georgia House passes amended budget

    The Atlanta Journal Constitution | by Laura Diamond | February 4, 2012

    Georgia would spend about $18.6 billion in state money this year -- an increase of nearly $255 million over what was originally planned -- under a midyear budget House members passed Friday.

  • HEADLINES : ARIZONA

    Arizona pension law ruled unconstiutional

    The Arizona Republic | by Michael Kiefer | February 4, 2012

    A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has ruled that a law changing the contribution that state employees make to their pension funds is unconstitutional.

  • HEADLINES : NEW HAMPSHIRE

    Judge rejects law seeking to reform state pensions

    New Hampshire Union Leader | by Paul Feely | February 4, 2012

    The ink was barely dry yesterday on a Merrimack County Superior Court decision making it illegal to withdraw more from paychecks of veteran public employees to support their pensions before talk of a possible appeal began.

  • Pay Attention to Public Pensions

    February 4, 2012

    Public pension are a hot topic around the country.  California just delayed a $527 million pension payment, and courts are weighing in from Arizona to New Hampshire. SBS just examined what state constitutions say about pensions. Stay up to date with the latest information on our Pensions Section and read Frank Keegan's latest commentary on the issue.

  • HEADLINES : TEXAS

    Key state programs see budget holes

    San Antonio Express | by Gary Scharrer | February 3, 2012

    Texas' health and education commissioners warn of problems ahead for Medicaid and school funding.

  • HEADLINES : ILLINOIS

    Governor's budget director says state gaining ground but struggling

    StLToday.com | by Nicholas Pistor | February 3, 2012

    Illinois currently has an $85 billion long-term public pension shortfall and a roughly $500 million operating budget deficit, despite last year's 67 percent income tax hike.

  • HEADLINES : WASHINGTON

    Republicans propose stand-alone education budget

    The Seattle Times | by Jonathan Kaminsky | February 3, 2012

    Washington state House Republicans on Thursday released a proposed education budget they say would preserve the 180-day school year while cutting efforts to combat bullying and enforce civil rights.

  • HEADLINES : TENNESSEE

    Tenn. lawmakers discuss bills to reduce sales tax

    CBS Money Watch | February 3, 2012

    There are multiple proposals onthe table in Tennessee to lower the state's sales tax.

  • HEADLINES : CALIFORNIA

    California Lawmakers Give Assent to Internal Cash Borrowing

    Businessweek | by Michael B. Marois | February 3, 2012

    The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest public pension in the U.S. with $230 billion of assets, agreed last month to allow the state to delay making a $527 million payment until April to cover state worker benefits.

  • HEADLINES : ARIZONA

    AZ Senate panel OKs ban on collective bargaining

    The Arizona Republic | by Howard Fischer | February 2, 2012

    State lawmakers launched a broad attack today against public unions, including an absolute ban on state and local governments and school districts from bargaining with organizations that represent public workers.

  • HEADLINES : OREGON

    Oregon budget agreement trims hundreds of workers from state payroll

    The Oregonian | by Harry Esteve | February 2, 2012

    Last year, the Legislature approved a two-year general fund budget of $15 billion. Since then, state revenue estimates have fallen by about $300 million, forcing a new run at squaring state expenses with income.

  • HEADLINES : CALIFORNIA

    Facebook IPO triggers California budget fracas

    The Los Angeles Times | by Nicholas Riccardi | February 2, 2012

    he public offering will dominate not only the business blogs, but discussions among budget wonks in the state Capitol in coming weeks. Rough estimates place the expected windfall of state tax revenue from the IPO in the $500-million range.

  • HEADLINES : ILLINOIS

    Quinn shoves aside state's budget woes

    The Chicago Tribune | by Monique Garcia and Alissa | February 2, 2012

    The lack of specifics and a looming election for lawmakers led Republicans to rip Quinn as a big spender and Democrats who might otherwise support their governor to remain skeptical at best.

  • HEADLINES : INDIANA

    Governor signs 'right to work' bill, but foes vow to continue fight

    The Indianapolis Star | by Mary Beth Schneider and Chris Sikich | February 2, 2012

    Before the ink dried on Gov. Mitch Daniels' signature making Indiana the 23rd "right to work" state in the nation, advocates on both sides were looking ahead to how the new law will affect Hoosiers.

  • HEADLINES

    Bill for Inadequate Unemployment Insurance Taxes Now Coming Due in Many States

    Center for Budget and Policy Priorities | by Michael Leachman | February 1, 2012

    Businesses in 20 states must make the first payment on about $35 billion that these states have borrowed from the federal government in recent years to help pay unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.

  • HEADLINES : FLORIDA

    Gov. Scott will reject tuition increase

    The Miami Herald | by Steve Bousquet and Kim Walmath | February 1, 2012

    Gov. Rick Scott and his fellow Republican lawmakers are poised for a budget battle over raising college tuition by 8 percent. Scott opposes the move.

  • HEADLINES : MISSISSIPPI

    Mississippi Gov. Bryant's budget lops 5.5%

    The Memphis Commercial Appeal | by Phil West | February 1, 2012

    Most departments feel decline from last year in $5.49B state budget plan.

  • HEADLINES : CALIFORNIA

    John Chiang says California's cash will dry up if officials don't act

    The Sacramento Bee | by Kevin Yamamura | February 1, 2012

    California will run out of cash by early March if the state does not borrow more money and delay some payments, the state's cash manager warned.

  • RESEARCH

    Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by state

    Bureau of Labor Statistics | February 1, 2012

    Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by state, 2010-2011 annual averages

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    Blogs

  • OPINION : WISCONSIN

    Chump state workers just keep feeding the pension thieves

    by Frank Keegan | February 2, 2012

    Why do state and municipal workers cling to those who betray them?
    Here's an answer: The few getting rich off this scam use accounting tricks to lie about how deep the public pension crisis really is.

  • BLOG : WASHINGTON

    Six-year budget outlook requirement heard in the House

    by Jason Mercier | February 2, 2012

    One of the most recognizable measurements of the state's fiscal health is the multi-year budget outlooks. These updates, however, are not done on a regular basis in Washington state. This is why the many bipartisan sponsors of HB 2607 hope to require regular six-year budget outlooks to be published.