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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Harris, Haddaway-Riccio attend Colburn brunch

SALISBURY Congressman Andy Harris, R-Md.-1st, and Del. Jeannie-Haddaway Riccio, R-37B-Talbot, each had complimentary comments Saturday for Sen. Richard F. Colburn at his 18th Annual Brunch here at the Holiday Inn.

Harris said Colburn is "the example of what a state senator should be," explaining how the senator "reaches across the aisle when necessary" to gain support for legislation.

As for the 430th session of the Maryland General Assembly, which begins Wednesday, Harris told Colburn, "You have your work cut out for you this year in Annapolis."

Haddaway-Riccio said that while she is opposed to human cloning, she wouldn't mind in Colburn's case, "If we could have more than one Senator Colburn in Annapolis... He puts the Shore first."

During last week's legislative preview at the Maryland Association of Counties Winter Conference in Cambridge, Haddaway-Riccio said, Colburn also received praise from Maryland Senate President Mike Miller.

Asked about the possibility for funding a new Dover Bridge, Miller, who is a Democrat, said, "If it's Senator Colburn's project and it's something Senator Colburn cares about, then I want to work with him on it," Haddaway-Riccio told the audience of about 100 people.


Wednesday is "kind of a magical date," Colburn said, with the opening of the General Assembly coinciding with the filing deadline to get on the ballot of the April 3 primary and the date Gov. Martin O'Malley must submit a redistricting plan for Maryland's legislative districts.

The General Assembly then has 45 days to amend the plan, Colburn said, suggesting that since there is little chance the General Assembly could reach a consensus to change the governor's plan, it should become law Feb. 24.

There will be some changes in the 37th Legislative District which he represents, with Sharptown returning to the 37B portion of the district now represented by Haddaway-Riccio and Del. Addie Eckardt.

Maintaining Maryland's AAA bond rating is among the important issues of the 430th General Assembly, Colburn said, noting that Maryland is one of only 15 states in the nation with this top rating.

In order to do this, the senator said, the General Assembly will be addressing a $1.1 billion structural deficit in creating this year's fiscal year 2013 and will also need to at least halve the $1.1 billion structural deficit which already exists in Maryland's 2014 fiscal year budget.

If Maryland does lose its AAA bond rating, Colburn said, "a downgrade would cost us about $10 million per year for every $1 billion in new general obligation bonds to be sold in the next five years.

Transportation is another important issue during this session of the General Assembly, Colburn said, with proposals to increase Maryland's gas tax by 15 cents and increase vehicle registration fees by 50 percent.

"But the biggest problem facing the transportation trust fund is that billions of dollars of motorist-paid funds are being spent on two major mass transit systems," Colburn said.

"Maryland is the only state in the country that picks up the deficit of two mass transit system," he said, for the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore regions, and also the only state with no dedicated funding source for mass transit.

Colburn said fares paid by riders should cover at least 50 percent of the cost to operate the system but riders pay only 28 percent of the cost to operate Washington's Metro transit system, with 72 percent covered by subsidies from Maryland, D.C. and Virginia.

An increase in Maryland's cigarette tax, from $2 to $3 per pack, has also been proposed.

"I don't smoke and I don't know what they're smoking," Colburn said, asking what many smokers in the state will do, with neighboring Virginia's cigarette tax still at 30 cents per pack and Delaware's tax of $1.60 per pack.

Colburn also discussed proposals to make nutrient management plans more stringent and implement statewide guidelines for Smart Growth, suggesting that both issues are promoted by western shore liberals.

"They don't care if we don't have a poultry industry," he said, explaining that agriculture is still the state's leading industry and vital to the region, with an estimated economic value of $2.5 billion for Delmarva Poultry Industry, which is responsible for an estimated 25,000 jobs in the region.

Colburn suggested that the governor's Smart Growth program is really about no growth. "They don't want any growth for the Eastern Shore," he said.

Although the O'Malley Administration has said job creation is a top priority, Colburn said, "Maryland ranks dead last among the states in job creation," according to a recent report. In order for jobs to be created in

Maryland, he said, "We must create a competitive business environment that generates jobs and economic growth... and we should shrink state government to growth the private sector."

One way to shrink government, Colburn continues to suggest, is combining the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

With the start of the General Assembly during the past several years, Haddaway-Riccio said she continues to be amazed that, "Lots of our colleagues in Annapolis act surprised every year when there is a deficit."

As for why that is, Haddaway-Riccio said that the motto of the General Assembly used to be "tax and spend." But now, she said, "It's spend and tax."

As for the numerous of tax increase proposals expected during this General Assembly, Haddaway-Riccio said, "The public trust is completely gone when it comes to these taxes."

Last year's increase in the alcohol tax is a favorite example of Haddaway-Riccio. She said the revenues from the increase were supposed to be used to help programs for developmentally disabled people but that hasn't happened. At the same time, she said, the agency which is supposed to provide services for the developmentally disabled has $34 million in unspent funds in its budget.

Minority Whip for the House Republican Caucus, Haddaway-Riccio said, "Our caucus is going to be pushing for a full audit of all of these state agencies."

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