20080320 News Clips

News Clips 03-20-2008

STATE NEWS

House OKs cut budget, without tech tax repeal

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.spend20mar20,0,2467640.story

The House of Delegates yesterday gave preliminary approval to a slimmed-down version of Gov. Martin O'Malley's budget, voting down a Republican amendment to repeal the computer services tax through additional budget cuts. But multiple efforts to scrap the unpopular levy are still under way in Annapolis, with some support building around the idea to tap the $400 million Transportation Trust Fund to pay for a repeal of the $200 million expansion of the sales tax to computer services. During a three-hour debate in the House, lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a $31.2 billion budget, reflecting about $511.6 million in overall reductions to O'Malley's proposal. Republicans warned that the cuts were not enough to ward off future economic downturns. "These reductions do nothing to cushion against the next round of write-downs we're expecting this summer or fall and we all ... know they're coming," said Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the minority leader from Southern Maryland.

House tentatively OKs budget, rejects GOP cuts

http://www.examiner.com/a-1289664~House_tentatively_OKs_budget__rejects_GOP_cuts.html

The Maryland House of Delegates gave tentative approval to a $31.1 billion state budget for fiscal 2009, beating back repeated Republican attempts to cut even more spending in the face of a worsening economic downturn. In the House version, expenditures still grow by $1.3 billion in the next fiscal year — about 4 percent — a number House Republican leader Anthony O’Donnell called “excessive.” He proposed another $600 million in reductions to prepare the state for further declines in revenue. “We can’t afford new spending programs right now,” O’Donnell said. “The U.S. and Maryland economy are clearly headed for trouble.” O’Donnell proposed deferring a number of programs starting this year, including the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund, the Geographic Cost of Education Index for public schools and expanded health care coverage. He would also cut 900 “phantom jobs” in state government, which already has about 5,000 vacancies. The House rejected O’Donnell’s amendment 100 to 38 in a party-line vote. The House also rejected Republican amendments to cut $215 million in order to repeal the computer services tax, to eliminate funding for stem cell research, and to cut the salaries of the members of the Public Service Commission because they have been unable to bring down electricity rates. “Sometimes things have to be done symbolically,” said Del. Pat McDonough, who sought the pay cut at the PSC.

O'Malley's own party holds up his DNA plan

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/METRO/391040816/1004

Most of Gov. Martin O'Malley's modest legislative package is expected to pass through the legislature, but his proposal to expand DNA collection from criminals accused of violent crimes has run up against opposition from some of his core constituencies. House lawmakers are expected to vote today on the proposal, and members of the O'Malley administration worked late into the evening yesterday to resolve the lingering concerns of civil liberties groups and the Legislative Black Caucus, who oppose the plan. "We are a Democratic caucus," said Delegate Herman L. Taylor Jr., Montgomery Democrat and vice chairman of the caucus. "We've been a loyal block of votes to the Democratic establishment, and we're trying to ask for some concessions and deference and everything we can possibly appeal to the leadership for." As of Tuesday, Mr. Taylor said O'Malley administration officials had not met with him to discuss his concerns. Critics say, however, that Mr. O'Malley has not shown the interest or political acumen to be successful in navigating through the legislature. "If not disconnected from the policy, which I have heard discussed many times here, he seems to be disconnected from the political sensitivities in many respects," said House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell, Southern Maryland Republican.

Click, browse, follow the money

Database would monitor spending

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.database20mar20,0,7457567.story

With a few clicks of a mouse, Marylanders could soon be able to search an online database to find out exactly how much the state is spending to construct the Intercounty Connector in suburban Washington or on Chesapeake Bay restoration projects or even what taxpayers are coughing up for the "King Barn Dairy Mooseum." The proposed database, which was approved in the House of Delegates and saw no opposition in a key Senate committee yesterday, also would allow anyone with a computer and an Internet connection to find out where the money is coming from, who was awarded the contracts and how much they received from the state for anything else. "This is tremendous, and it helps our taxpayers understand how the money's being spent, which might not be clear to them now," said Del. Warren E. Miller, a Howard County Republican who sponsored the bill in the House. "It will certainly help me understand how $31 billion is being spent." "Everyone seems to agree that taxpayers have a right to see how their money's being spent," said state Sen. Alex X. Mooney, one of the General Assembly's most conservative lawmakers. Though no one is waiting in line to come out in opposition to the bill, some lawmakers expressed concern that such a site would make political attacks easier or set up easy misinterpretations of the state's complicated $31 billion budget.
"Decisions are made here on a daily basis, things are so fluid, that it's hard for anyone to get an accurate portrayal," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. "Knowing enough to properly interpret the numbers is quite challenging."
Still, Miller said he would support the bill as long as it wouldn't make the state's spending process more confusing to taxpayers. "It's the public's money and the public has a right to know," he said.

Economic concerns delay bill to cut down on global warming

http://www.examiner.com/a-1289665~Economic_concerns_delay_bill_to_cut_down_on_global_warming.html

A proposal to cut Maryland’s carbon emissions to offset global warming was tabled Wednesday after some lawmakers said the bill could threaten blue-collar jobs and shut down some of the state’s largest industrial operations. But opponents said the proposal could cost millions of jobs and force rolling blackouts by 2011. Sen. Donald Munson, a Washington County Republican, said local brick-making company Redland Bricks will close if the legislation is enacted. They employ a lot of people, people who have mortgages and families who have to eat,” Munson said. “To put them out of business would be a travesty. Opposition also included several Democrats. For the first time in his 45-year career, Sen. Norman Stone — a Democrat who represents the Sparrows Point area — requested to have his name removed from a list of lawmakers supporting the legislation.

Senate won't hang up on cell phone ban

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/03_19-25/GOV

The state Senate has moved Maryland closer to outlawing the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. However, the House has not been historically friendly in the perennial debate, so the fate of a bill remains unclear. Last week, the Senate essentially gutted the bill and amended it into only a text messaging ban - a certain death considering the House had already killed similar legislation. The Senate agreed to reconsider that vote yesterday, however, and defeated the amendment 25-22. Critics of the legislation wondered where the line on banning distracting behavior could be drawn. "Once you start down this road, you can't stop," said Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Cecil. "We keep taking incremental steps that make driving a criminal offense." Sen. John Astle, D-Annapolis, tried to tack on an amendment to ban the use of global positioning systems as well, although it failed to get enough support to pass.

Annapolis weighs curfew on youths

Mayor seeks restrictions after killing in public housing

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md.ar.curfew20mar20,0,7316177.story

Annapolis Mayor Ellen O. Moyer has asked city leaders to consider imposing a curfew on youths citywide or on all residents of the 10 public housing communities after the shooting death this week of a 17-year-old boy. She is also calling on city lawmakers to consider requiring those entering public housing to show identification or proof of residency, and starting a gun buyback program in the state capital, where four homicides have occurred this year, half the record eight in 2007. Officials with the American Civil Liberties Union, while applauding the city's eagerness to get a handle on crime, said they oppose any curfews, and that singling out public housing residents is highly discriminatory. Moyer's latest efforts to rein in crime come weeks after the launch of Capital City Safe Streets, a state and federally organized initiative to fund more streamlined crime-fighting, including additional lighting and security cameras in public housing communities and programs to mentor and counsel youths in Annapolis. Eric C. Brown, executive director of the Annapolis Housing Authority, added that it is part of a housing authority manager's job to work with police to enforce anti-loitering laws. He recommended an increase in the hours of operation of the city's recreation centers.
"If the city has a public safety issue, it is a city issue," Brown said. "That should encompass all city residents and not just singularly the residents living in city public housing. I think to say that there should be a curfew for public housing residents is just patently wrong."

Lawmakers delay approval of mixed martial arts

http://www.examiner.com/a-1289669~Lawmakers_delay_approval_of_mixed_martial_arts.html

State senators have postponed a decision to legalize mixed martial arts contests — commonly known as ultimate fighting — after some lawmakers said the sport was too dangerous. The proposal would require mixed martial arts contests to be regulated by the same state agency that oversees boxing matches. The State Athletic Commission has jurisdiction over all boxing, kickboxing and wrestling contests held in Maryland, with the exception of intercollegiate or amateur events. Sen. Joan Carter Conway, a Baltimore City Democrat supporting the legislation, said others compete in underground matches in Maryland. “You could continue to have this going on unregulated, if that’s what you want to do,” Conway said. “We want the sport regulated.”

Bartlett says Congress not able to fund U.S. Route 50

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_080092822.html

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett attended Wednesday's U.S. Route 50 Association meeting held at the Garrett County Courthouse where he told the group that Congress has little control over federal money spent on highways. He said that while Congress votes on the appropriation for highways, "it comes to the states on a formula basis." He also said if the group had concerns with the lack of federal funds, "they need to beat up on state officials." Bartlett said he understands the issues and with oil prices at $110 a barrel, and taxes based on per gallon sales, there is going to be less gas sold and less taxes collected. "It is a huge, huge problem," he said.

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

Expanding DNA database

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.dna20mar20,0,757956.story

Collecting DNA samples from people charged with a crime shouldn't be viewed as an invasion of privacy. It's a new avenue to an old pursuit - catching criminals. There are plenty of examples where a DNA sample from a prisoner has led to an arrest in an unsolved murder, rape or robbery and few incidents of misuse of the data, even with 57,190 inmate samples stored by the state. A bill that would expand the state's ability to take DNA samples from criminal suspects has raised concerns over civil liberties. But those concerns are ill-founded and ignore the scientific facts. Here's why: The procedure to analyze DNA samples in criminal cases isn't sophisticated enough to pry sensitive personal data from the genetic samples. Legislation proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley would have allowed for the collection of DNA samples at the time of arrest, which would have greatly expanded the state database. Opposition from members of the Legislative Black Caucus and others centered on suspects' rights and protections for the innocent. Those are valid concerns, to be sure, but it should be noted that blacks are disproportionately victims of crime as they are suspects. Of the 547 people murdered in Maryland in 2006, 436, or 79 percent, were African-American. Supporters of the bill have since scaled back the DNA collection to people charged with violent crimes and felony burglary. The legislation also provides some essential safeguards, allowing for the destruction of DNA samples of people acquitted of crimes. With reasonable compromises in place, lawmakers should move the bill forward and give law enforcement greater access to the crime-fighting technology available today.

To the point

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.point20mar20,0,2932224.story

One might think the last thing lawmakers in Annapolis would want to do is make alcoholic beverages more readily available to minors - and make them cheaper to boot. But, believe it or not, legislation that would accomplish just that is poised for final approval in the Senate today.
In a recent opinion, Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler found that flavored malt beverages or "alcopops" have been wrongly categorized as beer by the comptroller's office and should be treated as hard liquor. Surveys show the younger the drinker, the more likely he or she will prefer an alcopop over the alternatives. Few bills are more deserving of an unceremonious toss to the legislative scrapheap. The color of money.

The debate over whether there should be public financing of campaigns for seats in the General Assembly has often neglected one of the more glaring problems with the current system - the lack of participation by African-Americans. A survey by Progressive Maryland found that people living in predominantly black communities give about 5 1/2 times less in political donations than state residents in general. In other words, they have little clout in the corridors of power. By diminishing the need for such donations, public financing would help address a glaring inequity.

Tighter, Tighter

In the Maryland suburbs, austere budgets for an austere season

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR2008031903159.html

THE COUNTY executives of Montgomery and Prince George's unveiled budget proposals this week for the coming fiscal year that mark the end of a half-decade of munificent local government spending and the outset of what could be an extended era of austerity. The two Maryland counties, with a combined population of around 1.8 million, have benefited from the region's robust health in recent years. Their annual increases in public spending have regularly exceeded, and sometimes doubled or even tripled, the rate of inflation. Those years are over. Making a virtue of necessity, both county executives are already moving to slash payroll costs -- in Montgomery by eliminating a modest number of (mostly unfilled) positions, and in Prince George's by imposing a hiring freeze at agencies not dealing with public safety. Capital spending for new buildings and other facilities is also being severely curtailed. In an era of austerity, those measures may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Government leaves me scratching at my head

http://www.gazette.net/stories/032008/fredcol232834_32363.shtml

I am not in government any more. After one term as an alderman in the City of Frederick, I decided to focus my energies on earning a living. Now that I am on the outside looking in, I spend more time than ever watching what our elected and public officials do, supposedly for us. Sometimes I wonder if they are required to leave all common sense at home before leaving for the office. Recent events in Washington and at home make me scratch my head. Meanwhile, the geniuses who run the Maryland state government recently passed the largest tax increase in the history of this ‘‘tax ‘em if you got ‘em” state. Sales tax went up a whopping 20 percent. Income taxes also increased. All of this was done at a time when every responsible economist was warning of an economic slowdown not only to come, but to be bad. If we know one thing by now, it’s that the State of Maryland hates everything about business except taxing it. If the current administration in Annapolis has its way, after we pay our federal income tax and the property taxes on our home, they will just reach into our wallet and take what’s left. And you can bet it will not be spent wisely. And what is the deal with Daylight Saving Time? The politicians in Washington decided we should move Daylight Saving Time into the winter to save energy. How can this possibly save energy? In the Young household, we’re not saving energy because of this stupid move to early March. Roscoe, if you are reading this, how about introducing a bill in to change Daylight Saving Time back to where it’s always been, and where it should be? If we can do that, at least common sense will prevail once in government in 2008.

OPINION: We Need To Do More To Help Those Facing Foreclosure

By U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.)

http://somd.com/news/headlines/2008/7358.shtml

American families are hurting as our nation faces a growing crisis in the housing and credit markets. The economic news continues to worsen as we hear reports about the highest foreclosure rate in years, declining housing values, lost property tax revenues and a credit crunch that is making it very difficult for middle-class families to find affordable mortgages. We need to stimulate the housing industry and make it possible for more Americans to realize the American Dream of homeownership. I will be introducing the First-time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit Act to provide a refundable income tax credit for the purchase of a principal residence by first-time homebuyers. The credit is expected to apply to individuals and couples and could be used for down payment or closing costs. It also would be targeted to ensure the stimulus reaches purchasers for whom a credit would most help. I also have co-sponsored the Foreclosure Prevention Act, S. 2636, which would amend the bankruptcy law to allow the modification of nontraditional and subprime mortgages on primary residences. Unfortunately, the Senate has not moved this bill forward because of objections from some Republicans to the bankruptcy provision. I’m hopeful we can reach an agreement and bring this bill back to the floor for passage. In the interim, if you are having trouble paying you mortgage or think you might soon, I urge you to get help now. Don’t wait. Call the Maryland foreclosure hotline toll-free at 1-877-462-7555 or go to their website: http://www.MDHOPE.org/