Delegate Mike McDermott When Hope Fails

When Hope Fails

by Delegate Mike McDermott

(Salisbury)  During a debate on the Don Rush show carried live on WSDL Public Radio, Senator Jim Mathias described the economy on Maryland’s lower shore as, “robust”. He touted the government spending that has been going on as one of the reasons he should be kept for another term of office.

I could not disagree more, and it seems the Maryland State Comptroller and I are on the same page.

“Robust” is not the terminology being utilized to describe Maryland’s economy, and particularly not that of the lower shore. Recently, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) reported how our State’s revenues for income and sales taxes are off by over $405 million dollars and the future is not looking any better.

“Wages and salaries are essentially stagnant. Local, independent businesses are struggling to meet payroll, cover their costs and turn a profit. Working families have cut back their spending because they just don’t have the money, they’re scared of losing their jobs, or, in many cases, both.”

-Comptroller Peter Franchot, Sept. 24, 2014

The Comptroller went on to say that Maryland families see their paychecks “moving in the wrong direction” and we are now second in the nation in foreclosures. He pointed out how the Maryland economy failed to grow at all in 2013 ranking #49 in the country. Without a dramatic shift in policy, he foresees even greater pain in store for the state.

Franchot stated, “We need to recognize that ‘hope’ is not an economic strategy.”

Jim Mathias and Martin O’Malley have grown government and increased our spending because they believe that therein lies our salvation. How else can we explain a 30% increase in spending during the worst recession ever faced by our country. Their strategy for job production is flawed and they have failed.

Conservative solutions have been scoffed at and never allowed to see sunlight in Annapolis, even while the sun sets on our failing economy. It is long past time to see change in the General Assembly. We need leaders, not excuse makers.