(Washington, D.C.) – The more than 17,200 members and supporters of Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) in Maryland today commended Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. (R) for issuing a directive to hold as much as 10 percent of many state agencies’ budgets in reserve in order to stop what the governor refers to as a “cocktail party” of overspending.

“In a time when budget crisis are facing states around the country, Gov. Ehrlich has taken a bold step toward fiscal restraint,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “State agencies need to be held accountable for their spending habits, and Gov. Ehrlich is standing up to them for all Maryland taxpayers.”

Earlier this week, Ehrlich released $9.8 billion from the $10.5 billion that the assembly approved for discretionary programs, using his authority to withhold taxes from state agencies.  The cuts are not permanent unless the governor gains approval from Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp (D) and Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D), who sit with him on the state’s Board of Public Works.  While Gov. Ehrlich hopes to make some of the cuts permanent, most agencies will not be required to cut the full 10 percent.

“Agencies should be combing over their budgets to try and find ways to reduce waste and abuse,” Schatz continued.  “Gov. Ehrlich’s decision will help force them to do just that.  There is plenty of wasteful spending in the state budget that can be easily eliminated.”

Examples of unnecessary spending in Maryland include the ballistic fingerprinting program that has cost taxpayers $5 million, but has failed to solve a single violent crime.  Maryland taxpayers also paid $6 million for a railroad that ships Perdue’s chicken feed across the state.

“Other governors across the country should follow Gov. Ehrlich’s lead to rid their states of budget deficits,” Schatz concluded.  “When times are tight financially for American families, states also need to control their spending.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.  For more information, please visit www.cagw.org.