Data shows a shrinking middle class

Originally Appeared on Gazette.Net

By C. Benjamin Ford, Staff Writer
Published on Friday, September 16, 2011
Median household income at lowest level since 1997; some call it the ‘lost decade.'

Grand Prix was fun and flashy, but no fix for city

Originally Published in the Baltimore Sun

By Marta Hummel Mossburg
Published on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Marta Mossburg says Baltimore shouldn't imagine that such events will lift it out of the doldrums.

Grand Prix Folly

Originally Published in the Frederick News-Post

By Marta Hummel Mossburg
Published on Wednesday, September 07, 2011
In case you hadn't heard about it, this weekend was supposed to be Baltimore's coming-out party.

Is there a convention center arms race?

Originally Produced by CNN

By Marta Hummel Mossburg
Published on Thursday, September 01, 2011
This CNN feature story on the ever-increasing amounts of money that cities spend on publicly-funded convention centers poses the question: "Is there a convention center arms race?"  The brief broadcast includes commentary from Maryland Public Policy Institute Senior Fellow, Marta Hummel Mossburg.

Balance is overrated

Originally Published in the Frederick News-Post

By Marta Hummel Mossburg
Published on Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Gov. Martin O'Malley and those who support raising taxes to bridge the $1 billion state budget gap refer to their plan as a "balanced approach." It's as if they were yoga instructors and Maryland residents practitioners of deep breathing and stretching exercises that made them more healthy and robust.

Gov. O'Malley and Mr. Jobs: contrast in visions

Originally Published in the Baltimore Sun

By Marta Hummel Mossburg
Published on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Apple CEO stands for freedom to create; governor wants to punish those who do so.

The property tax shuffle

Originally Published in the Daily Record

By Melody Simmons, Daily Record staff
Published on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
One of the top questions in this year’s mayoral race is how to lower the city’s residential property tax rate, the highest in Maryland at $2.268 per $100 of assessed value.

January session could bring tax talk

Originally Appeared on Gazette.Net

By Sarah Breitenbach
Published on Friday, August 26, 2011
Experts weigh value of extending sales levy.

Fiscal conservatives recognize the truth

Originally Appeared on DelMarVaNow.com

By Marc Kilmer
Published on Wednesday, August 24, 2011
RE: "Grand Old Party not what it used to be," Aug. 22

We’re All Faithful Keynesian Now

Originally Published in the Herald-Mail

By Thomas A. Firey
Published on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Keynesianism, the idea that government can heal the economy through reckless deficit spending, is an economic theory and, as such, subject to real-world testing. But Keynesianism is also a faith — faith is “evidence of things not seen,” after all, and America has never seen deficit spending create an economic recovery. Not for lack of trying: the United States has thrown mountains of money at the 13 recessions since John Maynard Keynes’ “General Theory” first appeared in print 75 years ago.