Baltimore Sun: GOP offers constructive ideas for Md. budget

Our view: The plan drafted by two Republican Senators has its flaws, but it is comprehensive and merits consideration

February 24, 2010 http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.budget0224,0,3431141.story

For years, Republicans in the General Assembly have been carping that Democrats spend too much, but rarely have they said what they would do instead. They occasionally propose an across-the-board spending cut -- a bad idea that fails to set any priorities. But often they eschew specifics, saying that if they offered any, they would only be fodder for Democratic demagoguery. Their grandstanding has been particularly galling since the vast majority of them voted for the biggest spending increases in decades when a Republican held the governor's office.

Republican Sens. David Brinkley and E.J. Pipkin, then, deserve a lot of credit for the proposal they released yesterday. It sets out two goals that are hard to argue with: making progress toward eliminating long-term imbalances between state revenues and expenditures, and doing it in a way that does not lead to more tax increases. Their plan is specific, and many (though not all) of their ideas are good.

Read the entire opinion here: Baltimore Sun: GOP offers constructive ideas for Md. budget - http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.budget0224,0,3431141.story

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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/

From the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus Friday March 27 2009

From the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus Friday March 27 2009

March 27, 2009

As the Maryland General Assembly realizes the end of the session is in sight, things are getting interesting…

From the Maryland Senate Republican Caucus Friday March 27 2009

A threatened filibuster over legal presence for drivers' licenses, statebudget shortfalls, death penalty repeal and self-defense for domesticviolence victims were highlights of "cross-over" week in the MarylandSenate.

To see our posts on these topics, visit our site at www.mdsenategop.com.

20090327 From the Md Sen Rep Caucus Fri March 27 2009
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Maryland General Assembly Senate Budget and Taxation Committee

Maryland General Assembly Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

Saturday, March 14, 2009 Kevin Dayhoff

Cooped-up inside on a cold Marsh Saturday morning… Eighty-eight bond bill testimonies… My brain would’ve turned to mush.

20090314 MGA BandTc

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

Maryland Senator George Edwards

Senator George Edwards

March 14, 2009 Kevin Dayhoff

Maryland General Assembly Budget and Taxation hearing Sat., March 14, 2009

Dayhoff Daily Photoblog

20090314 FB SDOSM Sen George Edwards

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

Senate Recesses Until Tomorrow Morning

Senate Recesses Until Tomorrow Morning

Maryland Senate Republican Caucus 5:45 PM March 3, 2009:

Proving the point that committee work is best done in a standing committee and not on the Senate floor, the Senate approved two amendments to SB 279 - Criminal Law - Death Penalty - Repeal that gutted the repeal provisions of the bill and substituted stricter requirements before the death penalty can be applied in a criminal case.

First, Senator James Brochin (D - Baltimore County) offered an amendment to strip the repeal provisions but require that a defendant could not be sentenced to the death penalty solely on the basis of eyewitness evidence.

Under Brochin's heightened requirements, prosecutors would have to provide physical evidence in addition to any eyewitness testimony before the death penalty applied.

This amendment passed by a vote of 25 yeas and 21 nays.

Second, Senator Robert Zirkin (D - Baltimore County) offered an amendment that provided more specific requirements for physical evidence that must be introduced before a defendant can be sentenced to a death penalty.

The Zirkin provisions require that a prosecutor introduce either: (1) biological or DNA evidence; (2) a videotaped voluntary interrogation and confession of the defendant; or (3) a video-recording that conclusively links the defendant to the murder.

After adoption of these amendments, action on additional amendments floundered as Senators requested an explanation of the impact of prior amendments. When informed that the bill no longer contain repeal provisions, several anti-death penalty members expressed dismay at the course of the floor proceedings.

"What we are getting is a real mess!" bemoaned Senator Delores Kelly (D - Baltimore County).

President Pro Tem Nathaniel McFadden added, "This is not one of the high points" of the Maryland Senate.

After about an hour of tumoil on the Senate floor, Senator EJ Pipkin (R - Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's & Caroline) move to recomit the bill back to the Judicial Proceedings Committee. The motion to recomit failed on a tie vote of 23 to 23.

When the next amendment was offered by Senator David Harrington (D – Prince George's), a motion was made by Senator Pipkin to lay the amendment over with the bill under the rules. During the first 80 days of session, a motion to lay over until the next day is automatic.

The Senate recessed and will re-convene to continue the death penalty flooraction at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Copies of the Senate votes on the amendments will be posted on our website www.mdsenategop.com later this evening.

20090303 MSRC Senate Recesses Until Tomorrow Morning
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Death Penalty Repeal Bill Now Preserves the Death Penalty in MD

Death Penalty Repeal Bill Now Preserves the Death Penalty in MD

Maryland Senate Republican Caucus 4:30 PM March 3, 2009:

The Senate is now on the floor. Senator James Brochin (D - BaltimoreCounty) offered an amendment to preserve the death penalty in Maryland butto require that a defendant could be sentenced to the death penalty solelyon the basis of eyewitness testimony.

Prosecutors would be required to present physical evidence in addition to any eyewitness testimony. That amendment passed by vote of 25 - 21.

Additional amendments are being considered - check our website later todayfor a full review of this afternoon's Senate debate.

20090303 MSRC Death Pen Repeal Bill Now Preserves Death Pen
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Death Penalty Repeal Bill Moving to Second Reader

Death Penalty Repeal Bill Moving to Second Reader

Maryland Senate Republican Caucus 11:09 AM March 3, 2009

The Maryland Senate took up the death penalty debate during their morning session today. Senator Lisa Gladden (D - Baltimore City) moved that the bill be substituted for the unfavorable report of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. That motion passed by a vote of 25 yeas and 22 nays.

The next motion was to move the bill to second reader essentially providing a favorable report to the bill by the full Senate. That motion passed by a vote of 24 yeas and 23 nays.

President Miller announced that the Senate will have a second session today so that amendments can be offered and debated during the afternoon session.

Check our website later today for the voting record on these motions.

20090303 MSRC Death Pen Repeal Bill Moving to Sec Reader
Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/