All that hand-wringing over California being the next Greece might not be for nothing. States are starting to report their April tax collections, and several
“„Kansas lawmakers are hoping the federal government will help. After the state’s April revenue missed estimates set just two weeks earlier, the legislature responded by changing the state budget to assume Congress will extend more federal support for Medicaid through the end of the year.
“„Increased federal spending on Medicaid…was a major component of last year’s stimulus package, and it has helped many states prop up their budgets. But it is uncertain that Congress will approve more such funding.
“„In some states, governors are responding to the April shortfalls on their own. Missouri’s April tax revenue decreased $13.2 million, or 3.6 percent, from the same month a year ago. State budget director Linda Luebbering ordered agencies to hold back $45 million in appropriated spending because tax collections were so far below projections.