Congress faces a number of key deadlines in early 2013 – including across-the-board spending cuts under sequestration scheduled to occur on March 1, a debt ceiling vote likely around the same time, and the Continuing Resolution (CR) expiring on March 27. Lack of clarity on how federal lawmakers will act on these major items continues to pose challenges to states as they try to plan for the next fiscal year and beyond. This was a major theme of the “State of the States” address delivered by Governor Jack Markell of Delaware, Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), and Vice Chair Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday, January 9. The speech, which marked NGA’s first-ever address of this kind, focused on current conditions and challenges that states are facing, successes in the states over the past year, and collective gubernatorial priorities for 2013. In the speech, Gov. Markell called on Washington to provide states with greater certainty, noting that “states will not be able to make fully informed financial plans for our citizens” without more knowledge of federal tax and spending policies. Gov. Fallin echoed these concerns and also asked that states be granted more flexibility and be “treated as partners” by the federal government.

Link: NGA Press Release