By Delegate Mike McDermott
Today, the full body of Maryland’s General Assembly heard from Governor O’Malley about his vision for Maryland, and his interpretation of the past year. The Governor stated in his speech, “Everything has a cost…” Well, the question Marylander’s are asking is, “How much?”
His proposed budget holds our deficit at $1.2 billion while actually increasing spending by over $2 billion. There are several fund raids conducted from the Transportation Trust Fund ($120 million) and the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund ($90 million) with additional tax increases to replace the raided funds. At the same time, the governor plans to increase our debt through the issuance of bonds. This will further push our debt ceiling to the edge.
We cannot afford bonuses for all state employees ($750.00), nor the five additional paid holidays he is offering. We cannot afford to continue cutting Medicaid reimbursements while, at the same time, taking our enrollment up over a million Marylander’s (20% of our population). We simply cannot afford to extend ourselves at a time when the revenues from our citizens are contracting.
Today the governor spoke about the state creating winners and losers when it comes to business and industry. If you are about “green” jobs, you’re a winner; if not, you’re a loser. When the state predicates tax incentives and government backed funding sources to favored industry, it is akin to the king extending the scepter to whomever he wishes. Wind farms may be a great idea, but they need to stand on their own as a business endeavor. When the governor talks about “investments”, he should be talking about the private sector, not tax dollars.
We heard about the governors desire to place a moratorium on septic systems in rural developments, with no regard of the chilling effect this could have on land values, private property rights, and development on the Eastern Shore. He stated that “where we eat, sleep, and live…” is affecting our environment as if this, too, is something the government should control.
The governor stated we were “moving forward”, while his budget anchors us to our indebtedness. He called us a grand “experiment in self government”, while he offers only additional regulations, fees, and taxes on the business community. He says, “It’s all about jobs”, as if the government is the one who creates those jobs. The “ghost of disconnect” continues to haunt Maryland policy.
The bottom line is the governor expressed more visible outrage over the recent power outages in Prince George’s County than he did about the dismal state of our economy, and our failure to address critical budget areas when time was of the essence.
Governor O’Malley wants us to move toward a “knowledge based” economy. Well, that begins with a wisdom based budget, and that was sorely missing from the State of the State Address I heard today.
Thank you very much for this, Mr McDermott.
ReplyDeleteThe unvarnished truth-- a rare commodity these days.
Hopefully, more than a few of your colleagues will not only agree with you, but stand firmly by your side and help save this fine state from going into the abyss.
The governor did some 'highly polished' speechifying, but the devil is certainly in the details.
nor the five additional paid holidays he is offering
ReplyDeleteThey are NOT holidays! They are the mandatory furlough days that are forced on the employees with no pay in the past.
"Moving Forward" seems to be the theme of O'Malley (and Obama). The problem is that their forward is 30 years from now which effectively abandons an entire generation. Why does the electorate feel they can turn their backs our populace and rely on the next generation to keep them in office? Has this generation given up? Have they stopped going to the polls? Maybe O'Mally and Obama are wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe Tea Party movement brought some back into the voting public for the 2010 elections. It needs to do this and better for the 2012 elections. Once the Electorate realizes that our citizens will no longer tolerate being tossed into the dumpster, they'll want to server YOU.
Well said, and thank you Del. McDermott. I saw only what was reported in the news, and your account is most telling. As far as I am concerned our last gubernatorial election was the choice between the lesser of 2 evils. I am hopeful we can find a new contender next time around, someone with the citizens' interest at heart. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteDreams -
ReplyDeleteSince state employees didn't work on those days they should not have been paid. Since the state managed to get by with the furloughs, the logical conclusion is that there are too many people on the state payroll. O'Malley should be cutting positions!
There shouldn't by any "furloughs". Instead, the state government should start ending certain paid holidays. Don't open for business on those days, just don't pay employees for not working. A few possibilities:
Martin Luther King Day
President's Day
Columbus Day
Veteran's Day
American Indian Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving)
Also, when Christmas, New Year's or Independence Day fall on a weekend - NO PAY.
Government employees always whine that they should be paid like the private sector. I agree! Most private sector employees don't get all of these paid holidays. They can also be fired. They don't get automatic raises like federal workers do, and most state employees have in the past.
Thanks, Mike, for being what you stand for; our public servant looking out for our best interests! Keep up with these newsletters and God bless!
ReplyDeleteGA, The only way one was paid was if they used vacation time or personal leave time. Many, like myself, chose to save the time for summer vacations or an emergency. Otherwise, you did not get paid.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike. This is exactly why we sent you to Annapolis. Can't help but remember seeing an applauding Delegate Conway beside our governor on the front page of the Daily Times as he spoke. Guess that's another reason I didn't vote for ol norm.
ReplyDelete