The state of the state is...how to put this?
Gov. Martin O'Malley will soon stand up in the House of Delegates chamber in Annapolis to expound on the state of the state of Maryland. The traditional money line in such an endavor is a resounding, "The state of our state is strong!" But how exactly do you couch things at a time when the unemployment rate is rising ("The state of our state is not as bad as other states"), the deficit has a $2 billion hole ("The state of our state is broke"), juveniles are being killed at an alarming rate in Baltimore ("The state of our state is dangerous"), the Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals are nowhere near being met ("The state of our state is polluted") and we're digging out from an ice storm ("The state of our state is slippery").
NPR addressed this issue a week ago with a story about all the ways governors are evading this tricky little question during a bad season for just about everybody. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius: "The state of our state is not defined by ending balances...It's about the quality and character of the Kansas people." And that was one of the more optimistic assessments. Check back here and on my Twitter feed, www.twitter.com/andrewagreen, for updates during and after O'Malley's speech.
Comments
Anyone taking bets on how much he can blame the Ehrlich administration?
I'd put the over under on times he blames the former Gov at 4 mentions.
Anyone else care to speculate?
Posted by: bryanintimonium | January 29, 2009 11:31 AM
I am guessing at least 5 times Bryan!
Let's cut the budget and lower yaxes to help Marylanders.
Naw makes too much sense!
Posted by: jay | January 29, 2009 12:24 PM
Speakn for the underpaid, underappreciated State employees, will he reinstate colas and increments for these empoyees? (which is basically next to nothing). Cant he revisit this if necessary?
U know, i thought Ehrlich was bad, this guy make me shake my head - the bs he peddles to the citizens (& you know State employees are citizens too)!
He talked about the poor woman in Allegany County - well that is about where many of the State employees are too with their meager pay.
I guess Obama is going to save the State - lets all get up and start clapping.
Posted by: GivemeanOMObreak | January 29, 2009 4:29 PM