Anytime a publication asks an executive-level candidate to lay out their First 100 days, you always get a real insight into their psyche.
This brings us to Robin Ficker.
When Ficker answered the Maryland Matters survey on this issue, he highlighted the good of Ficker’s politics but how wrong he can be with how government works.
For example:
On Day 1 I’ll meet with the speaker and senate president to implement a schedule to promptly implement the Maryland voters’ mandate to cut the sales tax by 1/3 or 2 cents = $780/yr/household.
Obviously, most people would love to lower the sales tax by a third practically overnight. It would be a boon to Maryland businesses and would bring about relief to Maryland’s from the Democrats favorite regressive tax.
But let’s look at the realpolitik here. Robin Ficker isn’t going to dictate anything to Bill Ferguson and Adrienne Jones. They have no interest in implementing a tax cut for working people. So if Ficker were to attempt to “implement a schedule to promptly implement” this tax cut, he would be laughed out of the room.
That is NOT to say that Republicans shouldn’t aim for this. But let’s understand the mechanics of how Annapolis works.
Next, we shall form our Jobs Strikeforce to pursue the Billion $ companies that have recently shunned Maryland to put their multiBillion expansions elsewhere
Ficker is right that companies have shunned us. Much of the why can be traced back to Maryland’s terrible business climate. But let’s also not forget that one of the things these companies want is more and more subsidies. Maybe that’s the point of adding Rushern Baker and Peter Franchot to this team, as he suggests. Hardly a conservative priority.
Our new Nuclear Strikeforce shall approve a plan to immediately double the clean electrical output of Calvert Cliffs.
I would love to see a flow chart as to how Ficker would plan to implement this in a world where the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission exists. While nuclear energy is the cleanest possible power available in Maryland, we won’t be “immediately double” anything.
And finally:
Lieutenant Governor Yegge will finalize our Monday am Open houses to give voters a direct day. Dan Cox will assist him.
I’m not sure how many people Ficker thinks will roll into a 6 AM Mondy morning open house. The entire thing reminds me of Big Block of Cheese Day more than anything.
Also, did anybody ask Dan Cox if he would assist in this endeavor? Serious question.
(We have no idea what Cox would do in his first 100 days because he didn’t respond, much like he does to just about any media inquiry. The guy seems allergic to press coverage)
Let’s be real: despite his eccentricities, a lot of Ficker’s on policy are good ideas. There is just no chance isn’t sure how to implement them.