20070627 News Clips

News Clips

June 27, 2007

STATE NEWS

GOP leader to seek 'firing list'
http://www.examiner.com/a-801182~GOP_leader_to_seek__firing_list_.html
Senate Republican leader David Brinkley said he is going to ask the Legislature's nonpartisan staff to assemble a list of state employees fired by the O'Malley administration because he's dissatisfied with the information he was sent Friday by Budget Secretary Eloise Foster.Brinkley was unhappy that Foster would not say how many of 224 resignations and 73 retirements were in lieu of termination. Foster argued that releasing that information by department could violate employee confidentiality.

Ehrlich Skeptical Of O'Malley Firing Numbers; Alleges "Hypocrisy"
http://wbal.com/shows/ehrlic%20hs/story.asp?articleid=59726
Acting on a request from Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley, and the Baltimore Sun, the O'Malley Administration reported that 78 at will employees have been fired since, the governor took office in January. "78 is a phony number. It's all phony coming out of the administration," Ehrlich said on the "Kendel and Bob Show." The Republican says he believes many more workers have been fired.

State police halt, review traffic 'step out'
Agency is the latest to halt 'step outs' after officer's death
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-md.ho.stops27jun27,0,2718318.story?coll=bal-local-headlines
Maryland State Police troopers will no longe r step into the road on interstate highways to stop speeders caught on radar, becoming the third law-enforcement agency in Maryland in the past week to alter traffic-stop procedures and launch a review of the practice known as "stepping out."

2 counties agree to address traffic ills
Easing congestion concerns Arundel, Queen Anne's
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.clogged27jun27,0,2314751.story?coll=bal-local-arundel
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold suggested a ballot referendum on whether communities on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay support further study of a third span of the Bay Bridge.Leopold, a Republican, broached the idea for a nonbinding vote Monday with the five Queen Anne's County commissioners but was met with immediat e opposition. Rather, Anne Arundel officials said, the two sides agreed to hash out a plan to reduce traffic congestion on the bridge and ease overflow in neighboring areas.

Schools officially appoint CEO
Alonso expected to sign contract to lead city system this week
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.ci.schools27jun27,0,2607931.story?coll=bal-local-baltimorecity
Baltimore's school board officially appointed Andres Alonso the new chief executive officer of the city schools last night, but they declined to provide any specifics of his contract, including his salary. The school system spokeswoman said a copy of Alonso's contract will be available after it is signed by both parties, likely by the end of this week.

Fatal fire draws charges
State agency says city fire officials knowingly violated safety rules
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.ci.recruit27jun27,0,4336105.story?coll=bal-local-baltimorecity
A state agency charged the Baltimore City Fire Department yesterday with "intentionally" and "knowingly" violating safety rules resulting in "a substantial probability [of] death or serious physical harm" during a Feb. 9 training exercise that killed a fire cadet. The charging document, obtained by The Sun, marked the first time that an outside agency has rendered judgment on the department's conduct in the incident and provided fresh details of what went wrong.

Promises, promises
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.taxes27jun2%207,0,4965893.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines
We'll say this much: Gov. Martin O'Malley knows how to win over a bunch of mayors and other local government leaders. This week at a meeting of the Maryland Municipal League in Ocean City he pledged not to give them what is often called the "shift and shaft." That's when the state's elected leaders, in order to balance their own budget, shift the costs of various programs to towns and counties or "shaft" those local governments with a sizable cut in state aid.

That was then - this is now
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.vozzella27jun27,0,1026880.column?coll=bal-home-columnists
The governor and his top officials travel to Salisbury for a Cabinet meeting, and do you think his political foes offer an attaboy for schlepping all that way, for reaching out to the lower Eastern Shore? No, the opposing party calls it a "fake" Cabinet meeting, one that, by wasting taxpayers' money, was actually "defrauding the working families of Maryland."

Hamm takes each slaying personally
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.kane27xjun27,0,4908303.column?coll=bal-home-columnists
Baltimore police Commissioner Leonard Hamm is dying in increments.
"When the pager goes off and I look at the location of [a homicide]," Hamm said yesterday, "I know [the victims] are black men and I know the perps are black men. A little bit of me dies each time it happens - as a black man, as a father, as an uncle and also as a police commissioner."

Energy chief
New state official promotes conservation
http://www.times-news.com/editorials/local_story_177101601.html
The new director of the Maryland Energy Administration has a message for Marylanders and - reading between the lines - the lawmakers who represent them: We need to do a better job conserving energy. One agency goal is to reduce energy costs for Maryland residents, and in that regard, the state earns a decided "F." BG&E customers were just given a 50 percent hike, and Allegheny Power customers will see bills increase by a similar amount over the next two years. That's not the fault of the Energy Administration, but rather lawmakers who deregulated the electric industry in 1999.

Two named to MontCo planning board
http://www.fredericknewspo%20st.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=61813
A former state delegate and a former county chief administrative officer were appointed Tuesday to four-year terms on the Montgomery County planning board.The county council appointed Jean Cryor, a Republican delegate for 12 years, and Eugene Lynch, a Democrat who worked for former county executive Neal Potter from 1990 to 1994, from among 26 people who applied for seats on the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Montgomery board.

Filching parking from the disabled merits higher fines
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_21-53/OPN
After realizing that Anne Arundel County has one of the state's lowest fines for illegally parking in spaces for the disabled, County Executive John R. Leopold had a bill introduced to the County Council that would have increased the cost of a violation from $100 to $200.As Council Chairman Ron Dillon, R-Pasadena, wryly noted last week, the county fines litterbugs as much as $1,000. Surely, stealing legally mandated parking for disabled persons is more egregious than throwing a candy wrapper out of a car window.

Krebs, Sheriff's Office warn residents of scams
http://www.gazette.net/stories/062207/carrnew143145_32391.shtml
The Carroll County Sheriff's Office and Del. Susan W. Krebs are encouraging people to research charities that solicit donations over the phone before agreeing to give them money.Krebs advised people to contact the Charitable Organization Division of the Office of the Secretary of State to see if charities are legitimate. The office maintains a database of charities and handles investigations of charities. Call 800-825-4510 or e-mail ksmith@sos.state.md.us.

Immigrant advocates want MVA to improve services
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MD_MVA_IMMIGRANTS_MDOL-?SITE=MDSAL&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Advocates are calling on the state Motor Vehicle Administration to improve its services to foreign nationals, saying long waiting times and unclear requirements have led to immigrant drivers being exploited.Maryland is one of eight states that gives driver's licenses and identification cards to foreign-born residents, regardless of their immigration status.

Del. Patrick L. McDonough, a Baltimore County Republican, said illegal immigrants from othe r states are flooding to Maryland to get licenses."Maryland is one of the worst states in the country and is popularly known through the grapevine for this," said McDonough, one of the House of Delegates' opponents to illegal immigration. "It has put a huge burden on the MVA."


NATIONAL NEWS

Democrats plan amendment to cut funds for vice president's office
http://www.capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_26-46/XXX

House Democrats, responding to Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that his office is exempt from certain national security disclosure requirements, said Tuesday they will try to strip his office's funding.The proposal to eliminate funding for Cheney's office could come up Thursday as an amendment to an annual spending bill, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said.

Magnet school program needs serious commitment
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_24-67/OPN
It's great that Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Baltimore, is supporting north county magnet schools - but is this more political piffle or are he and other Maryland politicians going to find federal money to make it happen?Mr. Ruppersberger has made vague references to financial help from defense contractors, but until there is money on the table, that's just more meaningless talk.

Democrat seeks aid for BRAC counties
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070627/METRO/106270047/1004
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger says he will attempt to secure $74 million from the fiscal 2008 federal budget to help Maryland prepare for an influx of workers as its military bases expand. Mr. Ruppersberger, Maryland Democrat, will seek $25 million for road improvements and mass transit, $21 million for water and sewer systems and $28 million for infrastructure needs at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County and Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Prez Hopefuls Come Home for Immigration Debate
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/
For only the second day in June every able bodied senator cast a vote, with all six would-be presidents coming off the campaign trail and voting with the 64-senator majority to resume the immigration debate. Those six votes, four from declared Democrats running for president and two from Rep ublicans, were critical to clearing the 60-vote hurdle required to take up the bill after its seeming demise earlier this month.

The so-called "grand bargain" still has a ways to go before passing the Senate -- Democrats hope for a late Friday vote on final passage - and even rockier road to go toward an even grander bargain being struck with the House if it passes a bill next month. But for now, President Bush secured a temporary win in his effort to pass his most important piece of domestic legislation before he leaves office January 2009.

Officials announce more rural broadband funds
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=aa863399-5d37-4ece-8d95-05fb390b1b2a
Governor Martin O'Malley yesterday announced two (M)million dollars to help build out high-speed Internet service in rural Mar yland. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin announced another three-point-two (M) million dollars in federal funding through a Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration grant.

Senate Republicans Block Conference on Lobbying Overhaul Legislation
http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/06/27/cq_2971.html
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has blocked appointment of Senate conferees on the stalled lobbying bill, casting doubt on the future of the biggest overhaul of ethics and lobbying legislation in a dozen years.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., tried to name conferees Tuesday afternoon, but Republicans objected at McConnell's request, saying they would allow action on the measure only if promised a vote on a separate bill (S 223) that would require electronic filing of campaign finance reports.One major obstacle in the lobbying bill appears to be "revolving door" rules aimed at preventing members of Congress and senior staff from immediately cashing in on K Street with high-paying lobbying jobs after they leave Capitol Hill.Democrat seeks aid for BRAC counties"This is an important issue, and Democrats are continuing to move forward," said Stacey Farnen Bernards, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md. "We hope Republicans will work with us to move it."

20070622 Man reports burglary, gets arrested

Man reports burglary, gets arrested

June 27^th, 2007

I had noticed this news story in passing several days ago and it stuck in mind as a great example of what illegal substances must do to a person’s mind.

I had to create a new “Label” for this one: “Idiot(s).”

According to Ryan Marshall, writing for the Carroll County Times, on June 22, 2007:

Justin Orenge called the Westminster police to report a burglary and ended up getting busted himself.

Police responding to his call on Saturday turned their attention to Orenge after he showed them his Web site where sells pipes, scales…, among other things.

Orenge, 25, who lives on the 700 block of Mulligan Lane in Westminster, was arrested Monday and faces multiple … charges.

More…

For other lunacy such as this go to: Baggy Pants and Crime Prevention, Off-beat news,

####

20070627 Davis Library part 1

20070627 Davis Library part 1

Library is at the center of the bookshelf of Westminster history

Davis Library part 1
Westminster Eagle
June 27th, 2007 © by Kevin Dayhoff (669 words – as filed)

Plans were recently announced for the renovation of the 27-year-old Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library.

This news prompted some discussions of the history and origins of the library in Westminster. Of course, the history of the library in Westminster, like most successes in Carroll County, is the history of a tradition and heritage of private – public partnerships, great leadership, and selfless philanthropy from community leaders.

Writing for this paper, Katie Jones noted, “Two years ago, the Westminster Public Library celebrated 25 years of service” in its present location. She also noted that the “students of Medora Lynn's school of ballet, The Ballet Slipper,” put on a recent benefit performance to help raise money for the renovations.

The current site of the library on Main Street is the fulcrum point of old traditional Westminster and is steeped in history. It was preceded by several different church structures for the St. John Catholic Church community dating back to 1789 when four acres were donated to the Catholic community for a cemetery and a church.

However, in those days, the church property was not in Westminster. It was in an outlying area which was laid out in 1812 as the town of “Bedford.” The town of Bedford comprised the area between Main and Green Streets, from where Longwell Avenue is now, to near where Bond Street currently exists.

On the other side of Main Street was the “Town of Winter’s Addition to Westminster,” which was recorded with the Frederick County clerk on December 5th, 1815 by John Winter and John Winter, Jr. It is the area between Main Street and Winter’s Alley.

At the time, Westminster, then “Winchester,” laid out in 1764,- was comprised of King’s Street (now Main Street) from Manchester Road to Court Street.

In between the town of Bedford and “Winchester,”, was the competing town of “New London,” which was laid out in 1765 by Captain John White.

New London included that area along King’s Street from Court Street to Longwell Avenue. On February 5th, 1819, “Westminster,” and the first annexation of the town, in 1788, of the area along Green Street from Washington Road to Church Street, plus “Winter’s Addition” and “New London” were incorporated as Westminster by the Maryland General Assembly.

“Bedford” was not a part of Westminster until a re-incorporation occurred in 1830 and the town expanded as far as “The Forks” where Pennsylvania Avenue begins at West Main Street. The area at “The Forks” and beyond was a rival thriving business area, parts of which were known as “Pigstown,” “Fanny’s Meadow” and “Logsdon Tavern.”

In those days St. John Catholic Church was a mission church of the Conewago, Pennsylvania parish. It soon became parish mission of Taneytown’s St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Construction began of the last of several church structures in 1865 (four years after the railroad arrived). On Thursday, June 19, 1952 at 4:45 in the afternoon, the steeple of that church was destroyed by a tornado and the church damaged. In 1968 the building was deemed unusable. In 1972, a new church was built on Monroe Avenue and the Main Street property remained unused until March 1980 when the current 40,000-square-foot library facility opened with a chilly parade – of sorts.

It was a “book parade” which followed the tradition of how the books were moved by schoolchildren from the old Westminster High School at Green and Center Streets to the then-new Westminster High School on Longwell Avenue on an equally cold Monday afternoon on November 23rd, 1936.

This time it was a cold Saturday morning when, according to published accounts, about 500 citizens hand-carried 60,000 books and other library items from the Davis Library building at 129 East Main Street to the new building.

The roots of the library in Westminster began during the Civil War, in 1863, at the other end of town, the Odd Fellows Hall, now known as the Opera House Printing Company at 140 East Main Street.

For now, bookmark this introduction until next week’s chapter.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff at carr.org
####

20070627 Davis Library part 1

Carroll County Public Library, Dayhoff Art writing essays and articles, Dayhoff Media Westminster Eagle, History Westminster, Westminster Scrapbook Davis Library

20070627 Davis Library part 1

20070627 Davis Library part 1

Library is at the center of the bookshelf of Westminster history

Davis Library part 1
Westminster Eagle
June 27th, 2007 © by Kevin Dayhoff (669 words – as filed)

Plans were recently announced for the renovation of the 27-year-old Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library.

This news prompted some discussions of the history and origins of the library in Westminster. Of course, the history of the library in Westminster, like most successes in Carroll County, is the history of a tradition and heritage of private – public partnerships, great leadership, and selfless philanthropy from community leaders.

Writing for this paper, Katie Jones noted, “Two years ago, the Westminster Public Library celebrated 25 years of service” in its present location. She also noted that the “students of Medora Lynn's school of ballet, The Ballet Slipper,” put on a recent benefit performance to help raise money for the renovations.

The current site of the library on Main Street is the fulcrum point of old traditional Westminster and is steeped in history. It was preceded by several different church structures for the St. John Catholic Church community dating back to 1789 when four acres were donated to the Catholic community for a cemetery and a church.

However, in those days, the church property was not in Westminster. It was in an outlying area which was laid out in 1812 as the town of “Bedford.” The town of Bedford comprised the area between Main and Green Streets, from where Longwell Avenue is now, to near where Bond Street currently exists.

On the other side of Main Street was the “Town of Winter’s Addition to Westminster,” which was recorded with the Frederick County clerk on December 5th, 1815 by John Winter and John Winter, Jr. It is the area between Main Street and Winter’s Alley.

At the time, Westminster, then “Winchester,” laid out in 1764,- was comprised of King’s Street (now Main Street) from Manchester Road to Court Street.

In between the town of Bedford and “Winchester,”, was the competing town of “New London,” which was laid out in 1765 by Captain John White.

New London included that area along King’s Street from Court Street to Longwell Avenue. On February 5th, 1819, “Westminster,” and the first annexation of the town, in 1788, of the area along Green Street from Washington Road to Church Street, plus “Winter’s Addition” and “New London” were incorporated as Westminster by the Maryland General Assembly.

“Bedford” was not a part of Westminster until a re-incorporation occurred in 1830 and the town expanded as far as “The Forks” where Pennsylvania Avenue begins at West Main Street. The area at “The Forks” and beyond was a rival thriving business area, parts of which were known as “Pigstown,” “Fanny’s Meadow” and “Logsdon Tavern.”

In those days St. John Catholic Church was a mission church of the Conewago, Pennsylvania parish. It soon became parish mission of Taneytown’s St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Construction began of the last of several church structures in 1865 (four years after the railroad arrived). On Thursday, June 19, 1952 at 4:45 in the afternoon, the steeple of that church was destroyed by a tornado and the church damaged. In 1968 the building was deemed unusable. In 1972, a new church was built on Monroe Avenue and the Main Street property remained unused until March 1980 when the current 40,000-square-foot library facility opened with a chilly parade – of sorts.

It was a “book parade” which followed the tradition of how the books were moved by schoolchildren from the old Westminster High School at Green and Center Streets to the then-new Westminster High School on Longwell Avenue on an equally cold Monday afternoon on November 23rd, 1936.

This time it was a cold Saturday morning when, according to published accounts, about 500 citizens hand-carried 60,000 books and other library items from the Davis Library building at 129 East Main Street to the new building.

The roots of the library in Westminster began during the Civil War, in 1863, at the other end of town, the Odd Fellows Hall, now known as the Opera House Printing Company at 140 East Main Street.

For now, bookmark this introduction until next week’s chapter.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.
E-mail him at: kdayhoff at carr.org
####

20070627 Davis Library part 1

Carroll County Public Library, Dayhoff Art writing essays and articles, Dayhoff Media Westminster Eagle, History Westminster, Westminster Scrapbook Davis Library

20070626 TimesWatch Tracker

TimesWatch Tracker

Tuesday, June 26 , 2007

Today in TimesWatch: (Headlines link to online postings with links to cited articles & sources)

"Ethics" Meltdown at the Times

Randy Cohen, the Times' ethics columnist, was dropped by the Spokane (Wash.) Spokesman-Review after an MSNBC investigation into the political giving habits of journalists revealed that in 2004 Cohen had indonated money, against NYT Co. rules, to a political group, the left-wing MoveOn.org.

James Taranto, who compiles "Best of the Web" for Opinion Journal, caught this pompous silliness from Cohen's latest column, which shows that Cohen retains his rather selective stance on exactly which rules should be obeyed.

"K.V. in Brooklyn" asked Cohen: "My nanny recently told me that she takes antipsychotic medication for a bipolar disorder. I’ve been happy with her for the past two years. She seldom spends long hours alone with my children because I am a stay-at-home mother, and she would never knowingly harm them, but people with psychosis can’t always control themselves. You don’t fire someone for a disability, and I feel a particular sense of obligation because she is a young undocumented Haitian, but should I dismiss her to protect my children?"

Cohen replied: "You are restrained not only by ethics but also by the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. An attorney I consulted says that if you ran a larger business, 'to fire her would be illegal.' Were she to stop taking her medication or otherwise display dangerous behavior, a business could dismiss her. Fortunately, as a stay-at-home mother, you can see if her condition deteriorates before anyone is imperiled.

"Her immigration status already restricts her other employment prospects, and her limited options, as you imply, impose an additional ethical burden on you. If she can do the job, she should be allowed to keep it."

Taranto responded:

"You've got to love this. Cohen starts by making an appeal to authority -- or, more accurately, to a penumbra of authority, namely 'the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act.' K.V., he avers, has an ethical obligation to comply with the requirements the ADA would impose on her if she were a mighty corporation rather than a harried mom.

"But when it comes to immigration, K.V. has an ethical obligation to defy the law by knowingly employing someone who has no legal right to be here!....He simply assumes a correspondence between the demands of ethics and his own political prejudices."

Illegal Immigration Concerns in "The Whitest Congressional District in Colorado"

Western-based correspondent Kirk Johnson wondered why Colorado residents are getting so worked up over illegal immigration, given they don't even know any illegals, in Sunday's "Anxiety in the Land of the Anti-Immigration Crusader." Even the photo caption was slanted: "The skyline of Highlands Ranch, a booming suburb of Denver that is largely white." Then again, so is Boston.

(Back in February 2005, Johnson defended University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill, who called the victims of 9-11 "little Eichmanns," from those trying to suppress his free speech: "Many students interviewed on campus in recent days said they feared that the lines being drawn around Professor Churchill were also creating boundaries about what could be freely and safely talked about in the United States.")

Johnson began his Sunday Week in Review piece: "It's hardly news that illegal immigrants lead fitfully uncertain, insecure lives. The storm winds of capitalism, uneven immigration-law enforcement and international border politics can blow unpredictably and fiercely at any time."

Of course, the Times is against "even" immigration-law enforcement as well as the "uneven" kind.

"But very similar tones of anxiety about the universe and its curveballs can be easily found in this upper-middle-class suburb southeast of Denver -- in the home district of Representative Tom Tancredo, the man waging a one-note anti-immigration campaign for the Republican presidential nomination."

Presidential candidate Tancredo does favor reducing legal immigration, but to refer to his "one-note anti-immigration campaign" is a bit broad.

Johnson dealt out more race cards: "Mr. Tancredo’s district is the richest, best educated and most family friendly in Colorado (the latter based on numbers of children counted by the census). Housing prices are high and there are few immigrant-based industries like manufacturing, meat-packing or agriculture. Nearly 9 of every 10 residents are white, while less than 1 in 10 are Hispanic. In several dozen interviews across the district, most people said they didn’t even know an illegal immigrant."

Of course, since the Times assumes illegals live in fear in the shadows, how would people in Tancredo's district necessarily know for sure about an immigrant's legal status?

"So why would illegal immigration be a cause célèbre in a place like this, the whitest Congressional district in Colorado?

"Residents and local political leaders say the answer comes down, at least partly, to words like 'order' and 'stability.' Those concerns may mask a certain amount of bigotry or bias. But the residents say they are motivated by concerns about borders they consider broken, leaving America open and vulnerable, especially in the post-9-11 world. Government, which many people here talk about with far more scorn and rage than they do about immigrants, has become a puppet to economic forces that demand cheap and mobile labor, they say."

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Quotes of Note

Times Editor Questions Timing of Terror Alerts

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Elsewhere on the Web

On the immigration debate, says blogger Ace of Spades, "one picture is worth a thousand words of editorializing." : more...

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Documenting and Exposing the Liberal Agenda of the New York Times

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20070627 Quote of the day

Quote of the day

Wednesday, June 27^th, 2007

“Every sore has its salve.”

English proverb

Thanks TC

20070627 MML Convention Schedule for Wednesday June 27 2007

MML Convention Schedule for Wednesday June 27 2007

PROGRAM SUMMARY

MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ANNUAL CONVENTION

SUNDAY JUNE 24-WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2007

OCEAN CITY CONVENTION CENTER, OCEAN CITY, MD

Wednesday, June 27^th, 2007

7:30 - 8:45 Prince George’s County Municipal Association Breakfast . . Ballroom 2

8:30 - 9:30 Coffee, Tea & Decaf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Level 2 Lobby

8:30 - 12:00 Registration Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Level 1 Lobby

9:00 - 11:00 Cities & Towns—Economic Engines: Are we all we can be? . .Rms 201 & 202

Maryland Public Information Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rooms 203 & 204

9:30 - 11:00 Municipal Legal Hot Button Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rooms 205 & 206

New Immigrant Populations: Recreating Community . . . . . . . . .Rooms 207 & 208

10:00 - 6:00 Jolly Roger Amusement Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30th Street

11:15 - 12:15 Closing General Session: Governor Martin O’Malley . . . .Ballroom 1

12:15 - 1:00 Convention Planning Committee Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . .Room 209

1:00 - 3:00 Seafood Buffet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Phillips Crab House

2:30 - 3:30 Board of Directors Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Room 209

For a complete summary of this year’s Maryland Municipal League Summer convention go to: 20070624 June 24 through 27 MML Convention Summary

June 24 through 27 MML Convention Summary

For past posts on “Soundtrack” about the Maryland Municipal League click on: Maryland Municipal League

Disclosure: I served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors annually for five consecutive years, from June 2000 to May 2005.]

####

20070627 This week in The Tentacle

This Week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Striking a Blow for Free Speech

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Many are singing high praise of the Supreme Court's decision handed down Monday which took a bite out of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law.

Immigration II, Slashed and Burned

Patricia A. Kelly

President Bush's immigration bill has the country in an uproar. One conservative talk radio host called it the Amnesty Bill, and reported polls stating that 84% of Republicans and 55% of Democrats are against it, preferring that our border be secured prior to dealing with the question of what to do with the large illegal population.

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Tuesday, June 26, 2007

No-Compromise Politics

Roy Meachum

Politics have been described since before I was a boy as the art of compromise. Former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty doubtless heard that definition, but rejected it flat out.

The Politics of Coffee

Katie Nash

Adam Schultz, a member of the Democratic Central Committee, shares my passion for local politics and coffee.

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Monday, June 25, 2007

Saturday in the Field

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

One of my favorite bands from my youth is Chicago. One of their signature songs is called Saturday in the Park. The band sings about spending a warm summer's day in a park, with people escaping the bonds of city living for an afternoon outdoors.

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Friday, June 22, 2007

An American "Hamlet" for the Ages

Roy Meachum

Even people unfamiliar with Shakespeare's first name know of "Hamlet." It is by far the most performed and the most quoted English-language tragedy, which I first saw and heard, by coincidence, in French.

Questions Surround Moonlighting Deputies

George Wenschhof

The recent action by Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins to discontinue the practice of deputies using patrol cars and wearing their uniforms while working second jobs may have opened the door for more questions.

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

The Coming Sideshow

Chris Cavey

Many traditional and annual events occur in the fall, fairs, festivals, the World Series, plus the outstanding beauty of Mother Nature as Maryland's trees burst into full autumn colors. This year, however, Maryland will witness a very unique event as legislators convene in Annapolis, in special session, for the sole purpose of raising your taxes.

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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Earmarks: A Bridge to Bankruptcy

Kevin E. Dayhoff

After months of bitter fighting, the surge on "earmarks," our own homegrown version of economic terrorism, continues to meet stiff resistance.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Bringing the Department Together

Roy Meachum

Chuck Jenkins sparked this weekend the first genuine rhubarb since he was sworn in as sheriff last December. He announced moonlighting deputies could no longer wear their county uniforms or provide their off-duty employers the great benefit of their marked vehicles.

To Pay and To Protect.

Farrell Keough

Much ado about nothing. Well, sort of. The change in the Frederick County Sheriff Office with respect to off-duty officers hit the fan last weekend. I guess it was a slow news day or someone wanted to stir up trouble.

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Monday, June 18, 2007

Political Issues Deficit Disorder

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Okay, it's too hard to focus on just one aspect of the cornucopia of political news spilling out, especially the news from Annapolis. Instead of one long analysis of one issue, my attention this week will wander over a bumper crop of fun, ironic, and pathetic stuff.

20070626 News Clips

News Clips

June 26, 2007

STATE NEWS

State sees no local cuts: O'Malley tells officials he won't hurt cities to balance Md. Budget

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.spend26jun26,0,693629.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday that he would seek not to cut aid to local governments or pass along new costs to county and municipal officials in closing the state's projected $1.5 billion budget gap, saying his experience as Baltimore mayor showed him the futility of that kind of "shell game."

Sen. Richard F. Colburn, an Eastern Shore Republican who attended O'Malley's event yesterday, said the governor's commitment would not be easy to keep."He's the one that submits the budget, but there 's going to be a big tug of war, and he's going to have to referee the fight," said Colburn, the town manager of Federalsburg in Caroline County.

O'Malley to towns: Get involved in deficit solution

Governor makes stops in Salisbury as part of three-day Lower Shore tour

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/NEWS01/706260302Maryland

Gov. Martin O'Malley reassured Lower Shore county and city leaders Monday that he would not support shifting the state's at least $1.4 billion structural deficit toward localities.At O'Malley's first stop -- part of his three-day Lower Shore tour -- the governor addressed more than 50 leaders in the dining hall at American Legion Wicomico Post 64. He stood on a chair. He thanked the crowd. He told the local officials, many with their o wn constituencies, to lobby the General Assembly.

Commander's pension pact spurs inquiry

City police official who took state job granted retirement

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.pension26jun26,0,3695612.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

For two years Marcus L. Brown quietly served as the steady hand in a Baltimore Police Department whose top job had been beset by political turmoil and turnover.When O'Malley took over as governor in January, he picked Brown to lead the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, at a salary of $127,500. But before Brown left in March, the city granted him a nearly full pension of $55,500 - thanks to an exit clause in a contract signed by O'Malley in April 2005 and honored this year by Commissioner Leon ard D. Hamm in a move that is causing a political furor.

"Perception is everything, and this does not look good," said John Flynn, executive director of the Maryland Republican Party. "This looks as if it's some sort of favoritism. ... After O'Malley said he would handle personnel matters on merit and not personal reasons, you see a friend of his getting a sweet deal."

Pension For Police Appointee Debated

Baltimore Officials See Nothing Amiss

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501763.html

ust days after he was sworn into office, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) named Marcus Brown, a deputy police commissioner in Baltimore, to serve in one of Maryland's most senior law enforcement positions.

In recent days, the arrangement under which Brown left city service t o follow his political patron, becoming the police chief of the Maryland Transportation Authority, has drawn intense scrutiny. At issue is a pension Brown received despite having worked for the city for fewer than the customary 20 years.

O'Malley names new port director

James White returns to take over former executive position after 2 years

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-director0626,0,3938991.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Gov. Martin O'Malley appointed former Maryland Port Administration head James White to return to the job today.

White served as executive director of the port administration for six years between 1999 and 2005. He is returning to replace F. Brooks Royster III.
For the past two years, White has been working as the senior vice president and chief operating officer for C eres Terminals Inc., a New Jersey-based stevedoring and terminal operations company.

Spin keeps tax-and-spend cycle greased

by Senator E.J. Pipkin

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062207/policol222354_32360.shtml

As a strong opponent of unnecessary tax hikes, I have proposed slowing spending increases and sharing fairly with the counties the employer share of funding the teachers' pensions as a way to fix the nearly $1.5 billion budget deficit. In fact, exercising these and other options points out that the budget deficit can be fixed with or without legalizing slots, and gaining the estimated $600 million slots will generate.

However, the Annapolis tax-and-spend crowd is locked into the age-old behavior of government that overspends its way into a budget deficit and then screams for a tax increase to dig its way out of the deficit .

Raising taxes is the knee-jerk reaction of the Annapolis tax-and-spend crowd to overspending. It never occurs to them to reassess spending as a way to produce a balanced budget.

Cost of milk on track for a record this year

Demand for ethanol pushes up price of corn for feeding cows

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.milk26jun26,0,6439785.story

Add milk to the list of products that consumers are paying more for this summer as analysts predict that prices will reach record highs during the next few months - fallout from the rising price of oil.
The rising prices are pressuring profits at several companies that sell dairy products, including pizza, yogurt and ice cream makers. Domino's Pizza Inc., for example, said it could be forced to raise its prices due in part to higher cheese costs.

Nationally, t he average cost of a gallon of whole milk rose 19 cents during the past two months, to $3.26 in May, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In Baltimore, the May average was $3.42 - up from $3.16 in March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Higher prices have continued this month: One area supermarket priced a gallon of whole milk at $3.99 yesterday.

Saving a school

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.kipp26jun26,0,2954923.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines

An 11th-hour attempt to rescue the KIPP Harbor Academy in Anne Arundel County is a welcome development. Two possible solutions that are being pushed by County Executive John R. Leopold and schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell would try to solve a problem that should not have been allowed to progress so far. Given the lackluster performance of middle schools throughout the state, it's disheartening that one with a good, even if short, track record of educating students had to think about closing for lack of space.

Officials urge another try for KIPP
Leopold, Maxwell ask two schools to find room to avoid charter program closure

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md.ar.kipp26jun26,0,1677759.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

As a vote looms to formally close a charter school in Edgewater, Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold and schools Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell yesterday called on an Annapolis art institute and the college that has housed the 2-year-old KIPP Harbor Academy to find room for its students.

Ground rent suit is filed
Action challenges new laws reforming a system that had cost hundreds their homes

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md.bz.groundrent26jun26,0,1143251.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

A trustee for a ground rent owner has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of new laws intended to reform a system that had cost hundreds of people their homes. The laws, which would take effect July 1, were part of a reform package enacted in the last session of the General Assembly in the wake of an investigative series published by The Sun.

'Stepping out' suspended after death of Howard officer

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-md.digest26jun26,0,1289128.story?coll=bal-local-howard

After the death of Cpl. Scott Wheeler during a traffic enforcement detail, Howard County police yesterday suspended the practice of officers stepping into traffic to flag down speeders on roads with speed limits higher than 35 mph.

Group wants to smash voter apathy on public TV

http://www.examiner.com/a-799167~Group_wants_to_smash_voter_apathy_on_public_TV.html

The League of Women Voters wants to smash voter apathy through a series of public television shows.This year alone, only 411 of Westminster's 10,000 registered voters cast ballots in May. The league said the problem lies in residents not knowing who their elected officials are and what town councils do.

Hospital Board Refuses To Resign
Members Contend Johnson's Demand Is Undemocratic

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/25/AR2007062501889.html?nav=hcmodule

The Prince George's hospital system's board of directors rejected yesterday a demand by County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) that several members resign, deepening a standoff between the county and the nonprofit company that runs several county medical facilities.Johnson had said he would release no additional funding to the financially strapped hospital system until the board agrees to restructure itself. He demanded that four of the board's 11 members resign: the chairman, representatives of the boards of two hospitals in the system and the past president of the county's medical society.

Riley receives Salisbury Award

Ag leader's civic contributions lauded

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/NEWS01/706260301&GID=4PHyGSAFONLmgJEuQscc7bju3ZJQgjkeuAl7fFsKlCI%3D

Successful local farmer, civic volunteer and former Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Lewis Riley was presented with the prestigious Salisbury Award for leadership and accomplishments that benefited the community at large.

NATIONAL NEWS

Ehrlich backs challenger in party primary

Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr.. has thrown his support behind state Sen. Andrew P. Harris' attempt to unseat a fellow Republican, Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, in the upcoming congressional races.Mr. Ehrlich's chief fundraiser, Richard E. Hug, has joined Mr. Harris' exploratory committee and cultivated donors for a Harris fundraiser last week in Baltimore that featured an appearance by Mr. Ehrlich.">http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/METRO/106260039/1004< /A>
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr.. has thrown his support behind state Sen. Andrew P. Harris' attempt to unseat a fellow Republican, Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, in the upcoming congressional races.Mr. Ehrlich's chief fundraiser, Richard E. Hug, has joined Mr. Harris' exploratory committee and cultivated donors for a Harris fundraiser last week in Baltimore that featured an appearance by Mr. Ehrlich.

Congressional hopeful heeds call to run
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=61786

A former Cumberland mayor challenging U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for the Republican nomination to Maryland's 6th Congressional District has named a campaign manager -- God.

Senate Panel Faces Key Decision On Gun Lobby Measure Opposed By Hundreds Of Police Chiefs

http://bradycampaign.org/media/release.php?release=903

When the Senate Appropriations Committee meets to work on a spending bill for the Justice Department and other Federal agencies this Thursday, a showdown is expected over a controversial measure that blocks the nation's police from receiving information on crime guns that is critical to combating illegal gun trafficking. Today, that measure is to be marked for repeal in a subcommittee hearing by U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), setting up the Thursday showdown

Input on power line sought

Proposal would bring electricity from W.Va. to Kemptown

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=61784

Frederick County's federal elected representatives are keeping an open mind about a proposed power line that would end in Kemptown.U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-6) touted the benefits of the proposed twin-500 volt power line that will run through parts of the county in a statement Friday.A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) said the senator believes the proposal needs careful review and public scrutiny.While Bartlett underscored the need for reliable energy, he also supported public input.

A Bush Budget Showdown Brewing

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1637062,00.html
Over the past two weeks, Bush and congressional Republicans alike have hammered Democrats on excessive spending and earmark abuse. With both the president and Congress's approval rating s at record lows and typically stalwart conservatives criticizing Bush over his perceived support of "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, Republicans have fallen back on their old favorite agenda - starve the beast that is the federal government. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, also sees Bush's threats as a sign that the president, despite his weak numbers, still has ways to flex his muscles. "Remember what Bill Clinton said after the 1994 election? 'I'm not irrelevant," says Hoyer. "The reality is that the president does have a big stick - the veto - so he's not irrelevant at all." The fact that Bush has only executed his veto power three times in six years (none of them on spending bills), makes his threats even more serious.

Ruppersberger seeks $74 million for BRAC

Funds would boost transit, infrastructure

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-md%20.ar.brac26jun26,0,1424789.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is seeking $74 million for local projects in the fiscal 2008 federal budget, mostly for roads, mass transit and other infrastructure to accommodate growth at Maryland military bases, he said yesterday.Ruppersberger, a Democrat whose district includes Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground, said that improving mass transit to handle thousands of new defense workers coming to those installations "is one of our highest priorities."

20070626 Quote of the day - heroes

Quote of the day - heroes

Tuesday, June 26^th, 2007

“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.”

Ronald Reagan 40th U.S. President

Thanks TC

20070625 Schedule full for O’Malley Brown visit

Schedule full for O'Malley, Brown visit

[For past posts on “Soundtrack” about the Maryland Municipal League click on: Maryland Municipal League. Disclosure: I served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors annually for five consecutive years, from June 2000 to May 2005.]

By Joseph Gidjunis, Staff Writer, Originally published June 25, 2007

SALISBURY -- The Maryland Democratic leadership tag team of Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown have scheduled a Lower Shore saturation over 72 hours along Route 50 from Salisbury to Ocean City's Boardwalk.

The top two state officials have scheduled 18 public stops including a cabinet meeting, business roundtables, recreational tours, agricultural visits and speeches for city and town leaders from around the state. Only the first event -- a cabinet meeting with department heads -- will be off limits from the press and public.

[…]

WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE

MONDAY

O'Malley and Brown Cabinet meeting 10 a.m. 1109 American Legion Road, Salisbury.

O'Malley and Brown Local leaders session 10:30 a.m. 1109 American Legion Road, Salisbury

O'Malley and Brown News conference 11:30 a.m. 1109 American Legion Road, Salisbury

O'Malley and Brown Lunch Noon Market Street Inn, 130 W. Market St., Salisbury

O'Malley Tour 1:30 p.m. Marshall's Riverbank Nursery, 27573 Pemberton Drive, Salisbury

Brown MaTech Inc. 1:30 p.m. 510 Naylor Mill Road, Salisbury

Brown MML Conference 7 p.m. 40th and Isle of Wight Bay, Ocean City

TUESDAY

O'Malley Police Chiefs speech 8 a.m. Princess Royale Hotel, 9100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City

Brown Small business speech 9 a.m. Salisbury University, Holloway Hall, Great Hall

O'Malley Coastal bays boat trip 9:30 a.m. Talbot Street Watersports, 311 Talbot St., Ocean City

Brown Farm-to-Fork 9:45 a.m. Perdue Innovation Center, 2110 Industrial Parkway, Salisbury

Brown Farm-to-Fork 11:15 a.m. Lee and Dana Richardson's farm; 35579 Poplar Neck Road; Willards

O'Malley MML Conference Noon Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City

Brown Lunch 12:30 p.m. Dough Roller, 41st Street, Ocean City

Brown MML Conference 2 p.m. Roland E. Powell Convention Center

O'Malley MML reception 5 p.m. Roland E. Powell Convention Center

WEDNESDAY

O'Malley Trimper Rides 9:30 a.m. South First Street and the Boardwalk, Ocean City

O'Malley MML Conference 11:15 a.m. Roland E. Powell Convention Center

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20070626 CyberAlert

CyberAlert

CBS Frets Court's Turn to Right, ABC Rues Campaign Finance Ruling

A usually-daily report, edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert is distributed by the Media Research Center, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.

The 2,435^th CyberAlert. Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996

9:45am EDT, Tuesday June 26, 2007 (Vol. Twelve; No. 108)

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1. CBS Frets Court's Turn to Right, ABC Rues Campaign Finance Ruling

The Supreme Court on Monday issued two rulings related to free speech, but CBS was more concerned by the court's move "to the right," while ABC deplored the impact of the ruling striking down of a ban on advocacy advertising 60 days before an election.

Substitute CBS Evening News anchor Harry Smith, however, saw only one of the cases as involving free speech as he stressed the ideological direction of the court: "Today the justices ruled on a broad range of issues, including campaign finance reform and free speech for students. The rulings illustrate a distinct turn to the right due in part to the court's newest members."

Instead of seeing a victory for free speech, Wyatt Andrews described it as "part of a trend in which the Roberts court generally has moved to the right."

Andrews soon touted how "often the court's only woman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, would verbally strike back," such as when "she said the partial-birth abortion decision reflects ancient notions about women's place in the family, and this was out loud in open court."

Over on ABC, anchor Charles Gibson relayed how both of the big rulings "involved freedom of speech," but only in the school case did ABC put "free speech" on screen. With "Campaign Ads" on screen, Gibson rued the triumph for free speech: "The court weakened a key provision of the campaign finance reform law, opening the way for many more groups to run many more political ads."

2. NBC Highlights Students Asking Bush to Stop Torturing Prisoners

On Monday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams highlighted a "surprise" letter presented to President Bush by high school students visiting the White House who wanted the President to "stop the practice of torture." Williams: "When they got there, 50 of them [out of 141] presented him with a handwritten letter that they had signed demanding that the United States stop the practice of torture."

During the 37-second item, Williams recounted the story and at one point showed a copy of the letter on-screen with the sentence "We do not want America to represent torture" blown up so it was readable to viewers.

The NBC anchor concluded by relaying the President's response: "The President told them the United States does not practice torture, the very same thing the President has said publicly in the past."

3. NBC's Today Portrays Dick Cheney As the 'Master of Stealth'

Carrying the left's water, on Monday's Today show, NBC's Kelly O'Donnell furthered the liberal spin of Dick Cheney as a dark and sinister force inside the White House.

While refusing to label Melanie Sloan and Michael Blanton as the known liberals that they are, O'Donnell cited them, along with the Washington Post's Barton Gellman, in a segment that portrayed Cheney as a "master of stealth." In the story about Cheney withholding documents from the National Archives, O'Donnell aired three soundbites opposed to Cheney but only aired one from a Cheney advocate, White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino.

4. ABC Again Admires 'Noble' Environmentalist Who Shuns Toilet Paper

On Monday's Good Morning America, for the second time in less than two months, the ABC program featured a gushing segment on a liberal environmentalist's "noble experiment" of forgoing toilet paper and all other modern amenities in order to have "no impact" on the Earth.

GMA weatherman Sam Champion, who is himself a promoter of extremist environmental beliefs, touted how the year-long project could be "fun."

Co-anchor Chris Cuomo marveled at how Colin Beaven, or "No Impact Man," as he likes to be called, is trying to "do nothing to hurt the environment." In an unintentionally funny moment, when Cuomo noted that he couldn't "go without" toilet paper, this exchange followed. Cuomo: "Can't go without [toilet paper]. Can't be that green, Sam. Can't be that green." Champion: "I want to help you." In the 8:30am tease for the segment, guest co-host Juju Chang deemed the project a "noble experiment."

5. Huffington Post Writer: At Least Hitler Meant Well -- Unlike Bush

President Bush is actually worse than Hitler because at least the German dictator meant well when he was trying to exterminate Jewish people, ex-Seinfeld sit-com writer and Washington Post sports reporter Peter Mehlman contended in a rant last Wednesday on the Huffington Post blog.

Pointing out how many see Bush as the worst President ever, the featured Huffington Post contributor asserted that "what no one is saying is the one overarching reason he's the worst: the Bush administration is the first that doesn't even mean well."

Mehlman contended: "You could argue that even the world's worst fascist dictators at least meant well. They honestly thought were doing good things for their countries by suppressing blacks/eliminating Jews/eradicating free enterprise/repressing individual thought/killing off rivals/invading neighbors, etc....Bush set a new precedent. He came into office with the attitude of 'I'm so tired of the public good. What about my good? What about my rich friends' good?'"

Check Out the MRC's Blog

The MRC's blog site, NewsBusters, "Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias," provides examples of bias 24/7. With your participation NewsBusters will continue to be THE blog site for tracking and correcting liberal media bias. Come post your comments and get fresh proof of media misdeeds at: http://www.newsbusters.org

20070626 Chinese tires face recall

Chinese tires face recall

June 26, 2007

And many are getting tired of recalls of Chinese goods and products…

Ya know, a recall here and a recall there and it is beginning to look like a pattern is developing here. And at some point, inquiring minds wonder when the constant importation of defective products from China may not the occasional mistake and when it may be necessary to view this expanding phenomenon as a threat to our safety and national security…

Just wondering…

Chinese tires face recall

CNN Money

About 450,000 tires are missing an important safety feature; U.S. safety officials reportedly want importer to issue full recall.

June 26 2007: 5:05 AM EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A New Jersey importer of Chinese-made automobile tires has asked the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for help in recalling about 450,000 of the light truck tires because they lack an important safety feature, lawyers said.

The tires, made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., have an insufficient or missing gum strip, a safety feature that helps prevent the tires from separating, the lawyers and a consumers' group said in a statement. The group, Safety Research & Strategies, is urging retailers and wholesalers to stop selling the tires.

More.

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