Welcome to the Real World

We have noted for some time the general fiscal incompetence of the O'Malley Administration, and the generally morally reprehensible ideology that is O'Malleynomics. So I am somewhat (but only somewhat) relieved that the O'Malley Administration is finally moving forward with plans to cut state spending due to the current economic climate.

But as I said, I am only somewhat relieved by this track. The fact of the matter is that most of the reductions in state spending would have been completely avoidable had O'Malley and Company not increased discretionary spending in the first place, particularly while simultaneously passing devastating and historically large tax cuts during times of fiscal trouble.

But what is less relieving, and frankly more disturbing, is the fact that O'Malley and Company will not admit his shortcomings when it comes to fiscal matters:

"Until we see some signs of rebound on the horizon, this is going to be a constant exercise in cutting," O'Malley, a Democrat, said yesterday. "So much of this depends on the economy."

The problem with this statement has been the fact that the economy has been in decline for some time now, certainly at least prior to the tax increases and spending hikes that O'Malley championed. Only now, with O'Malley facing a tough re-election campaign two years off, and with voters finally ready to hold their leaders accountable for the economic situation, is O'Malley going to act. This is far from a Profiles in Courage moment for O'Malley, as the responsible thing to do would have been to take steps to make sure the budget never got this far out of whack in the first place.

O'Malley's lackey Rick Abbruzzese didn't do much better in trying to distinguish the Administration's position, either:

O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese dismissed the minority leader's criticism. "Did Tony O'Donnell predict the banking crisis? Did he predict Lehman Bros. would file for bankruptcy? Did he predict the federal government would have to step in with a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street … while a Republican president was at the helm of our national government?"

To be blunt, anybody who thinks that the failure of insurance companies and investment banks, and the governments ill-advised and risky bailout scheme has a large impact on Maryland's budget woes is either ill-informed or dishonest. Maryland's budget situation is a self-inflicted wound inflicted upon the people of Maryland by a Governor who thinks government cannot be large enough and that people cannot be taxed enough in order to implement his dystopian vision of an all-encompassing government. Maryland's budget woes are not due to the irresponsibility of Wall Street, but to the recklessness of State Circle.

I welcome O'Malley and his Administration to the Real World, where he can now deal with the painful economic choices that he subjected the taxpayers of Maryland too with his irresponsibility. But nobody should trust the judgment of O'Malley or the judgment of the General Assembly's Democratic leadership when it comes to dealing with our state's toughest economic matters.