State government, local government and county government are all making budget cuts. Why are they making them? Because they have to, just like families have to tighten their belts.
That's why it's important to look closely at our elected officials. Gov. Martin O'Malley has cut over $5 billion to balance the state budget. He's made tough choices like layoffs and furloughs for state employees, closing facilities and scaling back on otherwise important programs.
Compare that to former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who spent like a drunken sailor during his term. He proposed the largest spending increase in Maryland's history. He ignored fiscally responsible spending guidelines. And he left us a $1.5 billion budget deficit on his way out.
