We did not endorse Democrat Frank Kratovil, the freshman congressman representing Maryland’s First District. But in his short tenure the Blue Dog Democrat has thus far proved himself the fiscally conservative representative he promised to be in his campaign against state Sen. Andy Harris.
He joined every House Republican and 10 other Democrats in voting against the initial stimulus bill, now estimated to be $789.5 billion. His spokesman said he had not yet decided how to vote on the final bill, which could be signed into law by President Obama early next week. But he has shown a remarkable understanding of who elected him to office and what the country needs by casting his vote against the original House bill.
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In his own words: “Our party’s ability to succeed in districts like mine rests on our credibility on this critical issue and our ability to protect constituents from another economic crisis down the road.”
He would know. His traditionally Republican district went for John McCain in the presidential election and gave Republican Wayne Gilchrest 18 years in office.
Would that his fellow Democrats in Annapolis held the same principles.
Instead, they are busy spending stimulus money they do not yet have. Gov. Martin O’Malley earlier this week told Maryland’s congressional delegation that the state was ready to spend all of the money coming its way — about $3.3 billion. This is not a pie-eating contest. It’s our tax dollars. If the money does not need to be spent, it should go back to we the people instead of be funneled into new programs that promise to grow the size of government — and our tax burden — for years to come.
If Democrats in Annapolis do not figure out how to match their spending to annual revenue, it won’t just be conservative-leaning districts like Kratovil’s that need convincing Dems are making the right choices, but all of Maryland’s districts. Raising taxes again after last year’s across-the-board increases won’t fly. If Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas Mike Miller are smart, they will listen to the Kratovils of their party instead of those pushing to spend money we don’t have. The future of their party — and our state — depends on it.
