Gov. Martin O’Malley said Jan. 19 that the state should continue furloughs, lay off several dozen employees, raise college tuition and transfer nearly a billion dollars from sources that include its capital fund in order to close a projected $2 billion budget shortfall.

The Pittsburgh office of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department is closing as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to recover from its $3.25 billion budget deficit.

As other state agencies deal with the latest round of budget cuts from Gov. Martin O’Malley, the Maryland Insurance Administration says its “very lean” operation and funding from premium taxes is saving it from further belt-tightening.

A California Superior Court judge has ruled that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger illegally furloughed 7,400 employees of the State Compensation Insurance Fund this year, entitling them to back pay plus interest …  Read →