Today’s coverage on Stateline.org reaffirms that the sluggish national economy continues to drive budget challenges in most states. From the article:

Still, the report paints a picture that is far from rosy, particularly as the federal stimulus program winds down. In the fiscal 2011 budgets they’ve already enacted, the states are projecting that budget gaps of more than $12 billion may open up. Looking ahead to 2012, they’re projecting collective deficits of $72 billion. “States really do have few concrete plans to deal with the end of the federal stimulus,” says Corina Eckl, NCSL’s director of fiscal affairs.

The article relies on data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, which is currently holding a conference featuring an “audit” of state government finances.