While much has been written recently about the federal budget deficit, states across the country are continuing to struggle under budget crises of their own. Most states are required by law to balance their budgets. While the federal government often carries large deficits to finance its programs and priorities even when revenues are not sufficient, this is usually not an option for state legislatures. Often, the resulting deficit financed federal policies are responsible for making state fiscal situations worse.

President Bush has been clear that Social Security reform is a top priority in his second term. Even though he has not announced a plan, he expressed his desire to allow people the option of creating private – or in Bush language, personal – investment accounts. Given the necessity of benefits cuts as well as heavy transition costs years into the future, several high-ranking Republicans have begun expressing doubts about the president’s plan. Moreover, many are beginning to question whether Social Security really has a “crisis” as Bush claims.

The public will not have access to health and safety data about a proposed uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico, despite a legal requirement that the public have ample access to such information.

The Homeland Security Department (DHS), under pressure from congressional offices, federal employee unions and the media modified it policies for “Sensitive But Unclassified” (SBU) information and stopped requiring nondisclosure agreements.