Maryland has a fiscal crisis with a huge deficit looming despite the huge 2007 tax increase. But Tax and Spend Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-21), Ben Barnes (D-21), and Barbara Frush (D-21), who voted for the tax increase, want to spend even more of the money we don't have on non-essential, non-state government frills instead of maintaining essential state services like education and public safety. How many more state employees will be laid off or furloughed to help buy votes for these delegates?
HB 467, Creation of a State Debt - Prince George's County - LARS Facility Renovation ($500,000)
HB 515, Creation of a State Debt - Prince George's County - Laurel Boys and Girls Club ($300,000)
(Updated 5 Feb 2009)
Del. Pena-Melnyk replies:
ReplyDeleteYou must report responsibly! This is a bond bill. They will be matching the funds. LARS helps the poor find housing and provide training and food!!!!
Joseline
Mary Lehman
Legislative Aide
Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk
(301) 858-3502 (w)
(301) 538-0436 (cell)
You must report responsibly. This is a bond bill. It is not operating money. LARS will match the funds.
ReplyDeleteLARS serves the Greater Laurel area by assisting homeless and low income individuals or families experiencing crisis with emergency and long-term services.
These are residents of Prince George's County. We get the desperate calls every day. People living in their cars (contemplating suicide). This need will increase as our economy gets worse.
Sincerely,
Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk
21st District State Delegate
Del. Pena-Melnyk:
ReplyDeleteObviously, we disagree.
I give generously to organizations I choose to support.
Whether or not you believe LARS (or the Laurel Boys and Girls Club or whatever) to be a worthy cause, and whether or not they will be matching funds, I very much resent having you compel me to financially support this organization or any other non-governmental organization which I would consider a lower priority than those I do support. I consider this to be nothing more than legalized theft. And the fact that "everyone does it" does not make it right.
You and your tax and spend colleagues passed a huge tax increase in 2007. We, the voters, were told that the tax increases were necessary to combat looming deficits.
We were NOT told that the tax increases were designed to extort more money from us to pay for your pet causes.
I would counter your claim that I should report responsibly by arguing that you should legislate and spend my money responsibly.