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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: state budgets

state budgets stories: 29 news summaries

1 - 20 of 29 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

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(Newser) - The many states hoping gambling will revive their troubled budgets are in for an unpleasant surprise, writes Nate Silver for Esquire. Gambling is supposed to be recession-proof, but that hasn’t been the case this time. "The year 2008 was the first time in history that total casino gaming... More »

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California • taxes • gambling • Las Vegas • Pennsylvania • casino • Delaware • Nevada • Nate Silver • state budgets

Calif. Budget Cuts Means Ax Falls Sooner for Strays

Holding period halved from 6 days to 3; may doom lost pets before owners can find them

Sep 8, 09 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - California's budget deal could mean lost family pets meet the Grim Reaper sooner rather than later, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. The deal cuts the time shelters are required to hold animals from six days to three, and officials fear the move could mean animals in shelters lacking resources will... More »

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pets • California • euthanasia • Humane Society • animal shelters • state budgets • recession depression

 Furloughs 
 Freeze 
 State 
 Services 

Strapped states try to balance budgets
by shutting down

Sep 4, 09 1:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - States across the country are slashing their labor costs by putting workers on furloughs and cutting services, the Wall Street Journal reports. California, Maine, Maryland and Michigan close state agencies on Fridays. Others are opting to remain open every weekday, but stretch services by placing thousands of workers on rolling... More »

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layoffs • government spending • state governments • state budgets • furlough

Tax Collectors Use MySpace, Google to Find Deadbeats

Public profiles can provide valuable income information for revenue agents

Aug 27, 09 3:31 PM CDT
(Newser) - Internet-savvy state tax collectors are using a new tool in tracking down evaders: social networking websites. Tax collectors are taking advantage of the fact that an individual’s MySpace or Facebook profile often contains quite a bit of professional information, the Wall Street Journal reports. Agents in Nebraska, for example,... More »

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social networking • Google • MySpace • IRS • Facebook • tax evasion • income • Internal Revenue Service • tax fraud • state governments • state budgets • social media

(Newser) - Every state but Utah and Hawaii allows some form of legal gambling, and most have come to rely on it as a growing source of revenue. Unfortunately, a lot fewer people are hitting the slots or buying lotto tickets these days, the Wall Street Journal reports. Commercial casinos produced... More »

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gambling • casino • lottery • state budgets • budget crisis

(Newser) - The leader of California's Senate says he'll take Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to court for using line-item vetoes to slash another $500 million from the budget deal he was sent last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Democrat Darrell Steinberg accuses Schwarzenegger of overstepping his authority by making the cuts. "... More »

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California • California legislature • Arnold Schwarzenegger • lawsuit • budget cuts • state legislature • governor • state budgets • Darrell Steinberg

(Newser) - Cash-strapped California parks are searching for private money to cope with the state's sweeping budget cuts, the Los Angeles Times reports. Up to 100 of California's 279 state parks and beaches could be forced to close after Labor Day. Just 13 of them make enough money to survive without state... More »

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California • corporate sponsorship • state budgets • state park

(Newser) - A plan to slash the number of inmates by 27,000 could sink California's long-delayed budget deal, the Los Angeles Times reports. Angry Republican state lawmakers threatened to back out of the agreement after learning of the plan, which would give prison officials authority to let any inmate over 60... More »

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California • California legislature • Arnold Schwarzenegger • state spending • prison population • budget gap • state budgets

 Feds Reject Plea 
 for Calif. Bailout 

Aid ruled out for now as state warns of fiscal meltdown

Jun 16, 09 6:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - The federal government has rejected pleas for emergency aid from top California officials, reports the Washington Post. State officials warn that its budget crisis is approaching the point of a "fiscal meltdown" that will cause massive cuts and deepen the state's recession. But the Obama administration fears bailing out... More »

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California • budget • budget deficit • Federal government • bailout • state budgets

Legal Pot Backers Target 2010 Calif. Vote

Advocates step up efforts to have legalization put on next year's ballot

Jun 11, 09 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Advocates of marijuana legalization—and taxation—have stepped up their efforts to include the issue on California's November 2010 ballot, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Backers say the tide of public opinion has turned strongly in favor of legalizing and taxing pot for personal use, especially in light of its... More »

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California • Arnold Schwarzenegger • marijuana • marijuana legalization • Oakland • Jerry Brown • state budgets

Fed Dollars Overtake Taxes as States' Top Income Source

Federal money exceeds revenue from major taxes for first time ever

May 5, 09 11:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - For the first time, state governments are receiving more money directly from the federal government than they collect in sales, property, and income taxes, reports USA Today. As the economic downturn saps tax revenue, stimulus money has filled the gap. Says an analyst, “This has more to say about... More »

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income tax • economic stimulus package • state sales tax • budget shortfall • property tax • state budgets

(Newser) - States are slashing social services across the US, crippling programs for children and the elderly that might save money in the long run, the New York Times reports. Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan is easing the pain by helping low earners, but at least 34 states are cutting aid... More »

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elderly • children • recession • aid programs • state budgets

Cash-Strapped States Raise Taxes as Revenue Declines

At least 10 states face substantial budget gaps

Apr 9, 09 7:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - A precipitous decline in tax revenue has at least 10 states considering major increases in sales or income taxes to close budget gaps that in some cases run into the billions, the Wall Street Journal reports. States like Oregon, facing a $4.4 billion budget gap and 10.8% unemployment,... More »

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California • taxes • income tax • Arizona • New York • Oregon • unemployment • tax revenue • budget gap • state sales tax • payroll taxes • state budgets

(Newser) - Even as Illinois budget deficit soared, a dozen Department of Transportation officials got raises in the waning days of Rod Blagojevich’s administration, the AP reports. The raises, which averaged about $6,000 a year, came on top of standard cost-of-living increases, and without any change in the officials’ titles.... More »

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Illinois • Rod Blagojevich • state budgets • government employees

Calif. Legislator Wants to Tax, Legalize Pot

Knows 'jokes coming,' but says his broke state could net $1B

Feb 24, 09 10:36 AM CST
(Newser) - A California lawmaker thinks he has a solution for the state’s fiscal woes: Tax marijuana. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has introduced a bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax pot, treating the drug like alcohol or tobacco, the Los Angeles Times reports. “I know the jokes are going to... More »

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California • marijuana • marijuana legalization • Bill Maher • state budgets • Tom Ammiano • Bill Maher Grid

OPINION

GOP Guvs Right to See Stimulus Cash as 'Trap'

Say law is a 'budget trap' that will hook them on more spending

Feb 23, 09 8:40 AM CST
(Newser) - Five Republican governors are threatening to turn down much of their stimulus windfall, afraid of taking addictive doses of spending on education, welfare, and health care that the states would have to shoulder in 2011 and beyond. And they're right to worry, the Wall Street Journal says. Take enrolling new... More »

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government spending • Rick Perry • Bobby Jindal • Haley Barbour • economic stimulus package • Mark Sanford • state budgets • Republicans

California Has a Budget,
but Trouble Looms in May

Critics say another crisis looms

Feb 21, 09 5:00 AM CST
(Newser) - California's budget fight is officially over. For now. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law yesterday a budget package that closes the state's $41 billion shortfall, but not before making $1 billion in line-item trims. The governor cut personnel budgets for state officials by 10%, $400 million in prison funding, and $510... More »

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California • Arnold Schwarzenegger • recession • governor • financial crisis • state budgets


 Obama to Mayors: 
 Use Stimulus 
 Cash Wisely 

Officials can't betray the public's trust, president says

Feb 20, 09 11:01 AM CST
(AP) - President Obama says the $787 billion economic package will help struggling cities, but both Washington and the mayors have a responsibility to spend the money wisely. "We have asked for the unprecedented trust of the American people to deal boldly with the greatest economic crisis we have seen in... More »

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Barack Obama • budget • mayor • economic stimulus package • state governments • budgets • Obama administration • President Obama • state budgets

update

 California OKs 
 Long-Delayed Budget 

Dems make big last-minute concessions

Feb 19, 09 9:43 AM CST
(Newser) - The California Assembly quickly stamped its approval on a state budget passed by the Senate early this morning, ending a 3-month budget deadlock. The final Republican vote needed to pass the bill came with steep concessions, though billions of dollars in tax hikes and program cuts remain intact, the Los ... More »

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California • Republican • Arnold Schwarzenegger • state senate • state budgets • budget crisis

 Fla. Gun Requests 
 Spike in Recession 

Jump attributed to burglary fears

Feb 18, 09 3:55 PM CST
(Newser) - Floridians are arming themselves, literally, against the recession and fears of being burgled. There's been a 42% jump in concealed weapons permit requests in the past 45 days, and the state office that issues them is buried under a 95,000-application backlog. It's seeking a $4 million budget transfer to... More »

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Florida • recession • guns • gun rights • state budgets • recession depression

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