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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. (Long standing since I took office and blew the surplus we had) And according to polls published this week, working with the General Assembly, we're in a strong position to get the job done. (i.e. Screw the working stiffs)

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. (Of course next year, we'll find new ways to waste your money)

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. (nobody in Annaplois wanted to spend LESS money)

About two-thirds of our neighbors support raising the cigarette tax, (we blew the money from the tabacco settlement) recapturing slots revenue, increasing the corporate tax, (it makes sense to support horse racing while driven business out of Maryland. Those corporate guys just don't have the off the books cash like the gamblers) 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. (only the wealthiest buy groceries?) 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. (those big coporations won't think of moving out of Maryland)
As we illustrated the other day, the cost of doing nothing is high. (the cost of free spending Democrats is even higher) 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. (OMG, forced to not spend money you don't have) That will force us to do things none of us want, like raise college tuition, (except we'll still give illegals resident tuition price) 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. (chooses to raise taxes) 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

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