Allow me to introduce myself – my name is Matthew Newman and weekly I like to highlight legislative waste projects in Maryland. Maryland’s General Assembly has bond bills which is legislation  that creates new state debt for pork barrel projects. In some cases these bond bills are used to buy votes from legislators.  Want some examples? Check them out here.

This week, we’re heading to Baltimore City to focus on Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell (D) and her new proposal for $100,000 in new debt to help out the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion in SB968.

The Garrett-Jacobs Mansion is a historic building in Baltimore City built in the nineteenth century. It is a beautiful older building, but it seems Senator Jones-Rodwell always wants to send them money. In 2011, Jones-Rodwell wanted $500,000 to help the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion, in fact it was a “Waste of the Week” then. In 2011, the Senate and  House of Delegates merged their bond bills into one super waste of money. Jones-Rodwell’s $500,000 was dropped to $25,000. Apparently funding this old building was not a priority then. It should not be a priority now.

This $100,000 is to help improve safety at the mansion. I have this to say to Senator Jones-Rodwell – donate to the building yourself. Become a “Tiffany Friend” of the Garrett-Jacobs house and donate your time and treasure. Stop trying to steal money from my children’s future which we currently do not have in order to buy yourself some votes in Baltimore City. That’s all a bond bill is – it’s a means to buy votes through money to local projects. That’s what pork is. That’s wrong and we need to stop it.

For that set of reasons and the ridiculous amount of debt our state continues to carry, SB968 is Old Line Elephant’s “Waste of the Week.”

Congratulations the Senator Jones-Rodwell  for trying to put the state a $100,000 further in debt to gain votes in Baltimore City!

Feel free to submit your suggestions in the comments section of wasteful spending in Maryland.

Matthew Newman is a Christian, conservative, Dad, former New Yorker, husband, Professional Engineer, and all around okay guy. He also blogs at Old Line Elephant.

Matthew Newman

Christian. Dad. Husband. Conservative. Beard Aficionado. Blogger. Professional Engineer. Star Wars Fan.

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