Can state governments use their budgets to promote social and economic development goals, such as poverty reduction or education reform?
Yes, state governments can use their budgets to promote social and economic development goals such as poverty reduction or education reform. According to the context provided, the Legislative Assembly has power to assent, or to refuse to assent, to any demand for a grant, or to assent to any demand subject to a reduction of the amount specified therein (Article 203(2)). This indicates that state governments have the authority to decide how their budgets are allocated and can potentially use them to promote social and economic development goals.