First Deficit in a Decade Looms in Maryland

Washington Post ^ | May 16, 2003 | Lori Montgomery

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By Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 16, 2003; Page B01

As tax revenue continues to lag behind expectations, state fiscal analysts warned yesterday that Maryland will probably end the fiscal year with a deficit for the first time in more than a decade.

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At a time when Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) is threatening spending cuts that could force the state to lay off hundreds of workers, scale back health care for the poor and increase tuition at public colleges and universities, state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Prince George's) called the new estimate "dire news."

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"Despite the deepening fiscal crisis, the governor remains opposed to any increase in taxes and fees, particularly increases in health insurance premiums," Schurick said. "This has been, and continues to be, a problem of spending. The state is spending far more money that it is collecting, and that practice will end."

As legislative leaders received the gloomy budget news yesterday in Annapolis, about eight Maryland lawmakers -- and one from Virginia -- gathered in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, at taxpayer expense to discuss the budget crisis with colleagues from other states.

Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) yesterday defended their decision to authorize lawmakers' airfare and up to $205 each per day for the delegation to stay at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef. Both said that they are scaling back out-of-state travel but they believe it's important for key lawmakers to meet with policy experts and stay abreast of model legislation.

The trip is not a junket, Miller said.

"I'm sure the reason they scheduled it in the Virgin Islands is because nobody would go to Pittsburgh," he said.

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It bears repeating "about eight Maryland lawmakers -- and one from Virginia -- gathered in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands, at taxpayer expense to discuss the budget crisis with colleagues from other states."

I was compelled to add the topic of "Crime" to this post. 8 Maryland and one Virginia lawmaker and colleagues from other states. Is your state one of them? How much do you want to bet California and New York were represented at this "non-junket"?

[staytrue]

The trip is not a junket, Miller said.

I did not have sex with that woman-Bill Clinton, I am not a crook-Richard Nixon, our opinion is that they will all die-Iraqi information minister.

[Corin Stormhands]

I was compelled to add the topic of "Crime" to this post. 8 Maryland and one Virginia lawmaker and colleagues from other states. Is your state one of them? How much do you want to bet California and New York were represented at this "non-junket"?

While you may be right about this being a junket, I'd have to know more. I used to plan meetings for a national legislative group. We were always sensitive to issues like that, but also realistic in knowing location was an important draw. While I was there we did one committee meeting in San Juan, but it was subsidized by the pharmaceutical interests there.

Reality is, this meeting in St. Thomas may have been as economically feasible as a meeting in say...Chicago or St. Louis. I just don't know all the fact.

Still, when I was doing the planning, we were more sensitive about the whole perception thing. And the majority of our folks paid their own way.

I'm not giving these guys a pass. Most certainly, it lacks judgment to do this when the state has a budget crisis.