[Lancey Howard]

The group is calling on the federal government to intervene and offer fiscal relief to the states

boris,

This article is dealing with states (plural). All states, not one particular state.

Hope this helps.

[boris]

"This article is dealing with states (plural). All states, not one particular state."

This is one possibility. However:

"Iris Lav, deputy director for CBPP, said the budget deficits facing the state..."

"If the state fiscal situation does not improve..."

The article refers to states--plural--a few times and "the state" (singular) a few times.

It is open to debate.

--Boris

[boris]

Incidentally, the article's title, State's Budget Deficits to Strip One Million of Health Coverage contributes to the implicit confusion.

The placement of the apostrophe indicates a single state is being discussed, thus: "State's". If the headline meant to refer to all of the states (plural), the correct formulation would have been "States'"

--Boris

[speekinout]

This article is dealing with states (plural). All states, not one particular state.

The article sure sounds like it came from some lefty-loony state that is trying to make their mismanagement a Nat'l problem.
Another clue - 1M uninsured is far too small a number for Nationwide. It might fit in CA, though.