Soccer Dad

Way too much

Didn't I mention that I thought Maryland's General Assembly had way too much time on its hands? Well according to Colossus of Rhodey.Hube, I didn't even have the complete picture!

[Maryland] State lawmakers are considering a bill that would grant free college tuition for some juvenile offenders. Supporters say it's a way to encourage troubled youth to get their lives back on track. John Dixon, Deputy Secretary for the MD Department of Juvenile Services says, "The kids the department serves face a lot of obstacles and challenges when they return to the community. This bill will allow kids who are interested in attending public institution to go there tuition free."

And remember that emergency session last year to solve the state's "structural deficit?" Even though said deficit was only about 6% of the budget, the state's legislature and executive branch never considered belt tightening, only tax hikes.

Doesn't Instapundit say something like "I won't believe it's a crisis until those who say it is start acting like it is?" Here's our Governor on how important belt tightening is:

During his appearance in Dundalk, the governor also addressed the issue over pay raises for top state officials.

The O'Malley Administration has created a new executive pay grade that would allow some officials to earn between $140,000 and $235,000 a year.

The governor says that the pay grade is justified, even as lawmakers are being asked to approved more than $300-million in budget cuts that will leave other state workers earning a 1.5% raise next year.

The governor defended a $70,000 raise for PSC Chairman Steven Larsen that will net him a $188,000 a year salary.

The governor says Larsen is charged with leading an agency that will help lower residential electric rates which is one of the administration's priorities.

"We are going to pay top dollar, in order to defend consumers and their interests, in the same way Constellation (Energy) is going to spend to retain the best lawyers and experts to try and boost their profit margin," O'Malley said.

Uh, Governor didn't you run on a promise to keep energy rates down? That hasn't exactly happened has it?

Perhaps it's because you ran into market forces. You told us to pay more up front because you wouldn't hold down spending. Paying Larsen $70,000 more isn't going to make a difference between higher and lower rates. Don't spend our money and say that you're doing it to save us money. You're already demonstrated that you don't care about our money.

And now a few months late (same article) Gov. O'Malley thinks that the computer service tax wasn't well thought out. You think?

Governor Martin O'Malley says the state should do away with a sales tax extension on computer services, but only if there is some way the state can make up the $200-million, the tax would generate.

"I would support repeal of it, provided we can find alternatives to it, that's where I am," O'Malley told reporters after an event in Dundalk today.

The governor says he is convinced that the tax hurts the tech industry, and would cost state jobs. He also notes that tax was not part of his original tax proposal, unveiled before last year's special session of the General Assembly.

While it was being discussed during the special session we had:

Meanwhile, operators of arcade games said it would be difficult to levy a sales tax on their coin-operated machines. "You can't put two pennies for tax into a machine," said Granville Trimper, who runs a large video-game arcade pavilion at his amusement park on Ocean City's boardwalk. "It would be a real mess." Unlike the fitness buffs who voiced strong opposition last week during rallies and testimony, these three industries do not have an active presence in Annapolis. "There's no strong voice," said Barbara Hoffman, a lobbyist and former state senator, said of landscaping, computer services and arcade owners. "I think that's one of the reasons they got picked, I've got to tell you ..... But I'm sure they'll come out of the woodwork."

Sen. Bobby A. Zirkin, a Baltimore County Democrat, voted against the Senate tax bill. He said the addition of computer services to the sales tax base was a major reason.

'It's not a good idea without giving it a lot of thought,' he said.

Given how little thought went into it, what makes the Governor so certain that the tax will raise $200 million. The tax was levied arbitrarily, because computer services was an industry that didn't have a lobbying presence in Annapolis.

Regardless, as Monoblogue has pointed out (via a Maryland Republican Party press release) the rise in taxes has led to declining revenues. (One thing I wish that the Maryland State website has would be a comparison between a year's revenue projections vs. actual revenue after the year is over.) In other words, the special session is likely to be self-defeating.

On a more local note, I'd like to acknowledge some success. At the end of last year I criticized the city's new approach to crime fighting because it didn't seem to be working. However it's just been reported that murders in Baltimore City are down this year over the same period last year.

In the eight months since taking over the Baltimore's top cop job, Bealefeld has reduced not just the number of homicides but the number of arrests. With the full-support of City Hall and his boss, Mayor Dixon, crime-fighting may have gone back to the basics, but there's no denying the homicide count is down. Just look at this calendar year alone, compared to the first quarter of 2007.

In total, homicides are down nearly 40%. But it's more than just a new plan and a supportive boss. If appearances matter, then its appears the relationship between police and prosecutors has warmed under Bealefeld's administration and from the streets to front offices there's a new-found cooperation among department members. This is not to suggest that all is rosy; far from it. But it's a far different police department than it was a year ago, progress is clearly being made and a year from now, Baltimore streets could be far safer.

I believe the numbers I heard were 35 murder this year compared to 53 at the same date last year. That would project to about 200 murders over the course of a full year. That rate is still too high (about 3 times the rate for a city the size of Baltimore) but it's 25% better than the best that Mayor O'Malley managed. So keep up the good work Mayor Dixon and Commissioner Bealefeld! Let's see you build on this success.

maryland, baltimore.