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Washington
Gary Locke, Democrat
Legislature: Republican
Took Office: 1/97
Grade: B
Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American governor in U.S.
history, succeeded liberal Democrat Mike Lowry who left of-
fice amid charges of sexual harassment. Locke's 1996 elec-
tion coincided with the GOP takeover of the state senate,
which gave the Republicans control of both houses for the
first time since 1980. That divide in control of state gov-
ernment in Olympia has opened a combative period in state
politics. In Locke's first year the legislature sent him a
flurry of tax cuts, worth about $1.3 billion. He repeatedly
vetoed those cuts, approving barely more than one-third of
the proposed tax relief. In fact, that first year in office
Locke shattered the state record by vetoing 125 bills, which
amounted to nearly one-fourth of the bills sent to him.
Fortunately for Washington's taxpayers, a November 1993 ref-
erendum (Initiative 601) imposed a stronger tax and spending
cap, which limits budget growth to the rate of population
growth plus inflation. Spending can exceed the cap only if
voters give their approval, and all tax hikes must be ap-
proved by a 2/3 supermajority. Those restrictions, and a
more fiscally conservative state legislature, have success-
fully contained Locke's pro-spending proclivities.
Score
Grade
Rank
Overall Fiscal Policy Score
58
B
10
Spending Score
63
B
12
Revenue and Tax Rate Score
57
B
8
Amount
0.5%
Average Annual Recommended Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Spending through 1999
-2.4%
Average Annual Change in General Fund Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income 1996-98
-3.5%
Average Annual Recommended Change in General Fund Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1999
1.2%
Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Revenue 1996-98
-0.7%
Average Annual Recommended Tax Changes as % of Prior Year's Spending through 1999
0.0
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)
3.4
1998 Combined Top Income Tax Rates (Personal plus Corporate) (*0.5)
0.0
Change in Sales Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)
5.0
Change in Gas Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (cents per gallon) (*0.5)