Editorial: Editorial: Two Democrats step up for Maryland

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - It looks as if a couple of Maryland Democrats learned a reality lesson in actual economics and democracy. Every citizen should thank Baltimore County Sen. James Brochin for having the courage to act upon his conscience and in the best interests of his constituents.

Only four more Democratic senators need to come to their senses and support a tax-busting filibuster to stop this madness.

As long as we have a rare instance of leaders actually showing leadership, six other executives should join Montgomery County’s Ike Leggett in opposing Gov. Martin O’Malley’s inexplicable raid on taxpayers’ pockets.

Brochin said, “I was elected to represent my constituents” in the Towson area, and they’ve been telling him “NO!” 60-1. Brochin also voted against the “extraordinary session” convened last week because, beyond being unconstitutional, there is no emergency. “Our budget is balanced until July 2008,” he pointed out, and the “structural deficit” for 2009 is less than O’Malley projected to panic lawmakers.

Leggett, less than two weeks after joining fellow county executives to rally for tax increases, noticed a state comptroller’s report that 80 percent of the revenue would come out of his constituents’ pockets. Oops!

Most of those Brochin represents would suffer a 25 percent income tax increase. Ouch!

So, two Democrats became true believers in democracy. It’s a lesson Republicans have to learn the hard way every once in a while, too.

But not Democratic Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who called representing constituents a gimmick “mostly for show. You’ve got to have core values to be in this business.”

What core values? Tax and spend?

Brochin nailed values that really are declining: citizens’ net worth and income. “They’re just about as taxed as they can afford to be taxed.”

Leggett presented a core value to a House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees joint hearing in Annapolis, warning that the highest state income tax in the D.C. area would jeopardize “Montgomery County’s role as the economic engine of the state and our ability to remain competitive.” Say the same for all of Maryland.

Leggett must convince fellow executives to fight tax increases forced down our throats — not to fund essential services, but to pay for accelerated spending increases.

Brochin must convince at least four fellow true Democrats to help democracy work and join 14 Republican senators in spiking this O’Malley fraud upon the people of Maryland.

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