Del. Impallaria: Strange Calm In First Days of Session

2009 Annapolis Update #1 – First Days of Session

The General Assembly seems to have a strange calm over it that I have not seen in past years — it is like being in the eye of a hurricane. From talking to many of my colleagues, no one seems to have the courage to say what needs to be said.

I hear that “we all have to work together to meet a common goal” and “these are tough times” and “the citizens of Maryland must be prepared to tighten their belts”. From my perspective this is pure B*S*. In straight-talk English this means “We, the government, the controlling party, are going to do exactly as we please. We will continue to spend your money recklessly. We are going to continue to impose more government regulations to take away your freedoms because we the government know what’s best for you.”

“Tighten up your belts” means “Open up your wallets because we the government know how best to spend the dollars you earn and how best to provide for your family’s health and welfare.”

During these tough budget times the State of Maryland has found more than $70 million to buy undevelopable swampland along the shores of the Bay. They are remapping Anne Arundel and Talbot Counties to confiscate more private property by calling it “wetlands delineation”. They are pushing for more global warming regulations which they claim “could produce” between 100,000 and 300,000 jobs. I guess these salaries will be paid by the companies that will be put out of business by the overregulation.

If you thought it was tough to make a buck in the building trades, they now want to implement violations and fines on building permit holders who have projects under construction. The violations will be based on changes in the law made after construction has begun — retroactive penalties. All this is to be carried out by departments who already say they don’t have the manpower to enforce the laws already on the books.

If this sounds like insanity, it is. Welcome to the opening of the 2009 Maryland General Assembly.

In the next few days I will be updating you about my own legislative package. The bills I intend to introduce will have no negative impact on the budget. It is obviously not time for bills which cost the State more money.

The question you should be asking each of your representatives is, “Will you be supporting a budget which has increases over last year’s budget? Are you supporting a flatline budget? Or are you supporting a budget less than last year’s?”

I for one will only be voting for a budget with less spending than last year’s. And by the way, I do not support the government plans for creating jobs — that is the task of the private sector.

Rick Impallaria
Delegate, District 7
rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us
410-841-3334