20071105 News Clips

News Clips

November 5, 2007

STATE NEWS

An edgy O'Malley ally
Teachers union cool to bid that would raise spending yet spur cuts
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.thornton05nov05,0,6358544.story
The Maryland State Teachers Association posted a video on YouTube last week highlighting the shortcomings of the state's schools: old books, portable classrooms, sweltering classrooms, large class sizes.
"We've made real progress over the last four years, but many schools lack the tools and resources they need to help all students succeed," the video says. "And now our leaders are talking about cuts to education to balance the state's budget."
The ambiguous position of the state teachers union highlights the dilemma facing education leaders acros s the state as the General Assembly reconvenes a special session this week to weigh O'Malley's proposal to close a $1.7 billion budget shortfall.
Some in the education community have parted ways with the governor, demanding full funding of the legislation known as Thornton. Others have stayed out of the debate. And others have backed O'Malley's plan, fearing that if it is not passed, as the governor's office has warned, the alternative will be far worse.

As support in county grows for corporate tax hike, business leaders question whether it's worth the cost
http://www.capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/11_04-19/BUS
Business leaders attacked Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal to raise the corporate tax last week, warning that the initiative would hardly put a dent in the state's $1.7 billion deficit and only damage competitiveness, create j ob losses and hurt profit margins.
Rick Abbruzzese, the governor's press secretary, said a corporate tax increase would be split between funds for higher education to help build a better work force and for transportation - two things businesses need.
According to a recent survey by Anne Arundel Community College released last week, the majority of county residents surveyed are on board to support a corporate tax income increase. But business leaders fear the hike will give states like Virginia and North Carolina, whose tax rates currently stand at 6 percent and 6.9 percent respectively, a leg up when it comes to competing for companies. It also would just add to the mounting taxes companies already pay here.

Slots bill vague on Arundel location
Though 3 sites are eligible in county, legislators assert Laurel Park is target
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.laurel04nov04,0,5799739.story
When Gov. Martin O'Malley made his pitch last week to bring thousands of electronic gambling machines to Anne Arundel County, local lawmakers were sure about where the slots would end up: Laurel Park. But that's not written in stone. In fact, Laurel Park is not specifically mentioned in the proposed constitutional amendment and accompanying state bill to permit slot machines. Both pieces of legislation say that slots would be located in the county anywhere within two miles of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. If approved, interested parties would have to apply for a license.
County Executive John R. Leopold and state lawmakers stressed recently that if slots come to Anne Arundel County, they would come to Laurel Park. Leopold, a Republican who generally opposes slots, said if they are legalized, he would fight to k e ep the machines at Laurel Park.

Laurel Park's neighbors not sold on slots
Worrying about congestion, public safety, gambling's ills
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/11_04-08/TOP
Laurel Park would likely receive 4,250 slot machines, more than any other location in the state, under a proposal by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Community leaders who live near the track are generally opposed to it.
While Mr. O'Malley's legislation doesn't specifically identify Laurel Park as a future casino by name, the narrow restrictions on the bill leave few, if any other alternatives to the west county racetrack. Generally, the plan to bring slots to western Anne Arundel doesn't sit well with people who live near the track.
Both County Executive John R. Leopold and Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-Crow n sville, whose district includes Laurel Park, said they are against slots because of the economic and social ills they believe the industry will bring and both have plans for the impact slots could have. "I believe that our economic development in the state rests elsewhere," like the engineering, technology and biotechnology sector. "These are high wage, family sustaining jobs, these are the kinds of jobs we should be training our young people to fill," said Mr Leopold, who voted against slots when he was a delegate.

Counties fight bill to regulate 'tip-jar' betting
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071105/METRO/111050039/1004
Western Maryland lawmakers strongly opposed a bill this weekend to give the state control over a betting game in their region that has raise d millions for education, fire-and-rescue and other services. The game - known as "tip-jar gaming" - involves patrons buying a numbered ticket and winning cash prizes if their number is called. Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties regulate the jars, and some of the profits are returned to the community. However, in the bill introduced by Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass, Howard Democrat, the State Lottery Agency would take control.
"Quite frankly, I'm insulted," said House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank, Washington Republican. "You won't see us in Western Maryland introducing bills about Howard County." However, after questions from Delegate Robert A. McKee, Washington Republican, Miss Pendergrass said she does not intend to overlook gaming operations in other parts of the state.

Senate Seeks Cuts Beyond O'Malley Plan
Lawmakers Discuss Levying State Sales T a x on Some Services That Are Now Exempt
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110301010.html
Maryland lawmakers contemplated yesterday making deeper spending cuts and applying the state sales tax to different services from those Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has proposed in a special session to close a shortfall next year of at least $1.5 billion. During a five-hour work session, Senate budget writers presented O'Malley administration officials with a lengthy list of other services and asked for suggestions in coming days about which ones to add to the package.
Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (R-Frederick) objected to talk of adding services after holding hearings in which lawmakers heard from fitness buffs who do not want their gym memberships taxed and real estate agents opposed to taxing building owners who e m ploy property managers, a common practice with large apartment complexes. "I'm worried that someone gets hit by ricochet, if you hit somebody else and they had no idea it's coming," Brinkley said.
Senate leaders have said they hope to start putting parts of O'Malley's package on the floor for votes by early this week. But some members expressed frustration yesterday with the pace of deliberations. There was no discussion, for example, of O'Malley's most controversial proposal, a referendum on the legalization of slot machine gambling.

Slots Still Annapolis's Hottest Game
After Years of Debate, Legalizing the Machines Remains an Emotional Issue
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/02/AR2007110201914.html
Supporters and opponents of slot machine gambling clashed yesterda y at dueling rallies and during a lengthy hearing, as a special legislative session called by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to fix Maryland's budget lumbered toward its second week.
For close to five hours, lawmakers listened to arguments that have become painfully familiar during a debate that has consumed Annapolis for years. Supporters said slots are necessary for Maryland's storied horse-racing industry to survive when neighboring states use gambling proceeds to subsidize racing purses.
But opponents decried the potential social ills they say are associated with slots, including gambling addiction, increased crime and prostitution.
Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) gathered with a couple of dozen slots opponents. "The tide is turning in our favor and the forces of evil are on the defensive," Franchot said. He called legalizing slot machines a "sleazy, predatory, corrupt, regressive tax on poor people." Meanwhile, several hundred people working in the horse-racing industry rallied in support of O'Malley's slots bill.

Lobbyists' absence affects fundraiser
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.politics04nov04,0,1052355.story
Having a long-planned political fundraiser during the current special session of the General Assembly may be legal, according to William G. Somerville, ethics counsel to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, but one Howard legislator said it is not great for his bottom line. Miller said that up to 15 lobbyists who would have attended could not be there, and some real estate brokers went to an Annapolis rally against extending the sales tax to their management services.
"People I counted [on] to have here are down in Annapolis," Republican Del. Warren E. Miller told a c r owd of about 40 people.
For those who did make it, however, Miller stood in front of a big red "Stop Democrat Tax Increases" sign and called Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to raise the state sales tax to 6 percent from 5 percent "a horrible thing" that will send shoppers to Delaware and to the Internet to avoid the increase. Miller and Republican Del. Gail H. Bates, who attended the event, have teamed to run for office, but Bates said they can collect more in donations by having separate fundraising events.

Senate kills 'green fund' bill, looks to January
Miller says he'll work on alternative for bay cleanup in '08 session
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-md.green03nov03,0,4490141.story
Efforts to pass a "green fund" tax to pay fo r Chesapeake Bay cleanup during the Maryland General Assembly's special session were thrown into limbo yesterday when Senate leaders said they would study an alternative in January. Instead, Miller said yesterday that he plans to work this winter with House leaders and Gov. Martin O'Malley to create a "Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund," which would raise $30 million to $50 million a year through unspecified means.
Yesterday, O'Malley's administration endorsed the creation of a green fund. But during a hearing of the House Environmental Matters Committee, two of his Cabinet secretaries said the support is contingent on a proposed amendment that would allow O'Malley and future governors to decide where the money goes. Instead of being doled out to state agencies according to strict quotas, O'Malley wants to control the cash through a computerized data analysis called "BayStat."
Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, a Republican, said yesterday that it's a bad idea to a pprove the O'Malley administration amendment. "It looks like an amendment that says, 'Take this on faith. We'll tell you how we spend this money later,'" O'Donnell said.

Henderson makes second mayor run
He says he provides leadership option
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.ci.henderson03nov03,0,2330874.story
If past elections are any indication, thousands of voters will turn out for the general election Tuesday to cast a ballot for whichever Democrat appears on the screen, burying candidates from the other parties under the reality of how politics work in Baltimore. But Elbert R. Henderson, the Republican candidate for mayor, would like voters to know that, technically, they have another option, even if practically few of t hem exercise it. "Our city is calling for a leader and I'm here to answer," Henderson said. "I'm just like every other resident of Baltimore City. I want affordable homes. I want better schools. I want safer streets and I want lower taxes."
Still, supporters said that Henderson represents a choice for voters who are fed up with the decades-long Democratic grip on city politics. Duane Shelton, the Republican Party chairman for Baltimore and a candidate for City Council in the 10th District, argued there is supposed to be a two-party system of government in this country. "If people are happy with the way the city's government has been running, and not bothered by the city's murder epidemic, then they should vote for more of the same," Shelton said by e-mail. "If not, they should vote for change."

County Council Seems Set To Approve Growth Plan
Leggett Says Action Won't Solve Probl e ms
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/03/AR2007110300334.html
A slim majority on the Montgomery County Council appears to have coalesced around plans to raise development taxes and toughen rules for school crowding and traffic congestion, making it likely that they will approve changes to the county's growth policy by a Nov. 15 deadline. But in a political twist, their longtime ally County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) has broken with his fellow slow-growthers, now echoing concerns voiced by business leaders and some slow-growth activists that elements of the plan do little to solve traffic woes or school crowding and could hurt the local economy. "We should make sure we get it right the first time," Leggett said. "We are sailing through some uncharted waters."

Museum's Move Marks R are Md. BRAC Loss
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=598&sid=1286340
- It doesn't take long to realize the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum isn't your garden variety shrine. When the base realignment process is finished reshaping military installations in 2011, though, the museum will be gone. After 88 years in Aberdeen, the military plans to reopen it at Fort Lee, Va., where it will be combined with two existing museums.
"It'll be one of the largest Army museum complexes ever," said William F. Atwater, museum director.
The loss of the Ordnance Museum, once considered one of Harford County's biggest tourist attractions, is a rarity for Maryland as it readies for thousands of new jobs and the transfer of dozens of military units.
"We're very excited about the new things that are coming to Aberdeen Proving Ground," said Jim Richardson, e x ecutive director of the Harford County Office of Economic Development. "While we really hate to see any disruption here, change is inevitable, and the overall changes we will see are for the better."
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., said "we must move on," particularly since the museum is moving with the Ordnance Center and School, which provides technical training for soldiers at Aberdeen.
"I can understand that some of the veterans who are a part of the Ordnance might be concerned it's leaving," Ruppersberger said. "But I think it's important that wherever it goes, they create their own tradition and be proud of what they're doing today."


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We will be sorry for voting Ehrlich out of office
http://www.times-news.com/opinion/local_story_309094220.html?keyword=secondarystory
The Times-News editorial "It Stinks" is a different rendering of the "picture of fiscal agony," reported by Gov. Martin O'Malley last Tuesday, if his budget plan fails to pass in a special session, currently under way in Annapolis. It was an ugly landscape the governor drew, with poor people unable to get health care, neglected foster children and closed police barracks.
Let me take Maryland residents back to Nov. 6, 2002, and the actual picture newly elected Gov. Robert Ehrlich had painted for him before he took office (by the Glendening administration). He inherited the worst fiscal crisis in Maryland history. He too (like O'Malley) was presented with a challenge that no governor had ever faced: resolving a $1.8 billion budget deficit in just 10 weeks. Ehrlich faced deficit reduction within the then current year of his first year ('03 budget) as well as the deficit in t he '04 budget. O'Malley has the luxury of having the current budget year balanced.
Western Maryland will be sorry they voted Gov. Ehrlich out of office over the small $35 Chesapeake Bay tax before the next four years are over. I could offer more interesting statistics on this issue, but I must respect your limited writing restriction.
So I will close with this: "Politics has an important role in a democracy, but at the end of the day, leadership matters most." - Gov. Robert Ehrlich. He will be remembered for his short but tactful leadership of Maryland in my lifetime.

Tell O'Malley: No more taxes
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=178161&format=html
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) should rethink his approach to balancing Maryland's checking account. Even though Maryland is one of the hig h est taxed states in America, he wants to boost them even higher.
Instead of increasing our sales taxes, hiking our personal income tax, raising our corporate tax, and adding even more taxes to cigarettes, the governor should restrain state spending so that our state agencies live within our means. That's what every family has to do in Maryland. O'Malley is returning Maryland to the days when its policies scared away business. Does he honestly think the booming economy we have enjoyed will continue if he financially penalizes business, hikes retail costs and scares away entrepreneurs?
Philip Baker-Shenk
Member Washington County Republican Central Committee

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.03nnov03,0,2519354.story?page=3
I enjoy being outdoors in our parks and open spaces as much as anyone, but Mary l and legislators need to consider alternatives to tax increases.
If it is necessary to reclassify $55 million from open space funding to pay for education, then I say that education is more important. Volunteer groups can help to maintain open spaces and parks. I know that everyone has a pet project, but the spending has got to stop. The state has spent too much taxpayer money already - more than taxpayers can afford, especially at a time when households must make budget cuts to make ends meet.
Take a cue from your constituents, legislators: The well has gone dry. Vote against tax and fee increases. Your electorate will be watching.
John D. Wafer
Ellicott City

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

State lawmakers back in Annapolis - where they belong
http://w w w.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.fraser04nov04,0,3939331.column
Gov. Martin O'Malley descended the elegant marble staircase of Maryland's State House last week to repeat his administration's insistence that 83 percent of taxpayers will pay no more under his wide-raging tax reform plan than they do now.Of course, the governor and the legislators he addressed knew it would be a tough sell whatever the numbers show.
Outside the building, a few unbelievers paraded with signs, demanding: Hands off my wallet.
A special session to deal with a pressing problem is exactly why the Assembly must be in Annapolis until it finds a solution. No one, probably including the governor, expects the session's work product to match his proposals in every particular. Some may be adopted. Some may be rejected. All will be tweaked and amended.Having the votes lined up, moreover, cannot be an advertisement of good government. It suggests a plan hammered together in back r ooms by powerful, essentially undemocratic processes and then forced on legislators without a chance for debate and discussion.
That approach would amount to an unseen hand on the system itself - let alone the taxpayer's wallet.

Maybe it's due to not playing well with others in Annapolis and not accomplishing anything that's causing some on our delegation to exert their power over us here at home. http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2007/11/05/news/opinion/opinion/opinion843.txt
Voters said they wanted commissioners by districts. The bill that passed stated a commission was required to draw and select a district map. The delegation played politics and chose a map voted down by the commission. Carroll citizens rallied and stopped that effort and the court sent it back. Sen. Allen Kittleman a nd Commissioner Michael Zimmer toured the county during the summer under the auspice of finding out what was on citizens' minds. I think their true purpose was to get a read on how we felt about the district maps. It's no secret that Carroll typically votes Republican, but to limit voters' ability to select a candidate in lieu of a party is just wrong. I know they will point to how the state Democrats rig the district lines and say they aren't doing anything different. If our Republicans could actually become relevant the Democrats wouldn't be able to do what they do. Besides, two wrongs don't make a right.There will be a public hearing in January where we can tell the delegation to stop playing. The problem is most delegation members already have their minds made up or the new map would not have been on the front page. We can possibly eliminate that problem by attending the meeting and let our voices be heard. I say possibly because the delegation disregarded the district commission's decision and their arrogance may once again take precedence.
However, Kittleman is on record saying "I'm not going to vote for a plan the public doesn't want."

Time for Grasmick to go
http://www.examiner.com/a-1029171~Editorial__Time_for_Grasmick_to_go.html
Maryland education bureaucrats in Annapolis - aided and abetted by their union masters in the Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA) - are now in full cover-up mode. Instead of requiring teachers to focus on imparting essential skills like reading and math, the State Board of Education has gutted the Maryland high school graduation standard.
Students who passed all their classes and have good attendance records who twice fail one or more of the exit exams required for a diploma will now be allowed to substitute a "project." In other word s , more generations of Maryland public school students will be ill-prepared for college or to earn a living after graduating. This shameful flight from academic accountability starts at the top, and that's why state School Superintendent Nancy Grasmick has to go.
Government keeps forcing taxpayers to spend more per pupil each year, while Maryland students' tests scores on a nationally administered test continue to drop or barely rise.
The basic problem is that Maryland politicians lavish bigger budgets, power and perks on bureaucrats like Grasmick and unions like MSTA, even as generation after generation of children fall behind. Until Maryland stops rewarding adults who fail to educate the state's children, academic mediocrity is guaranteed, no matter how much of the taxpayers' money goes to the schools. It's as simple as that.

NATIONAL NEWS

Environmental Group To Endorse Gilchrest
http://wjz.com/local/local_story_309063242.html
A major environmental group is expected to endorse First District Congressman Wayne Gilchrest Monday on the
banks of the Chesapeake Bay. The League of Conservation Voters has a political event scheduled with Gilchrest. The group is expected to endorse the nine-term incumbent.

Gilchrest supports border security bill
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/NEWS01/711040338/1002
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, R-Md.-1st, cosponsored important immigration legislation in Congress authorizing the use of military personnel to help patrol borders and to hire more judges to help prosecute immigration cases.
The bill would allow th e secretary of Defense to assign regular and reserve members of the Armed Forces to assist the Department of Homeland Security in preventing the entry of terrorists, drug traffickers and illegal aliens in the United States.

Head Start receives grant funds
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_309091647.html
Young children in Allegany County are prepared for school through the Head Start and Early Head Start programs, which recently received $1.3 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
"Head Start has been one of the most successful federal programs," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski. "It helps the children who are most in need to keep up with their age group in school. It brings children to the doctor to get immunizations or hearing checks. It provides nutritious meals for children who might ot h erwise go hungry."
"Research shows that the Head Start program works," said Sen. Ben Cardin. "Low-income children who attend the program make gains in vocabulary, writing and letter recognition, and they have access to health care. These children arrive at school better prepared and do better academically compared with children who do not attend Head Start."

Poultry farms officially exempt from propane rule on security threats
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/OPINION11/711040305/1112/OPINION
Finally, federal Homeland Security officials have agreed to exempt small farms from a rule on reporting propane storage that local poultry growers criticized as burdensome and ineffective. Still, along the way U.S. Senators Tom Carper of Delaware and Barbara Mikulski and B e n Cardin of Maryland criticized the absurdity of the proposal and the potential hardship it would create on a major industry and key driver of economic growth in both states.
As Sen. Carper said on Friday, chemical security should focus on dangerous facilities, "not chicken houses in small, rural communities, like those across the Delmarva Peninsula."