Owens given ‘D’ for fiscal policy ( Cato Institute )

The Daily Sentinel ^ | October 24, 2006 | ERIK LINCOLN

[VRWCtaz]

Thanks for the ping.

I wonder if it was Sanford's initial support for the gas tax rollback scheme that cost him an A?

[george76]

Many thought that Owens could have gone on to DC after his first years.

We did not know about his personal problems then.

Owens could have been Senator instead of Salazar.

IMO

But now he is toast... My guess : his next career is on cable tv.

[looscnnn]

Why would it? I would think that it would help him, he was trying to give back money to the people that it belongs to...the citizens. The assembly would not ok a refund, so he took another option instead of keeping the money in the government pockets.

[looscnnn]

The lowest Current Term Republican governers are:

Bob Riley (Alabama) F
Mike Huckabee (Arkansas) F
Kenny Guinn (Nevada) F
Arnold Schwarzenegger (Cali) D
Linda Lingle (Hawaii) D
Jodi Rell (Connecticut) D
Mitch Daniels (Indiana) D - midterm grade
Bill Owens (Colorado) D
George Pataki (NY) D

Final overall grade for outgoing governers:
Bob Taft (Ohio) F
Mike Huckabee (Arkansas) D
Kenny Guinn (Nevada) D


Out of 26 Republican governers there were 1 A, 4 B's, 12 C's, 6 D's,3 F's. This is far too many below a B.

[VRWCtaz]

It was nothing but a political stunt that Sanford was willing to go along with to prevent the Dems from being able to use it against him in November. As it would have indeed put tax dollars back into the pockets of the taxpayer he felt the positives outweighed the negatives so he could support it.

(The above is from my memory of an interview with the Governor by Ralph Bristol on WORD AM950 when it was first proposed.)

It fell though when the legislature wanted the three month tax relief during Aug-Sep-Oct vs Jun-Jul-Aug. (I can't imagine why the legislature would want the cut close to an election.) Governor Sanford said no - it would be peak usage time or nothing. Although he did say that if they would make it a permanent cut they could start it whenever they wanted.

The only reason I wondered if it was used against Mark for Cato's "B" grade was that market manipulation by government is viewed poorly by them. Especially as this one would have most probably resulted in spot shortages due to an artificial price structure.

[LibertarianInExile]

"Out of 26 Republican governers there were 1 A, 4 B's, 12 C's, 6 D's, 3 F's. This is far too many below a B."

I doubt it's an unusual curve. Once in power, too many R's become RINOs. Go figure so many have grown tired of voting R.

[george76]

Bill Owens. No one in our party — not even President Bush through his overspending and support of amnesty — has done more damage to our chances in Colorado, which is why this post fits into so many categories.

Attorney general? Guilty as charged. Owens, through a combination of indifference and ineptitude, let Ken Salazar stay in office and emerge as a moderate Democrat, thereby allowing the now-U.S. senator to build a bipartisan following that has taken him to his current office.

Third Congressional District? As sure as water runs downhill. Greg Walcher, with his support of Referendum A and mismanagement of the state Department of Natural Resources, never stood a chance in the general election — and Owens knew it.

Fifth Congressional District? Amen. As in the 3rd Congressional District, Owens stepped into an already messy primary, one he should have learned from 2004 is not a place to be meddling when the Republican Party faithful hate you.

Seventh Congressional District? As sure as Colfax is populated by prostitutes and pushers. Encouraging Beauprez to leave a competitive seat in a bad year for Republicans was beyond irresponsible.

Governor? You can bank on it. In a year when illegal immigration was sure to be the centerpiece conservative issue, Beauprez was the worst possible choice, given his dismal record on the subject.

Homeland security? Granted. Mike “Office Space” Beasley, anyone? Illegal immigration? Si, senor.

By calling a special session he let the Democrats control, Owens killed all chances of bringing back the ballot measure that would have been our party’s saving grace.

Issue campaigns? Let us list the ways: Amendment 23, Referendum A, referendums C and D. Redistricting? Census says yes.

When he and Beauprez lost us the majority, we lost the ability to responsibly redistrict.

Secretary of state? All signs of foul play point to yes. His appointment, Gigi Dennis, and her shenanigans have made the party look unfair.

State house? Like any man, his home is his castle, and he’s responsible for what happens in it. It’s the one chamber of the Legislature we should never have had to worry about, but Owens lost it in a landslide.

State senate? Snake eyes. He lost it twice.

http://www.totheright.org/?p=227

[Uri’el-2012]

You have nailed it