O'MALLEY ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD For the past month / even the past year, Maryland has been subjected to its version of the Wizard of Oz's yellow brick road. Instead of "we're off to see the wizard", a variety of messages come from Gov. "Wizard" O'Malley, as he travels a quixotic a campaign-like journey from a Towson housewife's kitchen to the attic window of a Baltimore tower, a stallion breeding barn, and stops along the way to "Oz".That journey is filled with promises to eliminate a $ 1.7 + billion dollar deficit begun 12 years ago, by Parris Glendenning, Maryland's non-stop, spending Governor ; a deficit which Gov. Bob Ehrlich attempted to slow down -- only to be blocked by the Miller-Busch axis in the General Assembly, 2002 - 2006.

What is this Governor's message? It depends on to whom he speaks or what media camera is pointed in his direction. The messages are all over the lot:

putting " constructive" taxes on small / mid-sized businesses who can allegedly "afford it" -- in reality, these taxes may implement the dreams of accountants/ lawyers that are translated from hidden bureaucratic maneuvers into penalizing taxes.

pledging no tax changes/ even reductions for the "little people" except at the sales counters of retail stores where thousands have to buy home and family goods;

"painting" vague descriptions of tobacco taxes that are touted to take care of most of the problem;

touting slots as being able to cut the deficit / when - for the past 5 years - the Legislature has ignored a horse breeding and racing industry, blocking any chance of controlled management of this form of gaming to a limited number of tracks ; l

promoting the gas tax as another "cure-all" to help eliminate the deficit , as the yellow brick road orator contends that this tax is not much of an addition to escalating gasoline prices -- and no move to make a gas tax be applied primarily to essential highway/ bridge maintenance , repairs.

This commentary was intended to be completed in mid-September, when there would some sign of what the Governor was going to do. I have waited for a full month for that indicator --- and there are still words,words, words! The citizens of Maryland are being reassured that all problems will be solved by 30 days of a General Assembly session.

To carry the "Wizard of Oz -- yellow brick road" analogy forward, does this mean that Wizard O'Malley is in front of a curtain with 3 "managers" behind the Governor: Senate President Mike Miller/ House Speaker Michael Busch and leftward spending leaning Comptroller Peter Franchot. Are they doing a "puppet pulling" routine?

To borrow Winston Churchill's description of appeasement Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain : Maryland's current Governor appears to be a "mystery wrapped in an enigma" : many themes, as he now indicates that a November "special session" will satisfy citizens of a State falling back into a troubling pattern : described by my long-time Maine summer friend mentored by that State's remarkable Sen. Margaret Chase Smith : 95 year old "liberal Republican" Linwood Palmer, recently asked me "if Maryland , is returning as ' a dome (the State House) with a cash register under it ' " ?

The time has come for straight talk with the citizens of Maryland and honesty about an accumulated deficit in the management of State Government. The missing link is acceptance that two essential steps must be taken : set priorities among policy choices and reduce in government waste / unnecessary spending .

Maryland's political leaders need to come forward with what they will actually do, if there is a special session. The last such session was marked by rejection of then-Governor Erhlich's attempts to put limits on lawsuit abuse that still can threaten to drive doctors out of practice in Maryland. Healthcare reform and other problems are not solved just by increase of taxes -- but by setting/implementing serious choices among competing options for the use of taxpayer money. As one small example , when will there be a shift of education spending for a large administrative bureaucracy to needed teachers given opportunity to be creative/ innovative and flexible in working with their "end product" ; the students .

Governor O'Malley , this journey is not a dance along the yellow brick road with a scarecrow, tin woodman and your background music. We are at the beginning of "truth time" --- almost a full year after your election -- during which little beyond talk has happened. The politicians must be prepared to make tough fiscal decisions ; not provide more promises along Maryland's "yellow brick road" .

Labels: budgets, Maryland, O'Malley, taxes

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