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Page 70

Michael Leavitt, Republican

Legislature: Republican

Took Office: 1/93

Grade: C

Michael Leavitt is perhaps best known across the coun-

try as an ardent defender of states' rights and the Tenth

Amendment against an ever-encroaching federal government.

In his first term as governor of Utah, Leavitt once said, "I

have chosen to make education, transportation and taxpayers

my highest priority."  On education, while Leavitt has sup-

ported charter schools, he has also dramatically increased

school funding, and he has opposed vouchers.  Perhaps not

surprisingly, those views have won him the endorsement of

the powerful teachers' unions.  On transportation, Leavitt

has tried to establish his "legacy" by pushing higher gas

taxes and fees and more debt to fund billions of dollars

worth of government-built roads including a new across-state

highway.  While Leavitt has successfully pushed for modest

tax cuts, they have been partially offset by his increases

in the gas tax, vehicle registration fee, and cigarette tax.

In 1998 Leavitt didn't even bother proposing a tax cut, al-

though revenues surged.  This is not the fiscal record one

would expect from a Republican in one of the nation's most

conservative states.

Score

Grade

Rank

Overall Fiscal Policy Score

44

C

33

Spending Score

33

D

40

Revenue and Tax Rate Score

49

C

24

Amount

3.9%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Direct General Spending through 1996

0.9%

Average Annual Change in Direct General Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1996

1.1%

Average Annual Recommended Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Spending through 1999

0.2%

Average Annual Change in General Fund Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income 1996-98

2.8%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Tax Revenue through 1997

-0.3%

Average Annual Change in Tax Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1997

-2.7%

Average Annual Recommended Change in General Fund Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1999

0.3%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Revenue 1996-98

-0.2%

Average Annual Recommended Tax Changes as % of Prior Year's Spending through 1999

-0.2

Change in Top Personal Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

0.0

Change in Top Corporate Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

12.0

1998 Combined Top Income Tax Rates (Personal plus Corporate) (*0.5)

-0.25

Change in Sales Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

5.5

Change in Gas Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (cents per gallon) (*0.5)