Dayhoff Soundtrack: Gov O'Malley Admin

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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

STATE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS HOPEFUL AS GOVERNOR GOES TO WASHINGTON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2010

STATE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS HOPEFUL AS GOVERNOR GOES TO WASHINGTON
http://www.mdsp.org/Media/press_release_details.asp?identifier=910

(Pikesville, MD) – State public safety officials are hoping Governor Martin O’Malley’s meeting today with members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation will result in funding for much needed projects that will directly and positively impact law enforcement effectiveness in Maryland.

Governor O’Malley is presenting the public safety priorities today as part of a package of statewide initiatives. The public safety list ranges from funding for first responder interoperability, to a new bomb robot, to updated and additional in-car camera equipment for State Police patrol cars.

“Each of these requests has been carefully reviewed and prioritized in regard to what would be the most effective in helping us reduce violent crime and enhance homeland security in Maryland,” Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police said. “Communication, computerization, consolidation, and cooperation are our goals as we work to do our job better at the state level, while working in coordination with local authorities.”

At the top of the list is first responder radio interoperability. Governor O’Malley has already launched a statewide effort to ensure all state and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies can communicate, especially in times of disaster. The request is for $20 million to achieve interoperability for both routine and emergency communications between all state and local law enforcement agencies in Maryland.

“These projects are important not only to law enforcement, but also the emergency management community,” said Richard Muth, Executive Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. “Funding for radio interoperability is especially needed to help agencies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and discipline to discipline communicate during major emergencies.”

“Security Integration is a critical element of the O’Malley administration’s public safety strategy,” said Kristen Mahoney, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. “These priorities help achieve it by supporting seamless coordination and consistent information-sharing in law enforcement. The people of Maryland will be the winners.”

A request for $500,000 would fund a Maryland Transportation Authority Police project that would complete the installation of license plate readers at all critical bridge and tunnel highways in the Baltimore area. License plate readers automatically check vehicle registration plates and immediately alert police to stolen cars, wanted fugitives, suspended tags, or other criminal violations.

“The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police have found the use of license plate reader technology to be a valuable tool as we accomplish our goals of securing critical transportation infrastructure throughout Maryland.” said MDTA Police Chief Marcus L. Brown.

A funding request for $10 million will permit the implementation of a computer aided dispatch and records management system for state law enforcement agencies in Maryland. This would enable the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, and other critical state public safety agencies to use the same dispatch and records management system. These departments would then have the ability to share resources more effectively, while providing real-time crime statistics and information to each agency. Ultimately, this technology will modernize crime fighting and information sharing, while providing for more effective policing and public safety services.

Working to increase homeland security preparedness includes ensuring the proper deployment of needed resources. A funding request of $1.3 million will provide for the purchase of an additional bomb squad robot and robot response vehicle, along with related bomb disposal equipment. This unit would be assigned in the metropolitan Baltimore area. Acquisition of this new unit would reduce response time and increase the safety of Office of the State Fire Marshal Bomb Squad technicians, other law enforcement personnel, and citizens living near the scene of an incident involving explosives.

In-car cameras have become a valuable component in Maryland State Police patrol cars. They act as a silent, unbiased witness to the interaction between troopers and citizens during traffic stops and often provide the immediate resolution of concerns arising from those contacts. Those recordings also are a valuable resource for State Police supervisors to assess the skills of their troopers and they aid troopers in their court testimony during both traffic and criminal proceedings. A funding request of $2.3 million would be used to expand the current number of in-car cameras and update the video systems currently in use with digital camera systems.

When a person is arrested, police take fingerprints and photographs that are used to record the individual’s identity. Routinely, suspects are encountered who provide a false identity. This issue has become increasingly important as law enforcement deals with issues of terrorism and homeland security.

The Maryland State Police hopes a $1.9 million funding request can be used to obtain “live-scan” fingerprinting and photographing equipment for 12 of its barracks located in counties where there is no central booking system, as well as one for the Licensing Division and one for the Forensic Sciences Division. The live-scan machine eliminates the manual ‘ink-rolled’ fingerprint card and takes a scanned image of a person’s fingerprints. It allows for the immediate transmission of those prints and photographs for identification purposes and will increase the number of warrants being served when a person’s identity is promptly confirmed.

Improving public safety through reducing violent crime and enhancing homeland security continues to be a top priority for the O’Malley-Brown Administration. These and other public safety federal funding priorities are proof that every opportunity is being taken to protect our citizens and make Maryland safer.

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CONTACT:

Greg Shipley
Office of Media Communications & Marketing
410-653-4236 (Office) 410-653-4200 (through Headquarters Duty Officer)

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: O’Malley Created $363 Million Budget Gap Thru High Income Surtax

http://www.facebook.com/notes/maryland-senate-gop-slate/omalley-created-363-million-budget-gap-thru-high-income-surtax/397652710139

Maryland Senate GOP Slate: O’Malley Created $363 Million Budget Gap Thru High Income Surtax

Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 11:18am Maryland Senate GOP Slate's Notes

Final tax data from 2008 now proves what many predicted but had been strenuously denied by Democrats in Annapolis: Maryland’s high income earners are voting with their feet.

In calling a special session for the purpose of passing an historic tax increase less than a year after his election, Governor Martin O’Malley changed Maryland’s personal income tax from a flat rate to a graduated system with a surcharge on high income earners. During this 2007 special session, Republican Senators opposed these tax increases and forewarned that the net result would be revenue losses as this mobile segment of the population relocated their primary residences.

Wall Street Journal editorial writers agreed in a May 2009 opinion entitled “Soak the Rich – Lose the Rich” that described how the misguided budget policy of the O’Malley Administration would lead to outward migration of the very segment of the population that a state wants to keep for a healthy, progressive economy. In response, Democrats in Annapolis produced their own analysis attributing the loss of high income tax filers to the normal slack-off of annual returns.

Now the late filers have completed their returns and final numbers have been tallied. Instead of $106 million of new revenues predicted by O’Malley’s budget office, Maryland saw a decline of $257 million – for a total gap of $363 million. This is just part of the problem created by O’Malley that results in continuing out-year deficits over $2 billion each year.

In a follow-up editorial printed this week, the WSJ editors conclude: “We reported in May that after passing a millionaire surtax nearly one-third of Maryland's millionaires had gone missing, thus contributing to a decline in state revenues. The politicians in Annapolis had said they'd collect $106 million by raising its income tax rate on millionaire households to 6.25% from 4.75%. In cities like Baltimore and Bethesda, which apply add-on income taxes, the top tax rate with the surcharge now reaches as high as 9.3%—fifth highest in the nation. Liberals said this was based on incomplete data and that rich Marylanders hadn't fled the state. Well, the state comptroller's office now has the final tax return data for 2008, the first year that the higher tax rates applied. The number of millionaire tax returns fell sharply to 5,529 from 7,898 in 2007, a 30% tumble. The taxes paid by rich filers fell by 22%, and instead of their payments increasing by $106 million, they fell by some $257 million.”

To see the recent WSJ Online editorial “Maryland’s Mobile Millionaires,” visit: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703976804575114241782001262.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_AboveLEFTTop

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Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Governor O'Malley Declares March as "Read Across Maryland" Month

Reads to Germantown Elementary First Graders at Annapolis Public Library, Honors National Education Association's "Read Across America" Day - http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/100301.asp

http://tinyurl.com/ygfccmf Related: “Horton Hatches the Egg” http://tinyurl.com/yze48d3

http://www.thetentacle.com/ http://tinyurl.com/yhjlut8

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3633

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G5g1H08EhY

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/03/horton-hatches-egg.html

http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/423703924/horton-hatches-the-egg

http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/301064.html

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 1, 2010) –Governor Martin O’Malley today read to first graders from Germantown Elementary at Annapolis Public Library and, together with the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) President Clara Floyd, proclaimed the month of March “Read Across Maryland” month, in honor of “Read Across America” day. Governor O’Malley and Ms. Floyd were joined by Maryland Library Association Vice President Glennor Shirley, Annapolis Mayor Joshua Cohen, Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell, and Tim Mennuti, president of the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County.

“It is an honor to be here today with students from Germantown Elementary,” said Governor O’Malley. “With our number one ranking in education by Education Week for a second year in a row, Maryland is in a unique position to serve as a national model for quality public education. For the second year, we are declaring March as ‘Read Across Maryland Month’ to encourage our children to read and learn not just this month, but all year long. Working together with educators, our public libraries, and families across Maryland, we can instill a thirst for knowledge in our children that will help them achieve their dreams.”

“Read Across America” day is celebrated every year in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, on March 2nd. Maryland’s public school students will be treated to readings by community leaders, elected officials, published authors and educators to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of the creation of the Cat in the Hat and what would have been Dr. Seuss’ 107th birthday. Educators, local education associations and other organizations will embrace the celebration of reading with special events and programs in classrooms, museums, restaurants, libraries, shopping centers and malls. This year, the program has expanded to include a partnership with the Maryland Library Association, with a theme of “30 for 30,” a challenge to parents, teachers, and students to read 30 minutes every day for 30 days for the month of March.

Flags promoting the program will be seen flying in downtown Annapolis, and the 14 Annapolis-area schools will designate special “Read Across Maryland” reading shelves in their libraries. The Governor and members of his cabinet will join MSEA leaders for classroom visits and reading assemblies at select schools across the state during the month of March.

Governor speaking to children “This reading initiative is about everyone working together to develop strong readers from a very early age,’ says Clara Floyd, president of MSEA. “Through collaboration with the Governor, educators, parents, and community leaders, we believe we can be more successful in creating the best learning experience for our students.”

“Reading early and often plays an enormous role in development of the brain, and reading comprehension is critically important for a well-trained workforce,” County Executive Leopold said. “Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Anne Arundel County libraries work very hard to foster reading at an early age. I hope all Marylanders will take advantage of Read Across America and this month’s Read Across Maryland as an opportunity to introduce themselves and their children to a whole new world.”

“I look forward every year to the chance to gather with students and share my love for reading whenever I can,” said Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, Superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. “This event is not only an opportunity to do that, but to honor one of the great authors of all time. I appreciate the Governor continuing to take his time to help our students to help them in their endeavors.”

“I love to read, whether it's a novel, a biography or children stories to my kids at bedtime,” Mayor Joshua J. Cohen said. “Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said it best when he was quoted, ‘I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I want to thank Governor O’Malley and the Maryland State Education Association for creating a venue for children that allows them to feel the power of the written word.”

For the second year in a row, Education Week, the nation’s leading education newspaper, ranked Maryland #1 in public school systems across the nation. Since the O’Malley-Brown Administration took office, State funding for local school systems has increased $1.2 billion, or 27%, while increasing general fund support for K-12 education by almost $400 million. The O’Malley-Brown Administration has made a record $5.7 billion investment in our public schools over the last four years. Even in difficult times, Governor O’Malley’s FY 2011 budget supports the progress of Maryland’s children, teachers, and parents in the nation’s #1 ranked public school system. The FY 2011 budget fully funds the Geographic Cost of Education Index to address regional differences in educational costs; includes a $92.4 million or 12% increase in teacher and librarian pensions, bringing the total to $866.7 million; nearly doubles the State’s investment in school construction and renovations, providing over $1.2 billion in four years; and increases public education funding by $189 million.

For more information on Read Across Maryland, visit http://www.readacrossmaryland.org/.

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/03/governor-omalley-declares-march-as-read.html http://tinyurl.com/ygfccmf

20100301 OMalley Declares March as Read Across Md Month
Art Library authors, Art Library authors Dr Seuss, Dayhoff Media The Tentacle, Gov O'Malley Admin, People O'Malley-Martin

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Tuesday, March 02, 2010

One Maryland: Building a World-Class Workforc

A Message from the Governor March 2, 2010

Building a World-Class Workforce

Today, Lt. Governor Brown and I visited Prince George's Community College to launch a new, major workforce development initiative called Skills2Compete – Maryland, which will align our job creation efforts with the skills-training needed for Maryland's workforce to fill those jobs. We also announced that we've joined 15 other states to form the Complete College Alliance, aimed at increasing the number of students who successfully complete college, closing attainment gaps for traditionally underserved populations.

Maryland is home to the nation's #1 public school system, but the fact is a high school degree isn't enough for most jobs in today's economy. A new report from the National Skills Coalition showed that more than 40 percent of all job openings projected for the State by 2016 are in the middle-skill category. In Maryland, these include jobs not only in traditional fields such as construction, but also high-paying positions in information technology, healthcare services, and jobs related to the BRAC effort and the green economy.

Despite our State's strong record of providing workforce development training, many of the State's employers continue to report trouble filling middle-skill positions from the local talent pool. Economic recovery takes more that just attracting business and creating jobs, it also means equipping those businesses and filling those jobs with a world-class Maryland workforce. Skills2Compete – Maryland will help build that middle- and high-skill workforce

Martin O'Malley
Governor

Governor O'Malley Visits Iraq to Meet with Maryland Troops on Active Duty

Governor Martin O'Malley, on a U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored mission, traveled to Iraq last week where he met with deployed Maryland soldiers and men and women of the Maryland National Guard on active duty in Iraq. The Governor's two-day mission came at the request of U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, whom Governor O'Malley met with on Thursday at the Pentagon before leaving for Iraq.

While in Iraq, Governor O'Malley visited with Maryland-based Army Reserve A Company of the 323 Military Intelligence Battalion, as well as members of the Maryland-based Army Reserve 392 Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Task Force Raven. Later, both Governor O'Malley and Iowa Governor Culver who accompanied him on the trip shared a barbeque dinner with service members from Iowa and Maryland.

Governor O'Malley Declares March "Read Across Maryland" Month

This week, Governor Martin O'Malley, together with the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and the National Education Association,
proclaimed the month of March as "Read Across Maryland" month and also kicked off the new 30 for 30 initiative.

Flags promoting the program will be seen flying in downtown Annapolis, and the 14 Annapolis-area schools will designate special "Read Across Maryland" reading shelves in their libraries. The Governor and members of his cabinet will join MSEA leaders for classroom visits and reading assemblies at select schools across the state during the month of March

Governor O'Malley Announces Marylanders Plant Trees 2010 School Challenge

Recently, Governor O'Malley announced his Marylanders Plant Trees 2010 School Challenge for all elementary, middle and high school students in which he calls for students to plant trees in their communities in order to help improve the air, water and quality of life in Maryland. The challenge will run throughout the month of April. The schools who plant the most trees will be named to an honor roll while the grand prize winning school will be rewarded with a Department of Natural Resources field day at their school.

In 2009, Marylanders planted more than 41,000 trees. Through a cooperative effort among the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the State Highway Administration and the Maryland Department of Corrections and Public Safety, Maryland inmates planted an additional 206,000 new trees — that's the equivalent of over 300 acres — on State parks, forests and other public lands last year, toward a 1 million tree goal

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Monday, February 01, 2010

O'Malley Blocks Conservative Media From State House

UPDATE: Please find Mr. Giordano's article on media credentialing in Annapolis here: http://mrgiordano.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/governor-omalley-blocks-conservative-press-from-state-of-the-state/

The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus has called to our attention that the O'Malley administration is thwarting access of the conservative media to the Maryland State House:

"Governor O'Malley took office three years ago pledging to the citizens ofMaryland that he would run the most transparent administration in Maryland'shistory.

"However, as O'Malley's poll numbers have dropped over the past year, theGovernor's press office has excluded media and citizens from pressconferences in the Governor's Reception Room. They have also established newbarriers for obtaining press credentials for the State House press corps.

"Reporter Hassan Giordano of the Baltimore Independent Examiner describes hisfrustration with the Governor's interference of an open and transparentgovernment in Maryland and, specifically, the lack of access to the Governorunless you are one of the few favored media representatives known to write or produce pro-Administration pieces:

"'While certain members of the Press, including myself, have been stalled andconsistently delayed our press credentials, due to some new process theO'Malley administration has put in place, many are questioning why now? As if not already known as the liberal oppressor of all things conservative,Governor O'Malley is now playing games with certain reporter's credentials,who are too closely tied to conservative publications.'"

"Yes, the administration has stooped to new lows in attempting to control themedia coverage of Governor O'Malley and restrict what citizens get to learnabout their state government.For links to the Baltimore Independent Examiner article, visit our websiteat www.mdsenategop.com.

Cross-posted: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2010/02/omalley-blocks-conservative-media-from.html

For the full article click here. (Unfortunately, the article to which we are referred, http://www.examiner.com/x-1899-Baltimore-Independent-Examiner~y2010m2d1-Governor-OMalley-blocks-conservative-press-from-State-of-the-State has not yet propagated on to the http://www.examiner.com/x-1899-Baltimore-Independent-Examiner web site.

I have sent Mr. Giordano an e-mail asking for more information.

In case you are not already following the work of Hassan Giordano - - he's the real deal. I like to follow his stuff at the http://www.reportersroundtable.com/.

Reporters' Roundtable with Hassan Giordano
State of the MD GOP
Tue Jun 09 2009
State of the MD GOP and Youth and politics with Del. Christopher Shank and Del. Jeannie Haddaway. Related posts:Young Dems ... read more

Reporters' Roundtable with Hassan Giordano
Baltimore City Budget Process
Tue Jun 09 2009
Hassan speaks with Andrew Klein, Baltimore City Budget Director and Angela Fraser of the Office of Neighborhoods. Related ... read more

Reporters' Roundtable with Hassan Giordano
Adoption Process
Sun May 24 2009
Hassan speaks with Suzzanne Floegel and her attorney Chad Cos about struggles with the adoption process in Maryland. Related ... ... read more

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Hassan Giordano Baltimore Independent Examiner Bio: Hassan Giordano, political insider and campaign consultant, is the Host of the Reporters' Roundtable at http://www.reportersroundtable.com/.

Is the Race for Council President really about race Saturday, January 30th, 2010 · 1 commentAs most skeptics would caution a racial argument in almost anything of importance these days, alluding to the fact we have an African-American...Keep Reading »

Baltimore City councilmembers look to reduce the power of the Mayor Friday, January 29th, 2010 As outgoing Mayor Sheila Dixon is set to resign her position on February 4, following a 3-year criminal investigation that resulted in an Alford Plea...Keep Reading »

Race for the Presidency: The forces attempting to tear Jack down Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 · 1 commentAs many stories are being disiminated, with many fallaciously being reported, in regards to the votes secured by Councilman Bernard ‘Jack’...Keep Reading »

Mayor-elect Rawlings-Blake gives Dixon staff 24-hour notice Monday, January 25th, 2010 · 2 commentsOn January 25, 2010, a memo was sent out from Kim Washington-Chief of Staff for Mayor-elect Rawlings-Blake-to the entire Dixon office staff, in...Keep Reading »

Raynard Jackson: Local journalist hits the national scene Monday, January 25th, 2010 Check out the BET column of friend and colleague Raynard Jackson, a local DC journalist and consultant. Opinion: The Browning of the U.S....Keep Reading »

JackYoung4President: Not if the Mayor-elect has anything to do with it Friday, January 22nd, 2010 · 3 commentsAs reported by this Examiner previously, the eight votes needed, by the Baltimore City Council members, to become the cities next Council President,...Keep Reading »

Any Given Tuesday: What a Scott Brown victory means for both parties Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 As conservatives relish in the joy of a Scott Philip Brown election to the United States Senate representing a liberal Massachusetts, I would caution...Keep Reading »

Baltimore's Haitian Relief Effort 4 commentsThe City of Baltimore comes together to do a cash drive to support the ground efforts of Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Organization with performances...Keep Reading »

Is Governor O'Malley poised to retake the City of Baltimore It seems as though current Governor Martin O'Malley and incoming Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake have plenty in common; both being lawyers, her... Keep Reading »

City Council Watch 2010: Councilman Young hi-Jacks the votes for the Presidency 1 comment As the Baltimore City Council returned to City Hall last night, for the first council meeting of the new year, spirits seemed joyous and the antics of...Keep Reading »

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Gov O'Malley Admin, Journalists Giordana Hassan, MD st govt, Media issues, Media Reporters' Roundtable

Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

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Thursday, January 14, 2010

A Message from the Governor

A Message from the Governor

January 13, 2010

427th Legislative Session

Today, the 427th Maryland General Assembly convened for its 90-day legislative session.

Our task as public servants, as Marylanders, and as Americans is to continue making the choices and connections that will allow our families to get through these tough times even stronger. As I know you'll agree, there is no government program that is as important and empowering as a job that allows a family to raise their kids with dignity and respect and a roof over their heads. In these tough times, everything we accomplish this legislative session must be seen through the lens of whether or not it creates jobs, protects jobs, or improves the environment for creating and protecting jobs.

And it begins with maintaining the era of fiscal responsibility we returned to Annapolis. Rather than increasing spending, for the first time since the Great Depression, spending levels are less today than they were four years ago – and state spending has reduced $4.6 billion under our Administration. Maryland remains one of only seven states that continue to defend a Triple A Bond rating – a measure of fiscal responsibility certified by all three major agencies.

Every year for the past three years, we've submitted a budget that is not only balanced, but that comes in within the spending affordability guidelines. It is all with the goal and the motive and purpose of maintaining fiscal responsibility so we can make progress on schools, progress on public safety, progress that strengthens and grows our middle class and creates more opportunity for hardworking people in our State

Martin O'Malley
Governor

20100113 A Message from the Gov 427 MGA Gov O'Malley Admin, Md Gen Assembly 2010 427, MD Gen Assembly Opera, People O'Malley-Martin

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/01/message-from-governor.html

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Friday, September 25, 2009

Flight of MD Millionaires Haunts O'Malley Budget Policy

Flight of MD Millionaires Haunts O'Malley Budget Policy by: Mark

http://yrnetwork.com/blogs/2905/view.aspx?article=560

The #1 Republican Network of Young Professionals, Students, Entreprenuers, and Young Business Leaders: http://yrnetwork.com/

“Of course millionaires are leaving Maryland,” exclaimed Anirban Basu as he discussed the deteriorating economic conditions facing Maryland’s citizens and businesses.

Basu, an economist and CEO of Sage Policy Group, was the keynote speaker at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO) summer conference last week. In analyzing the decline of revenues from personal income taxes paid to the state, Basu attributed part of the decline to Governor O’Malley’s initiative last year to raise the tax rate on earners of $1 million or more.

Under the O’Malley proposal enacted into law in the 2008 Session, the top marginal tax rate was increased from 5.5% to 6.25%. When coupled with the local income tax, some Maryland filers are now taxed at a combined 9.45% personal income tax rate – or they can move to a low tax state where there is no personal income tax.

Prior to the O’Malley tax increase, a miniscule 0.3% of Maryland taxpayers (taxpayers with $1 million or more income) contributed 15% of the total revenues for the state's personal income tax receipts.

We can expect the Comptroller’s office to provide final figures on the flight of millionaires from Maryland in October, but the initial analysis was not good. As reported in the Wall Street Journal (click here) in May:

“One year later, nobody's grinning. One-third of the millionaires have disappeared from Maryland tax rolls. In 2008 roughly 3,000 million-dollar income tax returns were filed by the end of April. This year there were 2,000, which the state comptroller's office concedes is a ‘substantial decline.’ On those missing returns, the government collects 6.25% of nothing. Instead of the state coffers gaining the extra $106 million the politicians predicted, millionaires paid $100 million less in taxes than they did last year - even at higher rates.”

This ill-fated policy decision represents a $206 million shortfall of the current $800 million hole in the O’Malley deficit. It is likely that state employees will be forced to cough up at least $34 million (if the furlough is comparable to last year's furlough plan) although many analysts expect even deeper cuts into state employee salaries. O'Malley told local officials at the MACO conference that they should expect $250 million in cuts to local aid.

This is just one of a great number of bad policy decisions made by the O’Malley Administration. As state employees, local governments and others face the day of reckoning this week for the announcement of the next round of cuts, they will realize that it’s not just the “Great Recession” but also the misguided O'Malley budget policy that places on them the burden of cleaning up the state’s budget crisis.

- - Maryland Senate Republican Caucus

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20090825 Flight of MD Millionaires Haunts OMalley Budget Policy

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835 Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Blip.fm: http://blip.fm/kevindayhoff_soundtrack

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Smigiel Pipkin protest closing the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center

Smigiel Pipkin protest closing the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center

Can you only imagine the outrage of the liberal Maryland media if former Governor Robert Ehrlich had closed the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center?

Delegate Mike Smigiel Press Release:

Contact: Andi Morony September 24, 2009 410-490-2734

For Immediate Release

Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-District 36-Upper Shore) will be joining Senator EJ Pipkin at an all-night vigil in Chestertown, MD to protest the closing of the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center.

"Very few issues touch the community in such a real and significant way as the need for basic services for those who are unable to help themselves. When those issues arise, public servants need to do everything possible. to bring attention to the urgency of the situation." Smigiel said of the vigil.

"The community has been working very hard to save the USCMHC. We, as public officials, must lead the charge to reverse this decision." Smigiel said in reference to the decision to close the center.

"I find it in poor taste and particularly callous that the Governor will attend a $1,000 a plate fundraiser here in Chestertown but cannot find the time to tour this award-winning facility and speak directly with the people most affected by the cuts" Smigiel concluded.

An invitation went to the Governor's office a week ago from the members of the 36th District Legislative Team asking that he come and tour the facility. To date, no response has been received. The high dollar campaign fundraiser is scheduled for this Saturday at 1PM in Chestertown, Md.

20090924 Smigiel Pipkin vigil Chestertown protest closing Mntl Hlth Cntr

Smigiel Pipkin protest closing Upper MD Shore Community Mental Health Center

*****

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Poll: O'Malley Leads Ehrlich In 'Rematch'

Poll: O'Malley Leads Ehrlich In 'Rematch'
Economy Said To Be State's Most Pressing Issue
http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/21057274/detail.html

September 22, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A new poll has Democrat Gov. Martin O'Malley leading in a rematch with Republican Robert Ehrlich 49 percent to 38 percent, with 13 percent undecided.

View The Entire Survey Click To Comment

[…]

Laslo Boyd, a partner of Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies, talked with WBAL 1090 AM's Scott Wykoff about the poll. You can listen to his remarks here.

Read the entire WBAL article here: http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/21057274/detail.html

20090922 WBAL Poll OMalley Leads Ehrlich In Rematch

*****

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley hires Thomas Russell campaign manager

O'Malley Hires Campaign Manager

From last week: Thursday, August 06, 2009 Scott Wykoff

While he hasn't announced his run for re-election yet, Governor O'Malley has hired a campaign manager for his re-election campaign.

The O'Malley-Brown Committee announced today that it has chosen Thomas Russell to serve as campaign manager for the 2010 re-election campaign. Tom Russell began working earlier this summer for the campaign.

Read the entire article here: O'Malley Hires Campaign Manager

Thursday, August 06, 2009 Scott Wykoff

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=32954&zoneid=2

20090806 WBAL OMalley Hires Campaign Manager

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Governor to be in Westminster for Capital For A Day Friday, April 24th

... Friday, April 24th Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown, and the entire O’Malley Administration will be coming to Westminster for “Capital For A Day” (CFAD).

This will be our first CFAD of the 2009 schedule, and we have moved it up a little earlier than expected, but are really looking forward to spending the day in Carroll County.

The Governor was invited to join the new USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at an event at a local farm, and so we have decided to make the entire day a CFAD event.

The Governor’s schedule will be as follows, and we would like you to join him at any events that you are interested in attending.

Friday, April 24th Capital For A Day in Westminster:

What: GOVERNOR TO PARTICIPATE IN CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (CREP) AGREEMENT SIGNING AND TREE PLANTING PRESS EVENT WITH USDA SEC. TOM VILSACK

When: 11:00am to 12:00pm

Where: Farm of Richard Soper, Jr and family, 523 Warfieldsburg Road, Westminster 21157

What: GOVERNOR - MAIN STREET WALK AND LUNCH

When: 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Where: Main Street, downtown Westminster

What: GOVERNOR TO HOLD CABINET MEETING

When: 1:30pm to 3pm OPEN TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC AT 2:15pm

Where: Location TBD- either McDaniel or Carroll Community College

The Cabinet meeting is closed for the first 30 minutes, while the Governor goes through a normal cabinet meeting agenda with the Secretaries.

Then around 2:15 pm, it is open to the public for the Mayor, Commission President Gouge, and Senator Haines to give brief comments and for a Q and A with elected officials and the Cabinet members. So the Cabinet meeting agenda would look like this:

CABINET MEETING:

1:30 to 2pm Closed Cabinet meeting with Governor

2:15 to 2:30pm Presentation of Local Issues to Governor and Cabinet- Mayor Ferguson, Commissioner Gouge, and Senator Haines (5 minutes each)

2:30pm to 3pm Questions and Answers with All Elected Officials and Proclamation of “Capital For A Day”

In addition to this meeting, the Cabinet members will also be spending the entire day with their local counterparts in city and county government in Carroll County.

They are encouraged to meet in the morning with your local staff, to have working lunches downtown that day, and to do any press events in town that you feel would be good ideas for them to see/tour/visit.

20090424 SDOSM Gov to be in Westminster for Capital For A Day

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ www.westgov.net

Monday, March 02, 2009

Message from Gov O’Malley on tomorrow’s death penalty vote

Message from Gov O’Malley on tomorrow’s death penalty vote

Related: 20070611 Studies Death Penalty Discourages Crime

Tomorrow the Maryland State Senate is expected to vote on the death penalty

From the Desk of Governor O'Malley

March 2, 2009

Dear Friend,

Every so often, we have the chance to take action on an issue which touches the very soul of who we are as a people. Tomorrow, the Maryland State Senate is expected to vote on one such issue: legislation that would repeal our State's death penalty and replace it with life without parole.

The vote tomorrow is expected to be very, very close, and results may very well hinge on last-minute decisions by just a handful of senators.

Our democracy is only as strong as the active participation of those who hold the most important office in our State government: “citizen.” I hope that you will consider taking some time to contact your state senator to register your opinion about this defining moral issue. Maryland Citizens Against State Executions has set up a website through which you can email your state senator.

It is my firm belief that the death penalty is outdated, expensive, and utterly ineffective.

As the mayor of the City of Baltimore, I witnessed horrendous crimes that called out for justice. The death penalty was on the books -- and did absolutely nothing to prevent these awful crimes.

Last year, we came together as One Maryland to achieve the second largest reduction in homicides since 1985. The death penalty was on the books -- and did absolutely nothing to prevent these awful crimes or help us reduce violent crime by 40 percent.

And the death penalty has had nothing to do with our efforts to improve public safety in our communities. It's been done through innovative policing, expanded DNA fingerprinting, and local and state partnerships.

Recently the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment found that for every 8.7 Americans sent to death row, one innocent person is exonerated.

The Commission also found that the cost to taxpayers of pursuing a capital punishment conviction was three times as much as the cost of pursuing a non-death penalty homicide conviction. During these times of economic crisis, those are funds we could be investing in crime prevention or assisting victims' families.

Good people on both sides of the death penalty issue can disagree, but as we weigh the repeal in our hearts, for each and every one of us, the fundamental question is the same: what type of society do we want to be? A society guided by fear, retribution, and the false notion that two wrongs somehow make a right? Or a society guided by fundamental civil and human rights endowed by our Creator?

The death penalty is fundamentally and irreconcilably incompatible with the sort of Republic to which I believe all of us aspire.

It is my sincere hope that 2009 will be the year in which, finally, together as One Maryland we repeal capital punishment and replace it with life without parole.

Please contact your state senator and urge them to support the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland.

Sincerely,
Martin O'Malley
Governor

20090302 Message from Gov OMalley on tomorrows death penalty vote
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 12, 2009

MD General Assembly Republicans File Taxpayer Protection Act

Maryland Republican Party

James Pelura, DVM, MS Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Justin Ready 410-263-2125
February 12, 2009

Maryland General Assembly Republicans File Taxpayer Protection Act

Bill will require 3/5ths Majority in General Assembly to Raise Taxes

Annapolis –This week, Senator Andy Harris (R-7) and Delegate Steve Schuh (R-31), with joint support from the Republican Caucuses in the State Senate and House of Delegates, introduced the "Taxpayer Protection Act". The bill numbers are SB 747 and HB 684.

This exciting piece of legislation would require a 60% vote in each chamber to raise existing taxes or create new ones. It is important to note that the damaging tax increases passed during the 2007 Special Session did not receive such a majority. Had this legislation been in place, Maryland's economy would be better off today.

"Once again, the Republicans in the Maryland General Assembly have shown their dedication and commitment to the hard-working taxpayers of Maryland,” stated Chairman Pelura. “Governor O’Malley is dangerously relying on bailout money from the federal government to balance his budget. When that dries up, he’ll be coming back to the taxpayers to demand more from them.”

Pelura continued, "I urge all Marylanders to call their state senators and delegates and tell them to support this legislation to stop Governor O'Malley and his Democrats allies in the General Assembly from taking any more of our hard-earned dollars."

http://www.mdgop.org/
_______
15 West Street • Annapolis, Maryland • 21401 • (410) 263-2125 Annapolis • (410) 269-5937 Fax

20090212 MD General Assembly Republicans File Taxpayer Protection Act
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 30, 2009

MDGOP Statement on Governor O'Malley's State of the State Address

Maryland Republican Party

James Pelura, DVM, MS
Chairman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Justin Ready
January 29, 2009
410-263-2125

MDGOP Responds to Governor O’Malley’s State of the State Address
Again, O’Malley shirks responsibility and refuses to alter course

Annapolis- Maryland Republican Party Chairman had the following comments in reaction to Governor O’Malley’s state of the state address:

“Governor O’Malley is basing the bulk of his budgeting decisions on getting federal bailout money and plans to continue spending more and more of our money while ignoring Maryland’s fiscal crisis. Governor O’Malley’s budget increases spending by $800 million in the face of a $2 billion budget deficit.

Martin O’Malley and his Democrat allies in the General Assembly have mismanaged our fiscal house and are now hoping to be bailed out with money from the federal government. That money is not ‘free’, it is coming out of our pockets and will be coming out of the pockets of our children and grandchildren. This emergency bailout money is a one-time fix. Unfortunately, the Democrats who control Annapolis believe that they can continue overspending because of this temporary, fiscal band-aid.

Now is the time for the Governor to stop raiding emergency funds and playing one-time fund transfer games. We need him to also be focused on the real problem of driver’s license security, something he neglected to mention in his speech.

Our Republican leaders in Annapolis have a clear vision to make Maryland a place where families and small businesses can flourish. Maryland Republicans want to remove the overbearing regulations and toxic tax conditions that cripple economic growth and cause job loss.

It is time for Marylanders to demand new leadership so that we can get our state’s economy back on the right track for working families.”

www.mdgop.org
______________________________________________________________________________
15 West Street • Annapolis, Maryland • 21401 • (410) 263-2125 Annapolis • (410) 269-5937 Fax

20090129 MDGOP St on Gov OMalleys State of the State Address
MDGOP Statement on Governor O'Malley's State of the State Address

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Marjorie Lohnes named to serve on the Governor’s Career and Technology Education Task Force

Carroll County Public Schools
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157

News Release - For Immediate Release

November 24, 2008

Charles I. Ecker, Superintendent

Lohnes to Serve on Governor’s Career and Technology Education Task Force

Marjorie Lohnes, Supervisor of Career and Technology Education for Carroll County Public Schools, has been appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley as a member of the Career and Technology Education Task Force.

The charge of the Task Force is to create an action plan designed to expand the career and technology education programs that prepare students for entry into post-secondary education, apprenticeships and a career where there is current and future employer demand. Priority will be given to expanding programs that support critical infrastructure needs such as construction, health and biosciences, manufacturing, information technology, and consumer services; particularly those vital to industries related to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Lohnes began her career in education in Carroll County as a teacher. She has served as Supervisor of Career and Technology Education since 1991.

# # #

Contact: Marjorie Lohnes, Supervisor of Career and Technology Education,
410-751-3104

CG/bb
11/24/08

Contact: W. Carey Gaddis, Coordinator of Community and Media Relations
(410) 751-3020 • TTY (410) 751-3034
E-mail - • Web Address - www.carr.org/ccps

Webmaster disclosure: I serve on the Board of Junction with Ms. Lohnes.