The Congress Needs to Watch the New Governors

Daily Caller suggests Congress would be well advised to watch the newly elected governors as they take on their state's fiscal problems...all except Illinois, that is:

We are all fiscal conservatives now; at least at the state level. According to the New York Times, the majority of newly elected governors have said they will redeem their states' economies in a similar manner: "Slash spending. Avoid tax increases. Tear up regulations that might drive away business and jobs. Shrink government, even if that means tackling the thorny issues of public employees and their pensions." Scott D. Pattison at the National Association of State Budget Officers told the Times that the rhetoric is so consistent, "[Y]ou can’t tell if it’s a Republican or Democrat, a conservative or a liberal.” There are exceptions to this new rule: In order to get at the vast wealth of his few remaining rich residents, incoming Illinois Gov. Patrick J. Quinn signed into law a 66% income tax increase.

Even Jerry Brown is looking for waste in the California budget, and that's a good thing. Hopefully the voters won't extend all the tax hikes he wants to continue and he'll get some more experience looking for waste.