In Martin O?Malley?s visit to Dublin this weekend, he was perhaps able to pick up an extra portion of the luck of the Irish. That?s what many legislators think he needs to get what he wants out of the special session he?s ordered next week, a call seen as a risky roll of the dice.
“I thought he was going to make sure he had his votes before he called a session,” said Del. Pamela Beidle, a freshman Anne Arundel Democrat.
“I don?t understand why he would call a special session if he didn?t.”
“The reality of our situation is that we are running out of time,” O?Malley said Thursday.
“In other words, to not have a special session, everybody?s going to be facing deeper cuts in services and higher taxes if we don?t come together.
“I continue to believe that there is so much at risk from failure that I?m going to find a way to succeed,” said O?Malley, later adding: “When there is a goal and there is a deadline, it?s amazing what people of good will can come together to figure out.”
Divided Democrats
Consensus in his own party is elusive. Beidle, for instance, represents a “very conservative district.”
“I?ve got a seat back that hasn?t been a Democratic seat in 12 years,” Beidle said.
“I never voted for [increased] taxes in eight years on the council.”
She can see herself voting for “the right slots bill” and the sales tax increase.
Then there are lawmakers such as Sen. Brian Frosh, Bethesda Democrat and leading Senate liberal.
The governor?s plan “is not everything I hoped for, but it is good enough for me to support,” Frosh said.
One of 14 liberal senators who advocate more spending, Frosh doesn?t like the regressive sales tax, and said “slots is worse than the sales tax.”
Personally, Frosh would replace the sales tax with a gross receipts tax on all businesses, a levy not part of the governor?s plan.
He?s got no problem with the income tax going up by a quarter to a third on the wealthiest 4 percent of taxpayers, even though 82 percent of them live in Montgomery County.
“I would be very surprised if people get up and move because of this tax package,” Frosh said.
“Maryland is not going to be put at a competitive disadvantage.”
He has little sympathy for the millionaire having to pay an extra $10,000 a year.
That?s not the view of Sen. Rona Kramer, a pro-business moderate from Olney who is chairwoman of the Montgomery County delegation. She?s been leading the charge against the higher rates.
In terms of the overall plan, Kramer said, “I just think it?s going to take a miracle to bring us together.”
Mike and Bob
Senate President Thomas Mike Miller Jr. appeared on the “Bob and Kendel Ehrlich Show” on WBAL radio Saturday.
Asked whether he still planned to retire after serving as presiding officer since 1987, Miller said, “Well, I?m not sure. It?s kind of hard to retire when you?re in the middle of a crisis situation.”
Miller is the legislature?s most ardent proponent of slots, a passion he shares with Ehrlich.
Both men continue to promote the revenue measure, a renewed partnership that riled Comptroller Peter Franchot, now the most visible slots foe.
“The Senate president gave tremendous credibility to Ehrlich, who appears to be mounting a re-match campaign against Gov. Martin O?Malley,” Franchot groused in a sharply worded statement.
“No one in the Democratic Party ? especially those in leadership positions ? should help Bob Ehrlich and his mean-spirited, right-wing politics.
“Unfortunately, in the race to the bottom that slots represent, principle and party take a backseat to the special interests.”
Blarney
While O?Malley may need luck, he has no need to rub the Blarney Stone again, since he?s already got the gift of gab. Some translation may be needed.
“Consensus” sounds like the word meaning general agreement by most of a group. But “finding consensus” in O?Malley-talk means “getting enough votes to pass my plan.”
“Investing in Maryland” means spending more money on education, health care or roads.
“Protect education by making the Thornton law sustainable” means freezing Thornton school aid because the inflation index has been making it so expensive.
“Modernize the sales tax ? so it?s still in line with surrounding states” means raising it as high as the neighbors, while broadening it to some services.
“Recapture slots revenue” means setting up enough machines that Marylanders aren?t driving over the border to gamble their dollars.
Len Lazarick can be reached at [email protected]
