Budget Concerns, Economic Development and Health Care Top Governors Priorities in 2009

The National Governors Association (NGA) has released an analysis of the Governors' Annual State of the State Addresses which reiterate the stark fiscal outlook most states are facing in 2009.

The Governors Speak 2009 summarizes the initiatives and legislation the nation’s governors emphasized during their annual addresses. The report demonstrates where the chief executives of the states believe their leadership is most needed and uses specific examples to articulate how they intend to accomplish their goals.

According to this year’s summary, “The tenor of the governors’ state-of-the-state addresses in 2009 was tempered by a sharp downturn in state economic conditions, challenging budget decisions and financial difficulties facing state residents. In fact, 79 percent of governors described difficult cuts or revenue short-falls that their state faced, more than double the 36 percent who did so last year."  [RJ}