The left-leaning Center for Budget and Policy Priorities released a report discussing tax increases. (H/T Derek Thompson at the Atlantic) They found that 36 states either have or are considering tax increases. Here’s the picture:
Several observations on the list.
California and Florida budget fights have gotten national attention. For California, it was a bunch of ballot initiatives failing. In Florida, Governor Charlie Crist broke tax pledge by signing a number of tax increases, and this has become a rallying cry in the Senate primary.
Six states with Republican governors who are looking at their future are on the list of states that have done nothing. In Minnesota, Governor Tim Pawlenty is clearly looking at running for President. As are South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Alaska’s Sarah Palin. Indiana’s Mitch Daniels has been put out there and is being considered by some. And Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal and Texas’s Rick Perry (looking at a primary)
But what I want to know about is the state legislators that are fighting this stuff. Who are the articulate state legislators who are going on the radio and local TV, rallying against these tax increases. Those leaders are redefining the Republican party. They are rebranding the Republican Party by their actions. And they may be winning some of these fights.
Let’s hear about them.