O'Malley Strikes Out With Constituents

"If Martin O’Malley were playing baseball, he would have just struck out"

ANNAPOLIS – On Wednesday, the Maryland Republican Party learned that 57,949 valid signatures were certified by the Maryland State Board of Elections, which is sufficient to place Senate Bill 1, Martin O'Malley's heavily gerrymandered 2011 Congressional Redistrict Map on the November Ballot. Yvette Lewis of Maryland's Democrat Party said they will consider "all options" when it became clear the petition drive had found favor across the State.

Alex Mooney, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, hailed the development, by saying: "This truly represents a new day in the Free State. Not only have Marylanders said an emphatic 'NO' to Martin O'Malley's stances on gay marriage and tuition for illegal immigrants, but now we have also said another emphatic 'NO' to his plan to pick our Congressmen himself."

Mooney continued, "If Martin O'Malley were playing baseball, he would have just struck out at a critical time when our state needs competent and sensible leadership. What's more, he is already threatening to ignore the will of the voters by saying that '...There could be some marginal changes,' if the referendum passes. As the Governor wastes his time on tax increases, social engineering, and his 2016 presidential campaign, Maryland is losing jobs and residents to states like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and even Florida."

He concluded, "I am confident that Maryland's electorate will take this opportunity to rein in runaway government and establish for themselves a permanent voice at the table in Annapolis. I am also excited to be leading the Maryland Republican Party during this great re-awakening. "

ANNAPOLIS – After days of infighting and finger-pointing with no Special Session in sight, the Maryland Republican Party asked, “What’s the problem?”

David Ferguson, Executive Director of the Maryland Republican Party, said, “With super-majorities in each chamber and a complicit governor, Democrats have nobody to blame but themselves. This dysfunctional leadership is a disservice to the Marylanders who sent them to Annapolis to do the people’s business. After this fiasco, the question must be asked, “Is Martin O’Malley the worst leader in America?”

Ferguson continued, “If he wasn’t fixated on his rigid ideology and his future political aspirations, he might be able to lead the state that elected him. After wasting three months of the people’s time, Martin O’Malley has to be the worst leader in America. For the sake of the Free State, I hope somebody can show me differently. Unfortunately, the only thing Martin O’Malley may accomplish this Session is making Maryland the highest taxed state in America.”

Recent Media Criticism of Martin O’Malley’s Failed Leadership

Budget Fight May Lead To Less Funding For Education, Police Departments
http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2012/04/11/budget-fight-may-lead-to-less-funding-for-education-police-departments/

'Doomsday budget' passed in Maryland legislative session
http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/state/doomsday-budget-passed-in-maryland-legislative-session

Republicans blamed it on Governor O'Malley. “You had a governor running around here every other day releasing a new tax proposal, whether it was a sales tax increase, a gas tax increase, any manner of tax increase.  That was dilatory; it was taking people's focus off of what we should have been focused on.  These folks really are out of control. Really,” said Del. Anthony O’Donnell, the House Minority Leader.

What Did Pass the Maryland General Assembly 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-politics/post/what-did-pass-the-maryland-general-assembly/2012/04/10/gIQAUs1s8S_blog.html

Annapolis Capital - Testy Bill Signing Session
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2012/04/11-02/Testy-bill-signing-session.html?ne=1

“It is really a damned shame,” O’Malley said at a tense bill-signing ceremony on Tuesday. A failure of leadership, the governor said, resulted in the General Assembly failing to raise taxes to fund education fully, to pass his plan to increase taxes on gas or to approve a wind farm off Ocean City.

Maryland leaders trade blame for failure to pass revenue bill 
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/10/maryland-leaders-trade-blame-failure-pass-revenue-/

Tension Reigns in Annapolis After Yearly Session Ends
http://wamu.org/news/12/04/10/tension_reigns_in_annapolis_after_yearly_session_ends

PBS - In Failing to Pass Budget, Maryland Legislature Makes History 
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/04/in-failing-to-pass-budget-maryland-legislature-makes-history.html

Maryland faces special session or ‘doomsday’
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/10/maryland-faces-special-session-or-doomsday/
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said Tuesday that the General Assembly’s failure to pass a set of tax increases and revenue enhancements considered a cornerstone of this year’s budget marked “the low point” of his five years in office… The three leaders have forged an effective working relationship, advancing Democratic social and economic policies without much resistance or infighting among party lawmakers.