News Clips
July 16, 2007
STATE NEWS
Senators want new deficit tack
Liberals offer 'social progress,' few details
A group of liberal state senators wants the state to consider ideas beyond sales tax increases or slot machine gambling to solve its budget problems -- and they think they have the votes to make their voices heard.
The group is not endorsing specific taxes, nor is it precluding anything, including slot machine gambling. But members say they want the debate to be as expansive as possible. The group is not endorsing specific taxes, nor is it precluding anything, including slot machine gambling. But members say they want the debate to be as expansive as possible.
A parking solution can be a political unifier
For all its antique charm,
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, a Democrat, and Republican Del. Gail H. Bates, for example, don't agree on lots of things - such as taxes and spending, for starters - but when it comes to more parking for historic
Incumbent has only fair record with voters, poll finds
The survey indicates that most Baltimore Democratic voters believe that Dixon is doing only a fair job at controlling crime, improving city schools and making government honest, yet she has a solid overall approval rating and voters seem willing to give her a chance to prove herself in a full four-year term.
Just when plastic bags seemed to have won the contest for customer preference against their chief competitor, paper, a movement has sprung up in
Indeed, those ubiquitous flimsy shopping sacks are a scourge on the landscape, particularly in waterfront communities such as
Editorial: Enforcing 'official' English a waste of legislative effort
Del. Patrick McDonough wants us to speak English. The Republican, who represents Harford and Baltimore counties, says he received a rousing positive reaction to his "Speak English" signs at Independence Day parades. He sponsored legislation to make it the official language of the state and
GOP cuts staff, salary to balance lean budget
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/METRO/107160030/1004
The Maryland Republican Party trimmed its staff last month as part of efforts to reduce spending during tight budget times.
The group eliminated the job of events coordinator and reduced Executive Director John Flynn's salary by almost one-third, from $85,000 to $60,000, said multiple sources with access to a closed-door board meeting.
"The correct way to view all of this is the executive board has made some good fiduciary business decisions in order to make sure the state party is on the correct path," said Chris Cavey, the group's vice chairman.
"As with a lot of organizations, cost cutting is necessary," said group Chairman James Pelura III. "You have to adjust to the current situation." Mr. Pelura said the group will be hosting conservative commentator Fred Barnes for a fundraiser later this month.
http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=60721
County Executive David Craig says the grants will cover five separate areas. The state's attorney's office will receive nearly $77,000 to investigate and prosecute crimes in the Edgewood area where most of the gang crimes in
St. Mary's Schools Get $350,000 State Grant
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/14/AR2007071400109.html
St. Mary's County public schools officials have secured a $350,000 state grant to help launch a science, technology, engineering and math program in three schools near the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. St. Mary's received extra funding because its program is especially innovative,
Warehouse to Join Surplus Property List
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301046.html
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) announced yesterday that he is closing the warehouse in Jessup as part of an effort to make government more efficient. It turns out that the state spends more to maintain the warehouse some years than it raises through sales of used desks, chairs, computer parts, typewriters, adding machines and other staples of state government.
So the 60,000-foot surplus property warehouse will soon be declared surplus itself.
Politics on back burner at clambake
Crisfield shows off assets in non-election year
http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS01/707160302
Organizers of Wednesday's J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake are expecting as many as 5,600 people to show up at the 31st annual event which traditionally mixes Crisfield seafood and state politics. But in this nonelection year, city and Crisfield Chamber of Commerce officials said they don't expect to see Gov. Martin O'Malley or U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin at the event named for a former Maryland governor and Crisfield native.
NATIONAL NEWS
Elected Republicans support Gilchrest despite disagreements
http://www.examiner.com/a-829976~Elected_Republicans_support_Gilchrest_despite_disagreements.html
Two low-key fundraising events over the weekend gave some Republican officials a chance to declare their support for 1st District U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest's bid to gain a 10th term, even though they may disagree with some of his views.
"Congressman Gilchrest is doing a good job," said
Queen Anne's County Del. Richard Sossi, a Vietnam War veteran like Gilchrest, also is unhappy with Gilchrest's change of heart on the war, but "I don't have to agree with someone 100 percent," Sossi said. "He has served this district very well," even though once in a while, "he'll support something that's really odd."
Gilchrest Says Most People Don't Understand Thursday Troop Bill
http://www.wmdt.com/topstory/displaystory.asp?id=5 858
He was one of only four Republicans to support it. But Maryland Congressman Wayne Gilchrest says most members of his party don't get the "ins and outs" of Thursday's
The time has come
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_columnist.htm?StoryID=62491
It is downright shameful that it takes an act of Congress to ensure a woman has the right to stay in the hospital overnight after she has a breast surgically removed.
It is even more shameful that the legislation has been introduced each year for the past 10 years without a vote or hearing.
The proposed legislation, renewed earlier this year, guarantees a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours for a woman having a mastectomy or lumpectomy, and 24 hours for those undergoing lymph node removal.
The bill also requires coverage for radiation therapy for patients undergoing lumpectomy to let women decide on the best course of treatment, not the cheapest.
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest believes that the bill can help shed some light on the issue and inspire states to act. "Breast cancer is the number one diagnosed cancer in women, and with thousands of cases in
His colleague, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, says that the last thing any woman facing a crisis like breast cancer should have to do is fight her insurance company for basic health care.
Barton access road funded
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_195105228.html
U.S. Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Benjamin Cardin announced Friday that the Appalachian Regional Commission has awarded
This is a federal investment in
Farm Bill Includes Significant Increase in Conservation Funding For Bay Region
http://www.solanconews.com/Farm/2007/070716_CBF_farmbill.htm
The 2007 federal Farm Bill, which will be considered by the House Agriculture Committee next week, includes unprecedented, targeted conser vation funding for the Chesapeake Bay Region.
That funding is critical to the health of local farms, and water quality in rivers, streams and the
CBF's Federal Affairs Director Doug Siglin said. "The region's farmers have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to implement conservation measures, but they can't foot the bill alone."
Transportation money secured
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/07_14-17/GOV
The area around Fort George G. Meade recently received $500,00 0 from the federal government to improve traffic signals and additional funds to purchase new buses to link shopping centers, MARC stations and the fort.
In all, $3.6 million has been secured for the congressional district represented by Dutch Ruppersberger,
