Click the welcome message on the Maryland GOP web site and this response pops up: “This domain has expired. Find out how to revive it today.”
That’s a fittingly pathetic message for a party whose sway on state politics and culture is defined by its absence. When stopping speed cameras; railing against taxes; and ensuring that all U.S. flags flown in Maryland are made in America define your agenda, something is wrong. Granted, Republicans only hold 50 of 148 seats in the General Assembly. And there are more than twice as many registered Democrats than Republicans in the state.
But this is a state that missed electing Republican Ellen Sauerbray to the governor’s office by 6,000 votes in 1994 and chose Republican Robert Ehrlich for governor in 2002. So it’s not the label that’s losing. It’s the people and ideas behind it.
One-party Democratic rule in Baltimore City shows Maryland needs two strong parties to thrive. So does one-party rule in Annapolis, where across-the-board tax hikes passed under Gov. Martin O’Malley mean Marylanders shoulder the fourth highest tax burden in the nation, a factor that will slow the state’s recovery from this recession.
Without a new strategy, Republicans in Maryland will lose more and more voters. As ancient Chinese philosopher Sun-tzu said, “A
small force/Obstinately fighting/Will be captured/ By a larger force.”
Clearly, Republicans have already been captured. Here’s a path for them to make “An advantage/ Of misfortune”:
1) Go back to Baltimore City.
Like their beleaguered party, the city is down, but not out. Republicans should spearhead legislation to lower property taxes in Baltimore. At least twice as high as the rest of the state, they are the biggest obstacle to reversing the outflow of people, jobs and businesses according to a commission appointed by Mayor Sheila Dixon.
They are also one of the main reasons Baltimore City residents cipher taxes from the rest of the people in the state. In the upcoming fiscal year, Marylanders will send $1.2 billion to the city in direct aid of the $6.5 billion allocated for the state’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.
For insight on how capping property taxes revitalized San Francisco, Republicans should read “Baltimore’s Flawed Renaissance: The Failure of Plan-Control-Subsidize Redevelopment,” by Stephen Walters and Louis Miserendino at ij.org.
Owning Baltimore’s Renaissance would show Republicans care about all of Maryland’s residents and set an example for how to recapture urban areas nationally for a party relegated to the exurbs.
2) Lead by example.
Republicans may not have much control over the budget process, but they can control their own spending. They should stop sponsoring bond bills, otherwise known as earmarks. What’s conservative about taking state taxpayer money for favored museums that could not survive on their own, community centers and other projects destined to benefit the well-connected and few others?
So that means you, Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Sen. Richard Colburn, who sponsored legislation giving $75,000 to the Oxford Community Center and $125,000 to upgrade a fire system at a Talbot County YMCA.
It means you Sen. E.J. Pipkin and Del. Richard Sossi, who directed $200,000 to “Kennard High School Restoration.” And it means all the others who sponsored legislation and those who hid behind the county delegation label to direct money to favored projects.
Ending personal earmarks would show that Republicans truly believe in fiscal responsibility for everyone – even themselves. It would also show they want to make government fair for each Marylander – not just those with connections.
3) In every county and at every level of government, become the party of transparency.
Howard Republican Del. Warren Miller championed the 2008 Maryland Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2008. That bill gained wide bipartisan support and means Marylanders can now scrutinize how the state spends money in an easily searchable online database.
With news coverage dwindling in Maryland and throughout the country, holding the government accountable is getting more difficult. Championing more transparency would counter those who would like to ultimately give the government more control over news as Sen. Benjamin Cardin proposes and show Marylanders that Republicans have nothing to hide. Because of strong support for transparency reforms across the political spectrum, it would also give Republicans a big idea win.
Republicans can hobble along with expired ideas and an expired Web page. But it only means a slow death for the party and for Maryland. Well acquainted with losing, they have nothing to fear from prioritizing new ideas. They may even win – and show Marylander and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele how to do it.
Examiner columnist Marta H. Mossburg is a senior fellow at the Maryland Public Policy Institute.
