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Page 47

Maryland

Parris Glendening, Democrat

Legislature: Democratic

Took Office: 1/95

Grade: C

Parris Glendening won the governor's office in 1994,

beating tax-cutter Ellen Sauerbrey by a whisker in an elec-

tion marred by charges of widespread vote fraud in Balti-

more.  The Glendening paradox is that despite governing dur-

ing times of high incumbent popularity, he has never won the

hearts of Marylanders.  His poll ratings have consistently

sagged below 40 percent, and some pollsters have panned

Glendening as the least popular governor in America. That is

partly a reflection of the technocratic Glendening's utter

lack of personal charm, partly due to a seemingly aimless

policy agenda, and partly a result of a state economy that

has consistently underperformed the rest of the nation in

the 1990s.  From 1990 to 1997 Maryland ranked 46th in per

capita income growth and 38th in job growth.  To his credit,

last year Glendening proposed a 10 percent income tax rate

cut to be phased in over five years, arguing correctly that

"a tax cut is the single most effective policy to bring jobs

back to Maryland."  The plan passed, but no one was particu-

larly pleased.  Republicans still want a 25 percent tax cut,

and the liberal Democrats, who have a decades-long strangle-

hold on the state legislature, wanted to spend all the

money.  The truth is that, even with the modest tax cut, the

budget has expanded greatly during Glendening's term.  His

budgets have generally requested that expenditures grow at

twice the inflation rate. The Washington Post recently re-

ported that Glendening has "showered money on local schools,

higher education, health care coverage for the poor, and en-

vironmental programs to protect the Chesapeake Bay."  Glen-

dening is mostly a pro-government interventionist, as evi-

denced by his legislation to restrict gun ownership, raise

the cigarette tax, impose workplace smoking bans, and fund a

$200 million football stadium in Baltimore.  It is no wonder

that Glendening will face another tough challenge from Ellen

Sauerbrey in November.

Score

Grade

Rank

Overall Fiscal Policy Score

49

C

22

Spending Score

44

C

29

Revenue and Tax Rate Score

51

B

19

Amount

1.4%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Direct General Spending through 1996

-0.1%

Average Annual Change in Direct General Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1996

2.3%

Average Annual Recommended Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Spending through 1999

-1.1%

Average Annual Change in General Fund Spending Per $1,000 Personal Income 1996-98

0.0%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita Tax Revenue through 1997

-1.6%

Average Annual Change in Tax Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1997

0.1%

Average Annual Recommended Change in General Fund Revenue Per $1,000 Personal Income through 1999

0.1%

Average Annual Change in Real Per Capita General Fund Revenue 1996-98

0.1%

Average Annual Recommended Tax Changes as % of Prior Year's Spending through 1999

-0.25

Change in Top Personal Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

0.0

Change in Top Corporate Income Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

11.9

1998 Combined Top Income Tax Rates (Personal plus Corporate) (*0.5)

0.0

Change in Sales Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (% points)

0.0

Change in Gas Tax Rate, proposed and/or enacted (cents per gallon) (*0.5)