I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't read the story and editorial in today's Baltimore Sun. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have agreed to back Gov. O'Malley's proposed repair of the state's depleted unemployment insurance fund. And get this: They've agreed to pay higher taxes in the short term in order to help the fund gain solvency.
Where are the protests against this tyranny? What happened to the conservative wisdom that the only good tax is a lower tax -- now!? Why have Maryland businesses agreed to feed the beast of big government? At this rate the unemployment fund will turn into a success -- providing temporary relief to jobless workers while keeping Maryland's books in the black. Republicans and Democrats came together in Annapolis to craft a sensible solution. The horror!
Truth be told, this is the kind of compromise that will be required in Washington, although Capitol Hill is light years away from it. Paying for the entitlements that Americans love -- Medicare and Social Security -- will require some kind of tax increase beyond the ones that will happen when the Bush tax cuts expire. (After the economy recovers!) Sorry, but that's the way the math works. Drastically cut Medicare or raise taxes.
A few weeks ago I portrayed the opposition to O'Malley's unemployment-tax fix as connected to tea-party animus against Washington and bailouts. (O'Malley's plan and the amended scheme accepted by the chamber includes $127 million in stimulus funds to replenish the fund.) I still think that's true, but the chamber should get credit for the compromise. Just don't let the word get out that you supported a tax increase, chamber. What would Mitch McConnell say?