Maryland politics 03/19/06
Mayor Martin O'Malley of Baltimore wants his record as Mayor to serve as the resume that voters will use to hire him as governor of Maryland. The Baltimore Sun in "For Better or Worse" feels that voters should look at his whole record, not just that stubborn crime issue

Mr. O'Malley's critics will keep hounding him on his record on crime - this single-issue attack has become popular, especially among Republicans nationally. But a measure of Baltimore's livability should reflect all aspects of city life, from crime on the street to the downtown skyline to social and cultural amenities.

But how about a different indicator? What about people voting with their feet. In an article praising O'Malley for reversing Baltimore's decline comes this

Still, it's worth noting that the sharp slowing of population declines in older industrial cities is by no means a given. Just consider Detroit, down about 50,000 people, or 5 percent, this decade. Or Philadelphia, down 47,000, or 3 percent. Or Cleveland, off 20,000, or about 4 percent.

Baltimore's decline: 1.5 percent.

Baltimore is still losing population. Not at the extreme rate in the 90's when it was run by Kurt Schmoke, but still more people are leaving Baltimore than coming to Baltimore. The rate of loss may have declined, but the loss of people continues.

Monoblogue reports on "Update on HB1510".

Since there was an article today in the Daily Times and I found out in looking the bill status up that a hearing on it was held today, it appears that the so-called “son of Wal-Mart” may be gaining traction.

IOW, there's a movement afoot to extend the same courtesy to all businesses that the Maryland legislature has extended to Wal-Mart: dictate to all businesses the resources they must expend on providing healthcare for their employees.

Anyone for insisting that "an economic impact statement" be completed before Maryland's legislature decides anything that will affect business.

And Monoblogue tells us further that Senate candidate, Ben Cardin, would like to do for America what the General Assembly has done for Maryland. In "Another one to stop" Monoblogue notes an interview with Cardin and comments

So, not only would we get tagged with higher taxes and a health insurance mandate here in Maryland if HB1510 passes, but if Cardin wins (and remember, his term would extend beyond the 2008 presidential election and could be the same time as Hillary’s re-election) we might have the same thing nationwide.

Meanwhile there's a Republican running for Rep. Cardin's old seat. Dr. Gary Applebaum. At least Dr. Applebaum seems to have an understanding of the basics of economics.

We must strengthen the economy by providing an environment for business generation and growth via tax constraint and reasonable regulation.

In the past 25 years, due to lower tax rates and moderate business regulation, our nation’s wealth has increased more than in its first 200 years.

Americans are better shoppers for goods and services than the government. By keeping taxes low and putting the purchasing power into the hands of consumers, we will have continued economic growth and families will prosper.

Technorati tags: Maryland politics, Martin O/'Malley, Gary Applebaum, Wal-Mart.