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than half of the nation's governors are in Washington this week
for the National Governors Association meeting.
The
question is: Why do they come? And why do so many conservative Republican
governors continue to belong to this insidious organization that
promotes an agenda entirely at odds with what they say believe in?
In the past, the NGA has been a relatively innocuous if sanctimonious
"nonpartisan" organization. It did little good, but lacked the clout
to do much mischief either. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the NGA
peddled a decisively left-leaning staff, which made sense because
most of the governors were liberal Democrats. Like so many institutions
in Washington that were tilted heavily to the left, Republicans
pledged that if ever they got the power to change things, there
would be a thorough housecleaning and ideological shift back to
at least the center.
It's never happened at the NGA even though the GOP has had the majority
of the governors for 6 years now. Today, there are 30 Republican
governors. The GOP has the state house in 4 of the 5 biggest states.
This should be an organization promoting an agenda of states rights,
fiscal conservatism, and free-market policies.
But something irrational comes over Republican governors when they
start fraternizing with their Democratic counterparts. In the spirit
of bipartisanship they start to endorse looney ideas. A few years
ago when congressional Republicans were trying to cut taxes and
reform welfare, two issues that tremendously benefit states, the
governors issued a mamby-pamby statement complaining: These policies
might hurt the poor if it means reductions in payments to the states.
Dick Gephardt couldn't have written the script better.
What is most obnoxious about the NGA is that is now little more
than a Washington lobby for Internet taxation. The organization
has become maniacal about the issue. Once
| “Like
so many institutions in Washington that were tilted heavily
to the left, Republicans pledged that if ever they got
the power to change things, their would be a thorough
housecleaning and ideological shift back to at least the
center.” |
|
Republican
hill staffer complained to me a few weeks ago that "it's like the
governors have a full time lobbying operation pressuring Congress
to impose a uniform federal tax on the internet." One governor called
me last week, frantically asking me who would be a good speaker
opposing internet tax. Why? I asked. Because, he said, the NGA has
stacked the deck with a session on the issue with only advocates
— no opponents. Typical.
The Democratic governors are almost uniformly supportive of taxing
the Internet. The Republicans are split down the middle — with
the more fiscally conservative GOP govs — including Colorado's
Bill Owens and New Mexico's Johnson — leading the charge against
taxing cyberspace, and the more moderate to liberal faction —
led by Utah's Mike Leavitt, former NGA chairman — supporting
the revenue grab. Unfortunately, the incoming NGA chairman, John
Engler of Michigan, who is normally level-headed when it comes to
economic issues, has somehow found himself on the side of the tax
hikers. He's not likely to command the NGA staff to cease and desist
its crusade for this new tax.
All the more reason the NGA should be disbanded. This organization
can't be reformed. It needs to be neutered. Republican governors
should begin to pull out and withdraw funding — en masse.
How Does Your Governor Stack Up?
With the governors in town this week and in the national media spotlight,
now's a good time to review the policies of the governors. It so
happens that earlier this month, Steve Slivinski and I released
our 5th
annual Cato Institute Fiscal Report Card on the Governors. Governors
who cut taxes and spending the most get the highest grades. The
governors who tax and spend the most get the lowest grades.
On average, Republicans scored half a grade higher than Democrats.
Congratulations to Gov. Paul Celucci of Massachusetts and Kenny
Guinn of Nevada for acing the exam. It's encouraging to see that
former Texas Governor George W. Bush ranked an impressive third
on our list. The 3 most fiscally reckless governors in the nation,
John Kitzhaber of Oregon, Tom Vilsack of Iowa, and Gray Davis of
California are all Democrats.
But as you can see, 5 Republican governors received Ds in this year's
report. GOP govs. Don Sundquist of Tennessee, Bob Taft of Ohio,
Mike Foster of Louisiana, and Mike Leavitt of Utah have all been
tax raising governors. It just goes to show that the RINO ("Republican
in Name Only") is hardly an endangered species when it comes to
state politics. Let's just hope these are the governors that aren't
whispering in President Bush's ear this week.
The problem is the staff hasn't changed much from the days the Democrats
dominated the governors' mansions. Grover Norquist of the Americans
for Tax Reform has for years tried to persuade governors to
drop out of the NGA. He has had only limited success. But now is
clearly the time to recognize that this is simply a "nonpartisan"
organization that has long ago outlived its usefulness.
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