Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2006

This report presents the findings of the Cato Institute’s eighth biennial fiscal policy report card on the nation’s governors. The report card’s grading is based on 23 objective measures of fiscal performance. Governors who have cut taxes and spending the most receive the highest grades. Those who have increased spending and taxes the most receive the lowest grades.

Only one governor receives an A this year— Republican Matt Blunt of Missouri. The next two highest‐​scoring Republicans are Rick Perry of Texas and Mark Sanford of South Carolina. The highest‐​scoring Democratic governors are John Lynch of New Hampshire and Phil Bredesen of Tennessee.

Nine governors receive Fs. In alphabetical order, they are Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, Michael Easley of North Carolina, Kenny Guinn of Nevada, Christine Gregoire of Washington, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Ruth Ann Minner of Delaware, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Bob Riley of Alabama, and Brian Schweitzer of Montana.

Governors who received praise in previous editions of the report card but have lower grades this year include Arnold Schwarzenegger of California (current grade, D); Jeb Bush of Florida (current grade, C); Bill Owens of Colorado (current grade, D); George Pataki of New York (current grade, D); and Bill Richardson of New Mexico (current grade, C).

(View the list of Governor scores and grades.)