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How Would You Balance The State Budget?
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T O P I C
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Discussion Started: 12-16-2002, 7:37 AM
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Maryland's governor has often been called the most powerful governor in the nation because it is the governor who is the sole architect of the state's budget -- the General Assembly can only remove budget items, not add them.
In the days following his inauguration, the state's first Republican governor in more than 30 years has unveiled his proposed budget plan to the public.
Gov. Bob Ehrlich's proposed budget plan -- which relies on profits from slot machines -- doesn't include any tax increases. Some lawmakers have said that an increase in the state's gasoline tax may be imminent to deal with a $1.3 billion budget deficit. What would you do to balance the budget? What would you consider funding and/or cutting?
To read more about Ehrlich's budget proposals, log on to TheWBALChannel.com. Be sure to stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 NEWS for the latest updates and complete coverage of the developments in Annapolis.
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View Messages: [newest first] | [oldest first]
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seashell12
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04-12-2004, 3:51 AM
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Slots aren't the answer to any budget balancing fixes. The lottery hasn't helped the school education deficit. Now this moron wants to propose a racetrack downtown to generate money. We have 2 other racetracks that are perfectly fine. If people don't play the horses much there, why waste our tax money on a new one? I like slots, but it's not the cure all and only creates more poverty. Atlantic City is proof of that.
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SLOTSLOVER
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04-09-2004, 5:33 PM
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Three expressions can describe the Maryland Government, Stupid, Selfish, and Ridiculous. We elect representatives to represent us, and to pass bills that we think are good. We WANT the slot bill to be passed, yet the government officials don't want to pass it. People are sick and tired of paying HIGH PRICED taxes, when it isn't even our own junk to star with. Our government can't even pass a slot bill, what will happen when an even larger bill comes? Delaware is a great government, Maryland is NOT! It is time for a change in Maryland, Slots. If it had not been for Glendenning or however you spell his name, we wouldn't even of had this problem because there would be no deficit. I am tired of the House and Michael Bush for not passing the bill, and I think people should be sick and tired with me. I support slots, It's time for the Government to deal with it NOW! I AM A SUPPORTER OF SLOTS.
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stormy95
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04-09-2004, 5:10 PM
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There is one more thing that Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch can add to his rather lengthy resume: "Obstructionist Extraordinaire."
Is there any doubt whatsoever that Busch would be lobbying for slots at racetracks if this initiative was led by a Democrat Governor? Of course not - he'd be leading the parade. We are witnessing partisan politics, pure and simple. What is so utterly distasteful about this particular foray into partisan behavior is the negative affect on the state of Maryland. It boggles the mind how many hundreds of millions are being lost as a result of Busch's idiotic roadblock against Governor Ehrlich's slots proposal. More importantly, he is snubbing his nose at the will of the voters of Maryland. We can only hope that the voters will react in kind the next time he is up for re-election.
Michael Busch, friend of Maryland horseman? I think not. He is the enemy of the state, the enemy of the voters and unfortunately, the #1 enemy of the Maryland horse racing industry.
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parysvale
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04-09-2004, 2:19 PM
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I would balance the budget by making sure that the government spent taxpayers money more wisely and not allow them to vote big fat raises for themselves as often as they do. I would put better controls on State awarded contracts so cost overruns would be better controlled and contractors could not waste time and get extra money for contracts that run over schedule. I would also reduce the money that goes to the administration level of education and make sure it went to the schools it was supposed to go to. It seems that everytime the State wants a new program like expanded gambling to support education in our state, the money (what little may be raised) does not make it to the schools but to the higher administration salaries or "costs". The State tried slots over 25 years ago and it did not work then, what makes the governor think it will work now. Take a close look at the States that do have expanded gambling and what it actually costs them. Many times it costs more than they bring in. Once the gambling establishments come in, it will be very hard to get rid of them. Look at Atlantic City, those casinos would not even contribute a relatively small sum to renovate a local hospital. We may have to pay a little more in taxes, but that will be less painful than expanded gambling. Recently I bailed out a family member from loosing their home because of gambling addiction, and that was only betting on college and professional sports. Think of what gambling around the corner would do.!! Please find other ways to balance the budget. Be a big enough person to stand up to the gambling concerns and tell them to take their greed somewhere else.
respectfully submitted, S. Hamilton
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mikeyc44
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04-09-2004, 8:18 AM
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Wouldn't it be wonderful if everytime we as individuals found our check books a little too depleted to pay our bills we could run to our employers and demand they pay us more so we can pay our bills. But we can't do that. And the government shouldn't be able to do that to us. We are all taxed enough. And how naieve to think that adding taxes to corporations is the answer. Folks, if you over tax the businesses, they have to increase the cost of their goods and services, which we pay for! Have you heard of the term "Global Economy"? Increased costs of doing business makes us less competitive globally, and prohibits businesses from expanding, adds to the problem of sending jobs over the borders, and weakens our domestic economy. Do you want to know the answer? Cut government spending...PERIOD! You fools.....we should be decreasing the size of government....lowering EVERYONES taxes.....and promoting a culture where people learn to take advantage of the boundless opportunities in this country, take care of themselves, and rely on the government for only basic services. Unfortunately, our culture of entitlement (courtesy of liberalism) obscures us from distinguishing those who truly need our help from those who wish to exist off the government teet, which by the way we all pay for. So, pass a slots bill???? absolutely. Grab our share of the money and stop sending it over the state lines. Will it add to blighted communities? Absolutely not. People who are going to gamble are going to gamble wherever they can, so why not take advantage of that. But cut spending first, and consider the revenue from slots as a "bonus". As for Michael Busch...he has done a disservice to all of us, and has made a mockery of the political process. May he fade into oblivion after the next election.
Happy Easter
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Jazzcat66
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04-01-2004, 12:51 PM
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I do not wish to see my taxes increased any more than the next person. However, I likewise do not wish to see slots come into our state. I am a slot player. My family are also slot players. We travel to Charlestown, Dover, and AC on a regular basis. We have seen, first hand, the end result of making slot machines so readily available to the public. One only needs to look at downtown Atlantic City (off the boardwalk), or downtown Detroit (which just allowed casinos a few years ago) to see the poverty and underlying depression that exists, and the ruined lives of the people who the media does not focus on. A woman who sat next to me one day at the machines told me "man, I need to win today so I can pay my rent..." That was an amazing statement to me at the time, but I began to be aware of many, many others in the casinos who were probably in the same mind set. Sure, people can abuse the lottery. Sure, they can waste a paycheck on the horses. But I maintain there is no easier way for comulsive gamblers ... mothers, fathers, husbands, wives ... to lose their money than at the slot machines. I have seen, on a regular basis, people losing $500 or $1000 in a few hours, then going to the ATM machine (around every corner in a casino) for more. The Governor's slot proponents would say that it is all up to an individual's free will to control. I say that's a bunch of garbage. AA would not exist if that were the case. By allowing slots into our state, we are promoting an extremely addictive behavior within our population which is already seen as a growing problem across the country. Let us continue driving out of state if we really feel the urge to squander a few dollars. The damage could end up being far worse than the benefits.
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AKINARD
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04-01-2004, 3:03 AM
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EVERYTIME THE STATE OF MARYLAND WANTS TO ADD A NEW BUILDING, SPORTS FACILITY OR SOMETHING LARGE, EVERYONE ALWAYS SAYS THE PROFITS WILL GO TO OR BENEFIT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. WHERE IS THE MONEY FROM THE SPORTS STADIUM AND THE LOTTERY THAT WAS SUPPOST TO GO TO THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE PROFITS FROM THE SLOTS WILL HELP EDUCATION WHEN NO OTHER PROFITS FROM THE PREVIOUS PROMISES HAVE GONE TO HELP THE BALTIMORE EDUCATION SYSTEM. STOP SAYING THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS WILL HELP EDUCATION TO MAKE PEOPLE VOTE FOR THE CAUSE AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
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ivys
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03-31-2004, 10:39 PM
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tax bullets. why is baltimore one of the most danerous cities. and why is the muder rate to high? i purpose to tax bullets because of the N.R.A. high political influence on gun regulation and the power it has in politics.registering bullets is a sure way to 1)decrease crime 2)save our schools 3)decrease over crowding in jails 4)stop innocent children from being shot while being kids playing outside.
x
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gwehland
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03-31-2004, 6:49 PM
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WBAL TV News should get a big fee for the advertizement they did for the DiFrancis/Ehrlich team in their quest for the big gaming investors to get their foot in the door at Pimlico and Laurel racetracks. Make slots state owned and run at other locations and see how fast the Governor's support goes away. How about equal time? You showed how slots would help the slickies now show all the innocent little children and families that more legalized gambling will HURT. What's next? Legalized crack as a source of additional tax revenue?
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JeanEl
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03-31-2004, 5:45 PM
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Why is it every time a government has a budget crisis, the solution is always on the backs of those who can least afford it, i.e., education and the poor?The first thing that usually get the knife is education, and we all know that the bulk of those who will play the slots, like the lottery, will be those who can least afford it but are enticed by a chance at instant riches. One way to increase revenues is to close the 4-lane wide loopholes that big business and corporations enjoy to avoid paying their share of taxes. Another way is to increase the fines for polluting the Chesapeake Bay and its environs.
respectfully, jean
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