| So the state still has some budget woes. To be honest though, the special session went a long way towards helping narrow the gap. If Miller manages to get slots through this session, many of these budgetary worries will disappear for the near future, or thats what we would like to think. There is still the issue of an economy on the downturn, and the difficulty in gauging how this downturn is affecting Maryland. Either way, I believe that the media coverage of the Governor's budget is a bit over the top. No where is it mentioned that Maryland is constitutionally required to create a balanced budget. The Governor must submit a balanced budget and the legislature can only cut or restrict from that. It is this fiscal discipline that keeps Maryland Triple-A bond rated year in and year out, while still allowing state to spend liberally on important social, educational and environmental programs. Senator Madeleno put it something like this: "Maryland is a state with Liberal spending and conservative, consititutionally mandated money management". Can we do better, yes. Are we doing better than some? O'Malley and Democrats are doing the necessary dirty work to keep the State running at the level it's citizens deserve. I can't say the same about our previous Governor. |
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