Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to David R. Brinkley, March 4, 2002

ROBERT Ц EHRLICH, JR. 31S Cannon House Office Building (202) 225-3061 ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE ASSISTANT DEPUTY MAJORITY WHIP Congress of tf)t Unitrb States Щоивс ot 3KepreSentatfti£S HtaHmaton, Ш 20515-2002 March 4, 2002 Suite 304 (410) 337-7222 (410)838-2517 Government Building Dundalk, MD 21222 (410)284-6828 The Honorable David R. Brinkley 323 Lowe House Office Building Annapolis, MD 21401-1991 As you continued tefaeliberate on the many challenges facing the 2002 Maryland General Assembly, I warned to reiterate to you that my staff and I are available to help on federal issues. As you luiow, many issues of concern to us cross federal and state lines. Accordingly, it is important that we maintain open lines of communication and assist each other where appropriate. The following constitutes a sample of general issues that may be of interest to you and your constituents: I. Budget & Tax As you know all too well, with our nation experiencing a recession, all levels of government experience a downturn in revenue and a related increase in the need for social services, strapping public budgets. At the federal level, for the first time in several years, the federal government is experiencing deficit spending to meet the needs of the War on Terrorism and fulfill our domestic agenda. President Bush’s $1.35 trillion tax cut, which became law last June, continues to be phased in for 2002, with personal income rate reductions, increased child credit amounts, and estate tax reduction, among other latest changes. This tax cut continues to help stimulate the economy. Accordingly, I am confident the federal government can meet its obligations and return to surplus in the near future. On behalf of Maryland’s strapped taxpayers, I urge you to resist Governor Glendening’s foolish efforts to abolish the final phase of the state income tax reduction - and convince your Democratic colleagues to do the same. This move is tantamount to raising taxes, which is the worst step we could take during a recession. Moreover, the reason our state is facing this budgetary challenge is a direct result of this Administration’s reckless spending in recent years. Your task will be difficult during this session and, after Governor Glendening is long gone, next year you will face a likely $1 billion deficit with most reserve funds depleted. Governor Glendening has turned our government upside down to shake the pennies from every comer of the state to balance this phony budget and paper over our budgetary crisis until he abdicates responsibility after the conclusion of this legislative session. This session, I ask that you find ways to reduce spending rather than raise taxes and offer a credible tax and budget alternative to the free-wheeling tax-and-spend liberalism of the Glendening-Townsend Administration. The Republican Party in Annapolis must stand for sound fiscal policy and must craft a credible, PRINTED ON RECYCLEO PAI