All is not well in North Carolina, according to incoming governor-elect Pat McCrory. Addressing the state’s economic woes in Durham on Wednesday, NewsObserver reports that the state’s $2.5 billion in unemployment insurance debt and high unemployment had McCrory less than optimistic about the immediate future.

It can be difficult to write up a budget when a cloud of uncertainty is hovering over the economy. That’s currently the situation Ohio budget director Tim Keen is finding himself in.

According to Rasmussen, 65% of likely voters think thoughtful spending cuts should be considered in every program of the federal government. Just 20% disagree; 15% are undecided.

A roundup of this morning’s must-read budget and economic stories.

Yesterday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its update for the budget and economic outlook. A few takeaways from the report.

Congress and the administration continue to kick the can down the road today as more talk of negotiations on the automatic budget cuts – known as sequestration – will be moved to the lame-duck session.

According to Atlantic/Aspen Institute, when given two choices, 62% of adults said the budget deficit undermines basic American values; 35% said budget deficits are essential to U.S. growth.

According to Pew, 23% of registered voters said the budget deficit is the most important issue to them when deciding who to vote for in the presidential election. That was second only to jobs (35%).

According to our most recent poll, 12% of respondents said the US Economy is having a positive impact on them and their family’s budget, 65% said a negative impact and 21% said no impact at all.

A roundup of this morning’s must-read budget and economic stories.