NEWS CONFERENCE 403

Revenue Estimates recommends in announcing the surplus for the
year, especially since you said, "State announces surplus for the year, "
or words to this effect, and not "the Comptroller"?

A. Well, of course, the Comptroller is the revenue estimating agency
of the State government. So technically it is a State announcement.
Whether he makes it personally or I make it really is immaterial ex-
cept for the fact that we should certainly be using the same informa-
tion to base our judgments upon, and where there is room for a legiti-
mate difference of opinion in predicting what's going to happen, I
don't quarrel with him there. I think he has a right to be his own man
and to make his own judgments, but I do quarrel with the fact that
I was not given information that was then readily available to the
Comptroller's office.

Q. Governor, after you made the statement about the finances of
Maryland being in the shape they are in, I had the opportunity to
talk with Mr. Alton as it affected Anne Arundel County. Now, I don't
know whether he has information that you didn't have. You didn't
really answer that. He said this situation points out the need for
sweeping reorganization of the State's branches. Do you have any
comment to make on that?

A. I just responded, and I do feel that it would be much better if
the executive branch were more responsible to the Governor and more
accountable to the Governor, and I don't see any need for the Comp-
trollership being an elective office. I think this would cure this type
of situation.

Q. Governor, how would you characterize the State's revenue picture
this week?

A. You mean based on the information I now have, that I read in
the newspaper?

Q. Do you have any further information?

A. Well, I think from the looks of the latest prognostication, it ap-
pears to be pretty much on target. In other words, I don't see any
reason for optimism or pessimism. But, again, I point out this is
pretty early and these things could change. The economy could soften
appreciably if the 10 percent surtax goes into effect. The sales tax
could continue to fall off. The corporate profits could be reduced as
much as 7 percent.

Q. Governor, is it hindsight that perhaps in the fiscal reform pro-
gram, you allowed the State too narrow a margin for itself?