Posted on 06/26/2006 8:11:58 PM PDT by rhema
10. Mitch Daniels—Indiana
While the former Bush Office of Management and Budget chief upset Indiana conservatives with his call for a temporary tax increase on those earning more than $100,000-per-year (the legislature rejected this), he nonetheless overcame a $645-million deficit with spending cuts. He has also attracted more private-sector business to the state and signed a voter identification measure that infuriated liberals.
9. Mike Rounds—South Dakota
Has made nationwide headlines by pushing a measure to ban all abortions in his state—a move almost certain to lead to the Supreme Court’s revisiting Roe v. Wade. Rounds did sign phone tax and cigarette tax increases to deal with a deficit he inherited, but backs his state’s no-income tax stand and calls for property-tax relief when the state has more money.
8. Tim Pawlenty—Minnesota
Unchanged on pro-life and other social stands from his days in the legislature, Pawlenty cut more than $171 million from the budget to cover a deficit in ’03 and has called for a constitutional limit on the growth of spending.
7. Haley Barbour—Mississippi
The former GOP national chairman never veered from his no-new tax, no government-expansion policies and was a take-charge leader during Hurricane Katrina. But he has disappointed some fans by becoming a visible lobbyist for more federal tax-funded post-Katrina relief.
6. David Heineman—Nebraska
Since succeeding Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns as governor in ’05, Heineman has won high marks for vetoing a bill to provide in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants. His stand was key to his winning the GOP primary this year for a full term over Rep. Tom Osborne, revered former college football coach.
5. Rick Perry—Texas
After serving as George W. Bush’s lieutenant governor and then succeeding him as governor in ’01, Perry put through a zero-based budget to deal with a $10-billion deficit in ’04-05 and has maintained his state’s no-income-tax policy. He has proposed a $6-billion property tax cut. Perry is far tougher on border security and illegal immigration than his predecessor.
4. Jon Huntsman—Utah
After less than two years in office, this philanthropist and former Reagan and Bush Administration official has denounced the “No Child Left Behind” federal education scheme, signed a measure to void illegal immigrants’ driver’s licenses and replace them with a special “driving privilege” card, and supports school vouchers and phasing out the state sales tax on food.
3. Matt Blunt—Missouri
Backed by Republican majorities in both houses of the state legislature, America’s youngest (36) governor has successfully pushed for tax cuts as well as slashing the size of government.
2. Bill Owens—Colorado
“A sterling record of fiscal accomplishment” is how the Cato Institute characterized GOPer Owens’ six years in office. He backed a state tax and expenditure limit, cut income, capital gains and dividends taxes, and resisted raising taxes when his state had a $850-million deficit in ’03. Owens remains strongly pro-life and backed a statewide marriage initiative.
1. Jeb Bush—Florida
Winding up his second term as governor, Bush has signed a tax cut of some kind almost every year he has been in office—from slashing property to intangibles taxes—and not trimmed his pro-life, pro-voucher sails, although his refusal to permit natural gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has upset many conservatives. He would be an obvious Republican presidential possibility in ’08 were he not following his father and brother.
Jeb Bush kisses illegal alien butt like his brother, Perry oozes status quo and don't rock the boat, and Daniels screwed up taxes. Those are some black marks on an otherwise conservative record. Owens is good but people blame for the CO Dem gains in 2004. My personal ranking of Top 10 Most Conservative Governors going by all incumbents would be:
1. Haley Barbour Mississippi (R) 2003 2007
2. Mark.Sanford South Carolina (R) 2002 2006
3. Sonny Perdue Georgia (R) 2002 2006
4. Timothy Pawlenty Minnesota (R) 2002 2006
5. John Hoeven North Dakota (R) 2000 2008
6. Dave Heineman Nebraska (R) 2005 2006
7. Donald L. Carcieri Rhode Island (R) 2002 2006
8. Matt Blunt Missouri (R) 2004 2008
9. Mike Rounds South Dakota (R) 2002 2006
10. Jon Huntsman, Jr. Utah (R) 2004 2008
Hmmm.
1. Jon Corzine New Jersey (D) 2005 2009
2. Jennifer M. Granholm Michigan (D) 2002 2006
3. Theodore R. Kulongoski Oregon (D) 2002 2006
4. James E. Doyle Wisconsin (D) 2002 2006
5. Christine Gregoire Washington (D) 2004 2008
6. Edward G. Rendell Pennsylvania (D) 2002 2006
7. Rod R. Blagojevich Illinois (D) 2002 2006
8. John Elias Baldacci Maine (D) 2002 2006
9. Tim Kaine Virginia (D) 2005 2009
10. Linda Lingle Hawaii (R) 2002 2006
Barbour/Rice 2008
Perry was forced to deal with the school finance situation because of a TSC ruling. He did the best he could under difficult circumstances. He is not a tax and spend Republican regardless.
He could have stood up to the Supreme Court and done nothing. They have no authority to order the other two branches of government to enact spending legislation.
what has your dog got to do with it? LOL.
Owens' support of the Ref C tax increase was a bad thing.
On the other hand, he has also done quite a bid of good, including resisting some horrible Medicaid expansions (including those that would have used public money to fund abortions), appointing good judges, supporting attempts to call the public schools to task, breeding fish to avoid the structures of the endangered species act, and standing behind efforts to limit Denver's ability to impose its stupid gun laws on people driving through on the interstate. He presided over much needed highway improvements, something that had been neglected after 30 years of Dem governors who were supported by greens who just plain hate other people's cars.
Be fair. It does no good to be hyper critical of people that are more or less moving in your direction. Disagree with them where they are wrong, but save the over the top stuff for those who truly are statists.
Where is Mark Sanford on that list ?!? He ought to be #1 !
Mark Sanford I would put at #2, and keep Jeb at #1. Owens has been a disappointment and should be around #8 if not out of the top 10 altogether.
It means Pawlenty has been consistent on social issues, if not perfect. IIRC he's a 99% pro-lifer, supporting life/rape/incest exceptions?
I think he's done a great job, very good on cutting spending and restraining taxes. He had to compromise with the DFL-run state Senate on a budget bill and was denounced by the zealots for it -- I guess they expected him to wave a magic wand and make the DFLers do whatever he wanted.
1. Plenty of Senators have been nominated (or come very close), so it makes sense to think they'll continue to be nominated. Kerry, (McCain), (Bradley), Dole ....
2. Senators can win the presidency. It's stiffs who have trouble. There just happens to be a lot of overlap between the two (ex. Kerry, Dole, Gore....). JFK was a Senator, but not a stiff.
"1. Plenty of Senators have been nominated (or come very close), so it makes sense to think they'll continue to be nominated. Kerry, (McCain), (Bradley), Dole ....
2. Senators can win the presidency. It's stiffs who have trouble. There just happens to be a lot of overlap between the two (ex. Kerry, Dole, Gore....). JFK was a Senator, but not a stiff."
I didn't say that that nomination is impossible. I simply said that history is not in their favor.
And I said that was incorrect. Look at the last three elections. Four nominating contests: Senator Dole defeats Forbes and others, Governor Bush outduels Senator McCain, VP and ex-Senator Gore outlasts ex-Senator Bradley, Senator Kerry defeats Senator Edwards.
Before that you had two governors, a VP, Senator, Governor, Senator-turned Prez, Governor, Senator, Senator, VP, Senator, VP, Senator, VP. I think that's pretty much right.
Has Pawlenty shown any interest in running?
He's got a tough reelection campaign first.
Of course. Six new GOP House members, tort reform, property tax cuts.
Perry is more conservative than Bush was as governor.
BUMP!
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