Sen. Norman Stone, 72, is the legislature?s longest-serving member ? 40 years in the Senate and four years in the House before that. The conservative Democrat from Dundalk said he?s voted for only two tax increases. Last week, he voted against Gov. Martin O?Malley?s proposed tax increases.
What tax increases have you voted for?
I voted for one in the House, the Cooper-Hughes, but we repealed that. The only other one I voted for is the so-called flush tax [in 2004]. I have Back River sewage treatment plant in my district. It puts out a lot of nitrogen and pollutes Back River.
Why did you vote against the budget reconciliation act this week?
It had an additional $50 million of spending in it. You have to be consistent. If you?re going to vote against taxes, you have to vote against increased spending.
Why do you say that nobody wins a filibuster?
At the end of the day, most of the time, there is some sort of compromise offered to break the filibuster. But the people who filibuster generally get the short end of that compromise. They get portrayed in the media as crusty curmudgeons.
Why did you vote against shutting off debate on the tax hikes?
I oppose these tax increases. It would have been much easier ? and I guess this is too simple ? if the governor would have said to each one of his Cabinet secretaries, “look through your budget, cut that budget by whatever it took.” I don?t think it would take over 2, 3 percent to make up this deficit or a good portion of it. And then if you had slots coming, you would probably be OK. I know they could have found whatever it takes to balance that budget.
