While Washington, D.C., has accepted the idea that Americans are allergic to taxes,at the state level public tolerance for sacrifice is being put to a test. For the first time since the early 1990s, several governors have suggested sweeping tax increases-the kind that will affect the majority of voters, not just smokers and high earners. Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire, for example, has warned of an unspecified bump in the sales tax. Pennsylvania's Ed Rendell wants to add a 4 percent surcharge to a series of everyday products and services, including periodicals, flags, and dry cleaning. Perhaps the best gauge of local sentiment, however, will be in Arizona, where Gov.
展开▼