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Governor
O'Malley with Greta Van
Susteren.
Fox
News, August 11, 2011.
Click
on image to watch
video. |
Maryland also received national attention lately when Governor
O'Malley was interviewed by Greta Van Susteren on Fox
News. I encourage you
to take six minutes to watch this interview. Just click on this
link. Although Van Susteren and her husband,
John Coale, are personal friends of the O'Malleys, she appears
to be honestly confused by his responses just like most of the
people I know.
Of course, Governor O'Malley blames many of our economic
problems on Republicans or "TEA Party extremists." I strongly
disagree with him and much of his rhetoric in this
interview. I will clarify the facts on a few of his
points.
In
the interview, Governor O'Malley stated
that:
1.
"When threatened with a credit downgrade, our state has made
the tough
decisions on
cuts and revenues time and time
again...."
FACT: Maryland's budget
has increased from $28 billion to $34 billion (a 21%
increase) since O'Malley took office. The massive tax
increases in 2007 and tax and fee increases this year are
not my idea of "tough decisions." Living within our
means, like most households, is making a "tough
decision."
FACT: All of the
rating agencies have warned Maryland for the past two years
that they are concerned about our unfunded pension and retiree
health insurance benefit obligations.
FACT: The Governor
imposed an additional 2% payroll tax on all State employees
and teachers in the guise of shoring up the pension fund, but
those employee withholdings will be deposited
into the general operating fund to balance the
budget.
FACT: The Governor has
raided the Transportation Trust Fund to the tune of hundreds
of millions of dollars and is now contemplating a gas tax
increase to replenish the fund in addition to substantial toll
increases.
2.
"We brought people together, both Democrats and Republicans,
to make
tough
decisions..."
FACT: There was very
little Republican input sought by O'Malley at any point
before, during or after the legislative session. For the last
four years, all but a few Republicans voted against Governor
O'Malley's proposed budgets. His structural budget
deficit is still $1.6 billion.
3. "...the
problem is, we are not focused on job creation, we need an
economy
poised
to create jobs."
FACT: Any
observer of the 2011 Legislative Session could see that the
Governor spent his political capital pushing for Gay Marriage,
adding transgender and transsexuals as a protected class,
granting in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, forcing
ratepayers to subsidize expensive offshore wind farms and
strictly banning septic systems that would destroy rural
economies. He is also racing to be the first State in the
nation to implement OBAMACARE- the largest job killing mandate
on small business in history.
How do these
initiatives create
jobs??
FACT:
While the rest of the nation sees the benefits of the "Right
to Work" and reducing the role of unions in collective
bargaining, Governor O'Malley has forced unionization and
service fees on thousands of State workers, home health care
providers and home day care providers. This is a major
disincentive for business to grow or locate in the State of
Maryland.
FACT: A
recent report by the Department of Labor reported that
Maryland ranked last in the nation in jobs created - 50th out
of 50 states. Maryland lost another 20,000 jobs - about 1% of
the state's employment base - during the past year
alone. This is no surprise given that Maryland has the
4th highest tax burden in the nation and the 4th highest
increase in state spending.
4. "The
private sector has been creating jobs and the public sector
has been
shedding
jobs... wants the government to create more jobs...the
government plays a role in job creation..."
Governor
O'Malley argues that we will destroy our economy if we cut our
public sector spending. However, Greta Van Susteren points out
that Maryland is already obligated to pay back 50 billion
dollars in bonds. The Governor was unable to respond to
how we will continue to spend at the rate we are without
pushing ourselves further into debt. We have balanced our
current budget through raiding important funds, by taking out
billions in bonds, and by making our taxes less competitive
compared to our neighbor states. Governor O'Malley's lack of
an answer to Greta's questions and his blaming others for all
of our problems is what confused her. It confuses me also.
Listen
for yourself to this interview- the rhetoric and facts do not
add up. | 
