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'Doing Nothing' Has Its Risks
Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Queen Anne's) accused O'Malley of histrionics: "I think Halloween's come early to Annapolis. All we saw today is scare tactics."
(By Gail Burton -- Associated Press)
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"Mindful of its enormous ramifications, I must note that Governor O'Malley's plan was constructed in private, introduced gradually by press release, and the details have yet to be made available," wrote Franchot, a former delegate. "This makes review and evaluation of the plan next to impossible."
Asked about Franchot's letter, O'Malley said that "many of the things we have proposed . . . are things he has voted for in the past."
Busch and Miller had counseled O'Malley against calling a special session. And GOP leaders in both chambers have said they prefer to wait until January to take action.
Under the "do nothing" scenario that O'Malley presented yesterday, county governments would absorb some of the biggest cuts. In recent years, state aid to local jurisdictions has swelled to 40 percent of Maryland's roughly $15 billion general fund budget.
Without new state revenue, Montgomery County would lose more than $86 million in anticipated funding in fiscal 2009; the hit to Prince George's would be more than $153 million.
Other consequences of the plan would include canceling cost-of-living adjustments for state workers, closing two state police barracks, diverting funding for land preservation and reducing foster care grants.
"If this was January, you'd be looking at a budget that reflected that and a revenue package that the governor is asking the General Assembly to pass to offset that," Busch said. "I think his presentation is fairly accurate."
O'Malley's presentation of what he called a "cost of delay" budget was reminiscent of a "doomsday" spending plan that legislative analysts presented in June to help legislators come to grips with Maryland's budget problems.
Yesterday, the General Assembly announced the hearing schedule for O'Malley's proposals. It is posted on the legislature's Web site, http:/
