Delegate Mike McDermott - Jim Mathias Votes for O'Malley Budget

 

March 13, 2014

Jim Mathias Votes Again for O’Malley’s Budget

 

ANNAPOLIS -- Today, Senator Jim Mathias (D – Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties) voted for Governor Martin O’Malley’s $39 billon budget (Senate bill 170). The budget includes a $1.5 billion increase in state spending over the previous year.

 

“Voting for O’Malley’s reckless budgets is not conservative leadership. This amounts to nothing more than surrendering to the tax-and-spend liberals that dominate the State Senate,” said Delegate Mike McDermott (R – Worcester & Wicomico Counties).

 

The budget includes over $72 million in funding for Obamacare in Maryland, including the failed healthcare exchange.

 

In addition, this budget steals $400 million from the state employee pension system over the next two years to fund O’Malley’s out of control spending.

 

This budget continues to steal highway user revenue from our county and city governments, which for decades was always a dedicated source of funding for local roads. This makes it more difficult for lower shore counties and cities to even maintain their roads let alone to conduct paving projects.

 

Senator Mathias has a long history of voting for Governor Martin O’Malley’s budgets. He has supported and voted for every budget proposed by Governor O’Malley and has included over $10 billion in increased state spending since they both took office.

 

Senator Mathias also voted against a pro business amendment that would have reduced state spending by a meager 1%, as well as a pro life amendment that would have eliminated $10 million in embryonic stem cell research funding.

 

Delegate McDermott concluded, “Once again, Jim Mathias had a chance to stand up for taxpayers on the Eastern Shore against Martin O’Malley and the liberals who rule the General Assembly. Instead, he chose to stay in his seat”.