Democrats tout legislative session's accomplishments; Republicans slam lack of 'responsible fiscal leadership'

The close of the 2008 legislative session on Monday meant the time for analysis had begun. As expected, Democrats and Republicans greatly disagreed on the session’s level of effectiveness.

“Our Democratic leaders stepped-up this year and did the heavy lifting that gave us a remarkably successful session,” Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Michael Cryor said in a statement. “There are no other words to describe it. Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and our Democratic leadership are moving Maryland forward in uncertain times. We will actually see progress on our priorities because our governor and Democratic leadership acted now. As a result children, families and small-businesses who depend on education, health care, the environment, transportation and more, will benefit for years to come.”

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Lusby) said the session was “another disappointing example of Governor O’Malley’s failure to provide responsible fiscal leadership.”

“Government continues to grow virtually unchecked and the appetite for taxes has not been satisfied,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “The Democrat leadership is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the taxpayers with empty rhetoric about spending cuts and sound fiscal management.  For virtually every cut that has been made, the governor has found somewhere else to spend those dollars.  For every job that has been cut, additional positions have been added.  Their fiscal restraint is an illusion.  This budget is contingent on the largest tax increase in Maryland’s history and there has been no true effort from the leadership to reduce spending.”

Cryor pointed to the settlement with Constellation Energy, which will likely save BGE customers $2 billion over time, as an example of success. He also highlighted the freeze on college tuition prices for a third year in a row, the foreclosure prevention bill, and the appropriation of additional funding for K-12 education.

House Minority Whip Christopher Shank (R-Hagerstown) downplayed the significance of the energy agreement, saying in a statement, “For all of their lofty rhetoric and election year promises, the governor and Democrat Leadership have done little to address Maryland’s energy issues.”

“In 2006, they promised rate relief and a solution to our looming energy shortage,” Shank continued.  “While they’re busy patting themselves on the back over the BGE settlement, they have codified an 85% electric rate increase and passed feel-good energy policies that will serve to further increase rates.  All I see here for the ratepayers are broken promises.”

In what was perhaps an attempt to reach across party lines, Cryor also stated, “Republican leaders in Annapolis are to be complimented. After refusing to help solve the state’s pending fiscal crisis in the 2007 special session, many apparently realized that Maryland’s priorities are worth funding.”

“In their alternative Republican budget proposal – touted for its fiscal austerity - Republican leaders said they planned to spend 85% of the new revenues that resulted from the special session,” Cryor added. “That budget was rejected but in the end, half of the Senate Republicans and a few of the House Republicans voted to pass the state budget. This signals significant progress towards seeking solutions by coming together – even if only in spirit - instead of always wielding rancor and divisiveness only for the sake of partisanship.”

“We are all a part of one Maryland and we are all in this together,” Cryor said.