General Feed
NTU's 2009 Ballot Guide gives a succinct look at key measures that will expand or contract state government. In this post I'll flesh out the details of the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia and a few key measures in other states.
Governor's Races
- New Jersey. Incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine (D) faces a tough test tomorrow, running for re-election against former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie (R) and former EPA administrator Chris Daggett (I). Corzine's record as governor is abysmal. He has raised taxes on income, property, cigarettes, alcohol, and lottery winnings just this year. New Jersey's tax climate is among the nation's most onerous, and residents are leaving the state in droves - over 462,000 left between 1998 and 2007, according to ALEC. Corzine was one of the first governors to vocally support President Obama's federal bailout of state governments, which propped up New Jersey's budget temporarily but will leave a gaping deficit the next time around. Corzine promised spending transparency in New Jersey (see NTU's letter to the Governor) but ultimately has not delivered.
Christie, on the other hand, has offered a vague plan to cut taxes. He blames Corzine for the state's fiscal woes, but offers few details on how he would restore fiscal sanity in Trenton. His campaign has focused more on corruption and law-and-order; these are important issues, but it is the tax-and-spend culture in the Garden State that should be the true winning issue. Middling poll numbers (Christie +1.2 according to RealClearPolitics) suggest that he has not convinced voters that he has a clear-cut plan for restoring government to its proper size and scope.
Unfortunately for Christie, Independent candidate Chris Daggett stands to receive 11.6 percent of the vote per RCP. Many of his supporters are likely anti-Corzine voters who find little to like about the Republican alternative. Daggett's tax plan is heavy on details - he would cut property taxes and raise sales taxes, while eliminating a variety of tax rebates and credits. There is debate as to whether his plan represents a net increase in taxes.
For what it's worth, the New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance, a friend of NTU, has endorsed Christie. Taxpayers really can't fare much worse than they have under Jon Corzine, and in this too-close-to-call race it will be interesting to see if they trust Christie's anti-Corzine meme or if Daggett siphons enough votes to ensure four more years of high taxes, exploding debt, and rampant overspending - with no semblance of transparency to boot. - Virginia. This is an open race, as Virginia has a one term limit for Governor. Virginia is a former red state that has been purpling; its last two governors have been Democrats, and both U.S. Senate seats are Democrats. This race pits Attorney General Bob McDonnell (R) against State Sen. Creigh Deeds. It is a rematch of the extremely close AG race in 2005, when McDonnell beat Deeds by less than 1,000 votes.
As in Virginia, this race features a Republican somewhat vague on the tax-and-spend issue, though much less so than Chris Christie. McDonnell has hit Deeds on his willingness to hike taxes to pay for transportation upgrades. Deeds has stammered, hemmed and hawed when asked about his predilection to tax increases, and attempted to make the race about McDonnell's views on social issues. McDonnell has refused to engage, instead portraying himself as a "jobs candidate." I have yet to meet an anti-jobs candidate, but that's another story.
Polling dictates that McDonnell (along with the rest of the statewide Republican ticket) will cruise tomorrow. The Republican leads by an RCP average of 14 percent. We aren't too sure how Governor McDonnell will treat taxpayers, but we are heartened by his criticism of Deed's position on tax increases.
Ballot Initiatives
- Maine Question 4. Mainers will vote on a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) tomorrow that will cap the annual growth of government spending at the rates of inflation plus population growth, allow voters to decide on any tax increases, and refund a portion of surplus revenues to taxpayers via broad-based tax cuts. Colorado is currently the only state with such a strong set of taxpayer protections, and Maine's TABOR actually improves on the Colorado manifestation.
To put it succinctly: Government continues to grow at an unsustainable rate in Maine, leading to perpetual deficits and tax increases. After a similar version of TABOR narrowly failed in Maine in 2006, lawmakers promised to reign in spending and taxes. Since then, they have increased taxes by $300 million. Over the past decade, Maine has lost 13,000 private sector job while adding 3,400 employees to the government payroll.
Because politicians insist on saying one thing and doing another, TABOR is necessary to control the growth of government and give citizens a voice. Polling is mixed on this issue, as labor unions and those who profit from government (like the hedge fund manager who received a $200 million taxpayer-funded bailout) continue to pour millions of dollars into efforts to defeat the measure. If Question 4 passes (along with Washington Initiative-1033), other states may feel emboldened to replicate the success of Colorado's TABOR amendment, relieving taxpayers across the country from the burdens of big government.
For more information on Question 4, visit NTU's http://maine4taxpayers.com and the YES on 4 campaign's http://www.tabornow.com. Follow Maine for Taxpayers on Twitter: @ME4Taxpayers. - Washington Initiative-1033. Washington State voters will decide tomorrow on a measure similar to Maine Question 4. Rather than spending, I-1033 will cap government revenues at the rates of inflation plus population growth. Taxpayers will be able to vote on any proposed tax increases or revenue increases above the cap, and surplus revenues will be refunded to them via property tax cuts.
The case for I-1033 is similar to that of Question 4. The state recently grappled with the largest deficit in its history, a $9 billion budget hole created by a 31 percent explosion in spending during Gov. Gregoire's first term. Government was allowed to grow rapidly during periods of economic expansion, only to face drastic budget cuts and the threat of tax increases during the current slowdown. I-1033 would impose predictability in the budgeting process, rather than the boom-and-bust status quo. It is also important to note that government would not shrink under I-1033, and no cuts would be made as a direct result. Government continues to grow, only at a responsible rate.
Like Question 4, poll numbers are fluid and subject to millions of dollars of lobbying from out-of-state union bosses. I-1033 would be revolutionary for Washington's economy, allowing the private sector to flourish while helping to restore government to its proper role.
For my take on these spending cap measures, see today's Stateline story. Also check out NTU's Taxpayers for 1033 at http://taxpayersfor1033.com. Follow on Twitter: @1033Taxpayers.
There are a number of other important state and local ballot initiatives across the country rated in NTU's Ballot Guide. Proposition 11 in Texas would protect against eminent domain abuses. Voters in Palm Springs will be faced with a measure to increase the telephone tax. Numerous localities in multiple states will vote on measures to increase debt.
Most importantly, get to the polls tomorrow. You can impact the way government treats you today, while giving momentum to further reform efforts in the near future.