Catherwood LibraryILR School

Despite monetary aid from the federal government, many states are struggling to balance their budgets. Washington is planning 1,000 layoffs in state colleges and even more in lower-level public schools. Likewise, Massachusetts has laid off over 1,000 public employees. Arizona and other states have made cutbacks too. The House passed a stimulus bill with $79 billion allocated for state budget gaps, but the Senate cut that amount by $40 billion in order to pass the legislation in conjunction with Republicans. Now, a combination of not enough federal funding and plummeting tax revenues is forcing states to cut jobs.