As a former state legislator, gubernatorial candidate and official with the General Accountability Office, State Budget Solutions President Bob Williams is a national expert in fiscal and tax policies. Each week, he compiles the latest news and headlines pertaining to state budgets, collective bargaining and state public pensions into The Williams Report. Bob's full biography can be found here.
Featured Content
Governor Malloy budget is drawing fire for using gimmicks. A $700 million bond sale was used to fix roads and build schools, but also provided a $65 million payment to balance the budget, with high interest. WSJ.com
Cranston to be focus of National Task Force. RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity
Government unions find a candidate to run against Governor Walker. WashingtonTimes.com
State Budgets
Updates this week:
CONNECTICUT: Governor Malloy budget is drawing fire for using gimmicks. A $700 million bond sale was used to fix roads and build schools, but also provided a $65 million payment to balance the budget, with high interest. WSJ.com
ILLINOIS: Governor Quinn to cut budget back to 2008 levels, requiring each state departments to make 9 percent cuts. However, the education budget it larger than last year. SJ-R.com
TEXAS: Texas budget shortfall continues as Medicaid and social programs drain the budget. The state is short more than $4.1 billion. WTAW.com
Pensions
Updates this week:
ILLINOIS: Washington Park, Illinois pension fund goes bust. Fox2News.com
NEW JERSEY: Tax cut imperiled by rise in debt, pension costs. Businessweek
NEW YORK: NY, seek a smarter pension reform. Newsday.com
Collective Bargaining
Updates this week:
ARIZONA: Goldwater Institute launches collective bargaining reform website.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: The New Hampshire House upheld Gov. John Lynch's veto of a right-to-work bill in November, but the bill's sponsor resubmitted it with new reductions to union collective bargaining powers. NECN.com
WISCONSIN: Government unions find a candidate to run against Gov. Walker. WashingtonTimes.com