The average Marylander is not that concerned about Mr. Angelos, other than the fact that the record of the Orioles could be better. But they are worried about the massive hike in state income taxes that Gov. O'Malley may be planning. These hikes weren't mentioned in a single TV ad run by the Governor last November. The services provided by the state have not improved to the extent that any such income tax hike is justified. If this hike is enacted the Governor will spend the next election running away from his record, rather than running on it.

The average Marylander is not that concerned about Mr. Angelos, other than the fact that the record of the Orioles could be better. But they are worried about the massive hike in state income taxes that Gov. O'Malley may be planning. These hikes weren't mentioned in a single TV ad run by the Governor last November. The services provided by the state have not improved to the extent that any such income tax hike is justified. If this hike is enacted the Governor will spend the next election running away from his record, rather than running on it.

No wonder people call Martin O'Malley "Diapers." He's such a petty man. Too bad he doesn't use his musckles to say his little petty comments to people's faces. He hides behind Post reporters. He is like a little child who constantly throws temper tantrums. Grow up!

Hey Wagner - what about a story about how O'Malley plagerises? Didn't that end a presidential run a couple of years ago and have a certain columnist from the Sun and an ambitious reporter from the NY Times fired? And serve as grounds for dismissal at many schools? Just wondering.

Here is Warren Buffett at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser not a month ago addressing the need for a progressive income tax system, "Let's just see what Americans, chosen, are paying compared to the people who clean their offices," he said, referring to tax breaks given to those with higher incomes.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286891,00.html

Here is O'Malley, according to your story, addressing the need for a progressive income tax system, "Angelos, who is also a wealthy trial lawyer, should not be paying the same rate as "the woman who cleans his office," O'Malley told the breakfast crowd.

if you don't see it as a big deal, do your editors? And if not, why do they disagree with the editorial policy of the NY Times, the Baltimore Sun and others?

Thanks and keep up the good work.

Isn't Warren Buffett, O'Malley's speechwriter, a member of the Washington Post Board of Directors? Conflict?

Let them pass a special tax for Angelos.

Marylanders already pay plenty! It drives jobs out of the state.

These guys need to control spending first.

Has anyone looked back at any of his other speeches to see where else he may have plagerized others?

This example is pretty hard to argue with - that is a very specific image and phrasing about a very specific subject area.

You know, though, I think the bigger thing with O'Malley is that he really thinks none of it matters, he really seems to think it doesn't matter if he lies, cheats or breaks promises, says one thing and does another. He's never faced any consequences.

Will he this time? Somehow I doubt it.

What a shock. The Democrat gets into office, and now he wants to raise taxes.

I guess he needs to follow through on his campaign promise to 'Tax you bastards back to the stone age'

Fact is O'Malley is right on Angleos, and Angleos' depsair to keep competition out of DC is about as un-American as it gets.

The 1.5 billion dollar deficit is primarily due to a new education law that was passed two years ago I believe and is now just kicking into full gear. It's not like all of the sudden the state decided to increase funding across the board to all state agencies.

Now if you want to have the education funding rescinded then contact your state legislator. In many respects O'Malleys hands are tied on this one, because he has to fund the initiative by law, so you either cut funding (like transportation, law enforcement, etc) elsewhere or raise new funding. Take your pick.

"he has to fund the initiative by law." Really! So he has to raise taxes by law. Don't I recall the phrase, "unfunded initiative." What would happen if he didn't fund it? The Executive branch enforces the law. Would he send himself to jail?

Perhaps a civics class might be in order for you.

No he doesn't have to raise taxes by law. As my previous thread mentioned, he can propose offsetting cuts in other agencies and not raise a penny in new revenue.

Where pretel do you suggest he startcutting $1.5 billion?

I love how people care enough about MD to offer all of these great programs, but when it comes time to pay up for them, they get all up in arms. Taxes are a necessary part of a state system and residents need to pay their fair share. Lower income families should pay less and higher income families should pay more. It seems like this adjustment to the tax system will get us more in line with that. Sure everyone hates paying taxes, but honestly, it's necessary and I will gladly pay more to ensure that our state programs don't get cut.

Socialism doesn't work!

Enjoy the tax hikes. You voted for this guy and he's going to take every penny from you he can. Montgomery and Prince George's Counties should pay the tax increases for the entire state for voting for O'Taxy. Add his tax increases in sales and income, to your gas tax increase, and your gridlock and you've created quite the utopia there, huh?

I think the real blame here lies at the feet of the legislators who passed Thornton to appeal to the 8% of the total voters who pick the winners in the Democratic primaries, without funding it, figuring they would raise taxes after the election while hoping voters would forget the tax hikes three years hence. If Gov. O'Malley chooses not to fund the Thorton "unfunded mandate," by raising taxes or cutting other programs, what can the legislture do to him? He can argue he is not bound by the edict of a legislature elected for a different term. If the legislature elected in l980 passed a law saying that the funding for a certain program would have to double each year for the next twenty years would a subsequent Governor be bound? I doubt it. Could anything be done to that Governor who refused to fund as the head of the Executive Branch which enforces the laws? I doubt it.

I want to know how I can get my tax rate as low as the one paid by millionaries Senator and Mrs. John Kerry?

How much in accountant and attorney fees do they have to pay to get that rate while Lurch tries to have the little people pay more?

Good point Odenton! A great state is NOT free. Services and public safety cost a lot and the cost will not decline. Some prefer to live in a fantasy world...the rest of us must make the world run a best possible, while they pitch stones. Just more GOP sour grapes over O'Malley trouncing Erlich. Doubt it? - Just watch the responses to this post.