Posted on 02/05/2012 3:09:20 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley may be more skilled at implementing President Obamas agenda than the White House itself. The Democratic governor is bringing the same big-spending, high-tax and class-warfare policies to the Free State. Its going to cost residents a bundle.
Tough economic times have forced ordinary Americans to cut back in order to get by. Not so Mr. OMalley, who spends $35.9 billion in the budget released last month. Thats up from $34.2 billion last year and $32 billion the year before that. As Maryland Business for Responsive Government points out, the general fund budget fattened 11.4 percent last year, creating yet another deficit. This budgetary gap is covered by a combination of higher taxes and borrowing. This years deficit will be about $1 billion, an improvement over the $2.4 billion from a couple of years ago, but Marylands already large debt burden is growing larger.
Among Mr. O'Malleys favorite taxes is his plan to impose the 6 percent sales tax on top of the sky-high 23.5 cent gasoline tax. The governor claims the increase is necessary to fund transportation projects, including the Purple Line, a $2 billion light-rail boondoggle meant to run between Bethesda and New Carrollton. This unpopular scheme could result in more than 300 families being tossed out of their homes through eminent domain.
This project is typical of leftist transportation policies that seek to redistribute wealth from automobile commuters - the vast majority - to the handful who prefer a government-subsidized ride. According to the latest Census Bureau data, only 5.2 percent of Marylanders take public transit. The absurdly optimistic forecast that 60,000 will use the purple trolley means the subsidy will be $33,000 per daily rider. It would be cheaper just to hand each of them a free car.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
This is what attacts so many employers to Virginia rather than Maryland.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
He needs to stop stealing from the Transportation fund and fix the got damned roads.They aren’t fit to drive on, and getting worse every day.
What good is a Purple line to us here in Southern Maryland. Everything is for Baltimore and PG Counties that are filled with his Democrat pukes.
We need a new Bridge over the Potomac and another over the Patuxent at Solomon’s Island. Chances of getting either are slim and none.
He needs to stop supporting Casa De Maryland, and spend less time trying to get a same sex marriage bill through.
You've got that right, the folks on the Eastern Shore have it just as bad as you good folks in Southern MD.
When he became Governor all work to widen Rte 113 from Pokomoke City to Berlin - the junction to Rte 50 and Ocean City. There was 15 or so miles left when he beat Ehrlich. Work only resumed when Ehrlich announced his challenge. There is still now at least another 5 or so miles to complete and work is at a snails pace, to put it mildly.
I live on the Shore, just on the Virginia side of the line, -- for many a good reason. 30 years on DelMarVa teaches one a lot :)
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