Smooth talk and free speech

Governor O’Malley struggles to placate his critics at October 24 “town hall” meeting

by Cheri Shannon
Photos by Eric Bond

Takoma Park Mayor Kathy Porter came to listen.

Eagerly awaiting Governor Martin O’Malley’s arrival October 24th at Takoma Park Middle School, the crowd lined the cafeteria with signs of protest against his”Fair, Long-Term Solution to Maryland’s Sturctural Deficit” plan. Their objectives were clear: Reject the EYA Plan, No Slots, Close Corporate Loopholes and Please Fund the Voting Law.

Maryland’s deficit has been 10 years in the making causing the state to face a possible $1.7 billion structural deficit next year. This issue was ignored and increased under the previous administration. Budget analysts report that state spending has increased at twice the rate of revenue since 2006.

Jay Levy, a well-known Takoma Park activist, had his own ideas about how to cut the deficit -- to persuade the Governor to pull the plug on the Inter-County Connector.

When Gov. O’Malley took office, closing the deficit became one of his major objectives, warning that failure to act would result in drastic cuts.
“I will be the first to admit that any piece of this structural deficit plan can be voted against,” O’Malley began. His attempts to lighten the tension in the room failed. One participant yelled “Get to the budget, that’s what you are here for!” O’Malley responded: “This is a hard crowd, I’m getting to it.”

O’Malley outlined the highlights of his plan:
• protecting middle-class families with a progressive income tax, while reducing property taxes.
• closing corporate loopholes that allow half of Maryland’s largest corporations to avoid paying any corporate income tax at all.
• invest in Maryland’s critical infrastructure.
protecting education, especially rolling back recent tuition hikes.
• making healthcare affordable by increasing cigarette taxes.

Governor O’Malley led a class in state finances at the Takoma Park Middle School on October 24. His goal was to win public support for his budget plan, which includes a tax increase, a cut in various services, and the introdiuction of slot machines to Maryland.

However, when O’Malley introduced slot machines as a revenue source, the crowd began to make hissing sounds.

The Governor stood his ground and offered this fact, “Marylanders spend $400 million playing slots in West Virginia, Delaware (not including PA); tax contributions to these states: $150 million.”

His argument for tax increases sound reasonable but many in the audence remained skeptical. As he said at the meeting, “I don’t believe that we should have a term like ‘the working poor’; if you work, you should be able to feed your family.”.

Takoma Park City Council candidate Josh Wright attended the meeting in an effort to persuade the governor to help the city resist the Takoma Metro project.

Whether or not he convinced the crowd in Takoma Park Middle School, the real test is persuading the State Assembly, now gathered in Special Session in Annapolis.

His latest proposal makes a 3 cent reduction in the property tax, more funds for school construction, and expansion of Medicaid coverage contingent on voters passing a slots referendum next November.

State Comptroller Peter Franchot expressed “disappointment” that the Governor has linked slots to these particular programs.

Republicans on the other hand, insist that neither tax cuts nor slots are necessary for a balanced budget. “We can stop the spending increase, shift some of the responsibility to the counties, and this so-called crisis is over,” stated Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Queen Anne’s.

And the residents of Maryland watch and wait.

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