<<  <  >  >>

No. 581

October 24, 2006

Fiscal Policy Report Card on

America's Governors: 2006

by Stephen Slivinski

Executive Summary

This report presents the findings of the Cato

Nine governors receive Fs. In alphabetical

Institute's eighth biennial fiscal policy report

order, they are Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana,

card on the nation's governors. The report card's

Michael Easley of North Carolina, Kenny Guinn

grading is based on 23 objective measures of fis-

of Nevada, Christine Gregoire of Washington,

cal performance. Governors who have cut taxes

Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Ruth Ann Minner of

and spending the most receive the highest

Delaware, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bob Riley

grades. Those who have increased spending and

of Alabama, and Brian Schweitzer of Montana.

taxes the most receive the lowest grades.

Governors who received praise in previous edi-

Only one governor receives an A this year--

tions of the report card but have lower grades this

Republican Matt Blunt of Missouri. The next two

year include Arnold Schwarzenegger of California

highest-scoring Republicans are Rick Perry of

(current grade, D); Jeb Bush of Florida (current

Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina. The

grade, C); Bill Owens of Colorado (current grade,

highest-scoring Democratic governors are John

D); George Pataki of New York (current grade, D);

Lynch of New Hampshire and Phil Bredesen of

and Bill Richardson of New Mexico (current

Tennessee.

grade, C).

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stephen Slivinski is director of budget studies at the Cato Institute and author of Buck Wild: How Republicans

Broke the Bank and Became the Party of Big Government (Nelson Current, 2006).