Ear to the Ground - State News Roundu

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine proposed a 30-cent a pack hike in the cigarette tax. As Rep. Cantor pointed out, "What the governor is going to do now, is he is going to go after one of Virginia's biggest employers by imposing a job-killing tax. This issue is about jobs, it's about the economy and this is an attack on Virginia's economy."

Lawmakers in Utah are looking at ways to give tax breaks to elderly, low-income property owners.

South Carolina House members have filed bills calling for raising taxes including raising cigarette taxes by 1300% (not a typo), and imposing a sales tax on groceries.

Alabama is considering levying gambling taxes

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has decided to bury her head in the sand and ignore the state's overspending problem by borrowing $250 million.

Pennsylvania regulators have increased the drilling-permit fee, discouraging energy investment and exploration.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is hoping to achieve budget cuts of 10% "eliminating programs if they are not in furtherance of or required by [an agency's] statutory mission". Um... if these programs aren't required, why were they there in the first place?

This week California Republicans have announced a budget counter-proposal that would avoid raising taxes and eliminate wasteful spending. The plan was shot down by legislative Democrats. A Democrat proposal to implement a temporary (yeah right) sales tax hike although rather than end the floor session, the Speaker announced that lawmakers were locked in, preventing them from leaving the Assembly floor and nearby meeting rooms (although ultimately later relented).