20070611 News Clips

News Clips

June 11, 2007

State News

The perils of promises by C. Frazer Smith

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.fraser10jun10,1,4738421.column

How did this happen? A 72 percent increase in rates, costing consumers and seniors while energy companies make record profits. The special interests already have their governor. We need one of our own. Martin O'Malley is taking on BGE to stop the rate hike. - 2006 ad for Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial campaign

And how did this happen? A TV campaign commercial that included a risky promise - or at least the appearance of a promise: "taking on BGE to stop the rate hike." There's not much wiggle room there.

Did The Sun go too easy on BGE rates, O'Malley? By Paul Moore

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/ideas/bal-id.moore10jun10,1,7963467.column

On June 1, just in time for summer's rising temperatures, Baltimore Gas and Electric's 1.1 million residential customers began paying about 70 percent more for their electricity than last summer, The Sun reported recently. For some readers, that news prompted questions about why The Sun has not been more aggressive in its coverage of Gov. Martin O'Malley's handling of this issue - especially his failure to fulfil a campaign promise last fall to "stop the rate hikes."

Many of these readers feel that the newspaper - in the news and editorial pages - has spared O'Malley from the tough scrutiny faced by other Maryland politicians. In fact, the newsroom has questioned, analyzed and criticized O'Malley and his policies as much as those of other politicians, a fact he would gladly confirm. Still, in the case of the BGE rate increase coverage, readers have a point. O'Malley's 2006 gubernatorial campaign advertising pledged to stop the prospective electric rate hikes - at a time when most experts agreed that there were no viable options to do so without causing economic or regulatory chaos.

Hey, just raise the fees and blame Ehrlich by Laura Vozzella

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-vozzella0608,0,7973548.column?coll=bal-local-columnists

Martin O'Malley told The Washington Post last month that he'd find a "progressive" way to fill state coffers "rather than relying on jacking up everybody's driver's license fee or registration fee, as we did in the past." When Republicans discovered the other day that O'Malley's Motor Vehicle Administration had proposed doing just that, the governor's spinmeister-in-chief had a great comeback:

Bob Ehrlich made us do it. But we're not doing it.

Minority affairs secretary named

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/business/display.htm?StoryID=61207

Sharon Pinder, appointed by former Gov. Bob Ehrlich as Maryland's first Special Secretary in the Governor's Office of Minority Affairs, left the position late last month after four years.

The special secretary is responsible for working with more than 400,000 small, minority and women-owned businesses in Maryland to fulfill commitments in state contract spending.

O'Malley assures minority business

Governor says state hasn't kept track of work but will improve

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.minority09jun09,1,6641236.story

Maryland's minority business program is such a shambles that it can't reliably estimate how much business the state does with non-white firms, Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday, promising renewed efforts to steer government work to groups that have suffered from discrimination.

The governor told the Maryland-Washington Minority Contractors Association that although the number of minority- and women-owned firms registered with the state has increased in recent years, it appears that minorities' share of state business might actually have declined.

Son of Baltimore delegate indicted

http://www.examiner.com/a-771720~Son_of_Baltimore_delegate_indicted.html

The son of a longtime Baltimore City state delegate was indicted Friday on charges of felony theft and conspiring to violate state election laws, the office of the state prosecutor said.

Robert "Skip" Harrison Jr., 60, son of Delegate Hattie Harrison, is alleged to have acted as the treasurer of his mother's campaign committee even though he was not duly authorized to do so, according to Steven Trostle of the state prosecutor's office.

Delegate’s son charged with election laws violation

http://www.examiner.com/a-772009~Delegate_s_son_charged_with_election_laws_violation.html

An Anne Arundel County grand jury on Friday indicted the son of Baltimore City Del. Hattie Harrison on charges of conspiracy to violate elections laws.

The indictment also accuses William Skip Harrison Jr., 60, of Baltimore City, with theft and multiple counts of failing to file tax returns.

Voters Reject Table Gaming for Charles Town Casino

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/09/AR2007060901588.html

Voters yesterday defeated a proposal to allow blackjack, poker and roulette at Charles Town Races & Slots, a racetrack casino that attracts many customers from Maryland and Virginia.

About 56 percent of Jefferson County voters who cast ballots rejected the referendum to allow table gambling, county officials said. The vote was 5,626 to 4,429.

Public to discuss tax cap

Petitioners won't challenge results

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070611/NEWS01/706110302/1002

City Council President Louise Smith anticipates public comments to last longer than the regular business on the agenda of its meeting tonight.

Smith expects citizens to talk about the property tax rate cap and the proposed fiscal 2008 budget, which the council is scheduled to adopt Wednesday during a special meeting.

Goals at center stage at city forum

City candidates back rec centers expansion, affordable housing

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.forum11jun11,1,4244065.story

Appearing together for the first time since declaring their intention to run, four Baltimore mayoral candidates and three people running for City Council president vowed yesterday to expand or rebuild 30 recreation centers and to spend at least $100 million on affordable housing, if elected.

Speaking at a candidates forum organized by Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development, a faith-based civic group, all seven agreed with the organization's broad goals, which also include increasing the availability of after-school programs and demanding that large businesses provide more summer jobs for city youth.

Sarbanes embraces energy saving

Council president candidate says proposal will trim utility bills while creating jobs

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.ci.sarbanes11jun11,0,5378904.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Michael Sarbanes, a candidate for City Council president, plans to unveil a proposal today that he says would promote energy-efficiency measures to help residents reduce the impact of higher electricity rates, while also creating jobs.

Sarbanes, a longtime community activist making his first run for public office, was to announce his proposal this morning, followed by a demonstration of an energy audit at a private residence.

National News

Earlier Primary Schedule Pushes Wynn Into Fundraising Circuit Faster

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/09/AR2007060901242.html

Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) formally kicked off his bid for reelection at a fundraiser attended by about 1,000 people at a Prince George's County banquet hall Friday morning.

Wynn survived a tough challenge in the 4th District from community activist Donna Edwards in September's primary. Now, because of the quirks of the presidential primary calendar, a rematch between Wynn and Edwards is already heating up.

Farm subsidies fall short

Wicomico's farmer dwarf state in sales, but rank only ninth in federal subsidies

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070610/NEWS01/706100301/1002

Willards farmer Lee Richardson operates Richardson Farms Inc. with his father, Lee.

They have received the seventh highest amount of subsidies in Wicomico County during the 1995 to 2005 period. Most of it -- $267,000 -- comes in the form of corn subsidies.

A Congressional District analysis provided by the EWG shows Maryland's 1st District, represented by Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, a Republican, is the top receiver with more than $379 million in subsidies between 1995 and 2005.

Farmers vie for limited funds to plant winter cover crops

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-ha.farm10jun10,0,5601793.story?coll=bal-local-harford

The race is on for Maryland farmers to obtain state money to help pay for the planting of cover crops.

The state Department of Agriculture began taking farmers' applications for funding last week and, if recent history is any indication, the money will run out before the June 29 registration deadline.

Cover crops are recognized as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to control soil erosion and nutrient runoff from farmland into the Chesapeake Bay.

If Maryland's two U.S. senators get their way, there could be more money available for farm conservation programs in the future. Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin have introduced legislation that would add $200 million a year in conservation funding to farmers in the bay region.

GOP threatens to slow appropriations process

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gop-threatens-to-slow-appropriations-process-2007-06-10.html

Republicans this week are prepared to use parliamentary procedures in a coordinated attack to try and thwart changes in the way the House adds earmarks to appropriations bills, according to GOP sources.

It is the Republicans response to what they say is an egregious abuse of the earmarking process and an unacceptable rule change. They have objected to an announcement by Democrats that earmarks will be added in House and Senate conference instead of allowing each request to be vetted in committee or on the House floor.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) responded that the process had to be changed slightly in order to get the appropriations bills through Congress in a timely fashion. Hoyer also said he would be open to hearing the minoritys concerns.

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Discusses U.S. Military Progress In Iraq. SNOW: "The President has made it clear that he envisions at some point we will get to one of those sort of Baker-Hamilton Commission report levels where U.S. forces withdraw from the front lines, you've got Iraqis handling all the frontline business, and you do have American forces in support, able to provide on a rapid basis any kind of support that's necessary to try to augment the security operations of the Iraqis. But that it's very important to stress is going to be based on conditions on the ground and on the recommendations of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. The fact is that there has been some progress, but, o n the other hand, you don't want to get in the position of trying to promote rosy scenarios. This is tough business." (CBS' "Face The Nation," 6/10/07)

Gas Prices Mark Modest Decline. "The national average price for gasoline dropped 7 cents in the last three weeks, according to a nationwide survey released Sunday that marked the first decline since January. The U.S. average for self-serve, regular-grade gasoline was $3.11 per gallon as of Wednesday, down from $3.18 in the last national survey May 18, oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said. The modest relief came thanks to a boost in imports of gasoline from foreign producers lured by record-hi gh prices, she said." ("Gas Prices Post 1st Decline Since Jan.," The Associated Press, 6/11/07)