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Maine

John Baldacci, Democrat

Legislature: Democratic

First-Term Grade: D

state and local tax burdens in the nation.

Throughout his first term, John Baldacci

Baldacci is a big spender, too. His recent bien-

has used rhetoric often heard from governors

nial budget request hiked spending by close

who want to cut taxes and the budget. His

to 6 percent, far in excess of population

actions, however, don't suggest he is serious

growth and inflation. He has dramatically

about lightening the burden of government

expanded the state's highly expensive Medic-

on Maine residents. He has proposed cuts in

aid program. Spending on that program has

the income tax rate and in property taxes, but

increased twice as fast as the national average

the closer one looks at how the plans are

since fiscal 2003, and enrollment has grown

actually structured, the less they resemble tax

substantially faster than the national average,

cuts at all. Instead, they are tax shifts. The

too. If Baldacci's policies actually matched

increases in fees and other taxes that Baldacci

his tax- and budget-cutting rhetoric, Maine

has either proposed or signed into law have

would be far better off economically than it

been enough to overwhelm the tax cuts. As a

currently is.

result, Maine still labors under the highest

Maryland

Robert Ehrlich, Republican

Legislature: Democratic

First-Term Grade: C

got spending under control his first two

Bob Ehrlich has spent most of his time

years, but in the last two years it has skyrock-

keeping the legislature from raising taxes. He

eted. His last budget proposal hiked general

has been consistently opposed to income and

fund spending by an astronomical 20 per-

sales tax increases and hasn't been afraid to

cent. This year Ehrlich finally got to sign a cut

veto tax hikes, as he did in 2005 with the leg-

in property taxes, but it was not enough to

islature's tax on health maintenance organi-

offset the Ehrlich-endorsed rate hike of three

zations. But when it comes to other taxes,

years ago. He is still better on taxes than his

Ehrlich's record isn't as strong. He pushed for

predecessor, Parris Glendening. On the

a $187 million property tax increase his first

spending side, however, there doesn't seem to

year in office. His FY05 budget was balanced

be much difference between the two any-

with more fees, including a sewerage fee that

more.

came to be known as the "flush tax." Ehrlich

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