GOP lawmaker wants his say on state budget cuts
A leading Republican lawmaker accused Gov. Martin O’Malley of a “power grab” and said the legislature should have had a role in several rounds of recent state budget cuts that the Democratic governor took to the Board of Public Works for approval.
Sen. E. J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, noted that Gov. William Donald Schaefer called special sessions of the General Assembly during the recession of the early 1990s to address budget gaps. O’Malley should have done the same, he contends.
“When budget cuts of this scope and size are needed, it is customary for the governor to call a special session for legislative approval of the cuts,” Pipkin said in a statement. “No other governor in modern history has made such severe budget cuts without the approval of the General Assembly.”
With this recession taking a bite out of tax revenues, O’Malley has been forced to trim the budget by hundreds of millions of dollars since the General Assembly approved the budget and the fiscal year began in July. The governor has characterized recent budget cuts as fiscally responsible and contends that he tried to minimize state employee layoffs and spare social services that are in greater demand with the economic downturn. O’Malley did call a special session in 2007 to enact budget-balancing package that included $1.3 billion in tax increases.
State law allows the governor to make midyear cuts after the legislature adjourns in April with the approval of the Board of Public Works, which also includes Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp. In general, the governor can’t cut more than 25 percent of the budgeted appropriation.
Pipkin said he would introduce legislation limiting the Board of Public Works to 10 percent in cuts each year. He has been particularly upset with one of O’Malley’s budget cuts that targeted the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center in Chestertown for closure.
One thing’s for sure: Pipkin and all other lawmakers will get their chance to cut the budget when the General Assembly convenes in January and another shortfall of up to $2 billion must be addressed.
Comments
Only the legislature should have the power to close an entire facility with a reputation for providing good care and deep roots in the community. That is how Crownsville State Hospital was closed. It is one thing to shorten sail to ride out a storm; quite another to throw crew and passengers overboard.
Posted by: Robin Wood | December 9, 2009 10:56 AM
So Pipkin suddenly supports special sessions of the General Assembly,. He and his hand-picked puppet, Del. Michael Smigiel, opposed the last special session the governor called to address fiscal issues. Smigiel even filed a lawsuit that he ultimately lost to try to overturn the decisions of the special session.
If Pipkin and Smigiel were so supportive of the the Upper Shore mental health hospital, they could have, and should have, offered budget amendments during the regular session to assure its continuance. In fact, they voted against the initial O'Malley budget that did include funds for the Upper Shore hospital.
Unfortunately, Eastern Shore residents reap the harm that Smigiel and pals sow in Annapolis. We face retaliation for the "Dr. No" attitude of Smigiel.
Posted by: luluD | December 9, 2009 12:48 PM
Oh EJ Please- Stop that Noise you are making! You are the first one to yell that the Gov is wasting money on a special session! Now you screaming about not having a special session! Cant win for all that losing, huh EJ? Do your job during session and we shouldnt have these problems.
Posted by: Sue D'onim | December 10, 2009 8:09 AM
In fairness to EJ, he argued against the massive budget of O'Malley's last year. But don't be fooled. This is just an attempt to grandstand and get a little free press in a likely announcement of a primary challenge to Harris.
Posted by: George | December 10, 2009 10:06 AM
lulud,
Simple observation, it seems to me that if more people [representatives] would say "NO" or "question" the spending up front, the massive budget cuts we've experienced in this fiscal year may not have been so massive. The fact of the matter is...under the guise of "making hard choices" the Gov has used this to provide himself a "political chit", albeit one of misdirection.
Had his budget been more 'responsible' these cuts and hundreds of State employees would still have jobs, and furlough days may not have been 'whispered'.
The fiscal shell game and double speak can ONLY be challenged if the "General Assembly" is balanced enough to make a difference, the current makeup allows for carte' blanc with nary a challenge. Shades of Glendening....Frankly, it seems Franchot is the only State Exec that has a 'glimmer' of concern for the fiscal health of the State,
Posted by: augieboy | December 12, 2009 10:17 AM