O'Malley talks pensions, education on national TV
Appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe a few hours ago, Gov. Martin O'Malley presented himself as a chief executive who can make deep cuts without causing a meltdown in relations between the government and unions.He contrasted his style with Republican governors in Wisconsin and New Jersey who've aggravated public employee unions and slashed education funding. O'Malley's message: Democrats know how to balance a budget without starting a war.
"Education gets hit much harder" in states with Republican governors, O'Malley said.
Since becoming the head of the Democratic Governors Association last December, O'Malley has sought to raise his national profile, picking fights with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and conservative "tea partiers" at Democratic events in Virginia and New Jersey. He faced criticism for spending too much time on his new national job during the legislative session -- now that it is over many predict that he'll step up those appearances.
During his TV slot this morning, O'Malley hit many of the same themes Marylanders have been hearing for years. The governor had to "make tough choices" in order to "move the state forward." Tuition at the state's university system remained frozen for four years in a row, he said. (He did not mention that it went up by three percent this year and will rise by that amount again next year.)
It remains to be seen how effectively O'Malley can nationalize his message. Maryland has never had the deep budget problems faced by states like Illinois, California and New York. That's in part because the state's economy is bolstered by steady federal government jobs and the recession didn't hit as hard here.
It remains to be seen how effectively O'Malley can nationalize his message. Maryland has never had the deep budget problems faced by states like Illinois, California and New York. That's in part because the state's economy is bolstered by steady federal government jobs and the recession didn't hit as hard here.
Comments
O'Malley's message: Democrats know how to balance a budget without starting a war.
What no mention of how MOM so gleefully taxes the crap first out of Baltimore's residents and now the entire state?
Of course MOM won big in 2010 this state is 2 to 1 Democrat over Republican in voters.
No mention of how crime has fallen to historic lows in this shrinking city due to population migration?
Or the slots boondoggle ?
Posted by: john | April 15, 2011 12:14 PM
I wonder if anyone has done a comparison between the fiscal condition of states that have balanced budget requirements and those that aren't required by law to do so. That might have kept a lid on spending in the past, and may not really depend on Republican or Democrat in the executive mansion.
Posted by: BP | April 15, 2011 12:24 PM
Go'Malley 2016!
Posted by: Mikey | April 15, 2011 1:20 PM
MOM is either a rank liar or moron, or both. The MD budget passed by the spendthrift dems is higher than the previous year. And the socialist legislature with MOM support entitled ilegal aliens to receive instate tuition, as well as the ESOL, ELL, and other special interest babysitting that inflate school budgets and produce a paltry number of professionals or potential capital investors in our economy. When O"malley propeses an end to these useless foreign student programs, ineffective "special ed" that drains hundreds of millions from average kids and their teachers, and shuts down the multitude of useless programs and departments at state colleges that produce neither scholars nor skilled businessmen, but politicians and lawyers, then I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Posted by: diadactic1 | April 15, 2011 5:45 PM
Don't be a sucker. Only a moron would fall for anything O'Malley says at this point. Nothing but lies and deception from this guy.
Posted by: MyXxcellecncy | April 15, 2011 7:02 PM
Just looking at the headline and it screams "O'MALLEY LIES AGAIN!"
Posted by: TheBaltimoreColt | April 15, 2011 10:00 PM