Alaska
A seven-member subcommittee of the Fiscal Policy Caucus began meetings 2/27/02 to plan a 4% state income tax (costing taxpayers $350 million/year), use Permanent Fund revenues, hike the alcoholic drink tax by $0.10 (costing $30 million/year), discuss a cruise ship $30 head tax, increase the motor fuel tax, and increase contributions from the oil and gas industry. Senate President Rick Halford and Finance Co-Chairman Dave Donley said broad-based taxes will not pass the Senate (Anchorage Daily News, 2/28/02).

By Wednesday night, the $30 cruise ship head tax was added to a tax increase package including the 4% income tax by the fiscal caucus subcommittee. The income tax proposal includes "triggers" that would reduce the tax to 2% and then 1% depending upon how revenue collection responds in future years. The subcommittee also accepted and recommended a new means of calculating dividend checks from oil revenues so that the state absorbs more revenue and taxpayers take home less, and the dime-per-drink tax that would cost taxpayers $30 million/year. The total estimated cost to taxpayers by 2004 is $1.352 billion, more than enough to fill the projected $1.1 billion spending shortfall (Juneau Empire, 2/28/02).

Alabama
Rep. Billy Beasley (D) introduced a bill to lower the cost of prescription drugs for senior citizens by making the state health officer the single purchaser for all state agencies that buy drugs. Gov. Don Siegelman supports the plan, claiming that a single purchaser can buy in bulk to provide cheaper drugs to individuals (Anniston Star, 3/1/02).

California
In December, Gov. Gray Davis praised a state program that paid motorists $1,000 to scrap their cars that failed smog standards, but the program was one of approximately 80 initiatives cut or frozen after Davis\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s budget relief plan took effect in November. The Governor\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s office has had a hard time quelling accusations of hypocrisy (Los Angeles Times, 2/28/02).

Colorado
Gov. Bill Owens\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s plan to create a tolling authority was crushed in the state House this week, although Senate President Stan Matsunaka said 2/27/02 that he would try to push a similar plan to collect tolls on new highways through the state Senate. Matsunaka also supports a 20-year, $14.7 billion transportation proposal (Denver Post, 2/28/02).

Gov. Owens drew fire for proposing that the state spend $28 million from the state pension fund to help plug state spending shortfalls. Owens was accused of raiding the pension fund so that he could spend on highway construction. Owens\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s plan was authorized by the state Joint Budget Committee. The state pays $15 million each month to the pension fund (Denver Post, 3/1/02).

Connecticut
At 2:00 a.m. on the morning of 2/28/02, the state House passed 75-67 a cigarette tax increase of 61 cents. The Senate passed an identical increase late 2/27/02, 24-10, and Governor Rowland is expected to sign the tax into law. The cigarette tax increase is the first major tax increase of any kind to pass in CT in seven years; the increase more than doubles the current per-pack tax in CT, making Connecticut\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s the nation\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s third largest cigarette tax (The Hartford Courant, 2/28/02). Gov. John Rowland signed the 61-cent per-pack cigarette tax increase into law at 3:30 p.m. on 2/28/02, breaking his pledge to taxpayers that he would "oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes." Gov. Rowland signed the pledge 2/19/02 (The Hartford Courant, 3/1/02).

Florida
Two Republican term-limited state Senators, Don Sullivan and Jack Latvala, recommended spending $800 million more on public education this year by removing sales tax exemptions from professional sports teams, skyboxes, tanning beds, charter boats, and lobbying. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee 2/28/02. House Speaker Tom Feeney and Gov. Jeb Bush rejected the proposal, calling it a tax increase and a bad idea during uncertain economic times (St. Petersburg Times, 2/28/02).

Iowa
Senate File 2304 was approved by the state Senate 2/28/02, including spending cuts and fund reserve appropriations. Under the bill, state agencies will have several options for saving money, such as half-days for workers every two weeks. Some agencies will be required to cut 1% from their budgets. The bill is on its way to Gov. Tom Vilsack for his signature (Des Moines Register, 3/1/02).

Idaho
Republican lawmakers identified which state constitutional projects will be eliminated if the state economy continues to tank. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee prioritized a number of university construction projects despite a predicted 24% increase in state workers\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ health insurance costs (Idaho Statesman, 3/1/02).

Maryland
Plans are gearing up for a $0.34 per-pack cigarette tax increase as the state Senate grapples with a $800 million spending shortfall this year and next. The shortfall estimate increased this week by $200 million (Washington Post, 3/1/02).

Minnesota
Both the House and the Senate voted to override Gov. Jesse Ventura\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s veto of a budget late this week with almost no debate and without consulting the Governor. The budget includes $374 million in permanent spending cuts and $1.5 billion from budget reserves and special funds. But to balance the budget just through 2003, lawmakers still must cut $440 million in spending or further tap reserves, necessitating a second round of negotiations (Pioneer Press, 3/1/02).

Mississippi
Drug company representatives may have to shell out $2,500 yearly to market pharmaceuticals in Mississippi if a proposal emerging from the House Public Health and Welfare Committee becomes law. S.B. 2189 would levy the tax on drug company representatives to help plug a $158 million state Medicaid shortfall (Clarion-Ledger, 3/1/02).

Nebraska
Gov. Mike Johanns unveiled a $186 million spending cut 2/28/02 and recommended that state agencies begin cutting 3% of their budgets. Gov. Johanns made some exceptions to the recommendation, such as proposing no cuts to veterans\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ homes, 24-hour care facilities, child protective services, children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s health care, and Medicaid services. Gov. Johanns also supports increasing the state\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s per-pack cigarette tax by $0.50 to help fill the budget deficit (Lincoln Journal Star, Omaha World-Herald, 3/1/02).

New Jersey
Gov. Jim McGreevey\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s plan to tap $327 million from a health insurance fund for retired teachers and public employees met with strong resistance in the evenly-split legislature 2/28/02. Gov. McGreevey wanted to spend all of the money in the fund to help plug this year\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s and next year\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s deficits (The Record, 3/1/02).

New York
Republicans in the State Assembly\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s minority support a plan to require an Assembly-Senate committee rather than the closed-door negotiations policy that takes effect when the Governor and legislative leaders fail to pass a budget within 60 days of the April 1 deadline. Republicans in the Assembly also support using the previous year\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s budget if negotiations last longer than 60 days. The Governor and the Legislature have missed the April 1 deadline 27 times since 1974 (Times Union, 3/1/02).

Ohio
Senate President Richard Finan doesn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’t support the idea of a sales tax holiday, although a special study committee recommended a weekend holiday to spur Ohioans\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’ purchase of back-to-school items and computers (The Columbus Dispatch, 3/1/02).

Oklahoma
The state Senate approved 2/27/02 a sales tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers, meant to compete with a Texas holiday that drives many Oklahomans across the border. The Oklahoma version is identical to the Texas version, both of which relieve taxpayers of paying the state sales tax on items costing less than $100 for three days the first weekend in August. The Texas holiday has occurred every year on the same first weekend in August since 1999 (The Oklahoman, 3/1/02).

Oregon
On the third day of a contentious special legislative session, 2/27/02, Republican leaders in the House agreed to allow a vote on three tax increases and to pursue a budget cutting bill in the Senate. The three tax increases are: $0.50 cent per-pack cigarette tax increase addition to the current $0.68/pack tax, $0.05 per-drink tax on alcoholic beverages, and delaying for two years Ballot Measure 88 that would have provided income tax relief (Statesman Journal, 2/28/02). The Senate voted to cut $350 million from the budget 2/28/02 and left to the House the chore of cutting spending by another $400 million or raising taxes to fill the gap (Statesman Journal, 3/1/02).

Tennessee
Gov. Don Sundquist and various members of the state legislature have issued estimates for each of the state\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s 138 school systems regarding what each stands to lose if the "Downsizing Ongoing Government Services" (D.O.G.) no-tax-increase budget passes. In addition, the Governor and certain legislators have provided information about how much property taxes would have to increase to make up for budget cuts necessary to make up for the state\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s current budget deficit (The Tennessean, 2/28/02). The Senate will likely vote on professional services taxes and whether to call a constitutional convention about the legality of a state income tax. If the Senate Finance Committee approves on 3/5/02 what could eventually become a $1 billion tax increase, the Senate could vote on the proposal as early as 3/7/02. The plan would increase the state sales tax from 6% to 7% beginning April 1 and lasting until Jul1, at which time it would fall to 4.25% but include currently untaxed professional services (The Tennessean, 3/1/02).

Virginia
Both the Senate and the House of Delegates included almost identical language to allow the Northern Virginia 0.5% sales tax increase referendum to appear on the November ballot, costing taxpayers $350 million/year. But the Senate and the House sharply disagree on education spending, stalling any movement on the referendum. Both Houses approved a local referendum authority for southeaster Hampton Roads county to increase their local sales taxes by 1 penny (Washington Post, 2/27/02).

Vermont
The State House approved 2/28/02 a plan to rewrite state income tax laws, levying the tax against what the federal government defines as taxable income rather than the current state system that ties state income taxes to what taxpayers owe the federal government. The reform idea will circumvent Bush Tax Relief, which has and will continue to lessen the amount taxpayers pay in federal taxes, causing a subsequent decline in Vermont state income tax revenue (Rutland Herald, 2/28/02).

Washington
The House Transportation Committee passed a $6 billion plan that allows highway construction through formerly protected wetlands areas and increases gas taxes by 8 cents/gallon. Democrats were accused of trading environmental protection for Republican votes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 3/1/02). Most legislators consider the gas tax increase destined for voter approval in November (Seattle Times, 3/1/02).

Wisconsin
Members of the Joint Finance Committee could not agree on cost-cutting measures proposed by Republicans 2/26/02. No vote occurred 2/27/02 on Gov. Scott McCallum\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s plan to end $1 billion in annual state aid to counties, cities, and villages by 2004. "Republicans don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’t want to raise taxes, and Democrats don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’t want to cut spending. We\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’re stuck," lamented Rep. John Gard, co-chairman of the committee (Milwaukie Journal-Sentinel, 2/27/02). Senate Minority Leader Mary Panzer was the first Republican to break with Gov. McCallum and other Republicans by opposing the Governor\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s plan to end local aid (Milwaukie Journal-Sentinel, 2/28/02).

West Virginia
Gov. Bob Wise\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s sales tax holiday plan passed unanimously through the House of Delegates 2/28/02. The three-day holiday will occur the first week in August on items costing less than $100, and was approved for just one year (Charleston Gazette, 3/1/02).

Wyoming
On 2/26/02, the House Revenue Committee reconsidered a 4-lane highway project including a 4-cent gas tax increase, approved a 1% sales tax increase, and then killed both proposals (Casper-Star Tribune, 3/1/02).