Now I am confused. I thought the states were required by their constitutions to balance the budget each year.
“Now I am confused. I thought the states were required by their constitutions to balance the budget each year.”
Where did you get that idea? Even the handful of states with “balanced budget” requirements tend to allow deficit spending if approved by something greater than a simple majority. And there are states that use dubious “projections” to “plan” a “required” balanced budget, and then act surprised with reality doesn’t match the plan.
Can you point to even one state with a rigorous requirement in the constitution that the budget is balanced? I can’t think of any off the top of my head.