Del. McDonough Receives Taxpayer Advocate Award

The Maryland Taxpayer’s Association presented Delegate Pat McDonough with The Taxpayer Advocate Award “in recognition of his unwavering efforts on behalf of freestate taxpayers.” Dee Hodges, the President of the Maryland Taxpayer’s Association, presented the award at a recent reception held for Delegate McDonough. Michael Steele, Maryland’s former Lt. Governor and public affairs analyst on national television, along with a few hundred guests, were present at the event.

Delegate McDonough was an outspoken leader in opposition to the largest tax increase in the history of Maryland proposed by Governor O’Malley during the special session in November, 2007. Mr. McDonough referred to that session as “Taxilla and the Spendaholics.”

Mr. McDonough maintained “Maryland does not have a deficit problem; it has a spending problem.” The 1.5 billion tax increase was accompanied by a 1.5 billion new spending increase at the special session.

Delegate McDonough was only one of seven state legislators who voted against the 2006 state budget. At that time he stated, “Big spending and bad budgets lead to tax hikes.” His prediction came true a year later when the massive tax hike occurred. Delegate McDonough’s leadership voting against the the 2006 budget helped to inspire more than 30 other legislators to vote against the 2007 budget as a protest against runaway spending.

The current budget, which so far is burdened by a $500 million deficit includes a 5.8 % increase in new spending. The current deficit would be eliminated if the increase in new spending were limited to only 3%, according to Delegate McDonough.

For more information, contact Delegate McDonough by calling 410-238-0025 or by sending an e-mail to Patmcdee@comcast.net.