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(Florida), and Shaheen (New Hampshire) also have very poor

records of spending restraint.

The spending scores highlight the huge differences in

fiscal directions of the states in recent years.  In con-

trast to the calls of Kitzhaber (Oregon), Chiles (Florida),

and Carnahan (Missouri) for increases in real per capita

spending of 3 percent a year and more, Beasley (South Caro-

lina), Wilson (California), Miller (Nevada), and Johnson

(New Mexico) have recommended real per capita spending re-

ductions of more than 2 percent per year.

Since 1996 the governors who have approved the steepest

spending cuts are Engler (Michigan), Janklow (South Dakota),

and Rowland (Connecticut).  By far the biggest budget in-

crease over the last two years was approved by Shaheen (New

Hampshire).

The Most and Least Taxing Governors

Tables A-6 through A-16 present the results on tax

rates and revenues.  The governor with the best record on

reducing taxes and restraining revenue growth was Janklow of

South Dakota, who implemented an $80 million property tax

cut.  On average, Janklow's recommended tax cuts have

amounted to about 1.5 percent of the state budget, which in

South Dakota is just over $1 billion a year.  Rowland (Con-

necticut), Pataki (New York), Johnson (New Mexico), Whitman

(New Jersey), and Bush (Texas) also have exceptional records

of tax cutting and revenue restraint.

The two governors with the worst records on reducing

taxes and restraining revenue growth are Carnahan of Mis-

souri and Chiles of Florida.  Under Carnahan, per capita tax

revenue in Missouri has gone up 5.6 percent per year in real

terms, and tax revenue per $1,000 of personal income has

gone up by 3.7 percent per year.  Chiles's recommended bud-

gets have called for increasing revenue per $1,000 of per-

sonal income by 2.5 percent per year.  Voinovich (Ohio),

Kitzhaber (Oregon), and Dean (Vermont) also have very poor

records on taxes and revenue restraint.

The premier tax cutters have been Janklow (South Da-

kota), Pataki (New York), Rowland (Connecticut), Graves

(Kansas), and Beasley (South Carolina).  On average,

throughout their terms each of them has recommended annual

tax cuts of more than 1 percent of state spending per year.

The biggest tax hikers have been Dean (Vermont), Kitz-

haber (Oregon), Shaheen (New Hampshire), and Chiles (Flor-