CATO Gives Bullock a "C" On Its Fiscal Report Card, Slams Bullock for Vetoing Tax Relief
Press Release
The Cato Institute has released its 2016 "Fiscal Report Cards" for each governor. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock received a "C" rating in this year's report, largely due to his vetoes of important tax reform proposals.
CATO: His grade was pulled down by his repeated vetoes of tax reform plans passed by the legislature. One plan he vetoed in 2015 would have trimmed the corporate tax rate, reduced the number of individual income tax brackets, raised the standard deduction and personal exemptions, and scrapped narrow breaks in the code to simplify the system.
Montana is facing an increasingly difficult fiscal position as the state's economy has shrunk the last two quarters, revenues decline, coal production is on track for a 30 year low, and layoffs occur across the state. However, Governor Bullock continues to argue that everything is fine.
Bozeman businessman and tech entrepreneur Greg Gianforte criticized the governor for the state's increasingly difficult fiscal position.
GREG GIANFORTE: Under this current governor, we've seen the state's finances go from green to yellow to flashing red. However, the governor seems unwilling to face this problem. He continues to claim a $300 million rainy day fund that doesn't exist, and continues to tout Montana as the most fiscally prudent state in country when we're actually 26th. Montanans need new leadership that will take us from a "C" to an "A".
Gianforte has proposed his own plan, 406 tax relief, that is designed to get Montana's economy and revenues growing again.
This is also not the first report card that has given Bullock a "C" grade. The National Rifle Association also gave Bullock a "C" grade. Greg Gianforte has an A grade and the NRA's endorsement.
Gianforte is the founder of RightNow Technologies. He started the company out of his house in Bozeman, and created over 500 jobs in Montana. The average Montana salary at RightNow was nearly $90,000 a year.
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