From Del. Wayne Norman:
Governor O’Malley has ordered yet another Special Session for Maryland’s General Assembly. We legislators get to return to Annapolis for a second time this summer, this time to take up the issue of expanded gaming in the great State of Maryland.
As you may recall, the Governor convened a Special Session earlier this summer in order to amend the so-called “Doomsday Budget”. That budget was actually a default spending plan that included a responsible two-percent year-over-year spending increase and no new taxes. The budget that ultimately passed, despite my vehement opposition, included millions of dollars in additional spending and taxes. Now, only weeks later, we are going back into Special Session again.
The Maryland Constitution states that the Governor may convene a Special Session of the Legislature in the case of an “emergency”. Special Session 2.0 is being convened so that we can debate the “emergency” issue of whether a mammoth casino should be allowed to operate at National Harbor in Prince George’s County.
The purpose of this letter is not to debate the propriety of expanded gaming in Maryland. My purpose in writing is to explain why I plan to be present in Annapolis when so many others are suggesting that I stay home in protest.
As I see it, I was elected to represent the people of northern Harford County in the Legislature. Because I am a conservative, small government Republican and most of my colleagues in Annapolis are liberal, big government Democrats, I am often on the losing side of votes on the House floor and my amendments tend to be rejected.
While expressing my opinions on legislation or exercising my voting privileges may seem futile at times, I believe I have duty to fulfill my duties as a Delegate, which includes taking leave from running my small business and showing up for work in Annapolis when I am called to do so, regardless of whether I agree with the underlying motives of the Governor and his allies in the General Assembly.
So, when we return to Annapolis on August 9, I plan to actively participate in the debate. The Governor’s gaming proposal has yet to be formally introduced, so I have not had a chance to review it. As a general principle, though, I am inclined to support expanded gaming in Maryland if it can be done responsibly and results in good paying, permanent jobs without burdening the taxpayer or expanding the size of government.
As always, I would like to thank my constituents for the opportunity to represent northern Harford County in the Maryland General Assembly. Regardless of whether the General Assembly is in session or not, my constituents are free to contact me at Wayne Norman, P.O Box 173, Jarrettsville, Maryland 21084, or at (410) 692-9401.
Wayne Norman
you support expanded gambling in Maryland and your complaining of going to the special session? Why are we giving the big businesses the right to take money from people who gamble and very little profit for the taxpayer. Seems like you are just blowing smoke about representing the good people of harford county. Besides……you get paid for the special session……..
So you support giving MGM and Cordish at Tax break while you guys raised my taxes two months ago…As a Republican why would you give The Governor and Busch this vote? You sound like you are trying to have your cake and eat too?
Norman has never voted for a tax increase. Republicans have supported table gaming as a volitional way for people, including those out of state, to contribute to the state’s coffers. If Republicans opposed every idea they have just because Democrats will get the credit, nothing could get accomplished. If the government allows something (gaming) why should it be able to limit how much of it there is? There isn’t a 7-11 on every corner because a private businessman won’t build or sustain one if it doesn’t realize a profit. Private industry sees to that, and we don’t need government in the way. The Democrat’s formula is screwed up, but that’s always the case. Norman says that, if it is less screwed up than usual, he’ll consider it. He has his own position, and is willing to listen. What more do you want? I say Republicans should expand the locations any time they can.
He is like the fox watching the hen house and then complaining because he has to be the lookout.
It is the JOB !!! of ALL of our elected officials to represent their constituants ALL of the time when EVER needed even when the governor goes off his rocker and calls an unconstitional special legislative session (where is the “emergency” ?) The whole issue of gaming in Maryland has been an explosive one for many years and the one group that has been kicked to the curb year after year by the liberals in Annapolis is the war veteran organizations and I hope the Republicans in the house and senate will do all that they can to use this legislative “opportunity” to correct this wrong and allow the current eastern shore law to be implementated state wide. It is obvious that Delegate Norman takes his responsibility seriously and should be given a big THANK YOU instead of being critized. Thank you Delegate Norman !
its his JOB!!! Why should we thank him? Is he police…NO. Is he fire….NO. Is he in the military…NO. He is a paid politician that collects a check and wants to expand gambling in the state. So we are thanking someone who ran for office and was elected to do his job…….interesting
Del. Norman is right to attend and represent us. I am not a Republican, but I think his stance on the special session is the correct one.
I don’t go to casinos and never will, but for those that do, how do you want your money to go out of state? Either big companies get the money or other states with casinos will. Does it matter? Yes. In-state, we have at least some control over the money. When people go to to Del., we have nothing.
Citizen,
So you don’t care that they are proposing to lower the taxes and fees paid by the casino operators while they raise yours? I care. And Del. Norman better know that I care because his name will be on the ballot that I cast.
The reason Del. Norman is going to Annapolis for the special session is so that he can vote along with the Lib/Dems to expand gambling, lower the taxes on the gambling interests and say it was all for the children. If you vote with O’Malley to expand gambling and lower the taxes and fees on the casino operators after taxes have been raised on Maryland citizens then he should expect to be defeated for re-election.
Alex is obvious a Lib Dem
lol, obviously.
Don’t worry Alex, I think I have an extra label stuck on me I can peel off and let you borrow for a while.
Thanks, Noble, but I am Teflon personified. LAbels don’t stick, even the ones that I want to stick sometimes. I do worry a little when I come across as a Lib Dem to KNOWS A LOT. Where in the world did that come from?