20071026 Len Lazarick: County officials back tax package

County officials back tax package

Len Lazarick, The Examiner, 2007-10-26 07

BALTIMORE –

Elected county officials from across Maryland came to the State House on Thursday to support the governor’s entire revenue-raising package, including slots machines, but none of them would say whether they would accept slots in their own jurisdictions.

They were adamant in their opposition to anything like the $866 million in local funding cuts Gov. Martin O’Malley said he would make if his tax increases fail to pass.

“Those cuts will have serious consequences,” said Frederick County Commissioner Jan Gardner, president of the Maryland Association of Counties. “That pain will be very real. ... Families will suffer, the elderly will suffer, the children will suffer, the future will suffer. It will not be a pretty picture.”

[…]

Carroll County Commissioner Julia Gouge, one of two Republicans at the event, worried about the effect on senior citizens if counties had to raise property taxes to make up for aid county. “We cannot continually afford not to be getting our fair share.”

Read the entire article here: County officials back tax package

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October 29, 2007

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Their cry was loud and unified: “No new taxes.” A series of demonstrations by taxpayer, conservative and Republican groups around the State House on Monday lead the way for Gov. Martin O'Malley's call for a special session of the General Assembly where he was to give a short pep talk before legislators are to act on a series of taxes hikes.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1017112~Voters_say__No_new_taxes_.html

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http://www.examiner.com/a-1015807~Spotlight_s_on_governor_tonight.html

County officials back tax package - 10/26/2007
Elected county officials from across Maryland came to the State House on Thursday to support the governor’s entire revenue-raising package, including slots machines, but none of them would say whether they would accept slots in their own jurisdictions.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1011259~County_officials_back_tax_package.html

O’Malley proposes more to be spent on uninsured - 10/26/2007
Gov. Martin O’Malley is proposing the state spend as much as $250 million more each year to offer health insurance to 100,000 uninsured people by adding them to the Medicaid rolls and subsidizing very small businesses that begin offering health insurance to workers.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1011260~O_Malley_proposes_more_to_be_spent_on_uninsured.html

O’Malley starts outreach program - 10/25/2007
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http://www.examiner.com/a-1008909~O_Malley_starts_outreach_program.html

Poll: Support up for slots, but down for O’Malley - 10/25/2007
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s approval rating has declined among Maryland voters, but those voters overwhelmingly support the governor’s plan to bring slot machines to the state, according to a new statewide poll released Wednesday.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1008938~Poll__Support_up_for_slots__but_down_for_O_Malley.html

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Big cuts in aid to counties, libraries, schools, universities, health care, state police and dozens of other programs will be needed if the legislature doesn’t pass tax increases next month, Gov. Martin O’Malley said Tuesday as he unveiled his own version of a “doomsday” budget.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1006600~O_Malley_unveils_big_budget_cuts.html

Poll: Support for slots is up, down for O’Malley - 10/24/2007
Support for slots among Maryland voters is up, but it's down for Gov. Martin O’Malley, according to a new statewide poll. The poll also found overwhelming backing for a referendum on slot machine gambling.
http://www.examiner.com/a-1006485~Poll__Support_for_slots_is_up__down_for_O_Malley.html

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http://www.examiner.com/a-1004461~The_3_minute_interview__Warren_Deschenaux.html

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http://www.examiner.com/a-1002528~Plucky_O_Malley_needs_luck_of_the_Irish.html