Senator Pipkin: “MACo E-Mail Shameless Blueprint To Force Local Tax Increase Support”
July 11th, 2007
Following on my earlier posts about the Maryland state budget matter: 20070703 the Maryland Municipal League discussion of the “Doomsday” budget and 20070705 MACo Exe. Dir. Bliden requests Md counties support tax increases and 20070709 Senator Pipkin This is Fiscal Magic at its Clumsiest.
Senator E. J. Pipkin has weighed-in on the budget discussions:
Senator E. J. Pipkin (R. Upper Shore 36) voiced outrage at “fear and strong-arm tactics to force counties to support tax increases.” He pointed to an e-mail, prompted by the O’Malley administration and sent on July 5 by the Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACO) chief lobbyist, Dave Bliden, to various county leaders to motivate local government support of impending tax increases.
Please see his entire statement pasted at the end of this post.
[It would appear that Senator Pipkin has “discovered” the power of the Maryland blogosphere… (On January 6th, 2006, thanks to the Westminster Eagle and Patuxent Publishing Co, I may very well be the first blogger to be credentialed in Annapolis. – See: 20060106 Security Badge) This analysis would be totally in keeping with the Senator’s modus operandi as he has consistently been an out-of-the-box thinker – and is definitely his own man… For an interesting read on Senator Pipkin by one of the best political minds in the business, Tom Dennison, who unfortunately is no longer writing for the Gazette, read: 20060331 Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison]
If you would like to listen Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s Maryland Municipal League speech click you may find it here. (Please be aware of my Disclosure.)
Or click on Audio: Maryland Municipal League Keynote 6.27.07 . June 27 Governor O'Malley Delivers Address to Maryland Municipal League.
Meanwhile, a few municipal officials who did not want their fears attributed – for fear of retribution - understood that what Governor O’Malley was saying, in essence, is that if the local governments do not support tax increases that the next budget will “retaliate.”
Apparently this is also Senator Pipkin’s take…
When the budget was being debated in January 2005, when then-Governor Robert L. Ehrlich was facing a difficult budget, the Baltimore Sun ran an analysis… See: 20050121 Baltimore Sun: Democrats see budget retaliation.
For some an in-depth look at how this pending budget is shaping-up, hopefully David Nitkin, Andrew A. Green, and Ivan Penn will do a similar look as they did on January 21, 2005 when they wrote:
[…]
Launching a review of the governor's budget proposal with eyes that may be jaundiced by recent battles, Democrats in the General Assembly say they see signs of retaliation in the $25.9 billion spending plan released this week.
[…]
Maryland governors have long used their budgetary authority - considered by experts to be the strongest in the nation - to reward friends and punish enemies. Ehrlich's predecessor, Gov. Parris N. Glendening, was considered a master at using the tool to maximum advantage.
[…]
Others say Democrats are being too sensitive, and deny that Ehrlich is trying to punish the opposing party. "They are looking at the bogeyman that doesn't exist. Or to put another way, maybe they are running a little scared and overreacting," said Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the House minority whip, whose Southern Maryland district includes parts of Calvert County.
Getting back to the future, over at Monoblogue, Michael Schwartz has some excellent analysis. Click on More Maryland budget grousing. While you are on his site, you should also see Celebrities in Crisfield?
The Howard County Maryland Blog, David Keelan also has some excellent analysis. Read Tax Increases Being Prepared…
For some additional context read Delusional Duck’s post O’Malley budget cuts OK’d by public works board
In a previous post, the MML had mentioned: “The product of that analysis was released under the title 'Balancing the State Budget Without New Revenues' and can be accessed through the General Assembly's website under the heading of budget information: http://mlis.state.md.us/#budg.”
I have been asked just what information can be found there. See pasted here:
Budget Information
The budget bill is introduced in both chambers. The House will move the bill in the 2007 Session.
Bond Bill Submissions - For guidelines to applicants seeking State grants through the submission of individual bond bills, click here.
June 27, 2007 Fiscal Briefing:
Maryland's Fiscal Structure and the Deficit Within
Mandated Appropriations in the Maryland State Budget
Balancing the Budget Without New Revenues
Appendices
Spending Affordability Committee:
Briefing: December 5, 2006 (PDF)
Briefing: November 15, 2006 (PDF)
2006 Committee Report: December 2006 (PDF)
Effect of Long-term Debt on the Financial Condition of the State:
Report: December 5, 2006 (PDF)
Analysis of Supplemental Budget No. 1, Presentation to the House Committee on Appropriations, March 7, 2007 (PDF)
Analysis of Supplemental Budget No. 2, Presentation to the House Committee on Appropriations, March 8, 2007 (PDF)
Analysis of Supplemental Budget No. 1, Presentation to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, March 12, 2007 (PDF)
Analysis of Supplemental Budget No. 2, Presentation to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, March 12, 2007 (PDF)
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July 11, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PIPKIN – “MACO E-MAIL SHAMELESS BLUEPRINT TO FORCE LOCAL TAX INCREASE SUPPORT”
Senator E. J. Pipkin (R. Upper Shore 36) voiced outrage at “fear and strong-arm tactics to force counties to support tax increases.” He pointed to an e-mail, prompted by the O’Malley administration and sent on July 5 by the Maryland Association of Counties’ (MACO) chief lobbyist, Dave Bliden, to various county leaders to motivate local government support of impending tax increases.
Pipkin characterized the e-mail as “an end-run around most local elected officials which resembles the type of arm-twisting used by Tony Soprano and his ilk.”
Referring to Josh White, the Governor’s Intergovernmental Relations Chief, the e-mail said, “Josh is interested in coordinating a message for the Governor as he goes on roadtrips to the counties. He (Josh White) is looking for not just the property tax equivalents, but real vignettes of the county ‘doomsday budgets’…like closing libraries, reductions in deputies, larger class size, no support for volunteer firefighters. I (Bliden) suggested a goal of 10 examples for each county, if the proposed State ‘doomsday budget’ comes to fruition…..”
Bliden goes on to say, “the Gov could be visiting the counties during the next weeks, which presents an opportunity to deliver. And, with a good product, we could share with the other counties to get them motivated. Something for discussion at our July 13 meeting.”
“It boggles the mind that such terms as ‘opportunity to deliver’ and ‘good product’ would be used to bamboozle Marylanders into handing over more of their hard earned money to the state,” said Pipkin.
Bliden continued, “Another good perspective would be having interested constituencies there to show their interest, e.g. the volunteer ff’ers (firefighters).”
Pipkin said, “I thought I was beyond shock and outrage until I read about using volunteer firefighters to help beef up the propaganda campaign to get locals to rally behind the state tax increases. The e-mail lays out an arrogant and shameless blueprint for getting locals to back tax increases. As Bliden says, the next few weeks of gubernatorial visits to the counties ‘is a good opportunity to make a case, and, even more important to convince the Governor we (the counties) are there 100% to help him help us.’”
“Absolutely shameless!” said Pipkin.
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