Which governors have the best taxation and spending policies—and which need some remedial work in fiscal sanity? A new report from the Cato Institute identifies who’s cut taxing and spending the most, and who’s just making government bigger. According to author Chris Edwards:
The recovery from the recent recession has been very sluggish, and the nation’s governors have struggled with the resulting budget deficits, unemployment, and other economic problems in their states. Many reform-minded governors elected in 2010 have championed tax reforms and spending restraint to get their states back on track. Other governors have expanded government with old-fashioned tax-and-spend policies. …The good news is that some governors…are taking steps to reduce the long-term costs of government. And, indeed, numerous states have taken modest steps to reform their pension plans, but much more needs to be done to reduce debt and unfunded obligations. (p. 1)
The Grade A Governors are:
-Sam Brownback, Kansas
-Rick Scott, Florida
-Paul LePage, Maine
-Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania
The F Governors are:
-Pat Quinn, Illinois.
-Dan Malloy, Connecticut.
-Mark Dayton, Minnesota
-Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii.
-Chris Gregoire, Washington
As Edwards concludes:
The good news is that some governors…are taking steps to reduce the long-term costs of government. And, indeed, numerous states have taken modest steps to reform their pension plans, but much more needs to be done to reduce debt and unfunded obligations. pp. 13)