20080402 News Clips

News Clips 04-02-2008

STATE NEWS

Senate rejects energy bill

Measure is key part of O'Malley initiative

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.energy02apr02,0,2541295.story

The Maryland Senate voted down a major piece of Gov. Martin O'Malley's environmental agenda yesterday amid a squabble among Democrats over how much money should be dedicated to rate relief for consumers coping with rising utility bills. The Senate voted 25-21 to reject the bill setting out how money from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative would be used. The unexpected defeat reflected how anxious lawmakers are about the effect of soaring energy prices on constituents and left the administration scrambling to resurrect the proposal, which proponents say would help consumers in the long run. During a late-night session Monday, senators tried but failed to change that formula. Sen. Joan Carter Conway, the Baltimore Democrat and chairwoman of the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, wanted to boost the amount dedicated to help lower-income residents pay utility bills and to direct the rest to efficiency and conservation. Sen. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican who is influential on energy issues, wanted to give all of the auction funds back to utility customers. Pipkin decried the "boondoggle bill" that creates "a very expensive empire" for the Maryland Energy Administration, which would create the efficiency and conservation programs. "The money should have been returned to ratepayers," he said. Republicans said that a package of bills proposed by O'Malley would increase the cost of electricity in Maryland at a time when rates are soaring. "It's a lovely piece of legislation in theory. Everybody is for a greener world," said Del. Patrick L. McDonough, a Republican representing Baltimore and Harford counties. "But it does not impact consumer rates in any way except for costing them more money."

Tech tax stand-in stymies Senate

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080402/METRO/791870587/1004

Maryland lawmakers are locked on how to repeal a recently approved computer services tax as they go into the final week of the 2008 General Assembly session. Lawmakers began looking for a solution after business leaders fiercely opposed the tax, which they said was approved without warning under the cover of a special session in the fall. Leaders said the tax likely will be repealed but are not sure how. "I think there is a strong consensus that we're going to repeal this computer tax," Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said yesterday. "The only issue is whether we adopt the compromise proposal that was put forth by the governor, or do we just look for the cuts in the budget." Democrats appear split about whether the governor has done enough to win support for his so-called millionaire's tax proposal.

Struggling with computer tax Lawmakers want to scrap it, but they're not sure how

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.computer02apr02,0,3877343.story

With less than a week left in the annual legislative session, the most contentious issue left to the General Assembly is how to balance a nearly universal desire to scrap the $200 million computer services levy with an equally strong aversion to enacting new taxes. It is not clear whether support exists in the Senate for any of the proposals that have been offered for replacing the revenue that would be lost through a repeal. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, is urging lawmakers to pay for the repeal through a combination of budget cuts and a income tax surcharge on people making more than $1 million a year.
But some in the Democratic majority have joined Republicans in calling for a blanket moratorium on new taxes. At the end of the day yesterday, Miller released a statement saying: "We are still working to get a firm sense of the level of support for various aspects of the Governor's proposal to repeal the computer services tax."

Gansler targets alcohol bill

Proposal would allow 'alcopop' to be taxed as beer

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.alcopops02apr02,0,5983683.story

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler and public health advocates launched a campaign yesterday to make sure drinks like Mike's Hard Lemonade and Jack Daniel's Black Jack Cola are considered legally the same as liquor, not beer. Lobbyists for the liquor industry, who deny the drinks are marketed to teens and argue they should be classified like beer because of their alcohol content, have been pushing hard for the bill, which passed in the Senate with little fanfare. If the legislation makes it through the House, the drinks would continue to be taxed at lower rates than alcoholic beverages such as rum and whiskey and would enjoy wider distribution than spirits. While industry sources said they expect the alcopops bill to pass in the Economic Matters Committee, it could become the subject of a major fight on the House floor.

Tanning bill spurs heated debate

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.tanning02apr02,0,1121337.story

Tanning in artificial devices would be prohibited for minors in Maryland without parental consent under legislation that's headed toward final passage in the General Assembly. Under the bill, a tanning facility must obtain written consent from a parent or legal guardian of someone under 18 on the premises before allowing the minor to tan. "So many people in college or in preparation for proms tan," said Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican representing Cecil and Harford counties. "We're going a little bit overboard on this." Some lawmakers pointed out that other actions taken by minors in Maryland, including abortion, call for less involvement by parents.

McCain stops in Annapolis, says academy food still bad

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-mccain0402,0,4146187.story

The food's better, but not much, at the U.S. Naval Academy, where Arizona Sen. John McCain stopped for breakfast on a tour to highlight his background. The Republican presidential candidate ate breakfast at the Academy, where the former aviator began his Navy career. Afterward he stopped at a downtown diner where he told a packed house of state Republicans that the food has improved at the Academy, but not by much. McCain had a cup of coffee with former Gov. Robert Ehrlich at Chick & Ruth's Delly in downtown Annapolis, where sandwiches are named for politicians and owners ask diners each morning to stand to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
McCain and his wife joined in for the pledge, then shook hands for about 10 minutes before heading to the Navy football stadium, where McCain planned to continue a national tour designed to introduce himself to a wider audience before being formally named as the Republican presidential nominee.

Speed camera measures roll through legislature

http://www.examiner.com/a-1315350~Speed_camera_measures_roll_through_legislature.html

Proposals to put speed cameras on many roads and highways in Maryland are making their way slowly through both House and Senate. Opponents have been unable to muster enough votes to stall what they see as money-grubbing infringements on due process for drivers. “There’s no conclusive study that this improves traffic safety,” said Sen. Alex Mooney, a Frederick County Republican. But “just imagine the money” the cameras are going to raise for the county government. If approved by local jurisdictions, violations would carry fines up to $40, but no points. Volunteer rescue workers en route to an emergency would be exempt.

County’s teachers protest to demand wage increases

http://www.examiner.com/a-1315363~County_s_teachers_protest_to_demand_wage_increases.html

About 300 veteran Baltimore County teachers protested Tuesday to demand cost-of-living pay increases that County Executive Jim Smith has denied. The teachers said they will continue their protests and a work-to-rule job action — doing only required tasks within their seven-hour workdays — at least until Smith releases his budget April 15. If the budget includes no COLAs for teachers with more than 25 years of experience, the protest and work-to-rule will continue, said Cheryl Bost, president of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County. Smith has repeatedly said the county could provide the COLA raises only if it raised property taxes, which he wants to avoid. Under Smith’s proposed budget, county teachers would receive step increase but no COLAs. An arbitrator is reviewing the dispute over the COLAs.

Harford budget to include raise for county employees

http://www.examiner.com/a-1315361~Harford_budget_to_include_raise_for_county_employees.html

Harford County must offer employees up to 9 percent pay raises to keep salaries competitive with those of surrounding counties, County Executive David Craig said. The raises, Craig said, would be in line with those given Harford teachers and sheriff’s deputies. “We aim to get our employees’ salaries to the middle of the market — not the top, but not the bottom either,” Craig said. “We cut the hell out of everything else in our government services budget, so no new taxpayer dollars are going to fund these raises,” said Lorraine Costello, Craig’s chief of administration. Craig said he had limited employee travel and training budgets to dedicate more money to the pay raise.

Lawmakers could face a longer session if they fail to agree on the state budget

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/04_02-02/OUD

With only a week remaining in the Maryland General Assembly's regular legislative session, lawmakers still have not reached an agreement on the state budget, forcing Gov. Martin O'Malley to issue a constitutional order Tuesday extending the session by 10 days. Lawmakers usually get through the necessary budget reconciliations before the regularly scheduled end of the session, which falls on April 7 this year. They must stay for the extra time only if the budget is not passed by both chambers before that day. The 10-day extension is required by the Maryland constitution in any year in which the General Assembly has not reached a consensus on the budget by the 83rd day of the session, which passed Monday.

Renewable energy could power I-270 center

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=73253

Proponents hope to build a sustainable energy demonstration and economic development center in Frederick in as little as a year, now that key legislation has passed the Maryland General Assembly. The state Senate passed the Maryland Clean Energy Center Act on Tuesday. It sets up the framework for the state to take advantage of federal funds set aside to build a demonstration center at a rest stop off I-270. U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6th, secured funds in fiscal 2003 and 2004 to design and build a visitors center at the Byron Overlook, off I-270 south of Frederick. He suggested the visitors center use renewable technologies, such as solar power and rain water collection. Bartlett said Tuesday he is pleased the state has approved the legislation. The next step will be to ask local renewable energy companies to help design and build the center, which will be self-sufficient and rely on different types of renewable energy. "What I would like there to the extent that we can, I would like each of these things home sized," Bartlett said. "So people would say 'I could do that in my home, couldn't I?'" Frederick County's lawmakers have supported the bill. Delegate Sue Hecht, a Democrat, and Sen. Alex Mooney, a Republican, sponsored identical bills in the legislature's two chambers. Mooney said it's a good idea to promote sustainable energy because it is good for the economy and energy production. "We can be the role models for the state and perhaps even the country in using renewable energy," he said.

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

Counting graduates

Our view: States must ensure that more students gain diplomas

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.graduate02apr02,0,5745634.story

Baltimore's high school graduation rate has been found wanting yet again - an abysmal 35 percent and fourth lowest among the nation's 50 largest districts, according to a new study. Even worse, the gap between the city's rate and the 82 percent rate in neighboring suburban districts was the nation's largest. In a highly mobile society, the best way to know who finishes high school is to track students individually. Last September, MSDE gave each high school freshman an identification number that should follow the student to any school in the state. It should help track students who are at risk of dropping out, allowing for more interventions and support services. But however these students are counted, there's no disputing this: Quality services must be provided to more of them - particularly minority, disabled and non-English-speaking students. A high school diploma has become a necessary ticket for employment and even a healthy life. Maryland and other states must ensure that each student is given every opportunity to gain this credential.

Uniting the Republican Party

A great deal has changed since President Reagan left the national stage. Our enemies have come to our shores, the rising tide of our economy has not "lifted all boats" and our government has increased, not lessened its intrusion into our lives. However, many of the issues that united us during the Reagan Revolution in the 1980s -- lower taxes, less government spending, free markets and strong national security -- are the same issues that motivate voters today.
Reagan's successes were in large part due to his ability to focus on those things that unite us. Rather than trying to divide the American people along philosophical or political lines, he made a connection with average citizens through themes that inspired us and policies that restored our national pride as well as the security and prosperity of a nation. Reagan did the unthinkable: he helped America embrace conservatism and the core beliefs of the Republican Party.

While our party has changed too, the core of who we are and what we believe has not. Republicans are not conflicted by the ups and downs of elections, but rather by the very nature of conservatism in this post-Reagan era. We are conflicted over defining the vision of the conservative movement, its radical nature, and the unique challenges and opportunities that lie before America. We are conflicted over who and how we will lead during these changing times. Republicans stand on the precipice of conservatism, ready to throw each other off because we feel as if we've lost our grip on what conservatism means; indeed, what it means to be a republican. But, we should never lose faith first and foremost in our belief in the power and ingenuity of the individual to create the legacy of a nation through hard work and self-discipline. Conservatives must stand firm once again in our belief that government should be limited so that it never becomes powerful enough to infringe on the rights of the individual. We must reaffirm the principle of lowering taxes so that individuals might keep more of their hard earned wages, and realize the economic power that it generates. Republicans must promote business regulations that encourage entrepreneurs to take risks so that more individuals can enjoy the satisfaction and fruits of self-made success; and our party must always remain steadfast in its defense of a colorblind society, so that each man or woman is treated as an individual and not as a member of some hyphenated class or group.
Conservatives now have a window of opportunity to demonstrate the truth of America: that every American regardless of his or her station in life, upbringing or social status has the opportunity to turn their hopes into action and to realize the promise that is the American dream! Ronald Reagan understood that; and he acted to lift a dispirited nation to become that "shining city on a hill". Republicans must remind America once again that its promise is the promise of endless possibilities and define for countless generations those values we hold dear: the value to the soul of religious faith, complete integrity, loyalty, and truthfulness. Let's honor America with incorruptible public service, a respect for economy in government, self-reliance, thrift, and individual liberty. Let's stand firm in our patriotism, real love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it as those who have gone before us.
The Party of Lincoln is the Party of ideas and leadership that have made and will continue to make this nation great. Republicans must now gather strength from within as we enter a critical period in America's history. We must work to restore faith in our Party by standing on those principles that not only unite us as Republicans, but as Americans. Republicans need to stop looking for Reagan and start acting like Republicans. It is still a long and bumpy road to the White House this November, but I am confident that Republicans and the conservative movement they inspired will regain in strength if we stick to those values that have long-united our Party and stirred a generation to join our cause. These are the values that continue to empower, uplift and remind us that America will always be the one place on earth where possibility meets opportunity. A place we call the American dream.
Michael S. Steele joined FOX News as a contributor in 2007. He is the chairman of GOPAC and the former Lt. Governor of Maryland.