O'Malley the Savior of Preakness

O'Malley reports that he saved Horse Racing. By subsidizing Kegasus?
One of the few plans that O'Malley actually spent some effort to pass was "corporate welfare" to his multi-million dollar friends at Penn Gaming and MJC.
Penn Gaming/MJC's first bite of our taxpayer's money comes in the form of KEGASUS? An ugly, mythical, beer swilling beast that ostensibly encourages underage drinking and the objectification of women.
A post from ABC news puts it more succinctly:

Who's paying for 'Kegasus'

But Delegate Pat McDonough (R, Baltimore County) says Kegasus tarnishes the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown. ‘It promotes alcohol consumption. It promotes rowdyism,’ he said. ‘It's a disgrace to the iconic image of the Preakness and the great industry of racing in Maryland.’

And he's not alone -- on Thursday the commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, Dr. Oxiris Barbot, made a post on her blog that reads in part, ‘The star of the show isn't the beautiful horses, or the determined jockeys who ride them to glory. Instead, we're given Kegasus, a centaur who loves to party.’

Delegate McDonough also criticized a bill that would shift slot machine revenues from track improvements to operating expenses -- like television ads.

‘I don't think taxpayers' money should be subsidizing stupidity,’ he said.

O'Malley's fiscal irresponsibility

While Governor O'Malley jammed through corporate welfare to his friends at the racetracks, the General Assembly approved a 1 Billion increase in State spending to $34.1 Billion! As a result of O'Malley's failures, the State will face $1 Billion plus shortfalls next year and even more beyond. Some of the Education money that O'Malley cut should go to teaching math and Accounting in Annapolis.

O'Malley won't back liquor tax hike

During the election process; O'Malley was quoted as saying he "is not inclined to support any (liquor) tax increase".
Governor O'Malley's spokesperson said "O'Malley supports the purpose and objective", and "Improving and expanding health care services is a noble goal, but given the recession, the governor has no plans to support the (liquor) tax increase."


That was only 6 months ago. Governor O'Malley has signed a tax bill that increased the liquor tax by 50%! Even though many delegates argued that increasing taxes would eliminate jobs and that many businesses are already struggling in this same recession; as Del. Michael Hough's impassioned debate during the session pointed out.
Either the recession is over, or the Washington DC bound governor flip-flopped once again. My empty pockets say flip-flop. Cheers!