Sen. Jacobs: 'New Taxes are Not the Answer'
The state senator urges Gov. O'Malley to "look south to Virginia" for guidance.
From Sen. Nancy Jacobs:
Marylanders, hold on to your wallet. The Governor’s hand is reaching in once again! Martin O’Malley has just admitted he wants to raise taxes to solve our state’s projected billion dollar budget deficit. Why can’t O’Malley see the repeated failure of his logic? Putting a further financial burden on Marylanders already knocked out by the recession and punishing business is not the answer. Companies might just take their remaining jobs and move to Virginia where Republican Governor Bob McDonnell is getting national attention for making his state even more business friendly. Not only that, Virginia has posted budget surpluses two years in a row.
Since taking office in 2010, Governor Bob McDonnell has totally reversed Virginia’s economic picture. When the Republican came into office he faced a 2.2 billion dollar shortfall left by his Democrat predecessor. But in less than two years, Virginians have seen surpluses and no taxes have been raised. The most recent savings top 545 million dollars. Yes, politically difficult decisions were made and the cuts were no doubt painful. But the poorest Virginians are still unharmed and business is thriving there. Virginia reports it has added 48,200 new jobs. CNBC recently ranked Virginia the “Best State for Business.”
During the same time period Maryland Democrats raised taxes and increased fees across the board. Needed cuts weren’t made. Perhaps that’s because they were too politically unpalatable to Democrats who worried they would alienate groups known to get out their vote. Now on top of it all, the federal government has pulled the teat on Maryland. Stimulus money is history and our state has lost 2,300 government jobs, many of them federal. Predictions are as many as 150,000 federal jobs could disappear in here in the long run. The lack of foresight by state leaders now leaves us in a real bind.
Governor O’Malley needs to look south to Virginia for lessons on what really works and help bring Maryland back to prosperity. New taxes are clearly not the answer.
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To submit a letter to the editor, email sean.welsh@patch.com.
Nick
12:35 pm on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Unfortunately, I don't think that governor O' malley cares about maryland's future. He seems more interested in national politics that the well being of md. And he certainly won't look to a republican for guidance. He refuses to see any viewpoint other than traditional democratic tax and spend policies and our state will suffer as a result.
Tom Barnes
6:56 am on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Maybe not "new taxes" Nancy - but closing the loopholes for your rich friends and businesses skirting taxes and not paying their fair share **IS** the answer. You speak of your Christianity often - but you seem to throw away this important passage: "What you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me." Money is money and completely disposable, Nancy dear - people are what you should be concerned about because *THEY* are *NOT* disposable. We've become a nation obsessed with the almighty dollar - our modern day false idol. What you should be preaching from your political pulpit is perhaps the richer of us can do without a new 60" big screen, a multi million dollar home on Wheel Road and a new BMW. Perhaps what you should be adding to that is "Hey, let's take care of "the least of these" as we are lead to do by the core of our "Christain" beliefs. But I'm sure that wouldn't garner you any votes in society that has *greed* written all over it. It starts with our LEADERS, Nancy. Why not lead the pack in helping "the least of these" instead of stampeding over other human beings? I think that is exactly what Jesus would do.
Jack Hirschfeld
12:02 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
When a politician offers advice without specifying positive action that would render the advice useful, the "advice" ends up being mere political posing, usually - as in this case - composed of horse manure. Just exactly which of Gov. McDonnell's policies ought to be emulated, and what outcomes could we expect here in Maryland? Just exactly who will experience the resulting pain when "cuts ... no doubt painful" are undertaken?
Tom Barnes
12:17 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Jack - of course it rides on the lower middle class, the poor, the ill and the elderly. We cast them aside as if they are merely disposable...
vietnam vet
12:33 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
We are disposable, simply because we have reached our senior years. I'am ill & elderly. 100% percent service connected.
Tom Barnes
12:43 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Vet - thank you for your service. You are not disposable to me. You are the "least of these" that I am speaking about. God bless you.
Nick
5:30 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
I too appreciate your service as should all Americans.
Jack Hirschfeld
12:42 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
As if anticipating Senator Jacobs' comments, Governor O'Malley had this to say: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/blog/?p=1555
vietnam vet
1:15 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thank's Tom. I as well others intend to stick around as long as we can to see the end result's.
vietnam vet
5:59 pm on Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thank's Nick.
Carol
12:40 pm on Saturday, September 17, 2011
My feelings, Governor O'Malley does not card too much about Maryland I think he is looking to be the Prez. one day. We need a BIG change in Maryland and the White House. God Bless the USA