MD Gov. Larry Hogan to Propose Tax Cuts and State Funding Formula Changes

[Frodo]

We're about to find out if his popularity amounts to anything:

Hogan says he will propose tax cuts, changes in state funding formulas

By Josh Hicks
January 7 at 7:33 PM

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[smoltchanov]

He is a Republican after all. And initially Republican party was noted for being pro-business and anti-tax, not for being socially backward...

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This is exactly what he said he'd do during the campaign, and therefore what the state wants. The legislature should not fight it.

[publicunofficial]

This is exactly what he said he'd do during the campaign, and therefore what the state wants. The legislature should not fight it.

Why even have a legislature?

[Virginiá]

This is exactly what he said he'd do during the campaign, and therefore what the state wants. The legislature should not fight it.

Why even have a legislature?

Have to agree with publicunofficial here. The Governor is not a king and there is no reason why 188 elected lawmakers, elected to write laws of the likes which Hogan proposed, should have to capitulate to one man elected by a very modest margin during an low-turnout election where only 44% of registered voters actually voted.

[RINO Tom]

Even in a blue state, voters don't elect a REPUBLICAN of any kind if they don't want some fiscal change.  I highly doubt that "tax cuts" will hurt his popularity.

[smoltchanov]

Even in a blue state, voters don't elect a REPUBLICAN of any kind if they don't want some fiscal change.  I highly doubt that "tax cuts" will hurt his popularity.

+1. I also have a feeling that voters were fed up with previous Democratic administrations and their politics. So they did a very rare thing in this state - elected Republican...

[RFayette]

Tax cuts go with electing a Republican governor, and I think voters realize this.  It's making significant cuts to education or infrastructure that make politicians very unpopular.

[sg0508]

Regardless of how popular he is and how much sympathy he gets from his condition, it's going to be hard for him to win another term in MD. The GOP's ceiling there is very, very low; it's probably not higher than 53%.  That leaves a very small MOE.

[smoltchanov]

Even in a blue state, voters don't elect a REPUBLICAN of any kind if they don't want some fiscal change.  I highly doubt that "tax cuts" will hurt his popularity.

+1. I also have a feeling that voters were fed up with previous Democratic administrations and their politics. So they did a very rare thing in this state - elected Republican...

Uh... I wouldn't say it's "very rare", but it was significant.

Depends on everyone standards - it was only second time after Agnew, that Maryland elected Republican as governor. And the first time it was an atrocious campaign by KKT, which helped a lot...

[Kingpoleon]

This is exactly what he said he'd do during the campaign, and therefore what the state wants. The legislature should not fight it.

Why even have a legislature?

Have to agree with publicunofficial here. The Governor is not a king and there is no reason why 188 elected lawmakers, elected to write laws of the likes which Hogan proposed, should have to capitulate to one man elected by a very modest margin during an low-turnout election where only 44% of registered voters actually voted.

While I agree with you in principle, a gerrymandered legislature is the only reason it's so Democratic.

[Virginiá]

Have to agree with publicunofficial here. The Governor is not a king and there is no reason why 188 elected lawmakers, elected to write laws of the likes which Hogan proposed, should have to capitulate to one man elected by a very modest margin during an low-turnout election where only 44% of registered voters actually voted.

While I agree with you in principle, a gerrymandered legislature is the only reason it's so Democratic.

Depends what you mean. Maryland's population is just shy of half non-white, with a third being African American. On top of that, the white vote in Maryland is several points more Democratic than the national average. There is gerrymandering, sure, but gerrymandering will not consistently give Democrats 60+ seat advantages in the state House and more than double the seats of Republicans in the state Senate. Even in a great year for the GOP, the legislature would almost surely remain Democratic. Veto-proof majorities would probably be a lot rarer, though.

[Kingpoleon]

Have to agree with publicunofficial here. The Governor is not a king and there is no reason why 188 elected lawmakers, elected to write laws of the likes which Hogan proposed, should have to capitulate to one man elected by a very modest margin during an low-turnout election where only 44% of registered voters actually voted.

While I agree with you in principle, a gerrymandered legislature is the only reason it's so Democratic.

Depends what you mean. Maryland's population is just shy of half non-white, with a third being African American. On top of that, the white vote in Maryland is several points more Democratic than the national average. There is gerrymandering, sure, but gerrymandering will not consistently give Democrats 60+ seat advantages in the state House and more than double the seats of Republicans in the state Senate. Even in a great year for the GOP, the legislature would almost surely remain Democratic. Veto-proof majorities would probably be a lot rarer, though.

I'm fairly certain that if it weren't for gerrymandering and all districts had to be somewhat competitive, this would pass, albeit within ten to twelve votes. As it is, it will probably be within three to eight votes.

[Adam Griffin]

The state is solidly Democratic, through and through. There is no reason that the legislature - which unlike the Governor, has to actually stand for re-election in high-turnout elections that resemble their electorates' populations half the time - should give one inch of ground to this low-energy loser who was elected with a bare majority of the vote by a paltry minority of registered voters. He has no mandate to propose policies - let alone lead - and should be content enough with holding his ceremonial title as Governor for the next three years.

[smoltchanov]

The state is solidly Democratic, through and through. There is no reason that the legislature - which unlike the Governor, has to actually stand for re-election in high-turnout elections that resemble their electorates' populations half the time - should give one inch of ground to this low-energy loser who was elected with a bare majority of the vote by a paltry minority of registered voters. He has no mandate to propose policies - let alone lead - and should be content enough with holding his ceremonial title as Governor for the next three years.

I doubt that Hogan will agree. And, BTW, legislature in Maryland is elected in midterms ONLY....

[Adam Griffin]

The state is solidly Democratic, through and through. There is no reason that the legislature - which unlike the Governor, has to actually stand for re-election in high-turnout elections that resemble their electorates' populations half the time - should give one inch of ground to this low-energy loser who was elected with a bare majority of the vote by a paltry minority of registered voters. He has no mandate to propose policies - let alone lead - and should be content enough with holding his ceremonial title as Governor for the next three years.

I doubt that Hogan will agree. And, BTW, legislature in Maryland is elected in midterms ONLY....

Way to ruin my trolling spree.

[Kingpoleon]

The state is solidly Democratic, through and through. There is no reason that the legislature - which unlike the Governor, has to actually stand for re-election in high-turnout elections that resemble their electorates' populations half the time - should give one inch of ground to this low-energy loser who was elected with a bare majority of the vote by a paltry minority of registered voters. He has no mandate to propose policies - let alone lead - and should be content enough with holding his ceremonial title as Governor for the next three years.

I can't believe the stupid Republican thought he could get away with not governing exactly like O'Malley. Clearly the voters wanted the same, slightly aged, white guy, not new policies or evil tax cuts or ANYTHING DIFFERENT AT ALL.

[Young Conservative]

The state is solidly Democratic, through and through. There is no reason that the legislature - which unlike the Governor, has to actually stand for re-election in high-turnout elections that resemble their electorates' populations half the time - should give one inch of ground to this low-energy loser who was elected with a bare majority of the vote by a paltry minority of registered voters. He has no mandate to propose policies - let alone lead - and should be content enough with holding his ceremonial title as Governor for the next three years.

I can't believe the stupid Republican thought he could get away with not governing exactly like O'Malley. Clearly the voters wanted the same, slightly aged, white guy, not new policies or evil tax cuts or ANYTHING DIFFERENT AT ALL.

Exactly if they wanted O'malley they would've elected his chosen successor but they didn't

[Nyvin]

This is exactly what he said he'd do during the campaign, and therefore what the state wants. The legislature should not fight it.

Why even have a legislature?

Have to agree with publicunofficial here. The Governor is not a king and there is no reason why 188 elected lawmakers, elected to write laws of the likes which Hogan proposed, should have to capitulate to one man elected by a very modest margin during an low-turnout election where only 44% of registered voters actually voted.

While I agree with you in principle, a gerrymandered legislature is the only reason it's so Democratic.

I don't know what the state legislature numbers are...but in 2014 the Democrats won nearly 63% of the House vote, and that was during a good GOP year with the GOP winning the gov race.

In the House the Democrats hold about 70% of the seats, and in the Senate they hold about 65% of the seats.    Sure, if you redrew the maps, the GOP would probably pick up a few seats, but it wouldn't be a significant change.