Ehrlich trumpets Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act
Former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. made a campaign stop on the shores of Back River in Essex today to champion his administration's Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act -- and to criticize Gov. Martin O'Malley for using money from the act's bay fund to help balance the state budget.
It marked the first time the two candidates have sparred over the environment, a diversion from a gubernatorial race that has largely been focused on the economy, jobs and how government taxes and spends.
But the "tax and spend" issue loomed over the event because the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act is more commonly known as the "flush tax." Ever since Ehrlich, a Republican, signed the act into law in 2004, homeowners have paid a $30 annual fee into a fund used for sewage treatment upgrades that reduce bay nitrogen levels.
The campaign event, Ehrlich said, was not tied to any specific time element. Rather, he said, it was "to remind everybody of this historic achievement."
He noted that once all of the bay restoration act's sewage treatment plant upgrades have been made, they are expected to reduce pollution in waterways by 7.5 million pounds per year.
Ehrlich, who is seeking to oust the Democratic governor, said that because of his bay restoration work "these waters will be cleaner for the future of our kids." He said the governor should not have raided such an important fund.
O'Malley used $200 million that was earmarked for bay cleanup to shore up the state's general operating expenses. He then backfilled the bay fund with $125 million from the capital budget -- which is mostly funded by borrowing. His aides said the bay fund will be fully restored next fiscal year, though it is unclear if the money will come from the flush tax or from more state-issued debt.
Such fund transfers have long been common -- both O'Malley and Ehrlich have used them in tough times.
The O'Malley campaign issued a statement calling Ehrlich "out of touch" and moving into another environmental topic: Program Open Space.
"It was actually Bob Ehrlich who diverted $420 million in Program Open Space funds and tried to sell off publicly-owned lands to the lowest bidder after imposing his flush tax on every Maryland family," the O'Malley campaign said in a statement.
Ehrlich accused the governor of "whining" and "making stuff up." He did not say what O’Malley was making up.
"We're not going to get into the 'he said, she said,'" Ehrlich said. He said his administration "restructured" Program Open to focus on strategic land purchases that help the bay."Just buying land for the sake of buying land doesn't make sense," Ehrlich said.
Asked which governor has the better record on the environment, Ehrlich replied, "I would put our environmental record against anyone's, anytime."
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters issued a statement saying that O'Malley "has done a better job of addressing environmental needs during his four years as governor."
Comments
Ehrlich simply imposed another unfair tax on ALL homeowners, even those of us that do not have public water or sewage. We live on a well and have no impact on the Bay, but still have to pay the annual tax. I find it highly interesting that Ehrlich resorts to childish name-calling when questioned about his actual record.
Posted by: CS | July 28, 2010 6:14 PM
Go Ehrlich, take it to him on "his turf" environmental issues. A $30.00 flush tax is a small fee to pay if used properly. But again O'Malley raids the kiddie for special interest. He spends our money while putting more people out of work, no wonder he has to take from a fund designed to improve the very enviroment he swears to defend, "what a loser". Mr. Ehrlich you got my whole families vote an we gladly display your signs!!
Posted by: The Fishman | July 28, 2010 7:13 PM
CS, if you use water, live inside the watershed area, you affect the bay. if $30 per year will break you, maybe you should move to a more affordable residence.
Posted by: chris | July 28, 2010 7:48 PM
This how is how Bob Ehrlich operates: He holds an event. Then when he gets asked a question by a reporter about his record or is called out with a comparison to Governor O'Malley's record, he says "we're not going to get into that" or he says the other side is whining. No Bob, it's called debate and comparing records. Talk about running scared of the facts and reality. He offers only old, failed ideas, not leadership.
Posted by: InformedMarylander | July 28, 2010 8:33 PM
Bob Ehrlich is no friend of the environment. His only accomplishment was to tax Marylander's to upgrade wastewater treatment plants, and that is what he wants to remind everyone about? Instead, Martin O'Malley has brought innovative programs like BayStat to the state to implement effective strategies to help clean up the Bay, he has funded Program Open Space during tough times to ensure our kids have as much outdoor space as possible to leave behind to their children, and he fought to pass new stormwater regulations in MD when it wasnt the most popular issue in Annapolis. That is called a RECORD of progress on environmetal issues, not just a fee placed on the backs of MD families like Bob Ehrlich did. All of these things are reasons why the League of Conservation Voters gave Martin O'Malley an A- when it comes to protecting our natural resources and Bob Ehrlich a D.
Posted by: Jenn | July 28, 2010 9:06 PM
Thanks, Bob. 2006, wow. What have you done for the last four years for Maryland?
Posted by: Dundalk Danny | July 28, 2010 10:30 PM
Hmmm, the same people who say that the $30 a year fee is no financial big deal are probably the same ones crying foul about a tax increase. Interesting how some are so willing to pay a government fee but not a tax... money paid out is money paid out, I just don't get why there is a need to sugar coat it into a 'fee'.
Posted by: BB | July 29, 2010 8:31 AM
$30 is equal to one cent sales tax on $3,000. Ehrlich won't remind people of that.
Posted by: John | July 29, 2010 4:13 PM
Buying a Chesapeake Bay Plate supports grant programs and initiatives to restore the bay, http://www.bayplate.org/.
Posted by: Nevin | November 2, 2010 2:02 PM