In the aftermath of the 2016 election, we are likely to see dramatic changes in federal-state relationships. Federal reforms could hand states more autonomy but also far more responsibility in providing and funding public services. Organized by the Urban Institute’s State and Local Finance Initiative and the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, this forum addressed the state of state budgets and what the new administration and Congress could mean for states’ fiscal health. Among other topics, the panel discussed the following questions:

• What is the state of state finances?
• What critical spending and tax choices do states face in 2017?
• How might big federal tax and spending changes affect states?
• Are state finances sustainable over the long term?  
• How will fiscal choices drive economic growth?
• Are states ready for the next recession? 

PANELISTS

• Joseph Henchman, vice president for legal and state projects, Tax Foundation 
• John Hicks, executive director, National Association of State Budget Officers 
• Nick Johnson, senior vice president for state fiscal policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 
• Kim Rueben, director, State and Local Finance Initiative, Urban Institute 
• Lori Montgomery, deputy national editor, Washington Post (moderator)

Event Materials 

• Agenda
• Speaker Biographies 
• State Budgets in the Trump Era 

 For inquiries regarding this event, please contact [email protected].