20070716 News Clips

News Clips

July 16, 2007

STATE NEWS

Senators want new deficit tack

Liberals offer 'social progress,' few details

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.taxes14jul14,0,3773787.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

A group of liberal state senators wants the state to consider ideas beyond sales tax increases or slot machine gambling to solve its budget problems -- and they think they have the votes to make their voices heard.

The group is not endorsing specific taxes, nor is it precluding anything, including slot machine gambling. But members say they want the debate to be as expansive as possible. The group is not endorsing specific taxes, nor is it precluding anything, including slot machine gambling. But members say they want the debate to be as expansive as possible.

A parking solution can be a political unifier

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-ho.politics15jul15,0,5117940.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

For all its antique charm, Main Street in Ellicott City's historic district can be a puzzle, especially when it comes to adding modern necessities like a parking garage to the narrow, twisting commercial stretch leading down to the Patapsco River.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, a Democrat, and Republican Del. Gail H. Bates, for example, don't agree on lots of things - such as taxes and spending, for starters - but when it comes to more parking for historic Ellicott City, they sound like allies.

Dixon dominates field

Incumbent has only fair record with voters, poll finds

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.ci.mayor16jul16,0,6341243.story?coll=bal-local-baltimorecity

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon holds a formidable lead over her rivals in this year's Democratic primary campaign, even though nearly half the voters surveyed believe the city is on the wrong track, a new poll for The Sun shows.

The survey indicates that most Baltimore Democratic voters believe that Dixon is doing only a fair job at controlling crime, improving city schools and making government honest, yet she has a solid overall approval rating and voters seem willing to give her a chance to prove herself in a full four-year term.

Old bags
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.bags16jul16,0,2505346.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines

Just when plastic bags seemed to have won the contest for customer preference against their chief competitor, paper, a movement has sprung up in Maryland and around the country to disqualify the petroleum-based plastics on environmental grounds.

Indeed, those ubiquitous flimsy shopping sacks are a scourge on the landscape, particularly in waterfront communities such as Annapolis and Baltimore, where officials are considering banning plastic bags largely because of the impact on waterfowl and marine life.

Editorial: Enforcing 'official' English a waste of legislative effort

http://www.examiner.com/a-829948~Editori al__Enforcing__official__English_a_waste_of_legislative_effort.html

Del. Patrick McDonough wants us to speak English. The Republican, who represents Harford and Baltimore counties, says he received a rousing positive reaction to his "Speak English" signs at Independence Day parades. He sponsored legislation to make it the official language of the state and Baltimore County and plans to introduce it again in the next session.

GOP cuts staff, salary to balance lean budget

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/METRO/107160030/1004

The Maryland Republican Party trimmed its staff last month as part of efforts to reduce spending during tight budget times.

The group eliminated the job of events coordinator and reduced Executive Director John Flynn's salary by almost one-third, from $85,000 to $60,000, said multiple sources with access to a closed-door board meeting.

"The correct way to view all of this is the executive board has made some good fiduciary business decisions in order to make sure the state party is on the correct path," said Chris Cavey, the group's vice chairman.

"As with a lot of organizations, cost cutting is necessary," said group Chairman James Pelura III. "You have to adjust to the current situation." Mr. Pelura said the group will be hosting conservative commentator Fred Barnes for a fundraiser later this month.

Harford County To Get State Crime Money

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=60721

Harford County is receiving more than $200,000 from the state in grants to fight crime.

County Executive David Craig says the grants will cover five separate areas. The state's attorney's office will receive nearly $77,000 to investigate and prosecute crimes in the Edgewood area where most of the gang crimes in Harford County are committed.

St. Mary's Schools Get $350,000 State Grant

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/14/AR2007071400109.html

St. Mary's County public schools officials have secured a $350,000 state grant to help launch a science, technology, engineering and math program in three schools near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. St. Mary's received extra funding because its program is especially innovative, Watts said. Not only does it follow particular groups of students as they move from elementary to middle school to high school but it partners with the Patuxent River Naval Air Station for practical training i n engineering and technology.

Warehouse to Join Surplus Property List

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301046.html

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced yesterday that he is closing the warehouse in Jessup as part of an effort to make government more efficient. It turns out that the state spends more to maintain the warehouse some years than it raises through sales of used desks, chairs, computer parts, typewriters, adding machines and other staples of state government.

So the 60,000-foot surplus property warehouse will soon be declared surplus itself.

Politics on back burner at clambake

Crisfield shows off assets in non-election year

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS01/707160302

Organizers of Wednesday's J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake are expecting as many as 5,600 people to show up at the 31st annual event which traditionally mixes Crisfield seafood and state politics. But in this nonelection year, city and Crisfield Chamber of Commerce officials said they don't expect to see Gov. Martin O'Malley or U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin at the event named for a former Maryland governor and Crisfield native.

NATIONAL NEWS

Elected Republicans support Gilchrest despite disagreements

http://www.examiner.com/a-829976~Elected_Republicans_support_Gilchrest_despite_disagreements.html

Two low-key fundraising events over the weekend gave some Republican officials a chance to declare their support for 1st District U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest's bid to gain a 10th term, even though they may disagree with some of his views.

"Congressman Gilchrest is doing a good job," said Del. Mary Roe Walkup, Kent County. "I don't agree with him on every single thing," but "that's not a good reason to kick him out."

Queen Anne's County Del. Richard Sossi, a Vietnam War veteran like Gilchrest, also is unhappy with Gilchrest's change of heart on the war, but "I don't have to agree with someone 100 percent," Sossi said. "He has served this district very well," even though once in a while, "he'll support something that's really odd."

Gilchrest Says Most People Don't Understand Thursday Troop Bill

http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/displaystory.asp?id=5 858

He was one of only four Republicans to support it. But Maryland Congressman Wayne Gilchrest says most members of his party don't get the "ins and outs" of Thursday's Iraq troop bill. The nine-term incumbent says it does not effectively require most of our troops to be home by April, and does not set a dead withdrawal date, either. He says the President could bring one soldier home by April and still meet the criteria.

The time has come

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_columnist.htm?StoryID=62491

It is downright shameful that it takes an act of Congress to ensure a woman has the right to stay in the hospital overnight after she has a breast surgically removed.

It is even more shameful that the legislation has been introduced each year for the past 10 years without a vote or hearing.

The proposed legislation, renewed earlier this year, guarantees a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy or lumpectomy, and 24 hours for those undergoing lymph node removal.

The bill also requires coverage for radiation therapy for patients undergoing lumpectomy to let women decide on the best course of treatment, not the cheapest.

Rep. Wayne Gilchrest believes that the bill can help shed some light on the issue and inspire states to act. "Breast cancer is the number one diagnosed cancer in women, and with thousands of cases in Maryland each year, it is essential to ensure the best care possible," he said in an e-mail.

His colleague, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, says that the last thing any woman facing a crisis like breast cancer should have to do is fight her insurance company for basic health care.

Barton access road funded

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_195105228.html

U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin announced Friday that the Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded Allegany County a $400,000 grant to construct an access road for the Barton Business Park.

This is a federal investment in Western Maryland communities today and tomorrow," Mikulski said. "I'm so proud that Allegany County will be able to use these funds to continue to develop and grow."

Farm Bill Includes Significant Increase in Conservation Funding For Bay Region

http://www.solanconews.com/Farm/2007/070716_CBF_farmbill.htm

The 2007 federal Farm Bill, which will be considered by the House Agriculture Committee next week, includes unprecedented, targeted conser vation funding for the Chesapeake Bay Region.

That funding is critical to the health of local farms, and water quality in rivers, streams and the Chesapeake Bay. "The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) thanks Congressmen Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Holden (D-PA), and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the ranking Republican on the Committee, for standing fast to help the region's farm families implement proven technologies that will protect agriculture and improve the health of our waterways,"

CBF's Federal Affairs Director Doug Siglin said. "The region's farmers have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to implement conservation measures, but they can't foot the bill alone."

Transportation money secured

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/07_14-17/GOV

The area around Fort George G. Meade recently received $500,00 0 from the federal government to improve traffic signals and additional funds to purchase new buses to link shopping centers, MARC stations and the fort.

In all, $3.6 million has been secured for the congressional district represented by Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Baltimore County, to address military related growth, a press release from his office said.