20070806 News Clips

News Clips

August 6, 2007

STATE NEWS

Groups propose ideas on deficit

Plans under way to present them to O'Malley, public
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.shortfall05aug05,0,538469.story

As Maryland leaders search for solutions to the state's $1.5 billion budget shortfall, liberals and conservatives, business groups and labor unions are all offering unsolicited plans for how to fix it -- and attempting to sell them to the public.Liberal groups, which have formed the Alliance for Tax Fairness, have gotten the quickest start. With the help of like-minded state senators, they have sparked debate on closing corporate tax loopholes and making the income tax structure more progressive.

"What's important is for us to have the voters realize there is an alternative ," said Republican Sen. David R. Brinkley, the minority leader from Frederick County.

Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the minority leader from Southern Maryland, said Republican lawmakers are working on a new proposal and should be ready to unveil it in the next few weeks. He said that if the governor supported the right kind of slots program, it could help mitigate the state's problems without doing any damage. But he said many of O'Malley's other ideas would be harmful.

Officials propose transit plans
Expanded roads, new trails included in regional draft
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-ca.transit05aug05,0,7750799.story?page=1

Within the next 30 years, Carroll County residents could drive along a Manchester bypass, zip through lanes added to expanded state roads or bike half a dozen new trails, according to a draft plan for transportation throughout the Baltimore region.

Prepared by the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, the plan includes about 90 capital projects planned from 2013 to 2035.

A blaring call for impeachment

Carroll group makes noise to get rid of Bush, but some aren't listening

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-md.impeach05aug05,0,7366752.story

At a busy intersection in the bucolic and conservative town of Hampstead yesterday morning, seven people waved signs calling on Carroll County drivers to honk for President Bush's impeachment -- and yelled "thank you" to those who cursed at them.

"The Democrats in Carroll County, I don't want to say they're desperate, but probably the best w ay to describe it is that Carroll is a red county in a blue state," said Larry Helminiak, chairman of the county's Republican Central Committee, who did not pass by the protest. "Democrats who want to be in public office here switch to being Republicans. That's not a joke."

Helminiak said he often sees bumper stickers that say, "Courage is being a Democrat in Carroll County."

Army to build complex at APG

$500 million project to house operation moving from N.J.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-ha.apg05aug05,0,589967.story

The Army is scheduled to award a contract next month for the construction of a giant office complex at Aberdeen Proving Ground, one of the largest development contracts in Harford County, officials said.

The office complex will house a military operation being moved into the county from New Jersey as part of the military base realignment, officials said.

"It will be the first major step in the shift of about 10,000 jobs from Fort Monmouth to APG," said James C. Richardson, Harford County's economic development director. "It's a big project, perhaps the largest single development contract in the history of the county."

66 Assembly members in Boston for conference

http://www.examiner.com/a-865666~66_Assembly_members_in_Boston_for_conference.html

More than a third of the General Assembly - 54 delegates and 12 senators - are joining 1,700 fellow legislators nationwide for the annual National Conference of State Legislatures this week in Boston.

"Maryland has always played a significant role in the national conference," said House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, including holding major leadership positions, partly because of Maryland's proximity to Washington.

The 54 delegates include 12 Republicans, among them Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell of Calvert and Whip Chris Shank of Washington County.

No GOP senators are attending. "I do see value in trying to learn from legislators in other states," said O'Donnell, who will be attending his first NCSL. "In the long run, I believe it will benefit Maryland. The networking opportunity and the ability to learn from others will help people become more effective legislators and deal with some of the vexing issues."

David Taylor rots on banks of Severn

http://www.capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_05-31/TOP

The former David Taylor Research Center on the Severn River remains largely unchanged since th e Navy abandoned operations nearly a decade ago. Despite promises, no progress made on redeveloping abandoned Naval base

The once-thriving David Taylor Research Center at the mouth of the Severn River used to pump $100 million a year into the local economy. Defense cutbacks led the Navy to abandon operations nearly a decade ago.U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, said through a spokesman he's looking to help.

In June, County Executive John R. Leopold sent a letter urging Mr. Cummings to take up the cause. "It's too valuable a piece of property to lay fallow," he said. "I'm not happy about that situation."

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

A Marylander's Rx for cost of drugs

http://w ww.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.fraser05aug05,0,6761960.column

People may care as much about the cost of prescription drugs these days as they do about getting a good deal on a car. They're up against the breathtaking drug costs a lot more often.

Pushed by groups like Health Care For All, Maryland and several other states recently passed laws that would have allowed them to use the bulk buying power available for Medicaid purchases to negotiate prices as much as 40 percent lower than the sticker price.

Then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, signed the law, but it couldn't be used unless the federal government issued a waiver of regulations preventing the practice. Mr. Ehrlich requested the waiver, but it wasn't granted. Thousands of Marylanders would have been helped by the bill.

Now, though, a measure similar to the one proposed by Senator Wellstone - requiring no waiver - is pending in the House of Representatives. Maryland's Rep. Chris Van Hollen is the sponsor.

His bill would allow Maryland and all the other states to negotiate reduced prescription drug prices for low-income families - those earning less than three times the federal poverty level of $20,650 for a family of four. Patients would get discount cards for use at the drugstore.

Mr. Van Hollen expects opposition from the drug manufacturers, whose lobby in Washington is as muscular as any. But he said he's optimistic the bill will be passed.

Reports on bay's plight meaningless without action

By THE CAPITAL EDITORIAL BOARD

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/08_03-13/OPN

This week yet another report was issued that concluded that the Chesapeake Bay is heavily polluted with nutrients.

Is that a yawn we heard? It's the same sort of bleak news we have been hearing regularly from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and federal and state environmental agencies.

Now comes another report - a national one - that not only reminds us that the bay is still terribly polluted, but adds that it's one of the most polluted estuaries in the country.

Maryland GOP Takes Aim At Progressive Alliance

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/

Senate Republicans in Maryland are attempting to use a poll commissioned by a liberal coalition to undermine possible tax increase proposals from Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

At a press conference last week, members of the Alliance for Tax Fairness argued that O'Malley and lawmakers should look to upper-income residents and corporations to help close a looming budget shortfall of nearly $1.5 billion next year

The coalition released a poll showing support for those moves.But Senate Republica ns pointed yesterday to two other findings in the poll: that a majority of Marylanders oppose both a 1-cent increase in the sales tax and a 12-cent increase in the gas tax.

"The deception employed by advocates for tax increases is utterly amazing," Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-Frederick) said in a statement. "They would have the public believe there is widespread support for tax increases. In fact, a close reading of their own data shows the public overwhelmingly opposes the very taxes that would generate the most revenue for the state."

NATIONAL NEWS

Surveillance bill passes in the House

Measure expands the government's ability to eavesdrop

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.terror05aug05,0,1558019.story

The House handed Pres ident Bush a victory yesterday, voting to expand the government's abilities to eavesdrop without warrants on foreign suspects whose communications pass through the United States. Many congressional Democrats wanted tighter restrictions on government surveillance but yielded in the face of Bush's veto threats and the impending August recess.

In Maryland's congressional delegation, "yes" votes came from Republicans Roscoe G. Bartlett and Wayne T. Gilchrest.

'Bridge Lady' says span is falling down

Years of complaining brings some support but no funds to Fort Avenue

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.md.ci.bridge05aug05,0,2302105.story

To get the bridge near her Locust Point home fixed, Karen Johns says she'll stand naked with a sign.

No one wants it to come to that, but after nearly a decade of ignored letters, phone calls and so many appeals to politicians that she's lost count, it just might. Maryland politicians and inspectors have acknowledged serious problems with the 90-year-old bridge in the 1200 block of Fort Ave. - essentially the only way in or out of the heart of the Locust Point peninsula - but nothing has been done.

She's written and called Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, former Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, BGE, former Gov. Parris N. Glendening, Sheila Dixon when she led the City Council, former city health commissioner Peter L. Beilenson, former City Councilman John L. Cain, all of her state lawmakers, and she's pretty sure she wrote to President Bush.

Cardin to Meet With Eastern Shore Farmers About Drought

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0807/445202.ht ml

Senator Ben Cardin will be on the Eastern Shore Monday to meet with farmers about the exising drought problem.

Cardin also plans to talk to farmers about the current farm bill pending in the Senate. Governor Martin O'Malley has asked the federal Department of Agriculture to declare a drought emergency in parts of Maryland. A decision on that declaration has NOT yet been announced.