GOP Plan Cuts $511M From Budget

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Republicans in the House of Delegates said Tuesday they have a budget plan that cuts an additional $511 million from the governor's proposal and avoids shifting a portion of teacher pension responsibilities to the counties.House Republicans released Tuesday details of their alternative budget that would balance the state budget by avoiding an increase in taxes or fees and by making several cuts. Despite the plan's heavy reliance on cuts, House Republicans emphasized Tuesday that their proposal is not a doomsday budget.

"It's not a revenue problem. We've got a spending problem, and what happens is we spend, then we have to tax to backfill."

- Howard County Delegate Gail Bates, R-District 9A

Armed with a battery of charts and graphs, House Republicans illustrated how their alternative budget is balanced through cuts and a freeze in spending -- not through tax or fee increases."Less spending would be a brighter future for Maryland families, Maryland small businesses and Maryland taxpayers," said Delegate Kathy Szeliga, R-District 7, whose district encompasses portions of Baltimore and Harford counties.

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