Wishing for Dollars & Stealing Pennies

by Delegate Mike McDermott

If your approach to budgeting is based upon “wishful thinking” as opposed to economic realities, you might be a liberal legislator; and the Maryland General Assembly is full of wishful thinkers. In the case of this year’s bloated spending (bringing the total increases to over $10 billion in 8 years), the wheels are coming off the Maryland bus.

Income tax and related revenues are down over $400 million so far this year according to the Comptroller, but that is just the beginning of woes. In spite of being warned by the General Accounting Division and the conservatives in the House and Senate, liberal legislators signed onto the O’Malley-Brown budget and simply agreed to spend money they did not possess.

Their projections were based upon election year politics and not the stark truth that our state has an economy that ranks #50. There are 13 states that are not getting it done and we are at the bottom of the proverbial barrel.

It is very peculiar how we are not seeing this in the local media. It is a big deal and the Daily Times has been silent.

Liberals have raided billions of dollars from multiple trust funds.They have stolen hundreds of millions from our teacher’s pension funds, and have increased our income taxes so that we are now the 46th worst state in the union. The “Annapolis Gone Wild” bunch even tax the rain that falls from heaven. Yet all of this was not enough.

The conservative maxims: “You cannot spend your way out of a recession, and you cannot tax your way to prosperity” are absolutely true and on full display in Maryland.

The very men and women who have consistently voted to increase our spending every year are responsible for this and should be held accountable in November.

Our state government needs help, not more of your family’s money, if it is to get better. Let’s join prosperous states with growing economies by:

Increasing our “business friendliness” by reducing Income and Corporate Tax rates;

Decrease our regulatory burdens and make it easier to start or expand a business;

Eliminate crony capitalism and extend benefits to all businesses;

Become a “retirement friendly” state by cutting: Income/Inheritance/Estate Taxes;

Reduce the size and scope of government;

Protect local autonomy and decision making authority.

Eliminate automatic spending increases within the budget.

Develop a comprehensive approach to energy that includes natural gas extraction.

Conservative budgets and legislative efforts offered and rejected every year by the liberals in the General Assembly would have our state prospering, not reeling in debt. Holding those responsible for this debacle is the duty of every voter in Maryland. Let’s make sure we do our part this November 4th.