Maryland is slated to receive $3.75 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) 2009 over the next 18 months. Taxpayers were led to believe that this was a one-time “shot in the arm” to give a boost to our ailing economy. Recent public polling has shown that a slight majority of the public is giving the Stimulus plan, and the politicians who supported it, a chance at success. However, most of the public is unaware of how the money is being disbursed.

Much of the Stimulus money going to the states is in the form of unfunded mandates, or money with “strings attached.” The federal government is offering the states vast amounts of Stimulus money under the pretense of expanding social programs. Unsurprisingly, Gov. O’Malley is enthusiastically embracing this windfall of cash.

AFP-Maryland does not have a problem with the one-time grants to help with roads, bridges, and full-time unemployment benefits. The problem is the expansion of programs that, once the Stimulus fund dries up, have no funding source. By accepting these strings, Gov. O’Malley is making a bad situation, much worse. In two years, the state of Maryland will be looking at budget deficits in the billions.

Other Governors across the country have wised up to this scam. Gov. Phil Bredesen (D-TN) has publicly questioned taking this money, noting that the strings attached could bankrupt his state. Gov. Sanford (R-SC) declared he will NOT be accepting any Stimulus cash with strings attached due to the forced expansion of social programs that have no funding source.

AFP-Maryland urges Gov. O’Malley to reject any money with strings attached. This forced spending without funding will ultimately result in higher taxes, a terrible business environment and less economic freedom for the citizens of Maryland.