Governor tax and spendjust ought spread his wings out of Maryland for good
National ambitions!
He is a fraud!!

David,

I don't give a damn what Governor Martin O'Malley thinks about the latest Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. I'd rather here him discuss what he did to screw up our State Budget. Then I'd like him to fix the problem without cutting the essential agencies, and without raising our Taxes AGAIN!! Sorry but I don't think he's ready for the big time stage of international Politics. As Mayor he left Baltimore in shambles, and he is on the way to ruining the entire State. Is this a guy you want in the Federal Government. I can't wait for 2010, I'll do my part to make sure he's a one term Governor. I just hope the rest of the voters follow suit.

Mike:

O'Malley took a hit when he raised taxes and pushed for spending cuts a year ago, hoping the politically unpopular move would solve the state's fiscal mess and give him enough time to recover and run again as a pragmatic problem solver. Then the economy tanked, and there are no good options for him or any other governor. It's hard for the governor of a small, politically less-than-significant state to build a national presence when times are good, much less during fiscal distress. It will be a rough year for O'Malley and all other state leaders.

This from the tax/spend Gov who can't bring about a fiscally responsive State government.
I guess this statement brings about an attractive distractive event to his failing state policies. First off, we support (continously) Israel because of the Jewish vote here in MD and Nationally solely political, while alienating PEOPLE, who suffer through reduced global relief aid, due to a region/government who dislikes them because they beat them at their own game (democratic elections) in 2006. Hamas and the Palestinian people didnt ask the Jews to come adrifting after the Holocaust and take over their land. Then spend the next century fighting for it, while facing them and their financing allied United States buddies! Leave them and their land alone and you wouldn;t have a 'terrorist' group of pissed off people who have no claim to their land! Sound familiar Martin...it's called Slavery and the American occupational take-over of America from the Indians. Things that are equal to each other are equal to the same. (The Law of Relativity)!

He isn't building a national presence.

David:
O'Malley raised taxes to increase Government spending. The first week he was in Office he took $600,000,000. from the Rainy Day Fund and obligated the money for new spending NOT Budget balancing. Then within his first 11 months in Office he raised taxes by $1,200,000,000. The LARGEST tax increase in Maryland's history. Again that new money was for NEW spending. O'Malley wanted the job and can only govern by making excuses for his FAILURES. The Great State of Maryland has suffered under the O'Malley Administration, please help him with his campaign for the US Senate. Maryland can only Hope that O'Malley finds another job soon. I have a idea, let Babs retire now and O'Malley can appoint himself to the Senate.Two or six more years of STUPID O'Malley is torture !

Mr. Nitkin-
Just wanted to point out during thr special session he raised spending and taxes together!
Why not just blame Ehrlich?
Another Sun columnist covering for Governor OweMalley!
Happy New Year!
Jay

Jay and Dick:

True enough: some spending was raised at the same time as other spending was cut. The tax increase were packaged with spending cuts for political sales purposes, but, I agree it's worth noting that some spending went up.

The Rainy Day fund was padded by Ehrlich when times were good, and it was always intended that it would be used to help cover the structural deficit in the next year. We wrote a good bit about that at the time. It's also important to make a distinction between spending on new programs versus increased spending because existing programs are growing more expensive. It's the latter that is most of the growth in the size of the budget under O'Malley.