[Giantone]

Originally Posted by JPC sr

Governor O'Malley sent me this message below in my email today:

Dear James P.,

Monday is the first day of the special session we've called to finally solve Maryland's longstanding budget problems. And according to polls published this week, working with the General Assembly, we're in a strong position to get the job done.

We've put forward a fair, long-term solution - that starts with $280 million in cuts, slows spending growth by $1 billion over the next two years, and protects education, healthcare and public safety, which make up 84% of the state's budget.

As you can read below in a memo prepared by our pollster, Fred Yang, Marylanders recognize we face a serious problem. They want their elected leaders to deal with it, right away, in a special session. And there is broad support for the revenue reforms we've proposed to close the $1.7 billion hole we've inherited.

Download a copy of the memo

About two-thirds of our neighbors support raising the cigarette tax, recapturing slots revenue, increasing the corporate tax, and reforming the income tax - so that 95% of us get a slight reduction, while the wealthiest pay more.

Of course, there are pieces of our proposal that different people will dislike - for example, there is less support for a sales tax. But taken as a whole, our plan is fair. That's why it's important to me that we pass progressive income tax reform and take action to close corporate loopholes, like implementing combined reporting, to ensure big out-of-state corporations pay their income tax - just like small businesses.

As we illustrated the other day, the cost of doing nothing is high. If we fail to reach consensus during the special session, we will be forced to introduce a budget balanced through $1.7 billion in cuts. That will force us to do things none of us want, like raise college tuition, reduce school funding, raid open space funds, and slide backwards on healthcare, rather than making it more affordable.

But when given the choice of growing stronger or getting weaker, Maryland always chooses to make progress. And I'm hopeful we'll reach a long-term solution to Maryland's budget deficit in the coming weeks.

Thanks for your help. I hope you find Fred's memo informative. And if you'd like to contact your legislators to urge them to support our plan, you can reach them at: Who Are Your Elected Officials in Maryland? .

Sincerely,

Martin O'Malley
Governor

I do say that I do not agree with any of his higher taxes ideas.

You moron he sent it to me also ,it goes to anyone who has sent him and email!!!YOU'RE and IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!