| Let me offer a few remarks, which I think even the most partisan of Democrats can agree with:
1. It's good that the special session didn't collapse, but I frankly would not have been surprised if it had. There was an unbelievable amount of things the General Assembly had to deal with -- not just the budget, but also Medicaid, Chesapeake Bay cleanup, a transportation package, etc. It was simply a lot, even too much, for a legislature to handle in the space of three weeks. As a result, the process was ugly, even by sausage-making standards. 2. It was a little embarrassing that the greatest opposition to making the income tax as progressive as Gov. O'Malley wanted it to be came from that anti-tax bastion known as... Montgomery County. I expected, after the 2006 election, to see Montgomery County become a more influential voice in Annapolis, and it was -- just not in the way I had thought. 3. No matter who it may be, passing laws in the middle of the night looks rather shady. Think of the Republican Congress and Medicare Part D. 4. The Republicans, to my surprise, did not bring their A game. Anthony O'Donnell and David Brinkley had an excellent chance to play the part of the opposition to the hilt, as I would have done in their position. But they couldn't keep their caucus united -- the legendary party discipline of Tom DeLay and Dennis Hastert appears not to have filtered down to the local level. 5. It's fitting, I think, to have the matter of slot machines decided by referendum. Regardless of the outcome, at least we will have a resolution, either letting the one-armed bandit in or by driving a stake through its heart. I'm going to be mostly out of contact for the next few days, so have a Happy Thanksgiving! |
