According to the libertarian Cato Institute, she beat some tough competition to join this small group of governors: Pat Quinn of Illinois, Dan Malloy of Connecticut, Mark Dayton of Minnesota, and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii. All five received "F's" for their fiscal management.
Here's how Gregoire earned her grade:
Chris Gregoire of Washington earned a well-deserved "F" on the last Cato report card. There has been a never-ending stream of tax-increase proposals coming from this governor since 2005. In her first year, she raised taxes on cigarettes, gasoline, liquor, and vehicles. She also re-established an estate tax after a previous version had been struck down by the courts. In 2009 she signed into law increases in business taxes, sales taxes, cigarette taxes, beer taxes, soda taxes, and candy taxes. In 2010 she approved a large increase in the cigarette tax, a huge hospital tax, and increases in business taxes and beer taxes. In 2011 she proposed a half cent increase in the sales tax rate, but that was rejected by the legislature. In 2012 Gregoire proposed a new tax on crude oil to raise $275 million a year.
Almost all of those are regressive taxes, hitting the poor harder than the well off. On the other hand, government workers have done very well under Gregoire.
Finally, here's a scary thought: Former congressman Jay Inslee, who is running to replace Gregoire, would be even worse on fiscal issues, in my opinion. Inslee is promising to do the same things that Gregoire did, and more — while avoiding her, for some reason, on the campaign trail.
Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.
Posted by Jim Miller at October 11, 2012 10:09 AM | Email ThisWith that said, I must say that I cannot support Romney fro president because he intends to keep spending for our futile overseas adventures at even higher levels than they are now. What is needed, in my view, is a slow but steady withdrawal of our troops from foreign lands. We cannot continue to borrow money from people who hate us to support being the world's de facto police force. It's time for other countries to militarily support their own interest and to not rely on the US to do the dirty work. $16 trillion on the credit card is enough! It will take nearly half a century to pay-off that debt if we start today.
Say what you will about the Ds, they know who their friends are.
Posted by: Dave on October 11, 2012 03:01 PMThat seemed to come through in the debate tonight. Inslee is all about picking winners and losers and throwing more money at education, with no real plan to improve jobs except raise taxes.
@6 - If you have nothing to advocate, demonize the opposition by invoking the strawman Koch Brothers. Just like Joe "Krusty the Klown" Biden.
Posted by: KDS on October 11, 2012 11:03 PMWashington State's voters always take seriously the views of a Koch-brothers founded organization from far outside of our state. Just ask Jim Miller.
Almost all of those are regressive taxes, hitting the poor harder than the well off.
"Concern trolling" does not even begin to do justice here...
Posted by: tensor on October 11, 2012 11:48 PMOr were the Koch Brothers behind that, too?
Posted by: jimg on October 12, 2012 05:31 PMThat's exactly what you will be showing if you vote for Inslee - he is more big government than Gregoire. Also, look at what Obama did to the national economy with his big government ideology.
If you can come with an HONEST argument void of ideology as a rebuttal, bring it on so we can discuss and debate. I won't be holding my breath.
But then again who ever accused leftists themselves of being competent, effective or intelligent?
Posted by: Saltherring on October 15, 2012 03:35 PM