Cato Releases Fiscal Report on Governors 2020

Chris Edwards

The Cato Institute has released its 15th biennial Fiscal Report Card on America’s Governors. The report grades state governors on their tax and spending records since 2018. Governors who have restrained taxes and spending receive higher grades, while those who have substantially increased taxes and spending receive lower grades.

Four governors were awarded an A: Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming.

Seven governors were awarded an F: Ralph Northam of Virginia, Andrew Cuomo of New York, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Phil Murphy of New Jersey, J. B. Pritzker of Illinois, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Jay Inslee of Washington.

The report examines the tax and spending choices made by each governor. It also discusses current state budget issues, including rainy day funds, marijuana taxation, revenue stability, and labor union policies.

Governors across the nation are facing tough fiscal choices, but the need for restraint and recovery is an opportunity to prune low‐​value spending and pursue pro‐​growth tax reforms.

The report on the governors is here.

Today at 11am, Cato’s Peter Goettler and Chris Edwards welcome New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu for an online discussion about state fiscal policy. Edwards and the governor will discuss the advantages of the unique and restrained structure of New Hampshire government.