May 23rd, 2020
Category: Budget, Education, Efficiency in Government, Fiscal, Urban Affairs, Welfare and Other Social
Policy Changes that Have Been Sparked by the Coronavirus Pandemic Townhall Columnists George Liebmann OPINION May 23, 2020 As Americans suffer the coronavirus pandemic, the economy is in a precarious state and unemployment has reached levels not seen since the Great Depression. It is a time to reconsider some policies relating to taxation and labor […]
April 30th, 2020
Category: Culture Wars, Efficiency in Government, Judiciary and Legal Issues, Miscellaneous, Society/Family/Community/Religion, State and Local Politics, The Right, Urban Affairs, Welfare and Other Social
Why Not the Best? Washington Times, April 30, 2020 by George W. Liebmann These suggestions regarding the selection of the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee come from what might be considered a suspicious source: a registered Republican. To be sure, I have been unable to vote for my party’s nominee in the last four Presidential […]
September 9th, 2019
Category: Culture Wars, Efficiency in Government, Judiciary and Legal Issues, Miscellaneous, Publications, The Right
The American Conservative, September 9, 2019 by George Liebmann It is fashionable for Americans and Europeans alike to think of Donald Trump as an aberration—a fluke thrown up by the obtuseness of an insulated ruling class for sponsoring an unattractive candidate like Hillary Clinton. Many believe that once the lessons of Trump are absorbed […]
October 23rd, 2014
Category: Budget, Education, Efficiency in Government, Miscellaneous, Publications
Expanding Distance Learning in Maryland Schools A Comparative Analysis of Distance Learning in Maryland and Other States by Nicholas Schwaderer Calvert Institute for Policy Research 8 West Hamilton Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Tel: (410) 752 5887 Contents 1 MARYLAND ONLINE EDUCATION […]
April 2nd, 2014
Category: Corporate Welfare, Efficiency in Government, Fiscal, State and Local Politics, Urban Affairs
A Worthy Report on Property Tax Incentives for Business The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has issued an exceptionally valuable report on state and local misuse of property tax incentives for economic development. Its authors are Daphne A. Kenyon, Adam H. Langley, and Bethany P. Paquin. Ms Kenyon is well known as the principal author […]
April 2nd, 2014
Category: Efficiency in Government, Fiscal, Markets and Privatization, State and Local Politics
More Pension Follies With great fanfare, Governor O’Malley announced his 2014-15 budget. Three thick budget volumes were released. Nowhere in these volumes (with one minor exception) are any of the pertinent data concerning Maryland’s pension and employee health obligations disclosed. The re-design of Maryland’s budget documents carried out by the present budget secretary, Eloise Foster, […]
February 21st, 2014
Category: Budget, Efficiency in Government, Fiscal, State and Local Politics, Taxation/Budget/Economic Policy
www.baltimoresun.com/ Maryland’s pension system has performed poorly for decades under two separate treasurers By George W. Liebmann 2:09 PM EST, February 19, 2014 Advertisement The state pension system is Maryland’s financial Achilles heel and has been for decades. All bond rating services have noted that rising pension debt endangers the state’s AAA bond […]
September 12th, 2013
Category: Budget, Efficiency in Government, Employment/Labor Law/Racial Preferences, Fiscal, State & Municipal Services/Privatization, State and Local Politics, Taxation/Budget/Economic Policy, Welfare and Other Social
Maryland has, just, preserved its AAA bond rating, though with a negative outlook from Moody’s. Moody’s has issued a publication reporting that Maryland is one of the ten worst states in terms of the burden of pension debt, Maryland’s pension obligations being almost exactly equal to one year’s gross revenues, 99.5% of […]
March 11th, 2013
Category: Budget, Corporate Welfare, Efficiency in Government, Fiscal, State and Local Politics, Urban Affairs
Mismanaged Maryland Despite talk of reforms and budget cuts, Annapolis dabbles in excessive borrowing, noncompetitive projects and risky investments By George Liebmann6:00 a.m. EDT, March 11, 2013 There is a sharp disconnect between the image and reality of the O’Malley administration’s fiscal policies. The image features pension reforms, reduced structural deficits, […]
November 18th, 2012
Category: Education, Efficiency in Government, State and Local Politics
Maryland’s Protective Tariff Against Teachers In 2011, Maryland colleges produced 2897 graduates from state-approved teacher education programs, out of 28701 new Maryland college graduates (Maryland Higher Education Report, 2011, p.17). Barely 10% of Maryland’s college graduates are thus eligible for regular certification as teachers in Maryland’s public schools. The regulations governing approved teacher education […]