Dear Constituents:

Thank you for corresponding with me during the 2007 Maryland General Assembly session on one or more issues.  I've provided below a brief synopsis of some of the major initiatives of the session.

State Operating Budget.  The General Assembly passed a fiscal year 2008 budget totaling $29.8 billion.  Several important projects were contained in either the operating or capital budgets for the 42nd district:  Hopewell Cancer Institute: $100,000 matching grant; Forbush School, $150,000  matching grant; $52.5 million for school construction for Baltimore County Public Schools (out of $400 million statewide); $13.5 million for a new College of Liberal Arts complex for Towson University.

Unfortunately, the budget also contained a $1 billion transfer from the Rainy Day Fund to the general fund in order to fund this year's operating expenses.  These funds are supposed to be reserved for true economic downturns which is not the case with our current economic situation.

The House Republican Caucus introduced and supported a significant amendment to the State budget that provided fiscal responsibility without cutting programs or raising taxes.  Instead, recognizing the severity of the State's structural deficit, the amendment attempted to stretch-out the last year of the landmark Thornton funding for K-12 education over a two year period while also slowing the growth of spending in several State agencies.  Unfortunately, the amendment failed on a largely party-line vote, but had it been enacted, there would have been no need for a major tax increase next year.

State government must begin to live within its means, just as our families must do.  When you read news accounts over the next several months that a major tax increase next year is "inevitable," don't believe it!  We can live within our means if we have the will to do it.  State government continues to spend more money than is necessary.

In the end, despite many misgivings about the budget, I reluctantly voted for it.  I'm concerned that next year's budget will be balanced on the backs of the taxpayers, with massive tax increases.

Continued...