Inslee ‘Earns’ Fifth Straight “F” For Financial-Economic Performance

Every two years, the CATO Institute issues their prestigious report on the best and worst Governors in America, based upon economic policy, performance and taxes.

The organization, in order to preserve it's integrity, does not accept any government funding. They're pretty tough in their judging, using a mix of criteria including taxes, economic proposals, as well as how that state is performing under the Governor's leadership. CATO also considers each Governors input as to these factors.

South Dakota Governor Kristy Noem only got a "B", surprisingly the Republican Governor of Vermont got one too. Some GOP governors did well, others not. A handful of Democratic governors did well, although most did not. But it goes to show CATO is strict and non partisan.

Gov. Inslee received his fifth straight grade of "F", and the Institute said "His appetite for spending increases is insatiable, and paying for all the increases has driven him to push nonstop for tax hikes."   

The Institute confirms that Inslee broke his initial campaign promise years ago of no new tax hikes, but his first budget contained increases of nearly $1 billion. Click on the button below to see CATO's critique of Inslee.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown, who has been in office much less time, also got an "F". The Institute blames her performance on pushing through the controversial corporate activity tax, or Measure 97, in 2019. It had been rejected by a margin of 59-41 by voters in 2016, but she pushed it through anyway and it will go into effect in 2023. She also pushed through a paid leave bill in 2019 that will add millions in taxes to worker's checks and businesses. And she pushed to have a massive cigarette-tobacco tax placed on the 2020 ballot that would add, if approved, would boost average cost per pack from $1.33 to $3.33.

To see the CATO report on Gov. Brown, click on the button below.

The question was asked in the CATO report, why do these governors and executives push through such punative taxes? Because many of them are 'absorbed' by business and industry and are 'insulated' or not seen by voters. Business and Occupation taxes, corporate activity taxes and more are not 'seen' directly by voters (unless they own a business). These are not like gas or tobacco taxes, but they often hurt the economy worse.