In the prior legislative session, a governor and lawmaking majority of the same political party banded together to triumphantly enact their signature policy proposals.

But this year, the Legislature was forced to debate spending cuts after the state budget office issued a pessimistic forecast. Lawmakers adjourned from their regularly scheduled legislative session without a budget deal.

This scenario could describe Minnesota, but it is also what happened in Iowa.

In fact, it could generally describe the burdensome budget-writing process of states across the country.

“This is the most difficult budget year that states have faced since the onset of the pandemic in 2020,” said Josh Goodman, a senior officer at Pew Charitable Trusts who studies state fiscal health.

According to the Nationa

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