Maryland Young Republicans

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the followingstatement tonight about the end of the 2013 Maryland General Assembly Session.

“With the Maryland General Assembly having adjourned sine die at midnight I think we should all look up to heaven and Thank God they’re going home.”

“Never before has Maryland’s elected leaders done so much collective damage to the livelihood of our citizens. Every day Martin O’Malley and legislative leadership railroaded one reckless policy after another without a moment’s thought to think about the true impact of their policies on middle and working class Marylanders,

“During the last 90 days the General Assembly has time and time again gone after the interests and the will of the people of Maryland to implement a far left agenda that will continue to harm our state’s economy and provide diminishing job prospects for all Marylanders, particularly those young professionals who are looking for their first jobs. With the increase in the gas tax and the creation of the Rain Tax, consumers will be hit twice with higher taxes, first through direct taxation and then secondarily from businesses passing the rate hike onto their customers through higher prices. People are going to have less money to spend, and people are going to lose their jobs.

“Additionally, Maryland has taken a giant step backwards in the realm of public safety. Instead of enacting common-sense reforms to ensure to increase policing and keep criminals behind bars, Martin O’Malley led a charge to instead infringe upon the basic civil liberties of all Marylanders through far-reaching restrictions on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Through his actions, Martin O’Malley has made it harder for average Marylanders to defend themselves while also taking not affirmative steps to actually solve gun crime.

“The 2013 Maryland General Assembly Session proved one thing; Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Democratic Party do not have the best interests of average and middle-class Marylanders at heart. Our state deserves better than this.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement tonight about the historic filibuster in Washington:

“I am proud as an American to stand with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul today as he filibusters the nomination of John Brennan as CIA Director to protest the use of drones on American soil.

“Too often, Senators get to Washington and forget why it was that they were elected in the first place. Senators were elected to serve the protect and defend the Constitution, and to stand up for what’s right for the people of this nation and their home states. It is imperative that somebody stand up to take a stand against President Barack Obama and his refusal to rule on drone strikes to kill Americans on U.S. soil. It is unfortunate that it took a filibuster to draw attention to this important issue.

“The people of Kentucky and of the United States should be proud that Senator Paul has the courage of his convictions to stand up for civil liberties and the rights that we inherited from God that are enshrined in our Constitution. Sadly, Maryland’s Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin long ago gave up pretending to fight our interests and to fight for civil liberties. I hope that they are watching the resolve of their colleague, and once again learn how to fight on behalf of Maryland and on behalf of America.

“Tonight, we all should Stand with Rand as he continues to fight for our civil liberties.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement today about Governor O’Malley’s historic gas tax proposal.

“Governor Martin O’Malley has once again gone out of his way to target middle and working class Marylanders with a historic and unnecessary tax hike that will put even more Marylanders out of work.

“While our neighbors in Virginia are lowering their statewide gas tax and institute a more regional approach for regional transportation funding, Martin O’Malley has decided to double-down and institute a near 50-percent hike on gas taxes aimed at hard-working Marylanders from rural and suburban Maryland in order to fund Mass Transit programs that benefit a small number of Maryland’s citizens. And all of this with no assurances that O’Malley will not raid the Transportation Trust Fund to balance the budget as he has done so many times before.

“O’Malley’s tax hike is aimed directly at middle and working class Marylanders who are forced to drive long-distances to their jobs thanks to the inability and unwillingness of O’Malley and legislative Democrats to come up with business-friendly proposals that stimulate job creation in Maryland.

“Sadly, Governor O’Malley’s proposal is just another in a long line of poor decisions that has driven jobs and young Marylanders to neighboring states, helping the Governor earn his poor marks on budgeting, taxation and leadership from a recent Washington Post poll.

“In 2014, Maryland must do better and the Maryland Young Republicans are ready to do what it takes to bring Maryland responsible leaders we can be proud of.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement today on Governor Martin O’Malley’s proposed gun control laws.

“Governor Martin O’Malley proved today beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is not committed to stopping gun violence in Maryland

“Instead of introducing supporting meaningful proposals that would actively reduce gun crime, O’Malley has decided to sign on to proposals that will have only one meaningful impact: to inhibit the ability of law-abiding Marylanders to purchase and possess firearms.

“Under Martin O’Malley’s plan, violent gun offenders will continue to get guns the way they always have. A violent offender is not going to decide not to carry a weapon with an illegal magazine just because there is a new law against it, nor will fingerprint requirements stop violent offenders from getting handguns. Any new law that Martin O’Malley proposes will not stop criminals from acting like criminals, however such laws will harm average Marylanders who wish to own firearms to defend themselves, their property, and their families.

If Martin O’Malley were truly serious about combating gun crime, he would:

• Streamline the Concealed Carry Permit process to allow law-abiding citizens the right to lawfully carry a concealed weapon;
• Increase mandatory minimums for those who use a firearm in the commission of a felony;
• Reduce increases in entitle program spending, and redirect those funds to targeted police programs that combat gun crimes;
• End parole for violent criminals.

“We encourage Martin O’Malley to be a leader and take positive steps to combat gun violence in the state of Maryland instead of political steps to play catchup with his Democratic Presidential Primary rivals.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement today on the opening of the 2013 Maryland General Assembly Session.

“The 433rd Session of the Maryland General Assembly opens today at noon, and our state is desperately in need of an improved business climate that will allow for increased opportunities for job creation.

“It is incumbent upon Governor Martin O’Malley and the leadership of the General Assembly to take prudent and effective measures in order to get Maryland’s economy moving again. For far too long, Maryland Democrats have relied on the largess of federal spending to keep our economy afloat. Because of the myth, perpetuated by Democratic leadership, that we live in a recession-proof economy, Martin O’Malley and his allies in the General Assembly have taken repeated steps to raise taxes, increase regulation, and bloat the bureaucratic process. Year after year, Maryland’s Democrats have made it harder and harder to run a successful business, making it more and more difficult to create an economy that will allow for robust job growth in the private sector.

During this General Assembly session we urge the Maryland General Assembly to:

• A 3% across the Board reduction in state spending;
• Reduce the State Sales tax to 5% on all items;
• Establish an across the board flat tax for all residents;
• Streamline the Executive Branch to eliminate redundancies;
• Reject any and all additional tax hikes, including the proposed gas tax increase and the proposed $1 increase on tobacco products;
• Reject legislative proposals to curb the citizen participation through the referendum process;
• Remove barriers to start of hydraulic fracking in Western Maryland;
• Reject legislative proposals to provide onerous restrictions on property rights;
• Reject pie-in-the-sky renewable energy proposals that are of limited to no benefit to providing clean energy, such as the O’Malley Offshore Windfarm proposal that will serve to benefit O’Malley donors.

“Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Democratic Party have been putting the needs of special interests ahead of the people’s interests. Governor O’Malley and the General Assembly must stop doing harm to Maryland’s Middle and Working Class families, and adopt policies that allow all Marylanders to prosper. It is time for Democrats to do what is in the best interest of the people instead of the best interest of their party.

“We as Young Republicans hope that Martin O’Malley can stop his Presidential campaign long enough to work towards a better job climate so that young Marylanders can coninute to work, live, and prosper in our state.”

Be sure to join your local Young Republican organization at some of the following Holiday Parties:

• December 7th: Harford County YR’s Christmas Party, 428 Hardin Drive, Joppa, 6:30 PM. Please bring a drink or dish to share and, if you plan to participate in the gift exchange, an unmarked, wrapped gift with a value under $15. RSVP to Chris Biggs
• December 8th: Montgomery County YR’s Holiday Party, Amberlea Farm Road, North Potomac,  7 PM. Free to members, $20 for non-members (which includes MCYR Membership dues for 2013). RSVP at rachaelgingrich@hotmail.com.
• December 19th: Anne Arundel YR’s Christmas Party with special guest speaker Dan Bongino, Azure Restaurant, 100 Westgate Circle, Annapolis, 7 PM. No RSVP required

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement regarding former Republican candidate Rob Sobhani’s new television ad targeting young voters:

Rob Sobhani is running nothing more than a vanity campaign to satisfy his sizable ego that will provide no benefits to hardworking Marylanders. His inability to explain how his ideas will be implemented or funded proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rob Sobhani is unfit to serve Maryland.

The Maryland Young Republicans are proud to stand by our nominee, Dan Bongino, himself a Young Republican, who understand what it means to be a hard working young professional here in our state.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the following statement today on Governor O’Malley’s remarks to the Democratic National Convention.

“We are twenty-four hours removed from Governor Martin O’Malley’s remarks at the Democratic National Convention last night. Governor O’Malley’s remarks were as embarrassing as they were shameful, indicative of a politician who is more concerned with hamming for the camera and keeping up appearances than being a thoughtful leader who puts has the best interests of his constituents in mind.

• According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data Maryland has lost 7,000 jobs since January 2012.

• According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data Maryland lost 36,200 jobs Since O’Malley took office.

• According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data Maryland  unemployment up from 3.6% to 7% since O’Malley took office.

• Maryland was dead last in job creation in 2010.

• Obama’s plan to raise taxes will cost Maryland 13,800 jobs and $4 billion in economic output

• O’Malley raised taxes and fees 24 times since 2007.

• According to non-partisan Maryland Dept. of Legislative Services, O’Malley raised taxes over $3.6 billion in his first term alone-not counting recent tax hikes on working families

• Governor O’Malley’s budgets have grown by 23% since he first took office.  2007-$28.8 billion, 2013-$35.5 billion

• Governor O’Malley fairs poorly among his fellow Democratic governors on business climate, tax climate and corruption.

• Maryland FY 2011-2013 general spending increased 15%–highest in the region

• Moody’s ranks Maryland in top 20 of debt to GDP ratio

• As a percentage of state GDP, Maryland’s unfunded pension liability combined with other debt is 9.6% much higher than neighboring states.

• Maryland’s pension system is only 64% funded.

• Maryland is on Moody’s downgrade watch list.

• Maryland schools ranked #1 by EdWeek but same report ranks Maryland dead last in Poverty Gap for 8^th grade math, 22^nd for high school graduation.

• MD Higher Education Commission found that 61% of MD high school graduates in MD community colleges, who took college-prep track, needed remedial math and English instruction.  Fifteen percent attending four-year colleges needed remedial math and English instruction.  Cost to taxpayers: $90 million
• Maryland ranks 42nd in Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate.

• Maryland ranks 40^th in CEO Magazine Best-Worst States for Business.

• Maryland ranks 43^rd in Mercatus Center Personal and Economic Freedom Index.

• Maryland ranks 31^st in CNBC Cost of Doing Business rankings.

• Maryland ranks 40^th in State Integrity Corruption Risk.

• As Mayor of Baltimore, Governor O’Malley instituted zero tolerance policy of mass arrests with out probable cause.

• As Mayor of Baltimore, O’Malley likened George W. Bush policies to that of 9/11 attacks

“It is no surprise that as he continues his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President in 2016 that Governor O’Malley wishes to avoid talking about his consistent record of failure here in the state of Maryland.”

ANNAPOLIS- Maryland Young Republicans Chairman Brian Griffiths issued the followingstatement today on the proposed Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly.

“We are less than two days from the start of a critical special session that will consider expanding gaming in our state. We have already noted that a special session of the General Assembly is not necessary, and that the issue of gambling expansion should be  thoughtfully considered in a regular session.

“I urge the members of the General Assembly to reject whatever gambling expansion plan is presented by the O’Malley Administration. While there may be good reasons to expand the scope of gaming in our state, a rushed special session predicated on legislation that has yet to see the light of day is not a proper way to govern. It would be a disservice to citizens, to businesses, and to the gaming industry to expand gambling under these circumstances.”