Marylanders spoke. We said we wanted a president who could offer “change” and “hope.” We wanted to be a part of making history.
For our state we also said yes to change, voting overwhelmingly for slots and expanded early voting.
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It’s still too early to call the 1st District race, but the mere fact that Democrat Frank Kratovil — endorsed by Republican Wayne Gilchrest, who himself was endorsed by President Bush — might win the traditionally Republican seat speaks to the momentum in favor of new leaders and new solutions.
Some things won’t change easily, however. Thanks to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s early support for Hillary Clinton, Marylanders probably will not lose him to President-elect Barack Obama’s administration. And the “structural deficit,” aka irresponsible spending, still looms over the state and will not go away because of slots. Chronic deficits of at least $1 billion a year loom forever unless we effect change.
The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System suffers from an unfunded deficit of more than $11 billion, with local governments also facing massive unfunded liabilities. Total false promises to public employees in Maryland were $50 billion before the market collapse.
And the highest tax increases in history last year are not bringing home the bacon, with state revenues lagging expectations.
No one can blame Bush for making this state spend beyond its means or, conversely, ask Barack Obama to balance our budget.
It is our responsibility and that of the leaders we elect to represent us.
So let us enjoy the invigorating breeze blowing a young and vibrant president into Washington. But let us not forget the gale force winds that still blow off the Chesapeake and threaten to mortgage our youth, stunt our growth and inflict perpetual economic blight on our state.
Optimism will not balance the budget nor provide the credit needed to build slot machine venues.
Our hope must be fulfilled through clear-eyed realism about what can stay in the budget and what must go. We’ve suggested numerous ways legislators can cut millions of dollars without affecting core state services. And we will offer more in the next two months before our state legislators return to session.
They must stop the hemorrhaging of our tax dollars before it drains our economy.
Such cuts are not mere change we can believe in; they represent more than change we deserve. Cutting expenses and taxes is the fundamental change we must achieve to grow.
