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.