Richardson began
them through the Democratic legislature.
raised cigarette taxes, but he cut the unemploy-
Richardson began cutting taxes his first year in
ment payroll tax, cut the business gross receipts
cutting taxes his
office by enacting a 50 percent capital gains tax
tax, and provided one-time tax rebates.
first year in office
cut and major cuts to personal income tax
Governor Richardson's record on spending is
by enacting a 50
rates, which were phased-in over time. In sub-
not so good, with higher spending increases
sequent years, he worked to keep those cuts in
than the average of the other governors, and he
percent
place. The top income tax rate fell from 8.2 per-
is currently pushing a costly expansion of state
capital gains tax
cent in 2003 to 4.9 percent in 2008. Richardson
health care coverage.
cut and major
cuts to personal
North Carolina
income tax rates.
Mike Easley, Democrat
Legislature: Democratic
Grade: C
Took Office: January 2001
Governor Easley has consistently worked in
has now finally expired, but the higher sales tax
opposition to state taxpayers. In 2001, he pushed
rate has been made permanent. The governor
through increases in sales and income tax rates.34
also championed a cigarette tax increase in 2005,
Those increases were supposed to be temporary,
and is pushing for a further increase in 2008.
but Easley supported extension of the higher
Easley is also currently supporting tax increases
rates year after year. The higher income tax rate
on beer and wine consumers.
North Dakota
John Hoeven, Republican
Legislature: Republican
Grade: C
Took Office: December 2000
In 2003, Governor Hoeven signed into law a
able energy, and property tax relief. However,
tax overhaul that cut the corporate rate from
the governor has supported tax increases on
10.5 percent to 7 percent, but offset that cut by
cigarette and gasoline consumers, and he has
broadening the corporate tax base. A 2007 law
not pushed for broad-based tax reductions
cut the corporate rate to 6.5 percent and fur-
despite large revenue inflows to state coffers in
ther broadened the tax base. Hoeven has
recent years. Hoeven's record on spending is
approved various targeted tax breaks such as
poor having presided over per capita increases
marriage penalty relief, tax credits for renew-
of almost 7 percent annually since 2003.
Ohio
Ted Strickland, Democrat
Legislature: Republican
Grade: B
Took Office: January 2007
to result in a large net tax cut for businesses.35
Governor Strickland succeeded in his goal of
passing an expanded homestead exemption
On spending, the governor supports large
under the property tax. He is also following
increases in the education budget and is push-
through on a phased-in replacement of Ohio's
ing an expensive debt-financed energy plan. But
corporate franchise and business property taxes
with the state facing a budget deficit this year,
with a gross receipts tax. The plan is supposed
the governor is taking steps to trim spending.
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