Budgets

April 23, 2008 -- Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that her department is posting detailed spending information online to encourage greater openness in government.

Land's initiative marks the first time that a Michigan government agency has provided such detail on its Web site.

"Government's business is the people's business," Land said. "Taxpayers deserve full disclosure of how their dollars are used. That's why we're shining a spotlight on the department's spending. Our goal is to provide meaningful, easily accessible information in a consistent format. We're pleased to strengthen the connection between taxpayers and their government through technology."    » read more »

April 16, 2008 - John McCain says he "will not leave office without balancing the federal budget" and at times has said he would even balance the budget by the end of his first term. [johnmccain.com, accessed 4/15/08; AP, 2/15/08]

But the truth is, McCain's economic proposals would balloon the deficit, not shrink it. McCain has actually proposed trillions of dollars in new spending--including financing a 100-year, $12-billion-per-month troop presence in Iraq and making President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent.

John McCain: Photo by Steph (CC)    » read more »

April 11, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson and Legislative leaders announced today that the Enacted Budget includes $25 million to help save thousands of homeowners from foreclosure. The Subprime Foreclosure Prevention Services Program includes grants and aid to non-profits to provide financial counseling, mediation, legal representation, negotiation, and other support services to borrowers who face default or foreclosure.

New York Governor David Paterson: Photo by New York Governor's office    » read more »

Additional Step in Governor’s Ongoing Efforts to Address Economic Downturn’s Impact on State Revenues

April 11, 2008 -- CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch will issue an Executive Order expanding the freeze on state purchasing to cover all but essential equipment and commodities as part of his continuing efforts to address the impact the national economic downturn is having on state revenues.

Recession lunch special: Photo by Andy Martin (CC)    » read more »

April 9, 2008 -- "On balance, the budget agreement reached in Albany, with a few glaring exceptions, is good news for our City. The broken promises on revenue sharing have been mostly repaired. The State’s prior commitment to an increase in operating aid for New York City schools has been kept, building aid has been restored, the proposed eighteen month lag in funding for school construction has been eliminated, as has the wrong-headed mandate to micro-manage the city’s school budget.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg delivers the keynote address at Newsweek’s Global Environment Leadership Conference: Photo by Edward Reed    » read more »

Enacted Budget Shifts Focus to Primary and Preventative Care; Controls Costs

April 9, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget ensures that nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in the State will have access to health insurance, reforms the state’s reimbursements system to shift dollars to more effective primary and preventive care, and helps control runaway Medicaid costs.

A child licks a shopping cart handle: Photo by carlosluis (CC)    » read more »

April 8, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed into law bills that will provide revenue to local communities and address the $8 billion unfunded liability in the state’s retirements.

Senate Bill 72 sets up a structure for distributing $60 million each year to local governments for the next three years. Under municipal revenue sharing, the state distributes funds to the municipalities of Alaska.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin: Photo by Tricia Ward (CC)    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- CHICAGO --The Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network, in conjunction with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D), expressed outrage at the current Presidential Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009. The request, released in February, would cut $120 million in often life saving DV services created and provided by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA.)

This funding “is not a priority for the President’s administration”, Durbin said at a news conference at the offices of the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.    » read more »

Parks Capital Plan Will Increase Tourism, Enhance Communities

April 6, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Enacted Budget includes $95 million in funding to implement much-needed improvements at state parks across New York – the largest-ever commitment of resources for parks capital projects in state history.

Quaker Lake, Allegany State Park, New York: Photo by George McV (CC)    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today approved $11.5 million in emergency funding for Oklahoma public schools, but added that K-12 education will need additional supplemental funding to help address a funding shortfall this fiscal year.

Roosevelt Junior High school in southwest Oklahoma City: Photo by Travis Church (CC)

“As I said last week, this is only a first step to addressing the immediate funding needs of our public schools,” said Gov. Henry. “There is no question that K-12 education needs additional money, and I will be working with legislative leaders to provide that as quickly as possible.”    » read more »

$3.6 Billion in Savings

April 3, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today signed Senate Bill 256, the FY2008 supplemental bill, into law. The supplemental totals $4.3 billion and includes $18.5 million for the Senior Benefits Program, $44.7 million for bargaining unit agreements, $300 million for energy conservation, $125 million for oil and gas tax credits, and $3.6 billion in savings in the state’s Constitutional Budget Reserve and Statutory Budget Reserve funds.    » read more »

April 02, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - A bill supported by Alabama Governor Bob Riley requiring governors to disclose on the Internet details of state aircraft usage and spending out of the governor’s contingency fund has been approved by the House.

The House passed the bill 92-4 on Tuesday. Governor Riley has voluntarily disclosed on the Internet the flight logs of state aircraft he uses and spending from the contingency fund since he came into office, and he has supported legislation that makes the disclosures a requirement.    » read more »

Lincoln, Neb. - Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today signed two legislative bills necessary to help maintain a balanced budget in the remaining year of the biennium.

While signing LB 959, the 2008 budget bill, the Governor included one line-item reduction, which was to eliminate the gas tax increase. The veto of the gas tax increase represents a $14.5 million savings for the state.

“I want to applaud the hard work and leadership of Senator Heidemann, members of the Appropriations Committee, and the Legislature as a whole for delivering a budget bill package that represents a responsible revision to our state budget,” Gov. Heineman said. “I particularly want to thank state senators for helping maintain a strong cash reserve and continuing to exercise restraint in spending.    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed the 2008 supplemental budget, investing to protect the safety of Washington families and grow our economy while leaving significant savings for future needs.

“The budget I am signing today makes the right investments for Washington families,” Gregoire said. “We improve community safety, enhance our children’s education, build healthier families and secure our economic future.”

The budget leaves a total of $850.1 million in savings, with $446 in the constitutionally protected rainy day fund and $404.1 million in unobligated revenue.    » read more »

Proposes Across-the-Board Cuts as Division of Budget Projects Recession

March 18, 2008 -- New York Governor David Paterson today proposed $800 million in additional spending reductions necessary to protect the state’s finances in an increasingly difficult economic and fiscal climate.

New York Governor David Paterson    » read more »