Published Letters from Baltimore County Members
October 2005
Party Line (R) Mayor has problem with math
Date: October 12, 2005
Publication: The Jeffersonian
Author: , Chairman, Baltimore County Republican Party
In the political world, those who play this game don't always do well with numbers. Perhaps now is the time for a brief math lesson. So - as my elementary school teachers would say - sit up straight in your chairs, get your pencils ready, you boys in the back quit fooling around - and Marty, you need to pay attention.
First number, $2 billion. That's the estimated amount of money the Democratic party left the state of Maryland in debt, a negative number. Thanks to Gov. Bob Ehrlich, our state now has a new number, which happens to be $2 billion, except this time this surplus, a positive number.
The magic number in this equation is $4 billion. We had minus $2 billion, now we have positive $2 billion, so Gov. Ehrlich made up $4 billion. Maryland has turned the corner, because the voters elected a Republican governor who governed the state prudently, stopped the irresponsible spending of the Democratic party and understands numbers.
Despite the budget shortfall he inherited from the last Democratic administration, Gov. Bob Ehrlich has boosted spending for our schools.
Since 2003, Gov. Ehrlich has implemented a $709 million increase in spending for schools from kindergarten through grade 12. Gov. Ehrlich provided $261 million in new school construction money this year, and a $77 million increase in funding for our public colleges and universities. He wants students like Marty to have a chance, if they pay attention.
Let's look at some other important numbers.
Since the Ehrlich administration has taken the helm, 23,000 more people have access to the state's Medicaid program. There has been a $14.5 million increase in funding for the senior prescription drug program. There have been tax credits for biotech and research and development companies, plus $12 million in venture capital invested into high tech companies here in Maryland.
About $641 million has been awarded to minority business enterprises, a 20 percent increase in cash going to women-owned and minority businesses. There are now 7 million fewer pounds of nutrient pollutants in our bay thanks to the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund.
How about a small number? Maryland's unemployment rate is 4.3 percent, thanks to Gov. Ehrlich's understanding of economics, industry and small business needs in Maryland.
Marty, however, has had a few problems with his math lessons. Look at his numbers on his political report card. First number is 7,000 - that's the number of residents who fled Baltimore City just last year. How about 24,000 - that's the total number of people who have escaped the city since the mayor took office.
How about a small number? Three. Baltimore City ranks as the third most dangerous city in the nation, behind both New York and Los Angeles. There were 278 murders in 2004, the deadliest year since Marty took office.
Now we can't entirely blame Marty. Baltimore schools rank as the worst in Maryland (a bad number). All middle schools in the city failed proficiency in math and reading, while the city received the highest per-pupil spending. Perhaps this is why Marty has problems with numbers.
Seems to me, Marty is not ready to be promoted to the next grade level. I think he needs to repeat a grade and learn more about the numbers.