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Appendix D:

Summary of Fiscal Policy Records of Governors

The following summaries are based on a wide variety of sources, including individual gov-

ernors' biographies and articles in magazines and local newspapers.

Alabama

Bob Riley, Republican

Legislature: Democratic

First-Term Grade: F

big-spending legislature on a shorter leash.

Bob Riley's actions since his crusade to

While his last two proposed budgets grew by

pass the biggest tax hike in Alabama history

slightly more than population and inflation,

have not been enough to raise his grade from

Riley was happy to sign into law budgets that

the midterm D he received on the last report

ballooned by more than 10 percent in real per

card. His massive $1.2 billion tax increase was

capita terms. The unexpected record budget

resoundingly defeated at the ballot box by 67

surplus hasn't gone completely to fund big-

percent. After the defeat, a repentant Riley

ger government, however. Riley did propose

was suddenly able to find more spending to

and sign into law a tax cut that would raise

cut. Yet the debacle didn't completely damp-

the personal exemption and standard deduc-

en Riley's enthusiasm for higher taxes. He

tion for many families. However, compared

signed into law a 26-cent per pack cigarette

with other governors in the nation, his over-

tax hike in 2004. His record on spending has

all fiscal performance the past four years has

been marginally better than before, although

been quite dismal.

Riley has generally been reluctant to keep the

Arizona

Janet Napolitano, Democrat

Legislature: Republican

First-Term Grade: F

election, Napolitano at least had the sense to

Janet Napolitano likes to portray herself

propose some small tax cuts, including a

as a fiscally conservative Democrat. There

reduction in the business property tax. But

exists, however, a chasm between that image

she had to be pressured by the legislature to

and the reality of her fiscal record. In fact,

use some of the state budget surplus to cut

she's one of the worst governors in the nation

marginal income tax rates by 10 percent.

in terms of fiscal policy. She proposed mas-

Unfortunately, the governor and the legisla-

sive budgets throughout the past four years

ture conspired to squander the rest of the

that amount to an annual average increase of

surplus on grand new spending initiatives,

6 percent in real per capita terms. The

such as a "bioscience fund" boondoggle. It's a

Republican legislature has been happy to rat-

shame that the legislature has been so quick

ify much of her spending spree, too, some-

to appease such a big-spending governor.

times sending her budgets even bigger than

Pity the voter interested in restoring small

she originally proposed. After the GOP

government today in the land of Goldwater.

picked up seats in the state senate in the 2004

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