After just ten months in office, Governor Martin O'Malley orchestrated the largest tax increase in Maryland history. His Executive Order issued in October 2007 to convene the General Assembly of Maryland into a special session stated the following goal: "for the purpose of passing legislation to address Maryland's structural deficit." The deficit was estimated to reach $1.7 billion by FY09.

Maryland stands on a budgetary "edge of a cliff." Over the course of four budgets, Governor Martin O'Malley has relied upon one-time transfers, fund swaps and "found money" to balance Maryland's annual budget.

While on the campaign trail, Martin O'Malley promised that he would strengthen the Department of Parole and Probation and reform the juvenile justice system. But  as Governor, O'Malley has presided over a series of mishaps by corrections agencies including two serious incidents in the last week.

After President Obama decided that the trials of the 9/11 terrorists would not be held in New York City, White House advisors stated that the opinions of local authorities would be taken into consideration as the Justice Department selects a domestic location for the trials. (see Washington Post editorial "Government Retreating On Civilian Trial for Accused Terrorist" click here).

The road map to budget solvency proposed by Senators David Brinkley and EJ Pipkin has changed the terms of debate for the remaider of the session.

Up until now, the focus has been on the Democrat's refrain of "Where will you cut?" - under the presumption that current spending is so vital that no reasonable person could propose significant reductions.