Skeet, what you probably heard was that 48 states were projecting budget deficits, not that they were operating in deficit. Georgia was projecting a deficit for this year, but the Governor and legislature closed the gap. They had no choice. The only question was how to do it - what to cut, what to raise taxes on, etc.
As for Vermont, I have no idea what it's budget looked like before Dean took office (and I doubt you do either or you'd provide documentation), but since he took office during or soon after the last recession, he may very well have walked in to find projected deficits then. But regardless of whether he was governor or his predecessor had lived to do it himself, Vermont's budget would have been balanced by the time the legislature adjourned.
As for whether Dean is a "fiscal conservative," consider that Vermont's spending on education rose by 361% during his tenure, rising from 28% to 49% of the state budget.
And in case you don't want do the math, this implies that the overall state budget rose by 163% over the period, or about 10% per annum - far ahead of either inflation or growth in the economy.
Tell me, what do you base your "fiscal conservative" label on?
PS: 40k jobs during his tenure as governor comes to 1.3% per annum job growth. Whee! |
