In Georgia, where state spending was slashed from $21 billion to $17 billion over the last three years, Gov.-elect Nathan Deal and majority Republican lawmakers are looking to cut an additional $1.5 billion to $2 billion.
"It'll be painful, and we're going to be looking -- just like we did the past couple of years -- to where we can streamline," said Georgia state Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, a House Appropriations Committee member.
Deal has said he wants to cut corporate taxes and recently indicated to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that K-12 funding is likely to take a hit. He said about 60 percent of state spending now goes to education.
In Tennessee, Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and lawmakers have cut $1.5 billion over the past three fiscal years. State revenues make up about $10.4 billion of the state's $29.9 billion budget.
