[patton]

False assumtion - what is to stop the state from deficit spending? Or are you including that?

[DennisR]

Good question. If it was up to me, I would make a law that forbid government from deficit spending. Period. So they would actually have to save some money and be responsible ("conservative") with tax money. The way it is now, there is absolutely no responsibility or repercussions for bad management of state money.