Governors Fiscal Report 2018

The Cato Institute has released its 14th biennialfiscal report card on the governors.The report uses statistical data to grade the governors on their taxing and spending records since 2016. Governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades, whereas those who have increased taxes and spending the most receive the lowest grades.Five governors were awarded an A: Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Paul LePage of Maine, and Greg Abbott of Texas.Eight governors were awarded an F: Roy Cooper of North Carolina, John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Jim Justice of West Virginia, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, David Ige of Hawaii, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Jay Inslee of Washington.Susana Martinez received the highest score this year. She is in her eighth year in office and scored quite well on previous Cato reports. One achievement has been vetoing all tax hikes that have come to her desk. Last year, she vetoed $350 million in tax hikes.Many Republican governors have entered office promising not to raise taxes but then capitulate to the spending lobbies. Brian Sandoval of Nevada and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts are good examples. Both governors made epic U-turns in approving major new taxes after being elected on no-tax-hike pledges.So bravo to Governor Martinez for standing firm against tax increases and for restraining New Mexico ’s budget during her two terms in office.In ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs