State House and Senate Minority Caucus Respond to Concerns over Structural Deficit

From the Senate Minority Office:

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Department of Legislative Services (DLS) today released an extended fiscal forecast from 2017 through 2021. The numbers disclose that, contrary to popular assumption that the structural deficit is eliminated – in fact, the structural deficit remains.

“As the administration said earlier this week, ‘now is not the time to abandon common sense'” responded House Minority Whip, Kathy Szeliga (R-Baltimore County).

Senator Andrew Serafini (R-Washington County) observed “DLS has confirmed the differences of approach between current and previous administrations. Like Maryland households, we must take a longer term view in budgeting. This means that any short term windfall should not be relied upon to continue.”

Serafini furthered commented, “It is clear that the problems that were created over the last years are not going to be remedied quickly. The caution exhibited by Governor Hogan exhibits prudence and common sense. The challenges of healthcare and Medicaid as well as rising debt cost and pension obligations still loom large. Clearly, the long term structural deficit is still a significant issue.”

“The Democrats’ premature press conference, earlier this week, betrayed a key fault in their underlying philosophy,” chided Senate Minority Whip Steve Hershey (R – Upper Shore). “They see money and ask, ‘How can we spend this?’ when the question should really be, ‘What else can we do to continue to restore Maryland to a position of fiscal strength?’”