Maryland agencies may face 5 percent cuts

House GOP comes out against referendum, wants slots auction

By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer

Published 09/26/08

Gov. Martin O'Malley asked state agencies to prepare for up to 5 percent cuts in their budgets and the House Republican Caucus denounced the November slots referendum yesterday as money woes continued to absorb the attention of state politicians.

Mr. O'Malley's announcement follows projections that Maryland's coffers will be more than $400 million below expectations this year and a $1 billion deficit is likely in fiscal 2010.

"The more reductions we make now, the better off we will be in dealing with an extraordinary difficult budget next year," the governor said in a statement. "While these cuts...

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GOP budget plan - 2008-10-01 14:31:51

Why do the hard working people have to take budget cuts? How about cutting out the free programs, illegals and welfare people, all on the backs of the tax payers. Not to mention all the "drug programs" for drug abusers. Let's give them free drugs to get them off drugs. I understand there are people that need help, but to what extent and for how long? There are families with generation after generation collecting welfare. It has to stop, the tax payers are tired of it. I work, I pay my bills and I pay for my health coverage. Where's my break? I lost my house to foreclosure because my husband lost his job of 15 yrs. What did I get: lawyer fees, interest, penalties on top of the enormous mortgage pymt. But if you are illegal you get free health insurance and education, etc. I think the government needs to look up the word illegal because I think they forgot what it's definition is! God help us if Barack Hussein Obama is elected. Change? You'll be lucky if you have any left.

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DENISE L. - Dundalk, MD - Karma: Bad