single rate of 5 percent. He was also successful in
man has completely dropped the ball on spend-
cutting the sales tax on food to save consumers
ing, with per capita spending increasing at about
$70 million annually. Unfortunately, Hunts-
10 percent annually during his tenure.
Vermont
James Douglas, Republican
Legislature: Democratic
Grade: D
Took Office: January 2003
Governor Douglas has a mixed record of tax
individual income tax cuts. Also, corporations
increases and cuts in his five years in office. In his
have received a small rate cut but pay on a broad-
first year, Douglas signed into law an increase in
er tax base. On spending, Douglas has proposed
the sales tax rate from 5 percent to 6 percent. The
modest budget growth, but actual budgets
cigarette tax rate has also increased substantially
passed by the legislature have included larger
under Douglas, and he proposed raising capital
increases. In 2008, Douglas proposed a large
gains taxes. However, Douglas has worked for
"stimulus package," which relies on borrowing
Governor Kaine
property tax relief, and he has proposed modest
to fund new spending initiatives.
has campaigned
vigorously to
Virginia
raise taxes
and fees to
Tim Kaine, Democrat
Legislature: Divided
Grade: D
Took Office: January 2006
fund higher
transportation
Governor Kaine has campaigned vigorously
Kaine supported a few tax cuts in 2007, includ-
to raise taxes and fees to fund higher trans-
ing an increase in the bottom threshold of the
spending.
portation spending. In 2007, Kaine helped pass
individual income tax and a repeal of the estate
a large revenue package that included tax and
tax. But in 2008, he is promoting an even big-
fee increases, higher penalties for driving
ger transportation plan that would increase
infractions, and the creation of regional taxing
taxes and fees by $1.1 billion annually, and he is
authorities within Virginia. The Virginia
advocating higher state borrowing to fund
Supreme Court struck down the unelected tax
education and transportation. On spending,
authorities, and citizens hated the new driver
Kaine promoted a big increase in his first bud-
penalties so much that they were repealed.
get, but has favored greater restraint since then.
Washington
Christine Gregoire, Democrat
Legislature: Democratic
Grade: D
Took Office: January 2005
established an estate tax after a previous version
Governor Gregoire has supported numer-
had been struck down by the state supreme
ous tax increases on politically unpopular
court. The state government has enjoyed large
behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and dri-
surpluses in recent years from rising revenues,
ving. In her first few months in office, Gregoire
but Gregoire has blocked efforts to give back
pushed through a tax hike of more than $500
part of the excess to taxpayers, arguing that "a
million, which included increases for cigarettes,
tax break is spending money."36 Gregoire
gasoline, liquor, fuel, and vehicles. She also re-
25