Jonathan Williams and Skip Estes in Issues & Insights
An op-ed from ALEC policy experts Jonathan Williams and Skip Estes breaks down States of the States: An Analysis of the 2019 Governors’ Addresses, the latest publication from the Center for State Fiscal Reform:
Fortunately, there are some governors taking the lead on good tax policy. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed a constitutional amendment that would forbid the legislature to enact tax increases “without a vote of the people,” and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to “limit the ability of taxing authorities to raise taxes” by making property tax appraisers more accountable to taxpayers. Record state tax revenues lead most governors to favor returning tax dollars back to taxpayers rather than clamoring for higher taxes.
Every edition of State of the States contains a “best of the best” ranking for the five with the greatest commitment to pro-growth tax and fiscal policies. This year’s “best of the best” list includes Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.