As I like to do when I have the opportunity, tonight I checked out the latest meeting of Wicomico County’s Americans for Prosperity chapter. So did a lot of other folks, as this was but half the crowd.
The topic of this month’s meeting was the first of several “Meet the Candidates” nights, with two featured this evening. One brought signs and literature, the other didn’t. Maybe it’s because Jim Rutledge is running statewide and Joe Holloway isn’t.
Yet the opening portion of the meeting dealt with AFP-specific topics, including a rehash of the recent March on Annapolis and, for the handful of new attendees, an introduction to the group by local co-chairs Joe Collins and Julie Brewington. They wanted to “tell the truth and do what’s right.”
But the focus of much of their time was the 189-page Maryland state budget, just released by Governor O’Malley’s office. According to the PowerPoint presentation put together by Collins, since 1918 the state’s budget had to be balanced but only since 1974 have the numbers been publically available. (Heck, that was even before the internet!)
Most readers here know that Governor Ehrlich inherited a $4 billion hole but left Governor O’Malley a $1 billion immediate surplus and $3 billion structural deficit that was “trending to zero.” But O’Malley is leaving his successor (or himself if re-elected) an $8.3 billion hole. The only reason this year’s budget was balanced was having a “rich uncle – Uncle Sam” help us out, along with floating more bonds to create more long-term debt. Even Warren Deschenaux, who is the Chief Budget Analyst for the General Assembly, warned that, “Maryland lawmakers should consider a Plan B” if the $389 million in stimulus money counted upon to fill the gap doesn’t show.
Collins also pointed out a couple examples of “pay to play” such as a key DNC donor securing $625,000 in the budget for an adventure camp and the Ocean City Convention Center picking up $2.8 million thanks to two Democrat delegates. (Wow, Norm Conway actually brought home bacon so you know it must be an election year!)
The message was quite clear:
Julie Brewington took over and reviewed the March on Annapolis. Now the next step was to make our voices heard through testimony on the budget and other important bills facing the General Assembly. She also noted that this was the first of several planned “Meet the Candidates” gatherings and representatives from all parties were welcome as AFP was a non-partisan group.
She also pointed out the need for “ambassadors” to take the time and be point people for both Salisbury City Council and Wicomico County Council meetings. (It’s also a good idea for other local municipalities as well.) Along with that, another goal was to establish a regular, predictable meeting night each month.
After that soliloquy, District 5 County Councilman Joe Holloway was introduced to the group.
He noted that county bureaucrats didn’t always like him, and sometimes “I get angry.” But Joe’s developed a reputation as the county’s fiscal watchdog, and he went through his perspective on a number of different issues he’s faced over three years as a County Councilman.
It started by getting a crash course on tax increment financing just two weeks into his term (“I didn’t know a TIF agreement from a cucumber” when he was elected) in deciding the fate of the former Salisbury Mall property. Right after that came the controversy over binding arbitration for the Sheriff’s Department where the County Council had to go against an overwhelming vote in favor of the concept because of questions on the law. Joe still hoped that the County Executive would come up with a plan so that could be adopted.
Other contentious votes came on taxation of the Crown Sports Center, animal control (“we put more teeth into our dog law”), a land purchase for a new park on the county’s western side, the landfill scandal (where those convicted of theft from the county can no longer receive the county’s contribution to their pension plan), and the liquor dispensary – Holloway and two other County Council members spent hours poring over the liquor dispensary’s checkbook and found a number of questionable purchases. Currently, Holloway is spearheading a similar effort at the Board of Education.
After all, Joe pointed out, the county’s budget has increased 39% even with a revenue cap. He noted that current County Executive Rick Pollitt seemed to be following the “3 and 1” theory – complain about a revenue cap for three years then play budget hawk for one year at election time.
One question Joe took made for an interesting response. When asked about the accounting error which led to the county “finding” $3.5 million in an audit, Holloway replied that the “financial office is in chaos” and the practice of splitting invoices hadn’t stopped, even in the wake of the landfill theft scandal. Obviously it’s a situation Joe will continue to dig into.
Ironically, the next big item County Council looks into brings them full circle back to the old mall property, where the developer is attempting to sell five acres to the county for $1.5 million so they can use it for parking for the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. That public hearing is next Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Government Office Building, and Holloway is leading the charge of those questioning the wisdom of the deal.
After hearing a lot on the local scene from Holloway, many were finally introduced to U.S. Senate candidate Jim Rutledge.
The now clean-shaven Rutledge began by announcing to the appreciative crowd: “I am a Ronald Reagan conservative.” He continued by stating the “foundational principles (of the country) are hanging by a thread” and the current administration and Congress are, “dead set on a course to bankrupt America.” He chided his presumptive opponent, Senator Barbara Mikulski, for voting to increase the debt limit.
Jim was running “because ‘We the People’ cannot sit on the sidelines” and that New Jersey and Massachusetts results pointed to “something historic” possibly happening in Maryland. He actually only spoke a short stump speech before opening the floor to questions.
When asked if he thought there were “any cold, naked truths you don’t know” but would know upon election to the Senate, Rutledge joked that, “with Scott Brown winning I thought the adjective was interesting.” But obviously he would be privy to a large amount of information when he became a Senator. However, he also told those gathered that, “I will count on you to keep me accountable,” but, “I won’t be a miracle worker,” either. He may not know everything yet, but he promised to stand on his guiding principles. The Constitution says “We the People” and not “We the Congress,” Rutledge said.
On the subject of term limits, Jim said he supported a Constitutional amendment to allow them.
Turning to a question about health care reform, Jim said that we had the best system in the world – so we shouldn’t do anything to destroy it. “My solutions are free-market solutions,” and were similar to those proposed by AFP during their summerlong series of health care townhall meetings. In particular, Jim favored insurance portability by allowing more purchasing at the individual level and getting state governments on board by their loosening of restrictions.
A oft-cited solution to health care woes is tort reform, and Jim departed from many of his colleagues in the legal profession by openly favoring the concept. But he warned tort reform is “a term you can drive a tractor-trailer through.” Currently, he stated, the “litigation system benefits the attorneys involved” and added that tort reform should be limited to medical malpractice but other aspects of liability as well.
Finally, Jim believed we could save American jobs by providing a better transport system for our resources and repealing much of the regulation preventing us from taking advantage of them. The role of Congress is to repeal laws – and while they’re at it, defunding the “czars” put in place by President Obama.
I also wanted to note that I had a few minutes at the end of the meeting, speaking on the need for those in attendance to take the next step and run for office. Julie was kind enough to remind me to talk about my upcoming radio appearance Thursday evening (“Politics on the Edge” with Melody Scalley) and the Lincoln Day dinner on February 6th with Bob and Kendal Ehrlich.
Overall, it was an informative meeting. Let it be known, though, that Joe and Julie are trying to secure Frank Kratovil and Barbara Mikulski to tell their side of the story (recently the Worcester County chapter had Democratic Delegates Jim Mathias and the aforementioned Norm Conway as speakers.) Unlike the Republican club I also belong to, the AFP is playing no favorites on an “official” basis and stresses its nonpartisanship.
I have no idea who will speak next month, but this month may be hard to top.
