Ehrlich on Washington column, January 13, 2002

г MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Rood, Suit* 304 LulharvilU, Morylond 2 1 093 315 Conn on House Office Building Washington, D.C 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of January 1 3, 2002 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Ninety Days To Make A Difference The Maryland General Assembly opened its legislative session in Annapolis last week. Our State representatives face many challenges, some of which were swept under the rug one year ago. For the next 90 days, Annapolis will be consumed with questions about a State budget deficit that is spiraling out of control, Governor Glendening’s redistricting proposal, and neglected issues like juvenile justice. First, the General Assembly must take significant steps to curb the skyrocketing deficits resulting from the freewheeling, spend-now-worry-later mentality that Parris Glendening brought to Annapolis. You may remember that when his term as Prince George’s County Executive ended in 1995, Glendening left his constituents with a $100 million deficit. Now, he may repeat this fiscal disaster by leaving Marylanders with a potential $1.7 billion budget shortfall by the end of 2002. Old habits seem hard to break. Reports indicate that the Glendening-Townsend Administration may put the brakes on the final phase of a 10 percent income-tax cut. In my view, there is no difference between rescinding on a tax cut and a tax increase. Either way, you pay more taxes than you had planned. Hard-working Marylanders should not be saddled with tax hikes to right the wrongs of a fiscally-reckless governor. After eight years of no marked improvement in the State’s overall education system, transportation infrastructure, and juvenile justice system, this administration may require tax hikes to replace the funds it has already squandered. I served in Maryland’s General Assembly for eight years. I learned early on that elected representatives must spend within the State’s means. During my tenure, the Legislature took great care of the State’s budget and kept the governor from spending more than the State could afford. Unfortunately, the Glendening-Townsend Administration plays a dangerous game of giving legislative leaders pet projects in return for additional spending, hoping no one notices when promises of tax cuts go unfulfilled.