Final Day for General Assembly and Still No Budget

[OldBay]

A. They would be laid off. Not fired.
B. If the administration chooses pet projects over people that is their choice. Not ours. I will not support unlimited taxation just because of a guilt trip. Govt budgets have been growing faster than population and inflation.

C. You should really seek anger management assistance.

A. Semantics. There is no difference between a layoff and a firing today. In the old days, layoffs were temporary. I worked at a liquor store as a college student and got laid off after New years when business dropped, but I'd get re-hired in time for summer. That does not happen with the state in the 21st century.

B. ? Who said anything about unlimited taxation?

C. Of course, any dissenters are to be shipped to the asylum. Thanks Joe Stalin.

[crabsnbeer]

The taxes are unlimited. Every year there are more and every year they tell us it is an emergency and it is just a couple pennies. Your beef is not with the tax payers. Your unions and their elected democrat employees are the problem.

[OldBay]

The taxes are unlimited. Every year there are more and every year they tell us it is an emergency and it is just a couple pennies. Your beef is not with the tax payers. Your unions and their elected democrat employees are the problem.

In addition to paying the same income taxes that you do, I pay an additional 2% of salary to the general fund plus a state pickup income tax levied on state workers. I have no beef with any other taxpayers - I am one of them.

The state unions have very little power in this state. Collective bargaining is just a seat at the table. Without binding arbitration, its not worth much of anything - but what is the alternative?

I agree that state spending is up. But why is it so important to blame state workers for that? Why can't we place the blame where it belongs? They are a decreasing cost in the budget every year - at least since 2007. Why not attack the real problem in the budget and in the BPW?

[crabsnbeer]

A. I am sure I pay both a larger amount and a larger percentage ofmmy pay in state taxes.

B. When did I blame state workers (other than elected officials)?

C. The unions have a lot of pawed because they control the politicians. They just do not choose to use their power to benefit the workers.

[Saticon3]

The money spent on state workers has declined along with their numbers every year since 2007

Isn't that the norm for just about every profession as automation, computerization and efficiency increase? LOng ago I worked in a state land records office where me and about 5-6 others spent all day at xerox machines copying deeds and other documents for title searchers. Nowadays, the title searchers pull up all the documents they need on their own computers.


I want state spending cut. The method sometimes employed is referred to as "starve the beast" that's what I am in favor of.
Like crabs says, if they want to keep playing the game of cutting essentials and the popular to try to convince us there is no fluff, its on them, eventually, hopefully, everyone would catch on and vote them out.

[OldBay]

A. I am sure I pay both a larger amount and a larger percentage ofmmy pay in state taxes.

B. When did I blame state workers (other than elected officials)?

C. The unions have a lot of pawed because they control the politicians. They just do not choose to use their power to benefit the workers.

A. Unlike federal income tax, MD income tax is nearly a flat tax. And I have told you before that I am not impressed as I don't judge the value of any man by the size of his paycheck.

B. I made no such accusation of you. Sorry if you thought I did with my general statement.

C. I think you may be confusing the control of pols by local unions with those representing state workers. I'm also amazed at the power of the local unions.

[crabsnbeer]

It is not flat. Plus there are heavy sales/title taxes and lots and lots of fees.

I did not ask you to be impressed but you always claim your extra 2% tax as some kind of either badge of honor, extra burden, or as some indication that your opinion carries more weight.

[OldBay]

It is not flat. Plus there are heavy sales/title taxes and lots and lots of fees.

I did not ask you to be impressed but you always claim your extra 2% tax as some kind of either badge of honor, extra burden, or as some indication that your opinion carries more weight.

Re-read my post. I said "nearly flat" and it is. Between $3000 and 150,000, the rate before the county piggy-back is 4.75%. Over 150K but less than 300K is 5%. Over 300K but under 500K is 5.25% while over 500K, the marginal rate is 5.50%. That is a fairly flat marginal rate, compared to federal brackets, isn't it? Every tax professional I know refers to it as "nearly flat".

If you are asking a multiple choice question about the 2%, then it is certainly an extra burden since it is selectively applied. Is that statement inaccurate? It is mentioned only for accuracy and useful illustrative comparison purposes, nothing more - except for what you choose to read into it. Clearly pointing out the math is stating facts, not an opinion.

[jtowne-swim]

The taxes are unlimited. Every year there are more and every year they tell us it is an emergency and it is just a couple pennies. Your beef is not with the tax payers. Your unions and their elected democrat employees are the problem.

Harford county keeps cutting it's taxes and paying less each year.

[Saticon3]

well, kudos for Harford Co! But, back to the State--

"Doomsday" is 1.4% of the budget-- and even WITH "Doomsday", State Spending goes UP from 34.8 billion this year to 35.3 billion next year.

So, from year to year, its not even a cut.

[jtowne-swim]

well, kudos for Harford Co! But, back to the State--

"Doomsday" is 1.4% of the budget-- and even WITH "Doomsday", State Spending goes UP from 34.8 billion this year to 35.3 billion next year.

So, from year to year, its not even a cut.

How much of that was inflation, rising energy cost and in creases in cost of doing buisness.

[Saticon3]

How much of that was inflation, rising energy cost and in creases in cost of doing buisness.

I dunno', and to me, its irrelevant....all those expenses have gone up for me too, but my pay hasn't, ( pragmatically, it has been cut by increased health insurance, furlough days, etc.) so I've had to cut back on some things.

[Saticon3]

But, hey it would be nice if I could just tell my employer, "hey, things are a bit tougher on me financially, therefor, I will have to TAKE another, say, 3% or so pay from you" and the employer could do nothing about it other than pay me the additional amount.

[crabsnbeer]

How much of that was inflation, rising energy cost and in creases in cost of doing buisness.

Who cares? They supposedly cut spending and shifted costs to the local Govts so it should be going down anyway.

[jtowne-swim]

I dunno', and to me, its irrelevant....all those expenses have gone up for me too, but my pay hasn't, ( pragmatically, it has been cut by increased health insurance, furlough days, etc.) so I've had to cut back on some things.

Same for me too but what would you specifically suggest they cut!!!!!!

[johnpolitics]

Cut the Governor's expansion of health care. Some are illegals. Cut k-12 education. Pay the teachers and to hell with adminstration. Class sizes can increase to 30.

[jtowne-swim]

Cut the Governor's expansion of health care. Some are illegals. Cut k-12 education. Pay the teachers and to hell with adminstration. Class sizes can increase to 30.

You are going to cut education and pay teachers???????

[bmore_ken]

Cut the Governor's expansion of health care. Some are illegals. Cut k-12 education. Pay the teachers and to hell with adminstration. Class sizes can increase to 30.

Spoken like someone who has never had to attempt to keep the attention of 30 3rd graders

[rurdy]

Move along, nothing to see here......

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

[Saticon3]

Same for me too but what would you specifically suggest they cut!!!!!!

That's a silly question. But, I'll answer anyway.

The 1.5% as spelled out in the "doomsday" budget. In fact, barring a special session, its already done, right?

( again, its not "cuts" at all, just not adding as much as they initially wanted)

As far as suggestions for even more cuts and real cuts at that, Ken did a thread asking for such suggestions and a number of good ideas (imho, anyway) were listed there by various posters. No point in re-listing them here.