The latest edition of the Tax Policy Center's State and Local Finance Initiative's State Economic Monitor finds the recovery still struggling for momentum. The unemployment rate has improved but remains over 40 percent higher than the pre-recession rate and public sector employment continues to contract, driven by federal reductions in employment. The Monitor reviews the health of various aspects of state economies, including employment, housing, state finances, and economic growth. This edition also examines research on Medicaid expansion in the states.