Chris Edwards, director of tax-policy studies at the Cato Institute recently gave, Iowa Governor, Chet Culver an F rating, and a score of 31 which ranked 44th out of 46 Governors. The rating was based on fiscal responsibility while in office.

From the report:

"Iowa

Chet Culver, Democrat

Legislature: Democratic

Grade: F

Took Office: January 2007

Chet Culver campaigned on a plan to increase the state’s cigarette tax, and he followed through on that threat in 2007, with the effect of draining the wallets of Iowa smokers by about $140 million annually. This year, Culver has gone after businesses with a large corporate tax increase in the form of tax base broadening. On spending, Culver’s performance has been equally poor, proposing increases in per capita spending averaging 8 percent annually."

The report also said:

"Chet Culver of Iowa has been in office just a year and a half, but he has already proposed substantial tax increases on both individuals and businesses. He pushed for a tax increase on cigarette smokers last year and followed up with a corporate tax increase this year.Both of his budgets so far have proposed large spending increases."

Source: Cato Institute's Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2008