As expected, President Obama gave a campaignlike speech when he delivered his State of the Union address. It was long on promises, repeating many lines from previous SOTUs, but short on results. And it’s Obama’s record that tells the true story of his presidency. The president is a good man, but he has unfortunately consistently promoted policies that have hampered the nation’s economic recovery, while piling up mountains of debt.
In an election year, Americans may wonder what the SOTU might have included if we had a Republican president. Perhaps the best way to consider that potential is by looking to the State of the State addresses where Republican governors are in charge today, and comparing their records with those of their Democratic counterparts.
More than half of the nation’s Republican governors have already delivered their State of the State addresses, and reviewing them reveals common themes. In these Republican-led states, you will find leaders who are balancing budgets, reducing taxes and making job creation their top priority. They are leading and getting results.
Many of the Republican governors who have given their State of the State speeches announced plans to ease the tax burden in order to make their states more competitive. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, for example, has proposed overhauling his state’s tax code, making it flatter and fairer.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has proposed $326 million in tax cuts, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is pushing to cut the state income tax by 10 percent, and Gov. Butch Otter wants Idaho’s top tax rate reduced.
Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley all have plans to make their states’ tax systems more pro-growth.
Democratic governors are doing just the opposite. At least six Democratic governors have proposed raising taxes this year. Most notably, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association, wants to increase the state sales tax by three-quarters of a cent, and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, supports an increase of his state’s income tax, as well as its gas tax.
Sadly, we already know these Democratic tax increases will ultimately prove ineffective. In 2007, Maryland increased taxes, and yet Maryland still faces a $1 billion shortfall. Just last year, Democratic Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn dramatically increased his state’s personal and corporate income tax rates.
Nonetheless, Moody’s downgraded Illinois’ credit rating to the worst among all 50 states. Not to be overlooked, Connecticut also had its bond ratings downgraded by Moody’s, just after Democratic Gov. Daniel Malloy enacted the largest tax increase in state history.
It’s not more revenue that’s needed. It’s a fundamental reimagining and restructuring of the role of government. Here, Republican governors are showing the way.
In contrast to Illinois and Connecticut, the budget signed into law by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker last year was called “credit positive” by Moody’s. Walker closed an inherited $3.6 billion deficit without raising taxes, and his reforms have already saved the taxpayers tens of millions.
It’s not just Wisconsin. In New Jersey, Christie signed pension reforms that will save taxpayers more than $120 billion over the next 30 years, while in Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder approved a plan that reduced unfunded retirement liabilities by more than a third.
Over the past two fiscal years, Republican governors have eliminated $65 billion in deficits, while the federal government borrows $5 billion a day just to stay afloat.
Obama has mastered the art of political rhetoric, but records are what matter. In Washington and state capitols, it has never been clearer that Republicans and Democrats have two distinct visions for America.
Republican governors are putting forth a positive, competing vision for America that establishes a strong and sustainable foundation for our country. It’s this results-oriented conservatism that will restore America.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
