Atlanta Journal Constitution | Aaron Sheinin

Not surprisingly, there is near unanimity among Republicans: They’d opt-out, and fast, and the entire exercise is a “boondoggle,” as Republican Karen Handel, the current secretary of state, put it. Only state Rep. Austin Scott (R-Tifton) added he would study the bill’s effects before deciding, “just to make sure we understand the consequences prior to the signing of any legislation.”

State Line | Staff Reports

While Congress debates national health care legislation that could put new fiscal burdens on the states, the nation’s governors are pushing Capitol Hill for a reprieve from another costly federal program that states have long criticized: Real ID.

*Washington Times | Obama encourages illegals

Southern Political Report | Tom Baxter

The phrase “too big to fail” comes up a lot. US District Court Judge Paul Magnuson termed his decision “draconian” when he ruled in July that Atlanta must revert to the 1970 level of withdrawals from the lake if Congress doesn’t come to a new agreement on water usage, and ever since there’s been the feeling that an action with such dire consequences simply won’t be allowed to happen. There was some of that in the words of Bert Brantley, spokesman for Gov. Sonny Perdue, reacting this week to the news that the Corps is preparing to rewrite its operating manuals in compliance with Magnuson’s order.

“I don’t think anybody… believes the ruling will go into effect in 2012. We think that we will have some resolution by then,” Brantley said.

Sacramento Bee | By Kevin Yamamura

California once again will look under sofa cushions and scour every sector of state government to find another $20.7 billion to balance its budget over the next 19 months.

NBC New York | Brian Thompson

New Jersey governor-elect Chris Christie’s budget team met with state treasury officials Monday and “We did not get any pleasant news,” Christie said.

The administration of outgoing governor Jon Corzine has been projecting an $8 billion shortfall in next year’s budget.

But as the economy and tax revenue limp along, “that’s at the low range” of what the real number will be, according to the Christie.

But Christie did promise “I will not increase taxes to balance the budget.”

*Cherry Hill courier Post | Christie: State worse off financially than previously thought

DesMoines Register | Des Moines Register and Tribune Company

Gov. Chet Culver’s job approval has fallen to a critical new low, and former Gov. Terry Branstad poses a major potential threat to Culver’s re-election, according to The Des Moines Register’s new Iowa Poll.

Just 40 percent of Iowans in the survey taken last week say they approve of the job the first-term Democrat is doing, reflecting a 10-percentage-point drop since mid-September.

• *Political Wire | Culver Sinking Fast in Iowa
• *My DD | Bad news for Culver

GPB News | By Melissa Stiers

ATLANTA — House Speaker Glenn Richardson says he’s suffered from depression in recent years and tried to commit suicide at one point.

Richardson revealed that in a statement from the House communications office yesterday.

• *Peach Pundit | The Speaker’s Statement

Southern Political Report | Tom Baxter

Is the senatorial campaign of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, viewed only a few months ago as unstoppable, showing signs of implosion? Most of Crist’s problems are intramural, but they don’t seem to be going away.

• *Not to mention Rubio will give the CPAC keynote address. One candidate’s stock seems to be climbing, the other falling.

Washington Times | Sarah Abruzzese

Republican candidate Robert F. McDonnell has opened a decisive lead over state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial race, according to the latest poll, released Tuesday.

The poll from Public Policy Polling, a nonpartisan Raleigh, N.C.-based firm, shows Mr. McDonnell with 51 percent support compared with 37 percent for Mr. Deeds. The 14-point lead is up from six points a month ago.

Mr. Deeds is also combating Democratic voter fatigue, according to the poll, which shows only 42 percent of the people who voted for President Obama intend to vote in the fall, while 60 percent of the people who voted for Arizona Sen. John McCain are planning to head to the polls.

Pittsburgh Conservative Examiner | Josh Geldrich

On Saturday, Governor Ed Rendell said that he stands firmly behind his commitment to increase the state income tax and vowed to push hard to ensure that more spending on public education becomes a reality.

The Tribune review also quotes the Governor as saying that there’s a “strong” chance he will sign a much debated stopgap/barebones budget for Pennsylvania this coming Tuesday so that state employees are paid and also to use as leverage to strong-arm Republican lawmakers to settle on an agreement on a complete 2009-2010 budget and spending outline.