Governor Martin O’Malley Addresses What Ehrlich Wouldn’t

The Tax Fairness Plan: A Fiscal Fix for the Long-Term

Repairing 4 Years of Republican Tax, Spend and Fiscal Neglect

Annapolis, MD – While Governor Martin O’Malley continues his open and honest conversation with Marylanders around his proposals for tax fairness and fundamental reform, it is instructive to recall the previous administration’s contribution to the expansion of our state’s huge fiscal mess. Just how did Bob Ehrlich – at the time the most powerful governor in America - take a $1 billion structural deficit and turn it into a $1.7 billion boondoggle for others to solve?

“Ehrlich sneaked in so many regressive tax hikes and band-aids in order to avoid the tough challenge of facing our state’s long term fiscal health,” says Quincey Gamble, Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party.  “Bob Ehrlich papered over the problem with $3 billion in tax hikes (he called them fees), robbing trust funds and borrowing hundreds of millions more. Sadly, those band aids weren’t designed to fix the fundamental problems. They were designed to aid his run for re-election.”

“When we needed Ehrlich to face the problem head on, he caved. While he accused Democrats of being obsessed with unnecessary tax hikes, he fooled even his Republican supporters by raising more taxes than any Maryland governor in Maryland’s history.

“Fortunately, Governor O’Malley is both competent and prepared to put real tax fairness and honest reforms on the table. Marylanders finally have a governor who is willing to make the tough choices so the we can move our state forward,” said Gamble

The first major tax hike proposed by the Ehrlich Administration in his first legislative session was a 58% hike in the state property tax. O’Malley’s reform package will end it. It was regressive and painful during the housing boom, but Ehrlich plowed forward - hiding dozens more taxes, fees and toll hikes from the people of Maryland.

“Ehrlich had a lot of Republican support for his subterfuge,” says Gamble. “Those same GOP lawmakers who are making such a fuss today voted with regularity to help Ehrlich raise those taxes. Their contribution caused Maryland government spending to explode by a whopping 32% and added significantly to the budget turmoil we face today.”

“Republicans are invited to debate the elements of the Governor’s proposal. In fact, it’s a good idea. But deciding to disagree in advance of hearing what it is, fails to serve the people of our great state. We are well passed the luxury of reflexive politics. We need to fix our problems. We need to fix them now.”