Back in 1997, the then free-market-friendly Republican state Senate and the then free-market-friendly state governor, George Pataki, tried to get rid of rent restraints, but ran into fierce resistance from the Democrat-controlled assembly.

ECONOMIST: Housing in New York City

The expansive opinion on the perks allowed for the governor included continued free use of state helicopters and airplanes for Cuomo to and from his Westchester home and Albany, where the governor's mansion is located, and is other office in New York City.

WSJ: APNewsBreak: No disclosure for Cuomo's girlfriend

It allows the governor, the "first family" and even friends of his children to use state aircraft for free when riding with the governor to and from official events.

WSJ: APNewsBreak: No disclosure for Cuomo's girlfriend

American drugs fighters wonder why Jorge Carrillo Olea, a former state governor suspected of protecting kidnappers and traffickers, is still free nearly two years after he stepped down, and why Mario Villanueva, another state governor suspected of trafficking, has not been found since he fled last March, just before his governor's term (and immunity from arrest) ended.

ECONOMIST: Mexico: Drugs shock | The

When civil-rights groups fretted about the ability of minority voters to get to the local Department of Motor Vehicles to pick up a free state-issued ID card, Governor Haley created an 800 number to offer free rides to anyone who couldn't afford the transportation.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: Holder's Racial Politics

Nor since the 1950s has Sao Paulo state in any free election chosen a conservative governor.

ECONOMIST: Brazil

The Governor of Georgia promised that all new mums in his state would be given a free classical CD.

BBC: The Mozart Effect: Boost or bust?

As long as a significant number of voters believe that the federal government will always benevolently subsidize their state, they will be unhappy with a governor that turns down what they naively believe to be free money.

FORBES: What does Medicaid mean to governors?