Massachusetts is facing some tough times ahead. The state's economy is slowing down, and businesses are hiring less because of tariffs and uncertainty. This has everyone wondering if the state is ready for what's coming. The state has taken some steps to prepare. Governor Healey and lawmakers have set aside extra money and are trying to control spending. They've eve...
A tough decision looms over Illinois as it grapples with a budget shortfall. The state's governor, JB Pritzker, has positioned Illinois as a welcoming place for immigrants. However, the state now faces a fiscal challenge that could affect a key program. This program offers health coverage to some immigrants, regardless of their legal status. The program, which starte...
California's governor, Gavin Newsom, is in a tough spot. He promised everyone in the state health care, but now he's facing a big problem. The cost of providing health care to immigrants who are in the country illegally has skyrocketed. This has left the state with a massive bill and a tough choice. The state has borrowed a huge amount of money, $3. 4 billion, to pa...
New York State has just given its film and TV production industry a significant boost. Governor Kathy Hochul has signed off on an expanded budget that includes enhanced incentives for productions. This move comes after a week of uncertainty following Donald Trump’s proposal for tariffs on content produced outside the U. S. The new incentives are set to run through 20...
State governments across the nation are facing a steep challenge with Medicaid. Why? Because the people who stayed enrolled in Medicaid after the COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be sicker than anyone anticipated. This means the states are seeing a big jump in medical costs to care for these individuals. The situation is especially concerning in Pennsylvania. The stat...
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently revealed her plan to reduce income taxes for many state residents, aiming to ease financial pressure. Her proposal, part of an affordability agenda, is set to be detailed in her upcoming State of the State address. The tax cut would benefit joint filers earning up to $323, 000 annually, covering about 77% of New York's taxpayer...
Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, has been laying low since his unsuccessful vice presidential run. He's been trying to lift spirits, posing with a turkey for Thanksgiving, and even taking a quick break in the Bahamas. But now, he's facing a tough reality back home. Minnesota's legislative session is about to start, and it's not looking good for Walz's party. Democrats...
In Massachusetts, school budgets are feeling the pinch. While test scores still haven't bounced back from the pandemic, pension costs keep climbing. Back in 2015, 9 cents of every education dollar went to pension payments. Now it's 14 cents! That's a lot of cash going out, leaving less for things like new teachers, classroom supplies, and support staff. The Massachu...
California's Proposition 4 is set to borrow $10 billion to fund a plethora of environmental projects. But is this measure more about politics than sound policy? After this year's budget debacle, the state should be focusing on cutting debt, not increasing it. The measure's 100+ programs lack a sense of priorities or analysis of what would deliver the biggest bang fo...