David Craig and Jeannie Haddaway on State Budget

As the O’Malley – Brown budget is being considered in the House of the General Assembly, Harford County Executive David Craig and Jeannie Haddaway released the following joint statement:

“Maryland’s budget has increased from $29 billion in actual spending in 2007 to $40 billion proposed for fiscal year 2015, a spending increase of 36% over seven years.

“We must re-think the proper role of government in Maryland. Are we really better off with 80 tax, fee and toll increases than we were just seven years ago? Are the schools better, are the roads better, and are we better able to obtain health care or keep neighborhoods safer in 2014 compared to 2007? How is it possible that there is still a deficit in the budget after repeated promises that taxes would be the solution? It can only be attributed to mismanagement and lack of leadership.

“The results of no leadership are in. Rather than grow government, we will increase people’s take home pay and spur job creation by eventually eliminating the state’s income tax. In order to do that, we need a sound plan to stop ever-increasing spending.

"We commend the House Republican caucus for offering an alternative budget that reduces O’Malley’s spending by 3% yet still allows for a 1% increase over last year’s budget. It is a reasonable and responsible approach – especially given the recent revenue write downs.

"Year after year the Republican Caucus has offered viable alternatives - if these alternatives had been adopted we would not have found ourselves in this fiscal mess, and with a tax code that punishes everyone far more than the vast majority of other states in the nation."