DALLAS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. governors are talking more optimistically about the fiscal outlook of their states after four years of budget woes, and they are offering some new ideas.
Few states are facing budget shortfalls this year, and that's reflected in State of the State addresses that governors are delivering as legislatures convene across the country.
Democratic Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Republican Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue were both cautiously optimistic in speeches Wednesday to their legislatures.
Warner said Virginia's books are in better shape this year with projected additional revenues of $918 million, but he still urged caution in any spending decisions.
An exception is California, where Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a $111.7-billion budget that imposes cuts in healthcare and school funding.
Some governors are proposing new initiatives this year.
In New Mexico, Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson has proposed that the state pay for $250,000 worth of life insurance for members of the New Mexico National Guard called up for active duty.
