O'Malley should take a lesson from Governor Christie

[Terry K]

I can't wait until the next time O'Malley tries to criticize Governor Christie on national television, while complimenting himself on the great leadership he has shown as Governor of Maryland.

"The pugnacious governor's approval rating among Garden State voters was at 59 percent in the Quinnipiac survey, compared to 36 percent who disapproved of his stewardship -- his highest ever rating since beocming governor in 2009.

Christie received a 92 percent approval rating among Republicans and had the backing of 64 percent among independents compared to 32 percent who disapproved of his job performance.

"Whether Gov. Christopher Christie is traveling the nation, campaigning for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, or traveling to Israel to tout New Jersey business, his job-approval rating at home in Trenton continues to climb," said Maurice Carroll, director of the poll.


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/c...HGQ617HvP06NqK

[baltimoreron]

Taxing every product / service you can, including the most regressive taxes, and increasing fees two to threefold is not 'leadership'. Making tough cuts, facing the criticism head-on and tightening your belt is leadership.

Of course Chris does not play the guitar, so MOM has that going for him. Which is nice.

[johnpolitics]

MOM does not want to be the "bad" guy on cut. He wants the GA to do the dirty work.

[Omaha Beach]

Kudos to Senator Miller for standing up to Boy Blunder on behalf of the taxpayers of this State. He brought back fond memories of a long ago time when there were acually moderate to conservative Democrats in the legislature and Governor's mansion. People like Mandel, Steinberg, Schaeffer, Hughes etc. Thanks for the memories Senator Miller!

[Steveg85321]

O'malley's political career depends on government spending because his power base is people who look to the state to do everything for them - the people Christie refers to as "an entitlement society... sitting on the couch waiting for a check from the government." Don't expect Martin O'Malley to make any stand that would disturb that faction.

[OldBay]

Kudos to Senator Miller for standing up to Boy Blunder on behalf of the taxpayers of this State. He brought back fond memories of a long ago time when there were acually moderate to conservative Democrats in the legislature and Governor's mansion. People like Mandel, Steinberg, Schaeffer, Hughes etc. Thanks for the memories Senator Miller!

I assume this is a joke. To hold the state budget hostage to get approval for a casino is not leadership. There is nothing moderate or conservative about this bully of Annapolis. Anyone else who has done what he has done would resign in disgrace.

[OldBay]

O'malley's political career depends on government spending because his power base is people who look to the state to do everything for them - the people Christie refers to as "an entitlement society... sitting on the couch waiting for a check from the government." Don't expect Martin O'Malley to make any stand that would disturb that faction.

Do the entitled in NJ receive less entitlements than do those in MD? Do NJ state workers receive lower pensions than those in MD? How about layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs the last 5 years, or their health benefits? How about those NJ property taxes? Going down any?

The difference between the two is one of perception and style only. There is no significant difference in performance by any objective measurements.

[Cetshwayo]

I would love to see Barack O'Malley debate Heavy C Christie in three presidential debates and see the Heavy C crush the pompous little smug condescending little boy king know it all. Heavy C would put him in his place over illegals and tax and spend liberalsm.

Do I hear a second?

[OldBay]

I would love to see Barack O'Malley debate Heavy C Christie in three presidential debates and see the Heavy C crush the pompous little smug condescending little boy king know it all. Heavy C would put him in his place over illegals and tax and spend liberalsm.

Do I hear a second?

I think in both of their minds, the opening salvos are a preview for 2016. The issue of illegals separates them, but the numbers are not as convincing about the tax & spend differences. You pick your poison on taxes but the overall burden for a homeowner is still higher in NJ.

[cprenegade]

Do the entitled in NJ receive less entitlements than do those in MD? Do NJ state workers receive lower pensions than those in MD? How about layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs the last 5 years, or their health benefits? How about those NJ property taxes? Going down any?

The difference between the two is one of perception and style only. There is no significant difference in performance by any objective measurements.

Christie has at least attempted to make real cuts in the budget. O'Malley called a special session to raise taxes in his first term and claimed the budget shortfall had been solved. He wanted more tax increases in his second term, and now will call another special session to raise them again. He somehow can't live with the "doomsday" budget that asks for 500 million in cuts from a 35 billion dollar budget. That is little more than a 1% spending cut. If people ran their households the way O'Malley runs Maryland, everyone would be driving porches, dining out at fancy restaurants, and living in million dollar mansions. O'Malley needs to realize that asking everyone to make sacrifices also applies to the state government. Let them make the sacrifices this time and start cutting the budget.

[OldBay]

Christie has at least attempted to make real cuts in the budget. O'Malley called a special session to raise taxes in his first term and claimed the budget shortfall had been solved. He wanted more tax increases in his second term, and now will call another special session to raise them again. He somehow can't live with the "doomsday" budget that asks for 500 million in cuts from a 35 billion dollar budget. That is little more than a 1% spending cut. If people ran their households the way O'Malley runs Maryland, everyone would be driving porches, dining out at fancy restaurants, and living in million dollar mansions. O'Malley needs to realize that asking everyone to make sacrifices also applies to the state government. Let them make the sacrifices this time and start cutting the budget.

Most of that 35B budget is not discretionary. In fact, most of it is not even state general funds at all but federal funds that cannot be used for anything but the intended purposes of the contracts. The fact is that MD has raised taxes less than at least half the states and has balanced its budget largely on the backs of state workers and teachers the last 5 years. Yes, spending is too high and income taxes are high - but that is because income taxes were already high to start at the beginning of the recession. If you want to compare tax increases alone between the two states, NJ has raised taxes more over the full 5 years and has gotten the budget cutting religion late - just like WI. IL has more than doubled their income tax over the same period.

Its called a doomsday budget not because of the % of the total budget, but because it directs specific harmful cuts to the counties and state and forces hundreds, if not thousands of teachers to be laid off. There will be a special session.

While I agree that Christie would have a good issue over the sanctuary state and the MD definition of a student to the mid-30's in age for subsidized tuition, the tax issue is not as clear as you would like. And O'Malley could easily point to what he has done to state workers as spin for budget cutting. He used a slide with a chart in his 2012 budget presentation to show state worker numbers driven down to 1973 levels (it is even lower today). The MD state pension now pays out the lowest in the US at the lowest cost to taxpayers, again in stark contrast to NJ. No state or municipal workers anywhere pay as much towards their pension (7% of salary) to receive so little return (1.5 multiplier) - MD is dead last and no other state is remotely close. He could easily compare equivalent state jobs of the same title to show pay in MD driven down to 1/2 that for the same jobs in NJ. That spin is easy. Neither state is an example of spending restraint for special interests. Gov. Christie's strategists would not be so foolish to allow him to open that door.

[woody]

The trouble with o'malley being in office is caused by the idiots that vote for him and for his lack of balls to do what is right for Maryland and for this country. He, like other politicians that sell themselves for elective office, are bums that deserve to join others in the unemployment lines. o'malley probably wants to be Robin Hood.

[ChiefWiggum]

My brother lives in South Harrison Twp NJ. This is in Salem County NJ. He is bordered by Harrison Twp, Woolwich Twp etc... All these little Twp's have police, fire, school districts, Mayors, etc... They need to go to a county government, and consolidate these little kingdoms.

[OldBay]

My brother lives in South Harrison Twp NJ. This is in Salem County NJ. He is bordered by Harrison Twp, Woolwich Twp etc... All these little Twp's have police, fire, school districts, Mayors, etc... They need to go to a county government, and consolidate these little kingdoms.

And that is why property taxes are so high in NJ. When the American Heartland family in their modest 3BR 1200 sq. ft rambler paying a few hundred per year in property taxes gets an earful of the property taxes a homeowner of the same home in NJ pays, they will be terrified of a NJ gov of any stripe in the White House.

You are right about the little kingdoms - but good luck taking those away. That is why Gov. Christie is wise to speak about the philosophy of governing and avoid the actual numbers.

[bmore_ken]

Do the entitled in NJ receive less entitlements than do those in MD? Do NJ state workers receive lower pensions than those in MD? How about layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs the last 5 years, or their health benefits? How about those NJ property taxes? Going down any?

The difference between the two is one of perception and style only. There is no significant difference in performance by any objective measurements.

Exactly. Anyone with at least 2 brain cells gets this

[soulflower]

New Jersey still has far higher property taxes than Maryland. Christie hasn't done anything about that

http://taxes.about.com/od/statetaxes...rst-states.htm

[county resident]

O'malley should move to new jersey

[johnpolitics]

My brother lives in South Harrison Twp NJ. This is in Salem County NJ. He is bordered by Harrison Twp, Woolwich Twp etc... All these little Twp's have police, fire, school districts, Mayors, etc... They need to go to a county government, and consolidate these little kingdoms.

I disagree. I use to live in NY and the towns were pro-active about getting things done. In a town of 10000 or less running into a town council member was common. Also in towns, political parties only meant something on election day.

[crabsnbeer]

If they are well run it is great. Small responsive govt where every voter has power.
If they are crooked and poorly run it can be hell.

[cprenegade]

If they are well run it is great. Small responsive govt where every voter has power.
If they are crooked and poorly run it can be hell.

Same can obviously be said for entire states. O'Malley, Miller, and Busch are proof of that.