20070629 News Clips

20070629 News Clips

June 29^th, 2007

STATE NEWS

O'Malley Not Ready For Special Session Yet

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=60029

Governor Martin O'Malley says he won't call a special session to address a looming budget deficit without consensus and a better than 50-50 chance of solving the problem.

Governor Makes Case To D.C. Business Leaders For Tax Increase

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=60027

Governor Martin O'Malley has asked Washington-area business leaders to help make the case that tax increases are needed to address a projected state budget deficit. O'Malley told members of the Greater Washington Board of Trade that increased state revenues are needed to help preserve the state's quality of life.

Cities' leaders hope for best, brace for worst

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062907/polinew203216_32356.shtml
Budget cuts alone will not resolve the state's projected $1.5 billion deficit without a host of ''really bad choices," Gov. Martin O'Malley warned more than 400 municipal leaders this week.With a special session on the budget a possibility, many mayors are taking a wait-and-see approach and counting on O'Malley to remember his roots and promise to work with them when it comes to cuts.

Region readies for job influx New numbers dwarf BRAC estimates; officials seek ways to deal with impact

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.brac29jun29,0,1069585.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

Predicting that new employees at an expanding Fort Meade will settle as far away as Carroll County and the Eastern Shore, senior government officials from six counties have formed a regional bloc to measure the impact and secure funding for roads, schools and mass transit. At the first meeting of the Fort Meade growth management committee Wednesday at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, representatives from across the Baltimore region were presented with growth figures that dwarfed previous state estimates for job creation. Developing a strategy for how to prepare for that growth is a top priority for the regional committee, created by County Executive John R. Leopold to link local jurisdictions to the Department of Defense.

Diebold drops Lamone brochure

Critics questioned ethics of marketing piece featuring Maryland's elections chief

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.lamone29jun29,0,2353866.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Diebold Election Systems withdrew a sales brochure yesterday featuring Maryland Elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone praising the company's equipment after the governor and watchdog groups questioned whether the endorsement violated state ethics laws.On Wednesday, Gov. Martin O'Malley said through a spokesman that the ethics commission should review the matter and instructed Lamone to ask Diebold to withdraw the brochure.

O'Malley defends deal for land

Paying the higher of 2 appraisals isn't unusual, he says

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.land29jun29,0,4613067.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Details of the land deal were reported yesterday in The Sun, leaving administration officials scrambling to quell suggestions there was something improper about the agreement to buy the property. The chairman of the state Republican Party, James Pelura III, questioned the sales agreement. Pelura is a board member for the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation and said it is unusual to pay higher-than-appraised rates for a piece of land. "Our philosophy is, we don't ever pay more than a percentage of the appraised value," he said. He added that there might be aspects of the property making it worth $5 million. But, Pelura said, "Perception is everything, and it sure doesn't look good."

Maryland's 'doomsday budget'

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=169037&format=html

It's a political move that might be older than the Maryland State House. We call it the "firemen first" ploy, in which lawmakers threaten to close fire stations if they don't get additional revenue, usually through a tax increase of some sort.
The Herald-Mail has taken a position in favor of legalizing slots at the state's race tracks, not only to preserve the stat's racing industry, but also to capture some of the revenue Marylanders are now taking to Delaware and West Virginia. As for the rest of what is needed, we would like to see Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration review the study of government efficiency done in 2004 under the leadership of former Gov. Marvin Mandel. The group, which included state Sen. Donald F. Munson, R -Washington, produced a 124-page report with recommendations for more than 50 state agencies. Certainly this bipartisan group's report can serve as a starting point for another look at possible cuts and increased efficiency.

Reporters Notebook: Some take the high road, others take the low

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062907/polinew203822_32369.shtml

When Republicans ruled the roost, a Cabinet meeting on the Eastern Shore was a waste of taxpayer dollars. With Democrats calling the shots, it's constituent outreach.

Last August, the state Dem Party excoriated Bob Ehrlich and Mike Steele for staging a ''campaign rally" on the Shore under the guise of a Cabinet meeting.

''They bring in legions of state government staffers and Cabinet officials, sacrificing a day of work for a day of shameless self-promotion ," then-party boss Terry Lierman complained.

Somewhat surprisingly, GOP state party chief Jim Pelura took the high road, saying the governor - any governor - has the right to take his show on the road. ''They made a big story about this [last year] and I'm not going to make a big brouhaha about Governor O'Malley," he said. ''This kind of thing is a non-story."

Political Notes - Commission for thieves in ties, or Frednecks?

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/reporters_notebooks_display.htm?StoryID=61910

Suits and ties aren't typical garb for burglars, but the Frederick County Commissioners are on the lookout for thieving state legislators. In a "doomsday" budget scenario generated at the request of legislators, the state announced a list of cuts this week that could eliminate a $ 1.4 billion deficit in the roughly $30 billion fiscal 2009 budget without adding any new revenue.

Ehrlich moving law office downtown

http://www.examiner.com/a-805360~Ehrlich_moving_law_office_downtown.html

Robert Ehrlich is planning on higher offices in the near future, specifically a move to a downtown Baltimore high-rise this summer for the Maryland offices of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, the branch he heads for the big North Carolina law firm. "The goal of the firm is to grow to 40 lawyers in two years - that's the business plan, and we are moving to 250 West Pratt in about six weeks to accommodate that growth," Ehrlich said. "There will be other names that you will recognize."

Report: Baltimore population decreased

http://www.examiner.com/a-805371~Report__Baltimore_population_decreased.html

Baltimore City lost 5,000 residents last year, according to the latest estimate of the U.S. Census Bureau.A report issued Thursday listing the population of the country's 25 largest cities estimated Baltimore had a population of 631,366 as of July 1, 2006 - 5,000 fewer than in 2005. The loss, representing less than 1 percent of the city's population, equals roughly 400 people per month.

Brown's pension deal causes friction in police union

http://www.examiner.com/a-805384~Brown_s_pension_deal_causes_friction_in_police_union.html

Retired Baltimore police officers are demanding answers from the police union president, who they say has not aggressively challenged the c ontroversial pension of former Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Marcus Brown.At issue is a $55,529 annual pension approved for Brown, an ally of Gov. Martin O'Malley, despite the fact he had not completed the 20 years of service necessary to receive a pension.

Prince George's hospital system looks for compromise

Dimensions offers counterproposal to demands given by Johnson

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062907/polinew203235_32360.shtml

The beleaguered operator of the Prince George's County hospital system prepared a counterproposal Thursday to County Executive Jack B. Johnson's recent demands that four of its board members resign, in an effort to keep the system afloat.

Board Chairman Calvin Brown said Dimensions Healthcare wants to continue working toward a compromise, even though the board voted again st Johnson's demands on Monday. The move jeopardized the hospital's funding stream because Johnson (D) tied his demands to the 15 months of financial support he and the County Council pledged to the hospital in April. He questioned the competence of the hospital's managers and demanded the county have greater control in exchange for its money.

Anne Arundel cops steamed over tattoo rule

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NEWS01/70629027

A new rule that police officers in Anne Arundel County must cover their tattoos has some officers steamed, given the high temperatures outside.The rule would mean that an officer with tattoos on his neck or arms may have to wear a turtleneck or long sleeves, even on 90-degree days."We're kind of calling on them to withdraw the policy," said O'Brien Atkinson, the Fraternal Order of Police union representative. Atkinson planned to file a grievance over the policy Thursday.

NATIONAL NEWS

Immigration bill quashed

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NATION/106290094/1001

The on-again-off-again immigration bill took a fatal blow yesterday as a majority of senators voted to block it, responding to millions of e-mails, phone calls and faxes from voters furious over a measure they saw as amnesty.

Bush May Be Out of Chances For a Lasting Domestic Victory

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/28/AR2007062802585.html?hpid=topnews

He looked uncharacteristically dejected as he approached the lectern, fiddling with papers as he talked and avoiding the sort of winking eye contact he often makes with reporters. And then President Bush did something he almost never does: He admitted defeat. "A lot of us worked hard to see if we couldn't find a common ground," he said an hour after his immigration plan died on Capitol Hill. "It didn't work."

Senate routs immigration overhaul bill

Bush suffers major defeat as bipartisan measure falls short of votes needed to end debate

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/politics/bal-te.immigration29jun29,0,7783142.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
The Senate resoundingly defeated a bill yesterday that would have overhauled the nation's immigration laws for the first time in two decades, crushing the chances of settling the contentious issue in the next few years. After the rancorous final debate on the bill, lawmakers on both sides pledged to deal with illegal immigration and secure the southern border, but they disagreed not only on why the bill failed but also on what to do next. About two-thirds of the Senate's Republicans joined almost a third of the Democrats to kill the bill, which had been carefully constructed to appeal to both parties but also drew bipartisan opposition.

MD Reaction to Immigration Reform Defeat

http://www.abc2news.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=8a5515bf-728e-4d2a-9583-0fb856f8e8af

A major defeat for supporters of reforming the country's immigration system -- including President Bush. Maryland Republicans broke with the president on the issue, because - according to the state party's executive director - they believe the federal government should secure its borders before beginning any other kind of reform. "You can't go forth with the other components until you know that you've sealed the borders and there are no more illegal immigrants coming across the borders, and then you can address who's here," said state GOP Executive Director John Flynn.

The people killed amnesty

http://www.washingtontimes .com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/EDITORIAL/106290007

The justifiably furious reaction of the American public, which deluged senators with telephone calls, e-mails and faxes, forced the Senate to reverse itself yesterday and send the amnesty bill crashing to defeat - a potentially fatal blow. It was a devastating setback for the Bush administration and its Democratic Party allies, in particular Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Senate routs immigration overhaul bill

Bush suffers major defeat as bipartisan measure falls short of votes needed to end debate

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.immigration29jun29,0,7530178.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

About two-thirds of the Senate's Republicans joined almost a third of the Democrats to kill the bill, which had been carefully constructed to appeal to both parties but also drew bipartisan opposition Democratic Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland both voted to limit further debate. The bill included a provision championed by Mikulski that would have increased the number of seasonal workers allowed into the United States from 66,000 annually to 100,000. Workers who had returned for three years and followed the rules would have been exempted from the cap.

Junior GOP senators defeat old guard

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NATION/106290096/1002

The immigration-reform bill was supposed to be a defining moment for the old guard. Instead, the young guns - a small, wily group of junior Republican senators, most of them with less than a full term in the upper chamber - sent the bill into a tailspin, tying Democratic leaders into legislative knots and earning enough opposition among senators to block the Senate bill, culminating in yesterday's vote to kill the measure.

Price tag 'realities' block changes in benefits for federal workers

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ho.federal29jun29,0,3625477.column?coll=bal-local-arundel

Federal workers have generally viewed Democrats as more attentive to their needs than Republicans. But since Democrats took over Congress in November, groups that represent workers, executives and retirees are split when it comes to the age-old question: What have you done for me lately?

Desegregation ruling doesn't surprise Marylanders

ACLU: Schools decision a 'step backwards' toward more inclusive classrooms

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062907/polinew203244_32362.shtml

The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of voluntary school desegregation plans in Seattle and Louisville came as no surprise to Alvin T. Thornton on Thursday. ''I don't think there's any consequence in Maryland, but it will have much more consequence in the nation," said Thornton, an associate provost at Howard University and former chairman of a state commission that successfully argued for more equity in state education funding. ''It was anticipated that the Roberts court would rule in this matter. It is not so much a legal [issue] in Maryland. It is important as a message to the nation with rigid separation of people based on student enrollment."

Second Democrat joins race against Gilchrest

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070629/NEWS01/706290329/1002

A second Democrat announced Thursday a campaign to dethrone nine-term U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-Md., demonstrating that the 1st District seat is being eyed by both sides of the aisle. Christopher Robinson, a Cambridge-based attorney, has started his second campaign for the seat, after finishing second in the 2006 Democratic primary behind Jim Corwin. Robinson earned 33.3 percent of the primary vote, about 5,000 votes ahead of Kostas Alexakis and 6,000 votes behind Corwin.

Pelosi Still Wants More Miles Per Gallon

http://www.labusinessjournal.co m/article.asp?aID=01625047.4392249.1493830.3445989.6093729.309&aID2=114901

As the price of benchmark West Texas crude oil topped $70 a barrel for the first time in 10 months, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) yesterday affirmed her support for the tougher fuel-economy standards recently passed by the Senate, the Washington Post reports. And after a news conference touting energy measures recently approved by 11 House committees, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) said such standards -- currently missing from the House measures -- would be introduced in time to resolve differences between House and Senate energy legislation later this year.But neither Pelosi nor Hoyer, in an effort to avoid confrontation with House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Dingell (Mich.), said how they planned to introduce the fuel-efficiency measure

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Judge found firing tainted by politics

With all due respect to The Sun's editorial board, the editorial concerning the ruling in Gregory J. Maddalone's lawsuit over his dismissal by the state, which argued that the ruling was not "about politics so much as procedure," suggests to me that the editors have not read the judge's decision ("Irony on ice," editorial, June 19).

Let me quote from Administrative Law Judge Susan A. Sinrod's opinion:

Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari's "credibility regarding the employee's termination is therefore severely undermined, because he could not possibly have known whether or not the employee fit within the framework of his reorganization.

"Thus it stands to reason and I conclude, that the employee has established that the only knowledge that Secretary Porcari had of the employee was through politics and the media, and the employee's politics were clearly conflicting to Secretary Porcari and that of the new governor's administration."

Jim Pelura, Davidsonville,

The writer is chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.