Oklahoma
Brad Henry, Democrat
Legislature: Divided
Grade: B
Took Office: January 2003
Early in Governor Henry's tenure, he sup-
In 2006, he supported another cut to the top
ported a large tax increase on cigarette con-
income tax rate and a phase-out of the estate
sumers, but since then has proposed and
tax. In 2007, the legislature and the governor
signed into law numerous tax cuts. In 2005,
agreed to a package that accelerated the
Henry supported capital gains tax reduc-
income tax cuts and included other targeted
tions, and he signed into law a phased-in cut
tax breaks. On spending, Henry's budget
to the top personal income tax rate combined
increases have been about average among the
with an increase in the standard deduction.
governors.
Oregon
Governor
Kulongoski has
Ted Kulongoski, Democrat
Legislature: Democratic
Grade: F
Took Office: January 2003
been relentless in
his advocacy of
Governor Kulongoski has been relentless
The governor has thumbed his nose at tax-
tax and spending
in his advocacy of tax and spending increases.
payers in other ways. He has proposed that
In 2003, he supported a ballot initiative that
automatic tax rebates that are required when
increases.
would have increased income taxes by $400
the government has surpluses be put on hold,
million annually, but the plan was defeated
and in boom years when state coffers are over-
soundly by the voters. Kulongoski has repeat-
flowing he has pushed for tax increases, not
edly proposed cigarette tax increases, but the
cuts. Oregon is one of the few states that is
legislature has nixed the idea, and voters
blessed not to have a general sales tax, but
defeated a cigarette tax increase at the ballot
Kulongoski has pushed to impose one on the
box in 2007. This year, Kulongoski is continu-
state. Also, spending increases under this gov-
ing to push for a cigarette tax hike even
ernor have been large, making his grade of F
though voters said no to the idea.
well-deserved.
Pennsylvania
Ed Rendell, Democrat
Legislature: Divided
Grade: D
Took Office: January 2003
personal and corporate tax rates. In 2007, he
In 2004, Governor Rendell pushed through
proposed increasing the sales tax rate from 6 to
a $1.5 billion tax increase that raised personal
7 percent and imposing a special tax on oil com-
income tax rates, business gross receipts taxes,
pany profits, but the legislature rejected those
and cigarette taxes. In 2005, the governor pro-
ideas. On spending, Rendell has supported large
posed a reduction in Pennsylvania's 10 percent
increases for transportation, education, alterna-
corporate tax rate, but the reduction was not
tive energy, and overall general fund spending
passed. Indeed, the governor reversed course in
2006 and vetoed a bill that would have cut both
has increased at a fairly rapid pace.
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