State Lawmakers Say Budget Issues Are Top Priority In 2012

Budget issues are expected to dominate state legislative agendas this year, just as they did in 2011.

Surveying legislative fiscal directors in all 50 states, NCSL found that budget issues such as structural gaps, spending pressures, and budget reductions will control legislative agendas in nearly half of the states.

NCSL released the findings of its survey in a new report, NCSL Fiscal Brief: Top Fiscal Issues for 2012 Legislative Sessions. The report breaks down the major fiscal issues and outlines how states intend to address these priorities.

Despite positive developments, the effects of the Great Recession continue to linger into 2012. And like last year, Medicaid, education, pensions, revenues and transportation continue to loom large in a fiscal climate fraught with uncertainty.

A free copy of NCSL’s Fiscal Brief: Top Fiscal Issues for 2012 Legislative Sessions is available to the media on our website.

NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.