Governors say recovering not recovered

and that being fragile, we "don't need a hiccup right now", pertaining to the compromises being made to prevent government shutdown.  Concerns about the muni bond market as well.  http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j5Hhee4ylImKG7dneaOyD477h06g?docId=a4bf24d1fd6d4881b4df7701ff4dfa53

Optimistic no government shutdown

From the Hill's blog briefing room http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/146323-van-hollen-optimistic-on-shutdown

Governmental resources

at this site.  Especially useful may be under connections tab, the links to bureaus and to programs http://commerceconnect.gov/

Public Employee Pension Transparency Act

sponsored by Republicans has been gaining some support.  http://oregonbusinessreport.com/2011/02/public-employee-pension-transparency-act-gains-support/    A Wall Street Journal article on 2/22/11 also addressed this.  The act would require states and municipalities to meet new reporting standards and would ban federal bailouts of pension funds.

A governor who didn't vaporize

when he suggested that Social Security age should be raised. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/nj_gov_christie_says_us_should.html

GAO 2010 audit is critical of the SEC

and Congress is not wanting to give it a budget hike; also noted some accounting weaknesses  http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90033133?GAO%20report%20hits%20SEC%20for%20accounting%20weaknesses

Some IRS 990 errors

causine certain NFP forms at Guidestar to be inaccurate http://www.bkd.com/media/articles/insights/npg/2011/2011-02alertsNPG-1.htm

State pension obligations

to be factored and looked at differently by Moodys.  More like a real debt.  Illinois is specifically mentioned.in this blog related to The Economist. http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/01/fiscal_policy