Maryland’s ‘doomsday’ budget used as club

The Washington Times ^ | March 6, 2012 | David Hill

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

ANNAPOLIS — State budget analysts Tuesday suggested nearly $800 million in potential cuts as part of a “doomsday” budget that Senate leaders have vowed to consider if lawmakers cannot agree on a mix of cuts and revenue increases in this year’s spending plan.

The analysts briefed the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee on the reductions, which include cuts to education and health services, elimination of 500 state jobs and more than $300 million in cuts of local aid to counties.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said lawmakers are determined to make more aggressive cuts than those in Gov. Martin O'Malley’s proposed budget but that the doomsday proposal is meant to show some tax hikes also are needed.

“It’s huge cuts to Medicaid, huge cuts to higher education and hopefully we can avoid that,” said Mr. Miller, Prince George’s County Democrat. “And the only way you’re going to avoid that is with revenues.”

The General Assembly is charged this year with not only passing a balanced budget but also cutting at least half of the state’s $1.1 billion structural deficit, which measures expected revenue shortfalls in future years.

Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, proposed a $35.8 billion budget this year that has drawn resistance from Republicans and many Democrats who say it leans too heavily on raising taxes and shifting $239 million in teacher pension costs onto counties.

The doomsday budget would forgo the governor’s proposed tax increases on income, Internet purchases, cigars and other items and instead cut $130 million from agency expenses, $185 million from higher education and $101 million from Medicaid.

It would also cut local aid to Baltimore and the state’s 23 counties by slashing $205 million from local education, eliminating grants for law enforcement and reducing disparity grants for less affluent counties.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Forrestfire]

500 State workers is doomsday???

[sickoflibs]

I saw that on the local News yesterday. This is standard procedure in Maryland to raise taxes.

None of those cuts effect me but a number of the taxes do.

[napscoordinator]

People are pissed in Maryland because Governor Earlich had a budget surplus and now Governor O’Malley has flushed it down the toilet and now has a budget debt. He is now proposing a bunch of tax proposals such as an additional gas tax, a possible increase in the state tax (when you go to the store the tax is 6 cents. He wants to raise it to 7 cents). Toll roads have already raised as have the bridges. A mess for sure. Some of the people complaining of course voted for him and now are upset. lol. They never learn.

[tcrlaf]

I guess asking a Maryland Democrat how that tax increase on “THE RICH!!!” worked out, that was supposed to be the end-all, save-all, for Maryland budgeting, would be , like... racist or somethin, right?

[sickoflibs]

When I first moved to Maryland Howard county was solid Republican. But the housing boom and Robey as county executive completely changed it to Democrat. Look at that Transgender bill they passed last year,

RINO Ehrlich trying to take on MoM again in 2010 ran such a pathetic campaign, it was like he worked for Dems.

In 2007 after MoM beat Ehrlich a website showed up called O Malley Watch that distributed great information about the crap he was pulling. In addition a new conservative paper showed up called the Baltimore Edition of the Examiner did great stories on MoM.

But by 2010 both were gone, that Examiner folded and I have NO idea where O Malley Watch went, And 2010 was a slaughter, And look what it brought us.

[zavvone]

I am so glad I moved from MD to GA back in OCT 2011 (work related).
The GOVT is beyond corrupt and the only solution the dolt gov has is to raise taxes and pass gay marriage. Good Riddance!!

Still a “Yankee” at heart but now learning to drink “Sweet Tea”. Miss the seafood though........