For the second year in a row, most states face gut-wrenching budget shortfalls. The three states with the biggest gaps to fill — Illinois, New Jersey and Nevada — held the same distinction last year.
That leaves governors trying to squeeze more juice out of oranges that were already squeezed last year.
The easy ideas — less money for library books, higher fees for fishing licenses — have mostly been done.
Forty-six states filled shortfalls averaging 20 percent last year, and many have to do it again this year.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that states will be short this year by a combined total of $140 billion.