The American Spectator

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Another Perspective

(Page 2 of 2)

"The big electric utility is about to boost the rates for juice by 72 percent, so re-charging your electric car will be something like buying gas. Oh, I forgot, the carmakers dumped most all electric cars when they threatened to become popular. But Maryland's Governor Ehrlich has stepped in and made a deal with Baltimore Gas and Electric."

Backed 'em off?

"Not exactly. Ehrlich made a deal. They get their 72 percent but not all at once; they phase it in over 18 months. And guess what?"

I'm beyond guessing.

"To get the phase-in deal, the customer has gotta pay a surcharge of $15 a month for the next two years to keep the hammer from falling all at once. The Governor had a phrase for it when he revealed the deal."

Can the phrase be repeated out loud?

"You'd think not, but here it is: 'Our No. 1 priority has been working Marylanders, people who literally could not afford the 72 percent increase overnight.'"

You jest.

"Your Uncle Pundit does not joke about a utility bill going up 72 percent, all at once or over 18 months with 15 bucks a month for the delaying privilege. But the best part, the part that a Tony Snow or an Ari Fleischer would have shuddered at, and crossed out, is the beginning, the part where Ehrlich says his 'No. 1 priority is working Marylanders..' A lot of 'em take that working part to be a verb."

I get it: "working" as in working them over.

"Maryland, you know, is unique among all the states. The only one with a Governor's Suite in the state pen."

You're joking.

"Well, maybe I was working -- a bit too hard."

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