The authors say that the states' fiscal crisis is continuing. The states face a serious mismatch between revenues and expenditures. The federal government should help the states by redefining fiscal responsibilities, particularly in the area of health care, the authors say

Two-and-half years after the 2001 recession ended, the states - both individually and collectively - face hard fiscal times. Despite an improving economy, the National Conference of State Legislators recently reported, states still must close . . . a $36 billion [collective budget] gap in fiscal...