A few months after cheering Martin O'Malley's successful push for tax hikes, the Washington Post's John Wagner is lamenting the Democratic governor may have to settle for a "modest" agenda in 2008 due to budget constraints.
Don't hold your breath for similar concern about everyday Marylanders and how they may have to settle for more modest spending thanks to tax hikes, particularly a boost in the sales tax to six percent from five percent.
Here's the opening few paragraphs from John Wagner's January 7 article, "O'Malley May Set Modest Agenda":
For much of his first year in office, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley referred to the state's long-festering budget problems as a "dark cloud" that hovered over all that he and lawmakers contemplated in Annapolis.
As he enters his second year, O'Malley is continuing to bask in praise from fellow Democrats for calling a high-risk special legislative session that resulted in major tax increases and spending reductions to fix the state's finances.
But the skies have not entirely cleared.
With the General Assembly set to return to work Wednesday, analysts are predicting more tight budgets in the years ahead that could be undermined by an uncertain economy. And that, coupled with legislative fatigue from last fall's special session, is likely to curtail what O'Malley will ask of lawmakers in the coming 90 days.
At the time, NewsBusters also noted the Post editorial board's praise for O'Malley's tax hikes.
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Predicted this too
January 7, 2008 - 12:41 ET by Lame CherryMonths ago I predicted there was a huge backlash building in the nation toward all these anti Bush liberals voted into office. I pointed out Congress was tanking and is horrid, that inept liberal in New York (the Gov.) is in horrid shape, liberal Kalifornia is in dire straights from liberal spending and now one Dame Hamrod Clinton is going down the chute taking a dive.
The Republicans IF they put forward Newt Gingrich type candidates in being Conservative and make this a national election taking full credit for Iraq, get passionate about Christianity and American values, put for an economic plan of production AND TACKLE BORDER BUSTERS, they are in position for a landslide to make Nixon's sweep look small.
The cartel has bet it all on Gore coming into the race, but factions in the cartel have now jumped ship in the Boston Globe and New York Times attacking global warming to keep him out of the race.
The only reason the cartel manufactured Obama was to get the black vote and not to ever have him sit at the table. The only minority they were interested in was bag man Bill Richardson who is a white hispanic to be Veep.
Liberals are tanking all across the nation. I blogged on HuffPo before I was banned there that Dems did not get it that Americans did not vote to loose Iraq, BUT TO WIN IRAQ. They blew it and blew it on spending being worse than President Bush.
I sincerely hope that Americans say prayers for President Bush in his safety going to the Middle East as that is where he should not be. WND reported terrorists are going to be in the entourage providing security in the "Palestinians" sector.
God bless and keep President Bush as I would really like him to be around to get full credit for his good policies as he and Cheney stood firm when all these quizzlings were whining and trying to defeat America. In His Name Amen.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
In perspective
January 7, 2008 - 12:45 ET by KC MulvilleThe argument is that this new Democrat governor needs to address the budget shortfalls that accumulated, presumably, during the term of his Republican predecessor. Maryland's legislature is applauding his courage.
That story might make sense if you didn't know that the legislature is the real power in the state, and has been liberal Democrat for a long time. Any budget deficiencies are the Democrats' fault. The GOP governor, Bob Ehrlich, did his best to hold back the tide, but now the Democrat governor is unleashing the flood.
Could be the ticket out of here.
Maryland libs drunk with power
January 7, 2008 - 13:17 ET by not_lima_HMaryland has a structural defecit. It means intended increases in government spending exceeds projected revenue. If they would slow the increase they would have a balanced budget. But liberals have a political monopoly in Maryland and in their middle of the night special session they not only increased some taxes but came up with some new ones. The special session has been challenged on legal grounds.
The answers to everything for a lib is more government.
WaPo Endorsed His Opponent
January 7, 2008 - 13:23 ET by V the KIn the 2006 election, the Washington Post endorsed his Republican opponent. Of course, they knew the endorsement was meaningless, Bob Ehrlich's one-term had been an electoral fluke and there was no way left-liberal voters of the state would return him to office. They only endorsed Ehrlich so they could point to a non-Democrat endorsement and claim it showed their balance.
I'm so glad
January 7, 2008 - 15:42 ET by Jimmybobthat I got out of Maryland before O'Malley took over. I could see what was coming. But Maryland has always been a joke when it comes to effective government. I just couldn't afford to live there. Just watch and see if other "productive" citizens don't follow me out.