Bob's Issues
Stop Growing Government We Can’t Afford
You work hard for the dollars you send to the County as property and income tax. When the Council passes the County budget every year, it involves hundreds of decisions that affect how much you will pay the County in taxes, now and in future years. Education, public safety, transportation, recreation, assistance for people with disabilities are just a few of the important services our county government funds. However, government cannot be all things to all people. All too often our taxing and spending elected officials fail to keep the concerns of tax- paying citizens in mind. I have earned a reputation as a fiscal watchdog who will represent your interests when it comes to taxing and spending your tax dollars.
It is irresponsible for your elected officials to be creating new government programs when we cannot afford to properly fund our existing commitments. Just as Congress is guilty of failing to make provisions to fund Medicare, the Howard County Council has ignored a huge unfunded liability for retiree health care for which the County is responsible. Ignoring commitments already made, both Congress and the Howard County Council have been squandering your tax dollars to experiment with new health programs. This attitude will inevitably lead to more burdensome taxes, as well as jeopardizing our ability to meet our existing obligations.
For 12 of my years in the House of Delegates, I served on the Appropriations Committee. My primary responsibility was to work on the state budget. My reputation was for being a "fiscal conservative". That is because, my focus has always been on working men and women who worry about paying their bills, taking care of their families, saving for retirement and finally retiring with dignity. This election is about excessive government spending on the federal, state and local level.
Institute an Open and Transparent Zoning Process
I want to stress the importance of having a zoning process which is open and transparent. Citizens are upset because they believe they are playing on an uneven playing field. Financial disclosures of political contributions from interested parties are filed in spot zoning cases but not accessible on the internet. I believe in full disclosure; disclosed information should be available as a practical matter. This law needs to be strengthened.
My opponent says she is "independent" but does not explain what that means to her or offer any evidence to support her claim. I can tell voters what being “independent” means to me: I have successfully run 5 campaigns in Howard County. My campaigns primarily relied upon low cost, door to door, sign waving efforts. They are less expensive than mailings and television commercials. That is not accidental. It reflects my values. I have a record of getting elected by being directly in touch with voters and accountable to them.
