2018 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Tax Reform


Mark Dayton: Raised taxes only on top 2%, not the other 98%

You might remember that I campaigned for Governor in 2010 on a pledge to raise state income taxes on only the wealthiest 2% of Minnesotans, and not on the other 98%. In 2013, we passed that 2% increase on the top 2% of our taxpayers. The change has made Minnesota's tax system more progressive and has been crucial in turning chronic budget deficits into steady surpluses; paying off the state's debt to our schools; eliminating other fiscal shenanigans; and building a $1.9 billion budget and cash reserve.
Source: 2018 Minnesota State of the State address Mar 14, 2018

Asa Hutchinson: Tax cuts attract keep veterans in state

[In the last year's legislative session], we also worked to cut taxes, and we did--in historic fashion. We have reduced the state income tax by more than $150 million each year. We also passed Act 141, legislation that exempts the retirement pay of veterans from the state income tax. And we are already seeing results. One such example is retired Col. and Iowa native Mike Kirby, who, after 26 years in the Air Force, chose to move to Arkansas and start a business because of our commitment to the military community. Another example is Adam and Brittany Boccher, who've decided to remain in Arkansas after Adam retires from the Air Force because we passed this law.
Source: 2018 Arkansas State of the State address Feb 12, 2018

Asa Hutchinson: Tax cuts keep Arkansas competitive : cut from 6.9% to 6%

I showcased Arkansas before the Editorial Board of the Wall Street Journal. One of the editors asked me what our top marginal tax rate was in Arkansas. When I said it was 6.9%, the response was: "That's worse than Connecticut." Today, I'm announcing my specific goal for the state. My objective has always been to lower the overall income tax rate in Arkansas, and that priority has never changed. Today, I'm proposing that we cut Arkansas's top tax rate from 6.9% to 6% when we all meet again next year.
Source: 2018 Arkansas State of the State address Feb 12, 2018

Henry McMaster: Low taxes spur economic growth and prosperity

The recent tax reform bill signed by President Trump was a great victory for American taxpayers and our economy. But with the federal government cutting taxes, it is now more important than ever for us to do our part. My executive budget proposes a $2.2 billion tax cut for every South Carolinian.

The first year's cut amounts to $139 million. To all the South Carolinians listening tonight: that's $139 million that would have gone to government, and will stay with you instead.

Like Presidents Reagan, Kennedy and now Trump, I believe that low taxes spur economic growth and prosperity. Yet, South Carolina currently has the highest marginal income tax rate in the southeast--the 12th highest in the nation. Seven states have no income tax at all. Taxes of all kinds at all levels add up--little by little--to smother growth.

We must act. We must heed the lessons of history. We must respect the right of the people to their own money, for their own purposes, according to their own priorities.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to South Carolina legislature Jan 24, 2018

Phil Murphy: Stronger & fairer funding instead of massive tax breaks

A stronger and fairer New Jersey funds its public schools and delivers on the promise of property tax relief; makes a four-year college more affordable and provides free access to community college; and creates new training programs to prepare our residents for jobs in an innovation-driven economy.

A stronger and fairer New Jersey creates tools for small businesses--and women, veteran, and minority-owned businesses--to thrive, instead of delivering massive tax breaks to a handful of select and connected big corporations that don't need them in the first place.

A stronger and fairer New Jersey ensures the wealthiest among us pay their fair share in taxes so working and middle-class families can keep more of their hard earned money.

Source: 2018 New Jersey Inauguration/State of the State speech Jan 16, 2018

Kim Reynolds: Update Iowa tax code to take advantage of federal tax cuts

Last month, Congress passed historic tax reform. For that, I want to thank Congress and the President.

But here's the thing: Because of an outdated provision in Iowa's tax code, Iowans will see a tax increase if we don't pass tax reform at the state level. Iowa is 1 of only 3 states that allow taxpayers to deduct their federal taxes. While that might sound like a good thing, right now it's not. It creates complexity, and worse--it means that when your federal taxes go down, your Iowa taxes go up.

With federal deductibility in place, when the federal government cuts taxes for working-class families, Iowa raises taxes on those same families. That's not just a hypothetical. It's what will happen if we don't act.

Therefore, I will be proposing a tax reform package that significantly reduces rates, modernizes our tax code, and eliminates federal deductibility. This is an opportunity to free us from decisions made in Washington, D.C. and simplify our tax code.

Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Iowa legislature Jan 9, 2018

Rick Scott: Supermajority for any tax increase

[Future politicians may] want to increase taxes, otherwise known as taking more money from hard working Floridians. I want 2018 to be the year that Florida voters pass a constitutional amendment that makes it harder for politicians to raise taxes. My proposal would require 2/3rds of the legislature to vote on a tax increase for it to become law. Some have asked if this proposal would be in effect during a financial emergency or another national recession, and my answer is clear--ABSOLUTELY.
Source: 2018 Florida State of the State address Jan 9, 2018

Phil Scott: Balanced budget without raising taxes

Early in my career working construction, I learned that when you find yourself in a hole and have a problem, the first thing you do is stop digging. Well, I'm proud to report that last year we stopped digging. We passed a budget that invested in our people and economy, without raising a single tax or fee. We closed a budget gap of more than $60 million, and limited budget growth to just over 1%, while wages grew at about 2%. This means--for the first time in recent history -that state government actually helped people keep more of what they earned.
Source: 2018 Vermont State of the State address Jan 4, 2018

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Kay Ivey on Tax Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Tax Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Tax Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Apr 07, 2019