Most state legislative sessions have adjourned at this point in the year, and the state legislative season is winding down. Yet, these have been tough months for state lawmakers, as they have had to deal with budget quagmires coming out of the Covid recession.
Some states are having to make difficult decisions about which portions of state government to cut. As early as November 2020, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called on all state agencies to reduce spending requests by up to 5% for the 2021-22 budget year. In December, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker ordered more than $700 million in spending reductions. And in January, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called for $390 million in across-the-board budget cuts for state agencies to balance the Buckeye State's budget.
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