Cato Institute Looks at Giuliani's Fiscal Record As Mayor

Cato ^ | 3/5/07

[areafiftyone]

Giuliani

A new poll shows that Rudy Giuliani has pulled into the frontrunner position for the Republican nomination for President. Thus, it is worth looking at his fiscal performance as New York City Mayor (1994 through 2001).

A good source of data are the Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports issued by the city’s comptroller. See the CAFR for fiscal 2002, which contains 10 years of historical data.

Total NYC general fund expenditures.

1994: $31.3 billion

2001: $40.2 billion

representing a 3.6 percent average growth rate.

NYC Outstanding General Obligation Bonds.

1994: $22.9 billion

2001: $26.8 billion

representing a 2.3 percent average growth rate.

The data suggest that Giuliani exerted reasonable fiscal control, particularly in comparison to prior NYC mayors, or President Bush. For example, NYC debt more than doubled in the five years prior to Giuliani entering office. But more analysis needs to be done.

[areafiftyone]

((((((RUDY PING))))

[stockpirate]

Okay, now something we can sink our teeth into concerning Rudy.

[AZRepublican]

Has Rudy commented on the prescription drug plan?

[AlaskaErik]

Okay, now something we can sink our teeth into concerning Rudy.

All I need to know is that Rudy will not be good for my guns. That alone will keep me from voting for him.

[ElectricStrawberry]

A new poll shows that Rudy Giuliani has pulled into the frontrunner position for the Republican nomination for President.

Seems a "new poll" said that Romney was ahead 21% to 17%.

Polls shmolls.....

[areafiftyone]

Yea he told me yesterday he's gonna be at your door to take them away. (/sarcasm>

Believe me Rudy will not touch the gun issue. He's more concerned about the WOT and the economy than social issues.

[stockpirate]

"All I need to know is that Rudy will not be good for my guns. That alone will keep me from voting for him"

I DO NOT EVEN OWN A GUN, but if he is not good for your guns, I also will not vote for him! On that my friend you have my word.

(you never know when you may in fact need a gun)

[areafiftyone]

That was the CPAC straw poll which isn't a really good one because Romney paid for busloads of college students to attend and cheerlead him on. When I read that I was expecting him to win the CPAC poll.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Rudy blew off his owns son's high school graduation. What a POS. So what if they had difficulties, like all parents have, he could have at least shown up.

[areafiftyone]

Oh PULEEZE - get over that. The kid is 21 years old and is having problems still like any 21 year old does. Reagan had the same problems with his kids. His kids said he was distant and unfriendly and cold to them.

[Dixie Yooper]

How much of this debt piled up in the last 6 months of his term? Since we are talking about New York City, I think the 9/11 trump card can be played here.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Believe me Rudy will not touch the gun issue. He's more concerned about the WOT and the economy than social issues.

---

Guns aren't a "social issue", they are a liberty issue.

[areafiftyone]

Yea well in the political world they call them social issues. Guns Gays and abortion. Social issues

[jagusafr]

Did you hear his mouthpiece on Bennett last Friday? REALLY mealy-mouthed answers to the gun questions - something like, "Rudy is a strong believer in the second amendment", without saying what his interpretation of the second amendment is (militia only, not private ownership I assume). Came across as pretty noncommittal. And I still have problems with his management of his personal life and promises.

[CharlesWayneCT]

So, Rudy took over a city which, by any standard, was spending way too much money, and this "fiscal conservative" grew the budget fast than inflation for the 8 years he was there.

Kudos for slowing the rate of growth, but that's hardly the budget-cutting record we've been led to believe. I expected to see a budget lower than his predecessor, not bigger but by a smaller rate of increase.

[daviddennis]

Isn't the gun lobby one of the most competent and powerful interest groups in the nation?

I think you can trust that the normal interplay of politics will not make this an issue during the term of any President in the foreseeable future, so I would not make it affect my Presidential vote.

I am against gun control but I will admit it's far from my number one issue.

D

[Fierce Allegiance]

But to miss a high school graduation? Every parent has kid troubles, but no decent parent would ever skip their kids high school graduation. He also learned of his daughters acceptance to harvard through a newspaper. What a schmuch of a father. You would have to kill me to keep me from my kids like Rudy has done voluntarily! He sure isn't much of a man.

It must really suck having to defend this turdburger for all his massive and horrible shortcomings. You are a good little footsoldier for rudy, but it sure says alot about those who continue to support him, saying how everything bad he represents or has done is OK merely because "he's electable".

I mean, c'mon, the best the Hunter detractors have come up with is a backward apostrophe on his website.

[daviddennis]

3.6% is almost exactly the rate of inflation during that time, right?

If so that's not bad at all considering how difficult taping down spending is in NYC.

Has it started growing faster under Bloomberg? That would be your real test.

D

[areafiftyone]

You have to realize Bloomberg is riding on the coattails of Rudy's work as mayor. If Bloomberg inherited the disgusting state of affairs NYC was in under Dinkins - I don't know how he would have handled it.