“Our rendezvous with reality has arrived,” said Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois. He was referring to the mounting fiscal issues facing the state as it goes further and further into debt. But, the state did not arrive at the edge of insolvency without a number of missteps along the way.

A look at some of this week’s most interesting, and consequential, budget- and economy-related issues in the 50 states.

A look at some of this week’s most interesting, and consequential, budget- and economy-related issues in the 50 states.