Updated: Prepare To Be Last
When we evaluate Kentucky against our neighbors, we are often saved from being ranked last thanks to our neighbor to the east.
Prepare to be last.
In Cato's 2008 'Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors,' West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin receives one of three 'A' grades:
Joe Manchin was elected promising to pull West Virginia out of the economic doldrums, and he has taken important steps to that end. After an initial severance tax increase in 2005, Manchin has concentrated on cutting business taxes to help boost investment in his state. In 2006, Manchin approved a reduction in the business franchise tax and the corporate income tax. In 2007, he cut the franchise tax further. In 2008, Manchin signed into law a phased-in repeal of the business franchise tax and a reduction in the corporate income tax rate, which will save state businesses about $120 million annually when fully phased in. Manchin has also reduced the sales tax on groceries and supported various other tax cuts. On spending, Manchin has been very restrained in his budgeting, calling for overall reductions in most years, but the legislature has ended up passing substantial increases.
Elsewhere, the report notes that:
Democrat Joe Manchin, for example, has enacted probably the most pro-growth tax reforms of any governor.
Kentucky is not ranked because our current Governor came to office during the evaluation period (and before you look, neither is Alaska) but isn't it hard to imagine anything similar ever being written about Governor Beshear? I don't even think he's ever hinted at any goals other than raising state revenues and getting members of his own party elected.
UPDATE 2: David Adams picked up on the same thing.
UPDATE: the Club for Growth takes issue with Florida Governor Crist's 'A' grade for his 'Caney Mac insurance scheme.
