If you’re concerned about the size, scope, and cost of government, most of your attention is directed to Washington. That’s reasonable. Congressional leaders are still trying to pass Obamacare this month, which would be one of the greatest increases in government power and taxpayer indebtedness in history. Also, in part because the federal government can run annual operating deficits and most states and localities can’t, Washington will always be more dangerous to our fiscal health.

Still, states have also gone on spending sprees in boom years, followed by damaging tax hikes in bust years, while further damaging America’s competitiveness through costly regulations. State pensions have an unfunded liability of about a trillion dollars – and growing. Major programs run by state governments, such as education and Medicaid, are squandering scarce resources with measly outcomes. And the transportation infrastructure operated by states and localities is inadequate, inefficient, and increasingly ill-suited to our real needs.

The tea-party season is upon us again, so there will be plenty of opportunities for conservatives to rally together not just against the excesses of Washington but against fiscal irresponsibility closer to home. If you happen to be in or around Atlanta today, for example, there will be an anti-tax rally at the Georgia Capitol at noon.