Palin's Record on Debt and Liabilities Bests the Rest of the GOP Field

Pennsylvania4Palin ^ | steebo77

[Anamnesis]

Of all current or former governors among the leading candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, no one’s record of dealing with his or her state’s debt and unfunded liabilities compares with that of Sarah Palin during her three fiscal years at the helm in Alaska.

The following analysis examines the growth of total debt outstanding and total liabilities, both on an actual and per capita basis, for Alaska under Sarah Palin, Massachusetts under Mitt Romney, Minnesota under Tim Pawlenty, Texas under Rick Perry, and Utah under Jon Huntsman.

Total Debt Outstanding

Of the five governorships examined, Alaska under Palin saw the smallest increase in total debt outstanding (12.7% cumulatively, 4.2% per year). Texas under Perry performed worst, with total debt increasing 20.5% annually, almost tripling during his term (a cumulative increase of 184.2%).

On a per capita basis, only Utah under Huntsman performed slightly better than Alaska under Palin. Utah experienced a cumulative increase of 6.8%, versus 7.4% for Alaska (1.4% per year for Utah, versus 2.5% per year for Alaska). Again, Texas under Perry ranks last, with an astonishing cumulative increase in debt per capita of 140.4% (15.6% on an annual basis).

Candidate	Beginning Debt Outstanding	Ending Debt Outstanding	Cumulative Increase/Decrease	Average Annual Increase/Decrease
Palin FY07 – FY10	$2.246 Billion	$2.531 Billion	12.7%	4.2%
Huntsman FY05 – FY10	$3.475 Billion	$4.204 Billion	21.0%	4.2%
Pawlenty FY03 – FY10	$3.474 Billion	$5.768 Billion	66.0%	9.4%
Romney FY03 – FY07	$15.963 Billion	$23.026 Billion	44.3%	11.1%
Perry FY01 – FY10	$12.561 Billion	$35.692 Billion	184.2%	20.5%

Candidate	Beginning Debt Outstanding Per Capita	Ending Debt Outstanding Per Capita	Cumulative Increase/Decrease	Average Annual Increase/Decrease
Huntsman FY05 – FY10	$1,391	$1,485	6.8%	1.4%
Palin FY07 – FY10	$3,326	$3,571	7.4%	2.5%
Pawlenty FY03 – FY10	$688	$1,090	58.5%	8.4%
Romney FY03 – FY07	$2,473	$3,543	43.3%	10.8%
Perry FY01 – FY10	$589	$1,416	140.4%	15.6%

Cumulative Change in Debt Outstanding During Governorship

Average Annual Change in Debt Outstanding During Governorship

Total Liabilities

Alaska under Palin was the only state to see a reduction in total liabilities (34.6% overall, 11.5% per year), due in large part to the Governor’s insistence that the State’s surplus be used to pay down unfunded pension obligations and forward-fund education. All other states experienced cumulative increases in total liabilities, ranging from 19.5% for Massachusetts under Romney to 60.6% for Texas under Perry. On an annualized basis, other states showed increases ranging from 4.9% for Massachusetts under Romney to 8.2% for Utah under Huntsman.

Under Palin, Alaska’s total liabilities per capita fell 37.7% (12.6% per year). All other states experienced cumulative increases, ranging between 18.7% (Massachusetts) and 34.3% (Minnesota), and annual increases, averaging between 4.0% (Texas) and 4.9% (Minnesota and Utah).

Candidate	Beginning Total Liabilities	Ending Total Liabilities	Cumulative Increase/Decrease	Average Annual Increase/Decrease
Palin FY07 – FY10	$9.847 Billion	$6.436 Billion	-34.6%	-11.5%
Romney FY03 – FY07	$37.679 Billion	$45.030 Billion	19.5%	4.9%
Pawlenty FY03 – FY10	$10.188 Billion	$14.366 Billion	40.7%	5.8%
Perry FY01 – FY10	$48.125 Billion	$77.271 Billion	60.6%	6.7%
Huntsman FY05 – FY10	$4.501 Billion	$6.351 Billion	41.4%	8.2%

Candidate	Beginning Total Liabilities Per Capita	Ending Total Liabilities Per Capita	Cumulative Increase/Decrease	Average Annual Increase/Decrease
Palin FY07 – FY10	$14,581	$9,079	-37.7%	-12.6%
Perry FY01 – FY10	$2,256	$3,065	35.8%	4.0%
Romney FY03 – FY07	$5,837	$6,928	18.7%	4.7%
Huntsman FY05 – FY10	$1,801	$2,244	24.5%	4.9%
Pawlenty FY03 – FY10	$2,017	$2,710	34.3%	4.9%

Cumulative Change in Total Liabilities During Governorship

Average Annual Change in Total Liabilities During Governorship

Summary

During the fiscal years for which Sarah Palin exercised budgetary authority as Governor of Alaska (FY08 through FY10)

•   Debt outstanding increased 12.7%, or 4.2% per year

•   Per capita debt outstanding increased 7.4%, or 2.5% per year

•   Total liabilities decreased 34.6%, or 11.5% per year

•   Total liabilities per capita decreased 37.7%, or 12.6% per year

During the fiscal years for which Jon Huntsman exercised budgetary authority as Governor of Utah (FY06 through FY10)

•   Debt outstanding increased 21.0%, or 4.2% per year

•   Per capita debt outstanding increased 6.8%, or 1.4% per year

•   Total liabilities increased 41.1%, or 8.2% per year

•   Total liabilities per capita increased 24.5%, or 4.9% per year

During the fiscal years for which Tim Pawlenty exercised budgetary authority as Governor of Minnesota (FY04 through FY10)

•   Debt outstanding increased 66.0%, or 9.4% per year

•   Per capita debt outstanding increased 58.5%, or 8.4% per year

•   Total liabilities increased 40.7%, or 5.8% per year

•   Total liabilities per capita increased 34.3%, or 4.9% per year

During the fiscal years for which Mitt Romney exercised budgetary authority as Governor of Massachusetts (FY04 through FY07)

•   Debt outstanding increased 44.3%, or 11.1% per year

•   Per capita debt outstanding increased 43.3%, or 10.8% per year

•   Total liabilities increased 19.5%, or 4.9% per year

•   Total liabilities per capita increased 18.7%, or 4.7% per year

During the fiscal years for which Rick Perry exercised budgetary authority as Governor of Texas (FY02 through FY10)

•   Debt outstanding increased 184.2%, or 20.5% per year

•   Per capita debt outstanding increased 140.4%, or 15.6% per year

•   Total liabilities increased 60.6%, or 6.7% per year

•   Total liabilities per capita increased 35.8%, or 4.0% per year

Sources:

Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports

State of Alaska

Fiscal Year July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007

Fiscal Year July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2003

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2007

State of Minnesota

Year Ended June 30, 2003

Year Ended June 30, 2010

State of Texas

Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2001

Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2010

State of Utah

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2005

Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2010

Population Figures

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census

Preliminary Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico : April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2010

[Windflier]

Well actually Kay voted down the DREAM ACT.

She also inserted the amendment to a Senate bill that de-funded the southern border fence.

[Sun]

“Maybe it’s because Sarah Palin means what she says.

Like Ronald Reagan did.”

No wonder why she is compared with Ronald Reagan by some of the greatest conservative minds.

“Both Levin and Breitbart openly compare Palin to Ronald Reagan,”

snip http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/07/01/the-undefeated-americas-once-most-popular-governor-lights-up-the-silver-screen/

[wtc911]

Her record on debt????

Wasilla long term debt when Trademark took office ----- $1.2 million.

Wasilla long term debt when trademark left office ----- $23 million.

And that doesn't include the $2-3 million extra her bungling of the ice-rink land deal cost that little town of less than 10,000 including children.

That's some record.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

(((((PING)))))

[gov_bean_ counter]

Mail

[Sun]

This is an example of what Palin did while governor. Compare this with other governors:

“Palin is a conservative who only last month vetoed 13 percent of the state’s proposed budget for capital projects. The cuts, the Anchorage Daily News said, “may be the biggest single-year line-item veto total in state history.”’
snip
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp

“I get frustrated with folks from outside Alaska who come up and say you shouldn’t develop your resources,” she says. Alaska needs to be self-sufficient, she says, instead of relying heavily on “federal dollars,” as the state does today.

more http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/851orcjq.asp?page=2

Palin didn’t want Fed. dollars - she wanted Alaska to be allowed to drill baby, drill!!

[wtc911]

Trademark's record on debt the best!!!!!

How hard is that when her state received $1.84 from the feds for every $1.00 paid to the Feds (by comparison, Texas is a net loser - sending more to DC than it gets back).

Alaska is a freaking welfare state, outdone only by Mississippi and New Mexico.

I really, really want you clowns to try to run with this.....

[wtc911]

Palin didn’t want Fed. dollars.

______________________________

Utter nonsense. Alaska is a welfare state, receiving almost twice as much money from the feds as it pays. So, tell us, in which year of her self-abbreviated tenure did she reject the welfare from the feds. I'd really like to know...how much did she turn down?

[gov_bean_ counter]

You are a vile, detestable, delusional, bitter old man. The sooner you cross that fine line you walk to zotville the better. Hopefully you and the crap you bring will soon be gone.

[normy]

It doesn't matter. I am not against Palin but it's real easy to act like you have a magic bullet when you receive $1.84 in Fed money for every dollar you send in. Texas receives $.94 for every dollar it sends in and it doesn't have a windfall tax on the oil companies operating in Texas.

If you have a population of 700 thousand and you send in, for the sake of argument 10 billion and get back 18.4 billion plus the tax the oil companies pay you, it's alot easier to balance the books. I doubt Palin has anywhere close the experience Perry does dealing with actual budget issues. Palin loves America and is a great asset but she doesn't hold a candle to Perry when it comes to dealing with tough budget issues, her heart seems to be in the right place though.

I am actually glad these articles get posted. It forces me to research why these numbers ad up the way they do.

[normy]

read the man’s bio

[gov_bean_ counter]

I already have.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Makes him no less of a disingenuous ass.

[wtc911]

Alaska has about 700,000 people.....

______________________________________

According to the US Census in 2010 Alaska had a population 0f 710,000.

According to the same census there are, in the USA, 83 counties with higher populations than Alaska.

83 Counties bigger than Alaska by population. I wonder how many of them get oil company royalties...

[wtc911]

The facts really hurt you don’t they? Good.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I am fine with facts, it is the twisted context you place them in and the asinine conclusions you come to.

[normy]

Palin will be great heading up the Dept. of the Interior under the Perry/Rubio Administration.

[wtc911]

Twisted context? Oh, I understand, any fact or bit of truth that punctures your little fantasy must be destroyed if it can't be ignored so you declare that it is presented in a "twisted context".

Funny...childish but funny.

[wtc911]

Palin will be great heading up the Dept. of the Interior under the Perry/Rubio Administration.

______________________________________

Until she gets tired of it....then it'll be 'so long and thanks for all the fish."

[shield]

She was governor 2.5 years compared to Perry...governor 10 years...not a true comparison...