20070524 News Clips

News Clips

May 24^th, 2007

State News

BGE rate hike approval draws criticism from Republicans

http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=902642cc-d5c1-49bf-8a6d-c5ef496b5e63

During last year's gubernatorial campaign, Democrat Martin O'Malley sharply criticized the approval of a rate hike for Baltimore Gas and Electric customers approved by a Public Service Commission appointed by his Republican rival, then Governor Robert Ehrlich.

So when the commission appointed by O'Malley, who is now governor, approved a 50 percent electricity rate hike today, state Republican Party Chairman James Pelura took the opportunity to criticize him. He said -- quote -- "O'Malley's pledge to hold the line on rate increases and help working families was a false campaign promise."

50% rise in BGE rates OK'd by PSC

Panel criticizes utility, past regulatory rulings

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.psc24may24,0,7172127.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

The state utility commission approved yesterday a 50 percent electricity rate increase for customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. in a sweeping order that also takes the company and past regulators to task for decisions made in the run-up to electricity deregulation.

The five-member Public Service Commission said it had arrived at its conclusion "reluctantly," arguing that its hands were tied by past regulatory decisions, legislative action and the terms of state-approved contracts that the utility has signed with electricity suppliers.

Schisler and Ehrlich could not be reached yesterday. James Pelura, chairman of the state Republican Party, issued a statement accusing O'Malley of breaking his campaign pledge to provide consumers relief if elected.

"O'Malley is all show and no substance," Pelura said.

BGE customers will pay 50 percent more

http://www.examiner.com/a-745318~BGE_customers_will_pay_50_percent_more.html

The Maryland Public Service Commission formally approved the 50 percent rate increase for Baltimore Gas and Electric residential customers effective June 1.

We looked at it legally and unfortunately found no legal basis to disallow the rate hike, PSC chairman Steven Larsen said. BGE, in its procurement process, met the legal standards set out by the PSC. To defer it would have been to impose illegal, artificial rate caps.

I am not surprised at PSCs decision, said Del. Jill Carter, a Baltimore City mayoral candidate. Gov. [Martin] OMalleys changing of PSC members was like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. This only reaffirms the need for the special legislative session I asked the governor to call in order to deal with this problem. The legislature created this problem in 1999, and it is incumbent upon us now, more than ever, to fix it.

Officials approve BGE's increase

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20070523-113236-1935r.htm

State officials reluctantly approved a 50 percent rate increase yesterday for the 1.1 million residential customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., saying they had "little legal option" to defer or reduce the utility company's proposal.

The increase goes into effect June 1. The Maryland Public Service Commission was critical of the way the transition to market rates had been handled, and commission Chairman Steven Larsen said he was disappointed an alternative couldn't be found.

BGE Customers to Face Heftier Energy Bills in June

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/23/AR2007052301340.html

Residential customers of Maryland's largest electricity provider, Baltimore Gas and Electric, could see their bills increase by as much as 50 percent starting next month under a plan that state regulators said yesterday they approved "with reluctance, but with little legal option."

The Public Service Commission also agreed to an optional phase-in plan that would allow consumers to defer a portion of the increase interest-free. Under that plan, rates would rise only about 38 percent in the coming year, but the difference would have to be paid on future bills.

During last year's campaign, O'Malley accused the commission, which then had a majority of Ehrlich appointees, of "rubber-stamping" BGE's rate request. Yesterday, the tables were turned.

"O'Malley's pledge to hold the line on rate increases and help working families was a false campaign promise," state GOP Chairman James Pelura said in a statement. "His lack of visibility on this issue shows he will do and say whatever it takes to get elected."

BGE rate increase: Pay now or pay later

Residential electricity bills will inevitably go up, but part of the sum can be deferred interest-free

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.deferral24may24,0,5055621.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Now that Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. has the go-ahead to raise electricity rates by 50 percent next month, Marylanders also have a choice: Pay the full increase right away or spread it out under a deferral plan.

Anti-slots group revived

Coalition of civic and religious organizations to meet tomorrow

http://www.capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/05_23-35/TOP

Following Maryland's premier horse racing day of the year and State House rumblings that expanded gambling is a necessary solution to the state's fiscal problems, an anti-slots group is reorganizing after a one-year hiatus.

StopSlotsMaryland, a coalition of citizens, civic groups and religious organizations, will hold a meeting tomorrow at Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis to gear up for next year's General Assembly session.

Howard council OK's budget; 517 new jobs expected

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-md.ho.council24may24,0,5842218.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Howard County will be able to hire 517 new government and school employees, and the fire property tax rate will increase by 1 cent, thanks to a $1.3 billion operating budget approved by the County Council yesterday.

The general property tax rate won't change, but the owner of a house priced at the county median of $450,000 will pay $273 more in property taxes July 1, due mostly to rising assessments, budget officials said.

Greg Fox, the council's only Republican, was the only member to vote against the spending plan. The five-member council left County Executive Ken Ulman's first budget virtually intact, despite a 10.7 percent increase in spending.

Funds restored to schools, nonprofits

$8.2 million shuffled in Leopold's spending plan

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/05_23-40/TOP

After weeks of pleas from residents and closed-door negotiations by politicians, the County Council and County Executive John R. Leopold restored $815,000 for nonprofit groups and added $5.4 million for schools yesterday.

Altogether, they shuffled $8.2 million in the $1.66 billion budget for next year, leaving intact most of the spending plan Mr. Leopold presented earlier this month.

"Last year we fine-tuned Janet Owens' budget. This year we micromanaged John Leopold's budget because there's only a (microscopic amount) of money to move around," said Councilman Ed Reilly, R-Crofton.

National News

Obama has fans in focus group

But 12 Md. voters look to GOP for safest choice in '08 White House race

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.focus23may23,1,122149.story

Americans will be choosing change in 2008, if a group of Maryland voters is any indication. Whether the next president will be a Democrat is another question, though.

Sen. Barack Obama drew the most positive responses, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton came in for rough treatment, during the first in a national series of focus-group discussions sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania's nonpartisan Annenberg Public Policy Center.

But when the area voters were asked who would be the safest choice to lead the country in these uncertain times, nearly all, including Democrats and independents, picked Republicans: former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Sen. John McCain or former Gov. Mitt Romney.

Giuliani attends game, fundraiser

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.sbriefs24may24,0,5330337.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani visited Maryland last night for two competitive American pastimes: political fundraising and youth baseball.

Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, was expected to raise $250,000 at the home of Edward St. John, an area developer.

Giuliani was joined last night by former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who told reporters that in addition to helping the ex-mayor raise money, Ehrlich would head to New Hampshire next month to help out after a GOP debate at St. Anselm College.

Gilchrest gaining two well-known opponents in re-election bid

http://www.examiner.com/a-745344~Gilchrest_gaining_two_well_known_opponents_in_re_election_bid.html

A high-profile state senator from Baltimore County and the states attorney in Queen Annes County are lining up to challenge U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in what could be another tough re-election fight in District 1.

This is a sort of a normal state of affairs for us, said Gilchrests chief of staff, Tony Caligiuri. The Republican congressman has faced similar challenges in at least six campaigns in a 16-year career that was launched by defeating two Democratic incumbents in 1990 and 1992.

Nethken announces intentions to run

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7438&Itemid=35

At a press conference Wednesday morning at Cumberland City Hall, former Cumberland mayor Frank Nethken announced his intentions to run for Marylands Sixth Congressional Seat. Nethken has run for the seat twice in the past, which is currently held Congressman Roscoe Bartlett. Nethken stated that he intended to represent the little guy, and to not only focus on national issues such as education and tax cuts, but also local issues like the revitalization of the Downtown Cumberland Mall. Nethken also had a message for Congressman Bartlett

House Democrats bracing for unpalatable Iraq vote

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-democrats-bracing-for-unpalatable-iraq-vote-2007-05-24.html

House Democrats head into their last vote on the Iraq supplemental budget today with a sense of resignation, with fewer than half expected to vote in favor of a bill that gives President Bush nearly everything he wants.

The number of Democrats likely to vote for the Iraq measure ranges from about 60 to a slight minority of the caucus, around 110.

Even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to vote against it. But House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will probably vote yes.

They seem to be holding on by their fingertips for September, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, an anti-war Republican from Maryland, said of his GOP colleagues.

Anti-war activists attack Democrats over Iraq bill

Leadership criticized for agreeing to drop withdrawal deadline

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.warvote24may24,0,2158417.story?coll=bal-iraq-headlines

For anti-war activists, turning against House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer was only the beginning.

The liberal group MoveOn.org ran radio ads this week chastising the Southern Maryland Democrat for voting against a measure that would have forced a withdrawal from Iraq within 180 days.

But that attack ad was nothing compared with the vitriol unleashed yesterday, as war opponents lit into the rest of the Democratic leadership for agreeing to drop a withdrawal timeline from the Iraq spending bill.

"We were so proud when he was made majority leader of the House of Representatives," an announcer intones. "But that pride has turned to disappointment. Because last week, Steny Hoyer was one of just a few Democrats to vote against the McGovern bill - a real plan for withdrawing from Iraq."

Hoyer's office says he understands "the passion" that many feel about the war.

In a statement, Hoyer said he was "deeply disappointed that the president continues to defy the will of the American people on Iraq, but ... I do believe that Democrats this week imposed a level of accountability where formerly there was none, and we will continue our efforts."

Century students work to hang in U.S. Capitol

http://www.gazette.net/stories/052407/sykenew213012_32338.shtml

Congratulations to Century High School senior Nicholas Kasnia who received the Best of Show award for a computer generated piece he entered into the Congressional Artistic Discovery Competition.

On May 14, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, who represents the Sixth Congressional District, announced the names of district winners, including Kasnia, according to a press release.

Lisa Wright, spokeswoman, said the national high school art competition coordinated by members of the U.S. House of Representatives recognizes and promotes young artists.