The Mercatus Center of George Mason University has come out with a study of which states are most fiscally solvent as of fiscal year 2014. These are their rankings of all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The best fiscal status in 2014 is enjoyed by states ruled by a Republican governor, Republican legislature. There are 25 of these with an average score of 0.89
1. Alaska 9.56
2. Nebraska 2.65
3. Wyoming 2.60
4. North Dakota 2.60
5. South Dakota 2.18
6. Florida 1.94
7. Utah 1.19
8. Oklahoma 1.19
9. Tennessee 0.88
11. Ohio 0.56
12. Idaho 0.44
13. Nevada 0.41
15. Alabama 0.28
16. Texas 0.20
17. Indiana 0.17
18. South Carolina – 0.04
21. North Carolina – 0.17
23. Georgia – 0.30
27. Kansas – 0.44
28. Arkansas – 0.50
29. Wisconsin – 0.51
31. Arizona – 0.60
32. Mississippi – 0.65
33. Louisiana – 0.73
35. Michigan – 0.78
Slightly negative for fiscal responsibility is to have a Democrat Governor, Republican Legislature. There are 6 of these with an average score of – 0.16
10. Montana 0.69
14. Missouri 0.34
19. Virginia – 0.04
20. New Hampshire – 0.05
39. Pennsylvania – 0.97
40. West Virginia – 0.99
Now we are getting into real negative territory for fiscal solvency. We start with a Republican Governor, Split Legislature. There are four of those with an average score of – 0.91
25. Iowa – 0.37
34. New Mexico – 0.75
42. Maine – 1.15
46. Kentucky – 1.36
Not quite as bad bad is to have a Democrat Governor, split Legislature. There are four of them with an average 0f – 0.51
22. Colorado – 0.27
24. Washington – 0.31
28. Minnesota – 0.44
42. New York – 1.03
Much worse is to have a Democrat Governor, Democrat Legislature. The seven of them have an average score of – 1.00
30. Oregon – 0.58
36. Vermont – 0.79
37. Rhode Island – 0.90
38. Delaware – 0.92
44. California – 1.07
45. Hawaii – 1.07
50. Connecticut – 1.68
Worst of all is to have a Republican Governor, Democrat Legislature. There are four of those with an average of – 1.36.
41. Maryland – 1.02
47. Illinois – 1.42
48. New Jersey – 1.45
49. Massachusetts – 1.55
And then there is Puerto Rico in a ‘class’ by itself.
51. Puerto Rico – 3.15
This helps to explain why Democrats want the Federal Government to handle everything for them since their states are hopelessly irresponsible with their states affairs, while Republicans as a rule tend to want to have every state handle their own affairs as they see best fit.
One further startling observation is that New Jersey under Governor Chris Christie came in second from last. This helps to explain the reluctance of the more conservative (or fiscally responsible states) to endorse him for President.
On the other hand, Alaska came in first, not in small part due to the heroic efforts of Sarah Palin during her 31.7 month reign as Governor, where she managed to get the Credit Rating for her state to go from AA to AA+ and then raised again to AAA shortly after her resignation. She accomplished more in this short time than most governors do in two terms.
This also helps in part to explain the irrational hatred for Sarah Palin. She did clean up the graft and corruption in Alaska, and they are afraid she would do the same on a national level should she be selected for Vice President.
Len Bilén's blog, a blog about faith, politics and the environment. 