In a provocative appearance on ABC’s “This week”, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley spoke to a certain weariness that at least some of us have with the current state of the 2016 presidential campaign:
“The presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families,” the former Maryland governor told ABC’s “This Week.”
Finally.
As a former Maryland resident, I am all too aware that the last former Governor from Maryland to achieve high office was not a success.
Still, a brief review of Mr. O’Malley’s public record is at least initially encouraging (emphasis mine):
O’Malley was governor of Maryland throughout the Great Recession, from 2007 to 2015. It is one of only eight states that kept an AAA bond rating throughout that traumatic period. Bond houses attribute the record largely to strong fiscal practices by O’Malley and his Democratic legislature, including a willingness to cut spending, raise taxes and restructure fiscal obligations, including pensions.
The AAA bond rating statement is worth highlighting (emphasis mine):
KEY RATING DRIVERS
CONSERVATIVE FINANCIAL OPERATIONS: Financial operations are conservative, and the state maintains a well-funded rainy day fund. The state took repeated action during the course of the last recession to address projected budget gaps, including raising tax revenues, cutting spending, and using rainy day and other balances.
STRONG DEBT MANAGEMENT: Debt oversight is strong and centralized, and the debt burden is moderate. The state has policies to maintain debt affordability, and the constitution requires GO and transportation bonds to amortize within 15 years.
PENSION FUNDING REFORMS: Pension funding levels have deteriorated, although the state has undertaken extensive reforms to pensions and other post-employment benefits to improve funding levels.
BROAD ECONOMY: The state has a diverse, wealthy economy, benefiting from its proximity to the nation’s capital.
Martin O’Malley is a possible progressive Democratic candidate that has my attention. I can easily imagine synergy between his contemplated campaign (and subsequent presidency) and the agenda of Elizabeth Warren. Perhaps, like two smaller storms converging into a blizzard over the ocean south of Cape Cod, the Occupy Everything Elizabeth Warren agenda may become a major and dominant political firestorm.
…always work out so well🙂
Personally I don’t think family is per se qualifying or disqualifying as long as the people elect them. I’m with HRC, but it’s good to hear other voices.
I agree that family is per se qualifying or disqualifying.
I’m just weary of the drama — with BOTH families. I think that’s what Mr. O’Malley articulated rather well.
As President Obama said, it’s time for that “new car smell”.
on pollution…
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-omalley-bay-pollution-20140309-story.html
O’Malley seemed to be very willing to have the Maryland Dept of Agriculture assist poultry businesses as opposed to protecting the Chesapeake for all of Maryland.
This “Frerichs” person works for a law firm that represent Perdue, a chicken corporation. There was Clean Water Act case against Perdue, because chicken houses create lots of nasty pollution.
This is the kind of decision a new Governor can always undo. The effects of Iraq are forever.
It’s too early to frame O’Malley as a progressive. I might add that in the area you bolded, that he also cut spending to balance the budget. What specifically did he cut? It be wise to dig into his record a little bit more before assigning labels.
Maryland’s Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved nearly $200 million in cuts to the state’s current operating budget, including a 2 percent reduction for all state agencies and millions of dollars in additional cuts in higher education and services to the developmentally disabled.
The reductions are part of an effort by outgoing Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) to shrink a looming shortfall before he is succeeded by Gov.-elect Larry Hogan (R) on Jan. 21.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-panel-approves-omalley-proposal-for-more-than-200-million-in-budget-cuts/2015/01/07/6586da1a-9689-11e4-927a-4fa2638cd1b0_story.html
From your link:
As in all substantive matters of balancing budgets, it strikes me as hard to tell what this says about Mr. O’Malley’s priorities. I note he has attempted to avoid layoffs, he (like every governor of every state) is dealing with cuts in federal spending, and he — unlike Mr. Baker and Mr. DeLeo — sees the wisdom of investing in public rail transportation.
All in all — hard to tell.