Fiscal Report Card on Governors

(Via The Center for Freedom and Prosperity) The author's of Cato Institute's fiscal report card, Stephen Moore and Stephen Slivinski, give positive grades to Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Jeb Bush (R-FL), Rick Perry (R-TX) and Bill Richardson (D-NM) for pro-growth policies and fiscal restraint. In praising Gov. Richardson, Moore and Slivinski state:

Democrat Bill Richardson of New Mexico, slashed income tax rates from 8 percent to 5 percent and cut the capital-gains tax. Mr. Richardson correctly notes "New Mexico cannot retain a high trained work force and jobs if our taxes are much higher than those of our neighbors."
The New Mexico economy has recovered briskly from the recession and the unemployment rate is now below the national average. It's no wonder Mr. Richardson is seen a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe Bill Richardson will outflank Hillary on the right for the 2008 Democratic nomination.

The biggest disappointment as governor? None other than my own governor from Virginia, Mark Warner.

One of the most overrated governors has been Virginia Democrat Gov. Mark Warner, whose only "accomplishment" has been to violate his solemn campaign pledge never to raise taxes. Instead, last year he enacted the biggest tax increase in the Comnomwealth's history, though the year before voters decisively rejected this same plan as a ballot initiative.
Mr. Warner's lust for higher taxes was so great he signed the measure into law though the state had a projected $500 million budget surplus without the revenues. Now with Richmond awash in revenues, Mr. Warner has proposed the biggest increase in the state budget in years. Mr. Warner is no "new Democrat" but a classic tax and spender.