“Don’t cut that!” says McFadden
This afternoon Senators on the Budget and Taxation Committee voted rapidly on hundreds of line items in Gov. Martin O’Malley’s spending plan, making about $150 million worth of cuts.
Following along involved flipping between three different documents, straining to hear of legislative services analysts and trying to parse whether the body had said ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Keeping up required concentration. But it looked easy for Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden, a Baltimore Democrat.
When the Child First Authority came up for a vote, he objected to a $119,187 reduction. “Chairman, I’d like to keep this money,” McFadden said. “The program provides valuable services in the city.” Done. Money kept.
Later the Fine Arts grants were on the chopping block, McFadden raised his voice again. “They are essential,” McFadden said. Instead of a $1.1 million cut, the committee acquiesced and only took $600,000.
He also led opposition to a $250,000 cut to Executive Branch agencies (cut rejected).
And he did not like a $1.1 million cut to the Graduate and Professional Scholarship program. “We have to leave some money in there,” McFadden said. (Full disclosure: That one went by so quickly, we aren't completely sure what the committee did.)
Following along involved flipping between three different documents, straining to hear of legislative services analysts and trying to parse whether the body had said ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Keeping up required concentration. But it looked easy for Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden, a Baltimore Democrat.
When the Child First Authority came up for a vote, he objected to a $119,187 reduction. “Chairman, I’d like to keep this money,” McFadden said. “The program provides valuable services in the city.” Done. Money kept.
Later the Fine Arts grants were on the chopping block, McFadden raised his voice again. “They are essential,” McFadden said. Instead of a $1.1 million cut, the committee acquiesced and only took $600,000.
He also led opposition to a $250,000 cut to Executive Branch agencies (cut rejected).
And he did not like a $1.1 million cut to the Graduate and Professional Scholarship program. “We have to leave some money in there,” McFadden said. (Full disclosure: That one went by so quickly, we aren't completely sure what the committee did.)
Comments
Quid Pro Quo - Child First sponsored the recent rally to stop funding for education. One of its leader Bishop Miles also has been a vocal opponent of elected school boards
Posted by: OverTheTop | March 15, 2010 10:33 PM
It did go quickly. On Graduate and professional scholarships, they accepted half of the $1.2 million cut. Actually, the proceedings were easier to follow that has been typical in the past, and there were enough of those documents available for the public (not always the case in past years). So, Chairman Kasemeyer and the staff get kudos for improved transperency. Some of the cuts, though, will still cause harm to real people in vulnerable circumstances.
Posted by: Neil Bergsman | March 16, 2010 11:05 AM