ALEC Names the Best State of the State Addresses for 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dan Reynolds, ALEC Public Affairs
Email: dreynolds@alec.org
Phone: 571-782-5038
ALEC Names the Best State of the State Addresses for 2019
Arlington, VA, Sept. 30, 2019 – Today, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) releases the annual State of the States: An Analysis of the 2019 Governors’ Addresses, written by Jonathan Williams, Skip Estes and Lee Schalk of the ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform. All 50 governors delivered proposals that could affect economic competitiveness, for better or for worse. Read the report here.
State of the States analyzes the different gubernatorial policy proposals of 2019 presented in each governor’s state of the state address. For 20 newly elected governors, it was a preview for what is to come for their states during their first terms. The analysis lists the worst proposals, as well as the best proposals. This analysis was based on the economic policy proposals on matters such as taxation, regulatory reform, labor policy and is guided by the ALEC principles of taxation.
The ALEC Best State of the State Addresses, 2019 are as follows, in alphabetical order by state name:
- Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
- Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin
- Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant
- Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts
- South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
Many governors proposed tax reductions and tax increases:
- 10 governors proposed personal income tax reductions
- Three governors proposed business tax reductions, and three governors proposed property tax reductions
- Two governors proposed sales tax increases
- Two governors proposed personal income tax increases, and two governors proposed sales tax increases
- One governor proposed a property tax increase, and one governor proposed a fuel tax increase
“Governors wanting to needlessly raise taxes during one of the healthiest budget periods in recent memory do not respect the hardworking taxpayers in their states,” said Jonathan Williams, ALEC chief economist and executive vice president for policy. “Fortunately for taxpayers, a large number of America’s chief executives moved in the right direction this year and proposed tax relief measures that will make their economies more competitive in the years ahead.
The ALEC Center for State Fiscal Reform strives to educate policymakers and the general public on the principles of sound fiscal policy and the evidence that supports those principles. It also works to educate policymakers by outlining the policies that provide the best results for the hardworking taxpayers of America through personalized research, policy briefings in the states and releasing nonpartisan policy publications for distribution. Read the report here.
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The American Legislative Exchange Council is the largest nonpartisan, voluntary membership organization of state legislators in the United States. The Council is governed by state legislators who comprise the board of directors and is advised by the Private Enterprise Advisory Council, a group of private, foundation and think tank members. For more information about the American Legislative Exchange Council, please visit: www.alec.org.