News ClipsJune 26, 2007
STATE NEWS
State sees no local cuts: O'Malley tells officials he won't hurt cities to balance Md. Budget
Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday that he would seek not to cut aid to local governments or pass along new costs to county and municipal officials in closing the state's projected $1.5 billion budget gap, saying his experience as
Sen. Richard F. Colburn, an Eastern Shore Republican who attended O'Malley's event yesterday, said the governor's commitment would not be easy to keep."He's the one that submits the budget, but there 's going to be a big tug of war, and he's going to have to referee the fight," said Colburn, the town manager of Federalsburg in
O'Malley to towns: Get involved in deficit solution
Governor makes stops in
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/NEWS01/706260302Maryland
Gov. Martin O'Malley reassured Lower Shore county and city leaders Monday that he would not support shifting the state's at least $1.4 billion structural deficit toward localities.At O'Malley's first stop -- part of his three-day Lower Shore tour -- the governor addressed more than 50 leaders in the dining hall at American Legion Wicomico Post 64. He stood on a chair. He thanked the crowd. He told the local officials, many with their o wn constituencies, to lobby the General Assembly.
Commander's pension pact spurs inquiry
City police official who took state job granted retirement
For two years Marcus L. Brown quietly served as the steady hand in a Baltimore Police Department whose top job had been beset by political turmoil and turnover.When O'Malley took over as governor in January, he picked Brown to lead the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, at a salary of $127,500. But before Brown left in March, the city granted him a nearly full pension of $55,500 - thanks to an exit clause in a contract signed by O'Malley in April 2005 and honored this year by Commissioner Leon ard D. Hamm in a move that is causing a political furor.
"Perception is everything, and this does not look good," said John Flynn, executive director of the
Pension For Police Appointee Debated
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501763.html
ust days after he was sworn into office, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) named Marcus Brown, a deputy police commissioner in Baltimore, to serve in one of Maryland's most senior law enforcement positions.
In recent days, the arrangement under which Brown left city service t o follow his political patron, becoming the police chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority, has drawn intense scrutiny. At issue is a pension Brown received despite having worked for the city for fewer than the customary 20 years.
O'Malley names new port director
James White returns to take over former executive position after 2 years
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-director0626,0,3938991.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed former Maryland Port Administration head James White to return to the job today.
White served as executive director of the port administration for six years between 1999 and 2005. He is returning to replace F. Brooks Royster III.
For the past two years, White has been working as the senior vice president and chief operating officer for C eres Terminals Inc., a New Jersey-based stevedoring and terminal operations company.
Spin keeps tax-and-spend cycle greased
by Senator E.J. Pipkin
http://www.gazette.net/stories/062207/policol222354_32360.shtml
As a strong opponent of unnecessary tax hikes, I have proposed slowing spending increases and sharing fairly with the counties the employer share of funding the teachers' pensions as a way to fix the nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit. In fact, exercising these and other options points out that the budget deficit can be fixed with or without legalizing slots, and gaining the estimated $600 million slots will generate.
However, the
Raising taxes is the knee-jerk reaction of the
Cost of milk on track for a record this year
Demand for ethanol pushes up price of corn for feeding cows
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.milk26jun26,0,6439785.story
Add milk to the list of products that consumers are paying more for this summer as analysts predict that prices will reach record highs during the next few months - fallout from the rising price of oil.
The rising prices are pressuring profits at several companies that sell dairy products, including pizza, yogurt and ice cream makers. Domino's Pizza Inc., for example, said it could be forced to raise its prices due in part to higher cheese costs.
Nationally, t he average cost of a gallon of whole milk rose 19 cents during the past two months, to $3.26 in May, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In
Saving a school
An 11th-hour attempt to rescue the
Officials urge another try for KIPP
Leopold, Maxwell ask two schools to find room to avoid charter program closure
As a vote looms to formally close a charter school in Edgewater,
Ground rent suit is filed
Action challenges new laws reforming a system that had cost hundreds their homes
A trustee for a ground rent owner has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of new laws intended to reform a system that had cost hundreds of people their homes. The laws, which would take effect July 1, were part of a reform package enacted in the last session of the General Assembly in the wake of an investigative series published by The Sun.
'Stepping out' suspended after death of Howard officer
After the death of Cpl. Scott Wheeler during a traffic enforcement detail,
Group wants to smash voter apathy on public TV
http://www.examiner.com/a-799167~Group_wants_to_smash_voter_apathy_on_public_TV.html
The League of Women Voters wants to smash voter apathy through a series of public television shows.This year alone, only 411 of
Hospital Board Refuses To Resign
Members Contend Johnson's Demand Is Undemocratic
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501889.html?nav=hcmodule
The Prince George's hospital system's board of directors rejected yesterday a demand by County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) that several members resign, deepening a standoff between the county and the nonprofit company that runs several county medical facilities.Johnson had said he would release no additional funding to the financially strapped hospital system until the board agrees to restructure itself. He demanded that four of the board's 11 members resign: the chairman, representatives of the boards of two hospitals in the system and the past president of the county's medical society.
Riley receives Salisbury Award
Ag leader's civic contributions lauded
Successful local farmer, civic volunteer and former Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Lewis Riley was presented with the prestigious Salisbury Award for leadership and accomplishments that benefited the community at large.
NATIONAL NEWS
Ehrlich backs challenger in party primary
Congressional hopeful heeds call to run
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=61786
A former
Senate Panel Faces Key Decision On Gun Lobby Measure Opposed By Hundreds Of Police Chiefs
http://bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=903
When the Senate Appropriations Committee meets to work on a spending bill for the Justice Department and other Federal agencies this Thursday, a showdown is expected over a controversial measure that blocks the nation's police from receiving information on crime guns that is critical to combating illegal gun trafficking. Today, that measure is to be marked for repeal in a subcommittee hearing by U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), setting up the Thursday showdown
Input on power line sought
Proposal would bring electricity from
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=61784
A Bush Budget Showdown Brewing
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1637062,00.html
Over the past two weeks, Bush and congressional Republicans alike have hammered Democrats on excessive spending and earmark abuse. With both the president and Congress's approval rating s at record lows and typically stalwart conservatives criticizing Bush over his perceived support of "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, Republicans have fallen back on their old favorite agenda - starve the beast that is the federal government. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, also sees Bush's threats as a sign that the president, despite his weak numbers, still has ways to flex his muscles. "Remember what Bill Clinton said after the 1994 election? 'I'm not irrelevant," says Hoyer. "The reality is that the president does have a big stick - the veto - so he's not irrelevant at all." The fact that Bush has only executed his veto power three times in six years (none of them on spending bills), makes his threats even more serious.
Ruppersberger seeks $74 million for BRAC
Funds would boost transit, infrastructure
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is seeking $74 million for local projects in the fiscal 2008 federal budget, mostly for roads, mass transit and other infrastructure to accommodate growth at Maryland military bases, he said yesterday.Ruppersberger, a Democrat whose district includes Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground, said that improving mass transit to handle thousands of new defense workers coming to those installations "is one of our highest priorities."
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