Following Dismal Budget Briefing, Norman Calls for a Top-to-Bottom Review of State Spending and a Freeze in Any New Spending Programs

The Maryland House of Delegates Republican Caucus met Tuesday, September 23 and received a briefing from the State’s Department of Legislative Services on the current state of Maryland’s budget. The briefing presented sobering and almost entirely bad news, as the first quarter revenues of the current fiscal year yielded one billion fewer dollars less than what was the budget required.

Following the briefing, Delegate Wayne Norman called for a thorough review of all state spending programs – not just general fund revenues – and a freeze on any new spending programs. In the weeks ahead, Norman and the Republican Caucus also plan to announce concrete measures to bring Maryland’s government back within its means and without relying on new taxes or fees.

With state workers experiencing furloughs at a state savings of approximately $33 million dollars, the sacrifice imposed produces only a fraction of what the state needs to do to fix its errors. “It’s as if the Conowingo Dam broke down the middle, and the state’s answer is to make its employees carry a bucket to the top and pour it back in,” Norman said. “It hurts the employees, and doesn’t really improve the state’s problem.”

During the 2009 Session, Delegate Norman voted against the budget out of concern for the unlikely high revenue expectations and the even higher expenditures. After the briefing, Norman said, “You can’t add expensive programs while complaining that you don’t have enough to make ends meet as it is. Poor planning is what got the state in this situation, and only addressing the issues can fix the problems.”

“Maryland needs to stop punishing businesses and hard working citizens and to start encouraging free enterprise. With the state cutting jobs and unemployment at 7.8%, encouraging economic growth and eliminating waste must begin this session through sound long-term policy decisions.”

Norman and the Republican Caucus plan to announce measures to bring Maryland’s government back within its means and to provide incentives for cutting waste this coming session.