A message to Annapolis

We’re just 12 days away from the “90 days of terror” annually perpetrated by our General Assembly. But this year’s session will begin with a message for our legislators: it’s an election year and we’re watching you.

For months our attention has been placed squarely on the happenings of Congress and the shenanigans on Capitol Hill.  Health care, cap-and-trade, card check – all are attempts by the federal government to take away our freedoms. Unfortunately, the situation with the state government in Maryland is no better. 

When Governor O’Malley and our legislators convene next month to begin the 90 day Maryland General Assembly legislative session, they will be facing a $2 billion budget deficit. Even after the largest tax increase in Maryland history (2007) and nearly $4 billion in federal stimulus funding, the politicians in Annapolis are projected to spend more money than they can collect. Combine the deficit with a 26-year high unemployment level, and we the taxpayers have a huge mess on our hands.

Governor O’Malley (D-MD), House Speaker Michael Busch (D-District 30) and Senate President Mike Miller (D-27) have already talked about tax increases to cover the budget hole. The last thing taxpayers and small businesses need right now is another tax hike. We need to let the politicians in the State House know we will NOT stand for that.  We need to send them a message:  “No More Deficits, No More Tax Hikes, Bring Back Our Jobs!”

The chance to send them this message is a TEA Party on January 13, 2010 –the first day of the MGA legislative session.  AFP-Maryland has launched a special website for this event.  At 7 p.m., along with hundreds of others, we will convene at the steps of the State House in Annapolis to make our voices heard.  Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform and our national president Tim Phillips will be the keynote speakers. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE.  You can pre-register for the TEA Party, see other activities to participate in that day, and find out how to catch a local bus to the event.  (Please make sure you register for a bus with the BUS CAPTAINS.)

We have the ability to change the way business is done in Annapolis.  Unlike Congress, the members of the General Assembly are, for the most part, more accessible and easier to track down.  With 2010 being an election year, AFP-Maryland is in a great position to affect policy.  Please go to MarchOnAnnapolis.com, pre-register for the event, sign up for a bus, and pass the information to friends, family and neighbors.

It goes into the “mad as hell and can’t take it anymore” department.

The problem is that there are a number of legislators who know they don’t have to listen to our requests because they’ve bamboozled their voting public enough to make them believe the higher taxes only go to the “rich,” health care is “free,” and their only way out of their dilemma is to keep voting the same politicians in because “someday” they’ll make things better – but only if they continue to be placed in power. Generations have been born, educated, raised children, and died in a vain wait on these pols to make things better – but somehow these unfortunate souls still hold out hope a sugar daddy will improve their lot in life.

We on my side are speaking out but after the protests are over the second part of the equation is convincing voters we have a better alternative and they need to take a chance on allowing these changes to happen. Those who take comfort in the reliability of a government handout are naturally susceptible to threats of that lifeline being taken away if the “other” party somehow gains power. Even I know that these programs can’t disappear overnight, but they must eventually if freedom and liberty are to prevail.

Some consider groups like AFP “astroturf” because they have corporate backing, but to me it’s simply a vehicle to facilitate expression. They’ve shrewdly placed themselves aboard a nascent TEA Party movement that found a critical mass simply because of an utterance on a network news show and built up their own network of political activists – activists who are simply acting as a counter to the network put in place by the slick marketing and packaging of a man who eventually became President.

Our side has some catching up to do, but right is on our side and it makes that matter easier. It should be a fun time in Annapolis twelve days hence.

Oh, and one more thing: even if Annapolis shapes up, I’m going to be skeptical that the trend will continue once the year passes and some of these legislators are safely re-elected for the next four years. I have one idea I’m saving for a post later today or tomorrow.