Ear to the Ground - State News Roundup

Wyoming lawmakers plan to meet this week to consider proposals on how to reduce property taxes for homeowners.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle got taxpayer hopes up on Friday saying that he does not plan to delay tax deductions on health insurance premiums or reverse an income tax deduction on Social Security benefits to help solve a record $5.4 billion deficit, and that he doesn't expect to recommend an increase in the $75 annual vehicle registration fee. But then he announced he wants to bring back the death tax, introduce a tax on oil-company profits and tax hospitals more.

Vermont is considering reducing its two Amtrak routes, which only survive thanks to $5 million in subsidies. Why they're not questioning why taxpayers should continue subsidizing something people obviously don't want to pay for (or else they'll actually ride Amtrak) and not doing the eminently sensible is beyond this blogger.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm issued a notice to legislative leaders that she will deliver a so-called executive order budget cutting proposal next week.

The growth of Louisiana’s Medicaid program must be brought under control or it will soon consume a larger share of state taxpayer dollars than are invested in education, the state’s health chief said Friday.

Connecticut lawmakers are preparing to subsidize the Bristol Press and the New Britain Herald newspapers. Apparently the thought of attracting revenue by boosting sales through higher quality and better writing never occurred to anyone.

Arizona Secretary of State and soon to be Governor Jan Brewer has indicated her willingness to increase taxes to help pay for the deficit caused by government growing by 60% in the last 6 years, in contrast to current Gov. Janet Napolitano's continued pledge not to raise taxes to balance the state budget. Hopefully the obvious solution - cutting the government programs that actually created this problem - will also be considered.

Louisiana is considering changing state employees’ workweeks from five 8-hour days to four 10-hour days to cut costs, as it would "lower fuel and energy costs for workers and the state, ease traffic congestion, increase productivity, and allow workers to spend more time with their families".