Weekly Watchdog Issue 29 10.5.2012

Issue 29 — October 5, 2012

Fall is in full swing, and so is Comptroller Franchot, as he and his staff continue to travel across the State to serve Maryland taxpayers.

Franchot Meets with Laid-off Workers.

As part of his statewide Economic Truth Tour, Comptroller Franchot sat down yesterday with 35 of the nearly 400 laid-off workers from when Unilever closed its doors on its Hagerstown plant in August. In a candid conversation, they discussed the financial and emotional hardships they were facing, as well as the far-reaching implications on the local and regional economies. Washington County was the latest stop on the Comptroller’s Economic Listening Tour, which will take him to each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. He has also made stops in Montgomery County to tour Manna Foods, Talbot County to visit Channel Marker, Dorchester County to tour the B & G Plant and Baltimore City for a walking tour of the Frankford Community with local neighborhood leaders [See Article].

Franchot Receives Charles Binsted Award.

In recognition of his tireless efforts leading the opposition against the proposed sales tax on gasoline that would have disproportionately hurt working Marylanders and small businesses, Comptroller Franchot was awarded the prestigious Charles Binsted Award by the Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association (WMDA) at their annual convention in Ocean City. He also recently spoke at the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Dealers and Maryland Motor Truck Association’s joint Fall Conference.

Fiscal Watchdog Sounds Alarm on Unsubstantiated New Debt.

As a member of the Capital Debt Affordability Committee, Comptroller Franchot successfully opposed a proposal to add $750 million to the State's debt limit over the next five years, and also stood as the lone dissenting voice against adding $150 million to next year's debt authorization. The Comptroller voiced his concerns by highlighting “significant risks in the state and national economies, the likelihood that the State would need to raise property taxes to service the new debt, and no indication from the Administration for why it was necessary or on how the money would be spent” [See Article] [See WBAL Interview].

Working Together to Serve Communities.

The Comptroller was honored to join Pastor John Cherry of From the Heart Ministries in Suitland to speak at the church’s Garden Project Commencement. Comptroller Franchot played an instrumental role in the effort, working with State Highway Administration officials to secure the land for the community space.

Join the Comptroller this Weekend.

In his continuing effort to travel all across the State of Maryland to meet with as many Maryland families as possible, Comptroller Franchot will be speaking at the Baltimore Financial Planning Day on Saturday morning, followed by stops at the Fell’s Point Book Festival, Taste of Bethesda and Germantown Oktoberfest. Sunday morning, he will be speaking at New Temple Baptist Church and Reid Temple AME Church in Prince George’s County, followed by a stop at his hometown Takoma Park Street Festival. To join the Comptroller this weekend, please contact Anne@Franchot.com or 240-472-6641.