Maryland Government Watchdogs Needed
In good times and in hard economical times, we as citizens should always be watchdogs of government. In good times we need to be aware that the good times stay that way, and in bad times, looking how to improve our situation. This is not a lot of fun to sift through the crap that government can dish out, but it’s necessary.
Here in Maryland, we are no exception. We need to be aware. I couldn’t help but be amazed now that our lawmakers are in session as to what is on their agenda. But before I begin, let’s brieflly look at some salaries. Our governor earns $150,000 a year, which is considerably higher then the average state governor, which earnings are $128,735. The presiding officers earn $56,500 a year, which isn’t bad considering they are in session for only three months of the year.
Now, I am using the term “earn” loosely here, as upon reading an article in CBS Baltimore**, you might think in Maryland we were better off while they were on vacation!
Maryland lawmakers are gathering for their annual 90-day legislative session.
The session begins Wednesday at noon in Annapolis.
Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, and the two presiding officers of the General Assembly are scheduled to talk about the session during an annual early morning radio interview on WEAA-FM.
O’Malley is expected to make a big push to invest in infrastructure in this year’s capital budget in hopes of spurring job growth infrastructure
Lawmakers also will grapple with legalizing gay marriage, after the bill failed last year. O’Malley is also considering gas tax proposals and an increase in the state’s flush tax, a $30 annual fee on sewer bills.
Legislation to expand gambling to include table games like blackjack also is expected to be a high-profile issue.
If you look around in Maryland and see the issues at hand, and the best that is worth writing about it seems, that is on our legislative agenda is gambling, failed gay marriage bill, tax increases, and the ever so vague ‘investing in infrastructure’.
** Just a note, since I blogged about this ridiculous excuse for a news article, they have since changed everything. I guess they realized, even they realized, how beyond bizarre the agenda for the Maryland Assembly was, and have completely aborted the above quote. Since they changed the article completely, I no longer feel obligated to link back to them, and now give my source as The Daily Record.
