"Taking Maryland Backward"

Why do reporters say I lack vision for Maryland?  Sure, I’ve been a little sketchy with the details, but have they noticed that I promised to raise tuition again?  And to cut Marylanders’ health care?  And eliminate mass transit?

Making Higher Education Unaffordable

I have been a tireless fighter for raising college tuition rates, and this year is no exception. As I said on WYPR, Gov. O’Malley’s tuition freeze has really “hurt higher education,” and we need to get those rates going up again.  When I was governor, tuition increased 40 percent, and Maryland was the sixth-most expensive place in the country to go to college when I left office.  Now, thanks to O’Malley, it’s the 21^st-most expensive.  Elect me, and Maryland will be climbing up that list once again.

A Budget Plan The Baltimore Sun Calls Effective – “In Some Alternative Universe”

My record spending increases left Maryland with a big budget deficit when I was ousted from office in 2006, and I’m still trying to get the hang of this “fiscal responsibility” thing.  But The Baltimore Sun credited me for coming up with an “effective strategy” for balancing the budget – albeit in “some alternative universe”:

“[Ehrlich] has reversed the foray into the specifics of hard choices and instead pronounced that he would solve the problem by first greatly reducing the amount of money the state collects in sales tax. Perhaps that's an effective strategy in some alternative universe where doughnuts make you thin and watching TV makes you fit, but it's a little dubious from a rational vantage point.”

Taking Away Your Health Care

I’ve also pledged to take away Marylanders' health care.  Gov. O’Malley expanded health care access to over 165,000 Marylanders who were previously uninsured, including 86,000 children.  Sorry, kids, but guess what:  Somebody’s going to have to bear the brunt of the economic downturn, and it’s sure not going to be my special interest cronies.  If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t support you getting access to health care in the first place.

I also oppose accepting federal funding for health care.  Who knows how many people I’ll have to cut off from health care when Marylanders’ tax dollars instead go to other states.  Then again, who cares?  As governor, I always sided with the special interests in denying Marylanders health care, and I see no need to change course now.

Planning to “Scrap” the Purple Line and Red Line; Preserving a Country Club Instead

I plan to scrap the Purple Line and Red Line transit projects.  Gov. O’Malley forged a consensus to move forward with the light rail lines, which have been widely praised as cost-effective transit friendly to riders, businesses, and the environment.  That’s all well and good, but I’ve already promised golfers that I will “never allow a transit line to cross the grounds” of a country club that happens to be in the path of the Purple Line.  I’ll take Maryland back to the days of my administration, when, according to my own transit appointee, I led “a prolonged attempt to obfuscate, alter, study and delay” light rail, even though I once promised to support it.  The golfers shouldn’t be inconvenienced.  And the rest of you can take the bus.

Raising Your Taxes, Again

Raising taxes is not very popular, so a big tax-raiser like me has to use a lot of anti-tax rhetoric to obscure the fact that I have refused to pledge not to raise taxes again.  Hopefully Marylanders will forget that I previously campaigned as an anti-tax candidate, but then raised Marylanders’ taxes and fees by over $3 billion once in office, including my 58% property tax increase.  As my chief of staff put it, “there are 50 types of taxes” I found acceptable to raise.   On the other hand, there wasn’t a single tax that I cut.

Would I Bring Partisanship and Bickering Back to Annapolis?  “Absolutely”!

I was asked recently if I would again engage in partisan fights if I were to become governor again.  My response?  “Yeah, absolutely.”  Sure, most people say they’re tired of politicians engaging in juvenile, partisan squabbles.  But most people are wrong.  I think they actually “demand” partisan bickering.  At least, I hope they do, since that’s the only thing I’ve proven that I can deliver in my 24-year career as a politician.

Finally Proving That President Obama Isn’t a U.S. Citizen (And Other Embarrassing Antics)

On my radio show, I’ve challenged President Obama to produce his birth certificate and prove his citizenship.  As I explained to my listeners, the question of whether Obama is an American citizen eligible for the presidency is “a really good” question.  The problem is, as a mere radio talk show host, I can’t get many people to pay attention to my on-air antics.  But imagine all the attention our state would get if I promoted right-wing conspiracy theories as governor!

I’ve also promised to sue the federal government to stop health care reform, even though most other states have concluded that doing so would be a waste of taxpayer money, as legal experts have concluded that the suit is political in nature and will fail, and the case will be resolved in any event regardless of whether Maryland joins or not.