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Monday, 22 October 2007

http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_296064916.html

Gov. Outlines List Of Cuts If Budget Plan Fails

(WJZ/AP) ANNAPOLIS, Md. Less than a week to go, next Monday lawmakers meet for a special session on the issue of a massive budget deficit.

Pat Warren reports Governor O'Malley draws a grim picture of what the state faces if lawmakers fail to pass his plan to solve the projected $1.7 billion budget deficit.

It's a week before the General Assembly returns to Annapolis and O'Malley rallies the troops.

"I have high expectations for my neighbors, for the men and women that I serve with as colleagues in government. I think if we all realize that we are public servants, that we are servant leaders we'll be able to find that consensus," said Governor O'Malley.

Without a consensus on tax increases, slots, and reform, O'Malley says public education is at risk.

Transportation in Maryland is in trouble. Stem cell research may be put on hold. The chance to provide medical care to the uninsured with the tobacco tax may have to wait for another day, not to mention the potential jeopardizing of funds for public safety.

O'Malley says these are examples of things on his list of what's at stake if the General Assembly fails to come up with a plan to build new revenue into the budget.

"There is a price to doing nothing. There is a price to doing nothing in every single generation of people that have come together under this dome from both parties. I do not believe that this is what the people of Maryland and their representatives will choose," said O'Malley.

But some disagree with the picture the governor is painting. The Republican leadership claims the governor is trying to scare them.

"The new movie in Annapolis will be 'A Nightmare On State Circle' with the governor being the main character you call him Martin Freddy Krueger O'Malley, but we gotta stay awake. If you fall asleep in that movie you get hurt. Here the Marylanders got to stay awake. They've got to come down. They've got to call their legislature. They've gotta call the governor and say, we don't want this, you're hurting our families," said Senator Allan Kittleman.

House Speaker Michael Busch says their work is cut out for them.

"My prediction is we'll be in here for at least two weeks. Anything that runs for more than three weeks is a little bit of trouble, but I think the governor's laid out a pretty thorough road map for us to be able to try and follow it," said Busch.

O'Malley has the road map, and the specific bills are expected to be released by the end of this week.

 

 
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