State of the States: An Analysis of the 2019 Governors’ Addresses

by Jonathan Williams, Lee Schalk & Skip Estes, ALEC, Sept 30, 2019

The latest entry of the State of the States publication breaks down each governor’s “state of the state” address and identifies strong and weak policy prescriptions within. The publications also explore each states economic outlook and how certain policies outlined in these addresses could have either beneficial or detrimental effects on the outlooks of each state.

…

Summaries of Economic Policy Remarks by State

Below are summaries of the economic policy remarks the governors made during their respective 2019 State of the State addresses. Summaries are listed in alphabetical order by state. Included are the 2019 economic outlook rankings from Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index for reference. The Rich States, Poor States economic outlook ranking is a forward-looking measure based on a state’s standing in the equally-weighted average of 15 important state policy variables. These variables include tax policy, regulatory policy and labor policy. (1=Best, 50=Worst)

…

Hawaii – Governor David Ige

Rich States, Poor States 2019 Economic Outlook Ranking: 45

Governor David Ige cited Hawaii’s unemployment rate as one of the lowest in the country. l However, he failed to mention that the state has lost approximately 52,000 residents on net since 2008. li

Gov. Ige did mention the state’s bond rating, which will allow them to borrow money in the future at lower cost. However, revenue should not be a problem for Hawaii. The 2019 Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index ranks Hawaii 47 th in top personal income tax rate – 11 percent – and 50th in sales tax burden. lii

Gov. Ige mentioned his plan to contribute $35 million towards homeless programs and allotted $315 million for housing over the next few years. The budget also allots $3.9 million to support biosecurity in Hawaii, a policy that would most likely lead to higher regulations. To reverse the drain of residents and businesses back to the mainland, Hawaii would need a swift change-in-course, not more of the same anti-growth policies....

read … Full Report

2019: Rich States, Poor States: Hawaii Ranks 45th

2019: Full Text: Ige's State of the State Address