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JOHN A.
OLSZEWSKI, JR. D-6
House Office
Building, Room 308
6 Bladen St.,
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410)
841-3458, (301) 858-3458
1-800-492-7122,
ext. 3458 (toll free)
e-mail: john.olszewski@house.state.md.us
fax: (410)
841-3123; (301) 858-3123 |
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12/16-Getting Back to Work
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by Delegate John Olszewski, Jr. (D - 6) -
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It is hard to
believe, but it has been almost five months since my last legislative
update. I am humbled to have earned another term to serve as your
Delegate, and I am excited to have the opportunity to now re-engage the
community with information about legislative developments, community
milestones and opportunities for community engagement.
With the elections now behind us, it is time to keep up the work of
advancement and progress for our community. While we have
accomplished a lot these past four years, I refuse to ever be
complacent - and I know that there remain many places for continued
growth and opportunity. In the years to come, I will continue to
pursue these challenges with vigor and enthusiasm.
At the state level, the discussion will remain largely centered on the
ever-present budget deficit. At a recent hearing of the Spending
Affordability Committee, we learned that the projected deficit for the
upcoming fiscal year is $1.6 billion. While the economic recovery is
underway, the pace of it is not projected to meet the current pace of
state spending.
If there is a silver lining, it is that the Maryland budget must be
balanced each and every year. Our state, unlike the federal government,
cannot deficit spend. I can only imagine how things would be different
if the Congress were expected to operate in a similar fashion.
These ongoing expenses say nothing of the long-term challenges posed by
state pension and health care funds, which both remain underfunded by
billions of dollars. In addition to the serious discussions
regarding the state’s operating budgets, we need to also be willing to
have the candid dialogue and make the difficult decisions that will be
required develop real and sustainable solutions.
For too long, politicians have “kicked the can” down the road by not
tackling these problems - and even making our budgetary challenges more
difficult by doing things like simultaneously increasing spending and
lowering taxes. While this may have made for good electoral
politics, the reality is that this is an unsustainable path. As
taxpayers, and the ultimate stakeholder in your government, you deserve
straightforward talk about your federal, state and local budgets.
You deserve to know what cuts will mean (will school staffing be
reduced, parks closed, streets not be repaired) as well as how any
proposed revenue increases could impact individuals, businesses and
communities.
I have always tried to make this my approach in office, and I pledge to
continue giving you honest dialogue on these and all issues.
Moreover, I know that neither political party has a monopoly on good
ideas – and that elected officials, likewise, do not have all of the
solutions facing our communities today. That is why I hope that
many of you will continue, as you did during my first term of office,
to write to me and call my office with your feedback, opinions and
suggestions for improvement – to the state budget and toward anything
that can continue the progress of our district.
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