Pocketbook Politics

A tax revolt brewing, and not only here, with Boston Tea Party tactics even by a few Democrats, and momentum for the recall of our spendthrift governor. The voters have spoken around the country, from liberal Oregon to nearby Indianapolis. Tribune:

A newcomer with no political experience who was outspent by more than 10-to-1 ended a months-long uphill climb to win office as mayor of Indiana's largest city.

Republican Greg Ballard scored a stunning upset Tuesday, beating two-term Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson.

Ballard was an unknown when he emerged as the GOP nominee in the spring after Republicans were unable to persuade any experienced candidates to challenge Peterson, who had easily won two elections.[snip]

Ballard, a 52-year-old retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, capitalized on public discontent over property tax increases, an increase this year in the Marion County income tax and the city's crime rate.

So figure it out, you Dem tax and spenders who dominate every level of government. Hitting people repeatedly in the pocketbook has political consequences at the polls.

Related posts: Just Say No to Sen. Schoenberg, Governor Delusional, The Mother of All Tax Hikes, $$$$$$$$$888 Million

UPDATE: Extreme Wisdom on Tax and Offend. And the WSJ, Schip Wreck:

But most likely, voters understood that a tax increase on cigarettes is still a tax increase, and a highly regressive one at that. Only about 20% of Oregonians smoke, and most of those are lower income.

They may also have figured that to the extent tobacco taxes reduce smoking, they will soon not yield enough revenue to pay for ever-growing health costs. An analysis by William Conerly, a member of Governor Kulongoski's own Council of Economic Advisors, found that a straight Schip expansion funded by a tobacco tax was unsustainable, with costs exceeding revenues by $115 million by 2017.

Counting "crowd out"--the migration to public from private insurance--Mr. Conerly predicted a $638 million deficit within the decade. Oregon tried a similar universal health experiment in the 1990s, only to see it raise havoc, and voters may not have been eager for a low-budget sequel.