Dayhoff Soundtrack: MD Gen Assembly 2007 Fall

Showing posts with label MD Gen Assembly 2007 Fall. Show all posts

Friday, December 07, 2007

20071206 Robert Ehrlich Jr.: State leaders deceived Maryland taxpayers

Robert Ehrlich Jr.: State leaders deceived Maryland taxpayers

December 6^th, 2007

I received a heads-up about this column by former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich – in an e-mail earlier in the day yesterday, Thursday, December 6^th, 2007. And I can readily agree with the e-mailer’s comments…

In case you missed it in today’s paper, pasted below is the link and copy of Governor Ehrlich’s editorial that provides a retrospective of the special session.

I think he is absolutely correct that the media has failed to report, analyze or evaluate the long-term ramifications of the steep increase to the tax burden on our citizens and businesses – and that the loss of competitiveness will “mean more Marylanders will do their Christmas shopping in Delaware, visit the race track in West Virginia, move their small businesses to Pennsylvania and choose to make Florida their legal residence.”

Below is a link to: Robert Ehrlich Jr.: State leaders deceived Maryland taxpayers. (The highlighting belongs to me…)

Robert Ehrlich Jr., 2007-12-06

BALTIMORE –

T he just-concluded special session of the Maryland General Assembly has brought us the largest and most regressive tax increase in our history. With it, of course, was a dramatic increase in new spending, an important but generally ignored aspect of the session.

Maryland’s tax and spending habits, however, are overshadowed by something far more troubling: The heavy-handed and over-reaching manner the new administration and the legislative leaders used to accomplish their goal. Consider these four characteristics of the not-so special session of the General Assembly.

[…]

Deceitful: The alleged purpose of the special session was to fix a projected budget shortfall. Yet, before the session’s first gavel, the spending trough was opened. Brought back to Annapolis to address an alleged budget deficit, the legislature deepened the hole by approving more than $1.5 billion dollars in additional spending, while passing massive tax hikes behind closed doors and in the middle of the night. Public participation was stifled; debate was curtailed.

[…]

Cynical: The new administration asked Marylanders to believe that 83 percent of taxpayers would pay less in state taxes despite their proposed tax increase of nearly $2 billion dollars, a notion since proved misleading at best.

[…]

Depressing: After decades of building and fighting for a reputation as a business-friendly state, Maryland has now taken a giant step backward. Let’s face reality: A 20 percent increase in the state’s sales tax and an 18 percent increase in the state’s corporate tax are not, as some in Annapolis tried to suggest, positive competitive moves. Instead, they send a chilling message to the business community and present a significant marketing advantage to nearby states to recruit additional employers away from Maryland. Not surprisingly, recent studies show that confidence among small and mid-sized Maryland business owners is declining for the first time in years.

Destructive: The across-the-board tax increases mean more Marylanders will do their Christmas shopping in Delaware, visit the race track in West Virginia, move their small businesses to Pennsylvania and choose to make Florida their legal residence.

[…]

There has been a real public outcry over the actions of our representatives in Annapolis. But life has taught us that this anger will be short-lived. Perhaps that will be true again.

Read the entire column here: Robert Ehrlich Jr.: State leaders deceived Maryland taxpayers

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20071206 Assessing the Budget by Maryland Politics and Maryland On My Mind

Assessing the Budget by Maryland Politics and Maryland On My Mind

December 7^th, 2007

A big thanks to Maryland Politics - Assessing the Budget Thursday, December 06, 2007 - - for calling to our attention: Maryland ‘Tax Burden Scenario’ - Department of Legislative Services Report by Maryland on My Mind December 1, 2007...8:30 pm by Maryland On My Mind

_____

Kudos to Maryland on My Mind (MOMM) for noticing that the Department of Legislative Services has released its analysis of the impact of the budget bills. Leaving aside the impact of the "sin" taxes on cigarettes and slots, the impact of the other taxes falls primarily on the wealthy:

Read the rest here: Assessing the Budget

_____

Maryland ‘Tax Burden Scenario’ - Department of Legislative Services Report by Maryland on My Mind December 1, 2007...8:30 pm

The Department of Legislative Services is out with the first comprehensive analysis of the bills passed during the recent Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly. It’s mostly numbers, grist for policy wonks.

Of special interest is page 5, “Tax Burden Scenario - Governor’s Proposal, As Amended by the General Assembly. Impact on Example Taxpayers.” Here you can begin to decide whether the tax package passed in the Special Session is progressive or regressive. The Dept. of Legislative Services gives examples of the tax effects on families at four income levels.

Read the rest here: Maryland ‘Tax Burden Scenario’ - Department of Legislative Services Report by Maryland on My Mind

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For more on the Maryland Special Taxing Session: Maryland General Assembly Oct. 29 2007 Special Session

And:

November 29, 2007

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 2

Kevin E. Dayhoff

In yesterday’s column I wrote that with the passage of this tax package by the General Assembly, there are now more than ever two Marylands: a rural Maryland that exists to provide quality of life and common sense for the other Maryland – the urbanized areas where reason and common sense have taken a holiday.

November 28, 2007

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 1

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The ink had hardly dried on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature on November 19 when the peripatetic gerbils powering the Maryland media spin machines went into high gear.

November 21, 2007

Taxarians at the Gate

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Happy Thanksgiving. We have so many things for which to be thankful. The first of which is our men and women in uniform who continue to perform admirably in difficult circumstances.

November 7, 2007

The Ever Green Fund

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Last Friday, the House Environmental Matters Committee in the Maryland General Assembly held a hearing on House Bill 23, the “Maryland Green Fund.”

October 31, 2007

Trick or Treat

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Happy Halloween! Of course, for Marylanders, Halloween came early this year when Gov. Martin O'Malley appeared Monday evening before a joint session of Maryland General Assembly with a very big trick or treat bag.

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Thursday, December 06, 2007

20071203 Senate Bill 2 Tax Reform Act of 2007

2007 1st Special Session bill information current as of December 3, 2007 - 4:42 p.m.
Sponsors	Title	Synopsis	History	Sponsor List	Subjects	Statutes	Documents	Another Session	Another Bill

SENATE BILL 2

CHAPTER NUMBER: 3

File Code: Taxes - Miscellaneous

Crossfiled with: HOUSE BILL 2

Sponsored By:

The President (By Request - Administration)

Entitled:

Tax Reform Act of 2007

Synopsis:

Altering the rates and rate brackets under the State individual income tax; applying income tax rates to nonresidents; expanding the sales and use tax to specified services; increasing the corporate income tax rate from 7% to 8.25%; imposing recordation and transfer taxes on the transfer of controlling interest in specified real property owning entities; etc.

History by Legislative and Calendar Date

Senate Action

10/29

First Reading Budget and Taxation

10/30

Hearing 10/31 at 1:00 p.m.

10/31

Hearing 11/1 at 10:00 a.m.

11/7

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

10/31

Favorable with Amendments

11/1

Favorable with Amendments

Committee Amendment (#1-2, 4, 7, 11, 13, 17, 18) Adopted

Committee Amendment (#3) Adopted (25-20)

Committee Amendment (#5) Adopted (45-2)

Committee Amendment (#6) Adopted (28-16)

Committee Amendment (#8) Adopted (35-11)

Committee Amendment (#9) Adopted

Committee Amendment (#10) Adopted (29-16)

Committee Amendment (#12) Adopted (26-21)

Committee Amendment (#14) Adopted (26-20)

Committee Amendment (#15) Adopted

Committee Amendment (#16) Adopted (28-18)

Favorable with Amendments Report Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Currie) Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Kelley) Rejected (23-24)

Floor Amendment (Senator Haines) Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Mooney) Rejected (21-26)

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs)

Motion " Special Order until later today (Senator Kasemeyer) " Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (15-28)

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs)

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (20-26)

Floor Amendment (Senator Jacobs) Rejected (18-29)

Floor Amendment (Senator McFadden) Adopted (36-10)

Floor Amendment (Senator McFadden) Rejected (10-35)

Floor Amendment (Senator Colburn) Rejected (16-31)

Floor Amendment (Senator Greenip) Rejected (17-29)

Floor Amendment (Senator Pipkin) Adopted

Floor Amendment (Senator Pipkin) Withdrawn

Floor Amendment (Senator Pipkin) Rejected (13-32)

Floor Amendment (Senator Zirkin) Adopted

Floor Committee Amendment (Budget and Taxation)

Floor Committee Amendment (#1-2) Adopted (36-10)

Floor Committee Amendment (#3) Adopted (30-17)

Floor Committee Amendment (#4) Adopted (29-18)

Floor Committee Amendment (#5) Adopted (47-0)

Floor Amendment (Senator Frosh) Adopted (24-23)

Floor Amendment (Senator Pipkin) Rejected (16-29)

Floor Amendment (Senator Kasemeyer) Adopted (46-0)

Second Reading Passed with Amendments

11/3

Motion limit debate (Senator Kasemeyer) Adopted (29-18)

Third Reading Passed (24-23)

11/9

Senate Concur - House Amendments

Motion limit debate (Senator Kasemeyer) Rejected (28-16)

Motion limit debate (Senator Kasemeyer) Adopted (29-15)

Third Reading Passed (24-20)

Passed Enrolled

House Action

11/2

First Reading Ways and Means & Appropriations

11/12

Hearing 11/14 at 1:00 p.m.

11/18

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

11/13

Favorable with Amendments Report Adopted

Floor Amendment (Delegate Haddaway)

Motion vote previous question (Delegate Minnick) Adopted

Floor Amendment (Delegate Haddaway) Rejected (46-74)

Floor Amendment (Delegate Stifler) Rejected

Second Reading Passed with Amendments

Motion Rules Suspended two readings same day (Delegate Barve) Adopted (113-20)

Floor Amendment (Delegate Dumais) Withdrawn

Motion vote previous question (Delegate Minnick) Adopted

Third Reading Passed with Amendments (78-56)

Action after passage in Senate and House

11/19

Approved by the Governor

- Chapter 3

Sponsored by:

President, The

Administration

Bill indexed under the following Subjects:

Admissions and Amusement Tax

Aircraft

Appropriations

Assessments and Taxation, Department of

Attorneys

Baltimore City

Bingo

Blind Persons

Chesapeake Bay

Cigarettes -see also- Smoking

Commerce and Business -see also- Dealers; Traders; etc

Committees and Commissions -see also- Political Committees

Comptroller

Conservation -see also- Soil Conservation

Corporations -see also- Municipal Corps; Public Corps & Inst

Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties; Sentences; etc.

Elderly Persons

Energy Matters -see also- Fuel; Power Plants; Solar Energy

Environmental Matters -see also- Conserv; Nat Resrce; Pollut

Excise Tax

Exemptions

Fish and Fishing -see also- Aquaculture; Gill Nets

Fuel Tax

Health -see also- Mental Health

Heating and Cooling

Higher Education -see also- Comm Colleges; Med Schools; etc.

Income Tax

Interest

Legislation -see also- Corrective Leg; Curative Leg

License Plates

Liens -see also- Mechanics` Liens

Massage

Motor Vehicles -see also- Aband Veh; Ambulances; Buses; etc.

Nonresidents -see also- Aliens

Penalties

Program Open Space

Property Tax

Public Debt -see also- County & Balt City Bonds; State Bonds

Real Property

Recordation

Reports

Revenue and Taxes -see also- Dev Fees &Taxes; specific tax

Rivers and Streams

Rules and Regulations

Sales and Use Tax

Solar Energy

State Bonds

State Police, Department of

State Universities and Colleges

Sunset

Tax Credits -see also- Circuit Breaker

Tobacco

Transfer Tax

Transportation-see also- Aircraft; Airports; Boats; etc

Tuition

Vending Machines

Video

Waterway Improvement Fund

Bill affects the following Statutes:

Business Occupations and Professions

( 10-313 )

Education

( 15-106.6 )

Tax - General

( 2-106 , 2-106 , 2-613.1 , 2-614 , 2-615 , 10-102.1 , 10-105 , 10-110 , 10-207 , 10-210.1 , 10-211 , 10-402 , 10-601 , 10-704 , 10-804 , 10-804.1 , 10-908 , 10-908 , 10-912 , 11-101 , 11-101 , 11-105 , 11-219 )

Tax - Property

( 12-110 , 12-117 , 13-103 , 13-209 )

Documents:

Bill Text (Displayed in PDF Format): First Reading, Third Reading, Enrolled, Chapter

Fiscal and Policy Note (Displayed in PDF Format): Available

Attorney General Letter (Displayed in PDF Format): Available

Amendments (Displayed in PDF Format):

Senate

Number: 113622/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 5:13 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 143328/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 2:14 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 189134/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 12:57 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 233224/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:50 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 253226/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 2:17 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 333729/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:35 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 373126/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 6:00 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 383626/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 5:02 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 423722/02 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 10:05 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 453320/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:57 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 503725/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:44 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 583827/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 5:22 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 683529/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 2:30 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 683926/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:50 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 713226/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 2:31 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 723926/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 10:10 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 803226/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 2:45 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 833123/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 4:36 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 873529/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 5:24 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 953727/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 3:50 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 973225/01 Offered on: November 8, 2007 at: 5:05 p.m. Status: Withdrawn

House

Number: 133523/01 Offered on: November 18, 2007 at: 10:36 p.m. Status: Withdrawn

Number: 263225/01 Offered on: November 18, 2007 at: 9:56 p.m. Status: Rejected

Number: 605260/01 Offered on: November 18, 2007 at: 9:32 p.m. Status: Adopted

Number: 693029/01 Offered on: November 18, 2007 at: 10:20 p.m. Status: Rejected

Roll Call Votes (Legislative dates are shown):

Senate

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#3) Adopted (25-20)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#5) Adopted (45-2)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#6) Adopted (28-16)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#8) Adopted (35-11)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#10) Adopted (29-16)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#12) Adopted (26-21)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#14) Adopted (26-20)

November 1, 2007: Committee Amendment (#16) Adopted (28-18)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Kelley) {253226/1 Rejected (23-24)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Mooney) {713226/1 Rejected (21-26)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Jacobs) {803226/1 Rejected (15-28)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Jacobs) {333729/1 Rejected (20-26)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Jacobs) {833123/1 Rejected (18-29)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (McFadden) {503725/1 Adopted (36-10)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (McFadden) {683926/1 Rejected (10-35)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Colburn) {233224/1 Rejected (16-31)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Greenip) {453320/1 Rejected (17-29)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Pipkin) {113622/1 Rejected (13-32)

November 1, 2007: Floor Committee Amendment (#1-2) Adopted (36-10)

November 1, 2007: Floor Committee Amendment (#3) Adopted (30-17)

November 1, 2007: Floor Committee Amendment (#4) Adopted (29-18)

November 1, 2007: Floor Committee Amendment (#5) Adopted (47-0)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Frosh) {373126/1 Adopted (24-23)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Pipkin) {423722/2 Rejected (16-29)

November 1, 2007: Floor Amendment (Kasemeyer) {723926/1 Adopted (46-0)

November 3, 2007: Motion limit debate (Kasemeyer) Adopted (29-18)

November 3, 2007: Third Reading Passed (24-23)

November 9, 2007: Motion limit debate (Kasemeyer) Rejected (28-16)

November 9, 2007: Motion limit debate (Kasemeyer) Adopted (29-15)

November 9, 2007: Third Reading Passed (24-20)

House

November 13, 2007: Floor Amendment (Haddaway) Rejected (46-74)

November 13, 2007: Motion Rules Suspended two readings same day (Barve) Adopted (113-20)

November 13, 2007: Third Reading Passed (78-56)

20071205 This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

The President and Community Initiatives

Kevin E. Dayhoff

To commemorate World AIDS Day last Friday, President George W. Bush and his wife Laura met with representatives of faith-based groups in a roundtable discussion at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy.

[…]

The president selected Mt. Airy’s Calvary United Methodist Church because it has a history of supporting the global fight against HIV/AIDS. He said “faith-based groups like these are the foot soldiers in the armies of compassion.”

In 2007, the church budgeted $125,000 toward its 33 mission projects. Those projects include “Gary and Rebecca Mink Ministries,” which the church has supported for 15 years, and the Children of Zion Village (COZV) group home and school in Namibia, in southeast Africa.

[…]

In a recent conversation, 6th District Congressman Roscoe Bartlett reiterated that “private efforts, like that of Calvary United Methodist Church, to assist AIDS victims in Africa are most fulfilling, and it is just such an initiative that we ought to remember at the Christmas holidays.”

To learn more about Calvary and/or its numerous mission projects – or hopefully, to make a contribution – visit www.calvary-mtairy.org .The address is: Gary and Rebecca Mink Ministries, Calvary United Methodist Church, 403 South Main Street, Mount Airy, MD 21771.

For more information on the Children of Zion Village visit www.childrenofzionvillage.org.

Just Watching and Waiting

Tom McLaughlin

Things here in Ocean City are quieting down and there is very little traffic along beach highway. The hardware stores are empty compared to a year ago as the vacation housing boom has been reduced to a fizzle.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Partisanship or Prejudice

Roy Meachum

During the years spent hanging around the White House, I found it funny when a friend received a birthday book: "Republicans I Have Known and Loved." Inside were blank pages as might be expected among that Democratic crowd.

Editor's Note:

Farrell Keough

(Editor's Note: Farrell Keough's column, which would normally appear in this space today, is delayed by a fractious nuisance called illness. It will appear later this week.)

Raquel, Where are you?

Norman M. Covert

Nostalgia has a way of striking down the old folks when they least expect it. I saw an interview with Edward Powell, chief executive officer of the United Service Organization (USO), and was taken aback by his excuses why no big-name stars would entertain the troops in Iraq or Afghanistan this Christmas.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Christmas Cash & A Potpourri

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Once again, the powers-to-be at Clear Channel Radio’s WFMD held their annual radiothon for Frederick County’s children. Christmas Cash for Kids consumed large chunks of air normally reserved for political, social, and financial chit-chat.

Side-Arms Showdown in DC

Steven R. Berryman

By upholding a lower court ruling, the District of Columbia gun ban could well be overturned with finality by the U.S. Supreme Court next spring. You might ask why this bothers both the NRA and The Brady Campaign.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Snow and That Other Stuff

Edward Lulie III

It is getting to be the time of year when that certain four letter word begins to appear in long range weather forecasts: SNOW. The mere mention of the word brings joy to some and panic to others.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Ring Around the Immigration Culprit

Tony Soltero

For all the constant talk about the immigration issue, it's amazing how shallow and superficial the discussion about it remains both locally and nationally.

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 2

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 1

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The ink had hardly dried on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature on November 19 when the peripatetic gerbils powering the Maryland media spin machines went into high gear.

Hannah Montana
Humor by Tom McLaughlin

Tom McLaughlin

There is a dire warning in a past issue of The Wall Street Journal. Does it foretell a major stock crash? Will the dollar sink below the Indonesian Rupiah, now trading at about 10,000 per?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Superbly Qualified for President

Roy Meachum

Politics' infection has not reached the center of my consciousness. As the Friday morning visits with WFMD Radio's Bob Miller demonstrate week after week, I believe there is much more to life than tracking officials and keeping tabs on wannabes.

10 Dumb Questions I Get – Part 2

Nick Diaz

In this space two weeks ago, I referred readers to three of the 10 dumbest questions that we of the motorcycling fraternity regularly field. In my 37 years on motorized two wheel contraptions, I’ve been asked all of these questions. So much so that I’ve developed some “smart-allecky” replies to them. We paused after Question #3, so now I’m continuing.

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Thursday, November 29, 2007

20071129 This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Ring Around the Immigration Culprit

Tony Soltero

For all the constant talk about the immigration issue, it's amazing how shallow and superficial the discussion about it remains both locally and nationally.

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 2

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

What a Difference a Year Makes – Part 1

Kevin E. Dayhoff

The ink had hardly dried on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature on November 19 when the peripatetic gerbils powering the Maryland media spin machines went into high gear.

Hannah Montana
Humor by Tom McLaughlin

Tom McLaughlin

There is a dire warning in a past issue of The Wall Street Journal. Does it foretell a major stock crash? Will the dollar sink below the Indonesian Rupiah, now trading at about 10,000 per?

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Superbly Qualified for President

Roy Meachum

10 Dumb Questions I Get – Part 2

Nick Diaz

Monday, November 26, 2007

Exhaustion Begats Success

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

The special session is over, and the Thanksgiving break has given me much-needed physical and emotional separation from Annapolis, the State House, and the political process.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Church's New Dark Ages

Roy Meachum

"What are we, in the Dark Ages? This is absolutely ridiculous." That was a Baltimore Catholic woman's reaction to the news that the new archbishop had forced the resignation of her pastor.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Celebrate Family and Friends

Chris Cavey

Thanksgiving is a word that evokes many thoughts and memories for each of us. Some have the vision once pictured in elementary school, of Pilgrims and Indians seated at a wooden table piled with food and eyes cast skyward.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

General Assembly Journal Special Session 2007 Part -3

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

No amount of prognostication could have seen the mess that this special session became. Called by Gov. Martin O’Malley to address the structural deficit, we found ourselves in the midst of a political test of wills between the House and Senate.

Taxarians at the Gate

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Happy Thanksgiving. We have so many things for which to be thankful. The first of which is our men and women in uniform who continue to perform admirably in difficult circumstances.

Christmas Difficulties

Tom McLaughlin

One of the hardest things during the Christmas season is deciding what to get the parents. I have just finished an article for the local Ocean City fish wrapper about infections in the elderly and I have some suggestions.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Another Political Cabal

Roy Meachum

In a curious way Jennifer Dougherty's dive back into election campaigning may be related to the example set by James E. McClellan. The ex-mayor could have been inspired by Frederick's former political boss.

Turkey and a Bitter Pill

Farrell Keough

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, it is a time of reflection for us all. Family, friends, health, rights, and many other freedoms we enjoy and should be thankful to have in this most incredible of nations. Only because we were fortunate enough to have God’s blessing and be born in this country do we have the bounty of these privileges and the freedoms that accompany them.

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org or kevindayhoff@gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun.