Posted on 09/23/2002 8:23:27 AM PDT by BJungNan
Executive Summary
Against the backdrop of the worst state budget crunch in years, this report presents the findings of Cato Institute's sixth biennial fiscal policy report card on the nation's governors. The report card's grading is based on 17 objective measures of each governor's fiscal performance. Governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades. Those who have increased spending and taxes the most receive the lowest grades.
This year, two governors receive the highest grade of A: Bill Owens of Colorado and Jeb Bush of Florida. Four governors receive the lowest grade of F: Gray Davis of California, Don Sundquist of Tennessee, Bob Taft of Ohio, and John Kitzhaber of Oregon.
The governors of some of America's most populous states and their grades are George Pataki of New York, B; George Ryan of Illinois, D; and John Engler of Michigan, B.
State governments faced a combined budget gap of more than $40 billion in 2002, largely as a result of an overspending binge in the 1990s. Most governors will confront more tough budget choices in 2003. We hope that governors do not make the mistake of raising taxes to try to balance budgets, as many did in the economic slowdown of the early 1990s. Instead, by reducing spending and cutting tax rates, governors can return their states to fiscal and economic health. If they do, we will have many high grades to reward on the next Cato fiscal report card.
Jane Hull (R) of Arizona earned 49 points out of 100 and a 'D' as an overall fiscal policy grade. (Table I)
Hull has proposed a personal income tax rate decrease and sales tax increases...
Lots of interesting tax policay analysis in the report!
HJ
The Ohio Supreme Court may have ruled this way but the good Governor Taft should have told them to take a hike, that the Supreme Court does not have constitutional authority to spend money. He did not stand up to them, that makes him responsible. Saying "they made me write the check" is as lame an excuse as "the dog ate my homework." He gets an "F"
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