Dayhoff Soundtrack

Sunday, March 30, 2008

20080328 News Clips

News Clips 03-28-2008

STATE NEWS

Volunteer calls closing of barrack 'a disgrace'

Annapolis state police unit more than just an office

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/03_24-21/TOP

The brown bricks of the Annapolis State Police barrack add up to more than just the modest, rectangular building that sits along Taylor Avenue. But budget times are tight, and Gov. Martin O'Malley agreed this year with the Department of State Police that the time has come to close it down, a proposal that has floated in the halls of the State House for the past four years. Mr. Sears, now 86, has been volunteering at the Annapolis state police barrack for the past 46 years. "If they are looking for something and can't find it, they call me," he said this week. But those days are now numbered. "We're faced with a budget problem," said Sen. John Astle, D-Annapolis, the day after a February meeting with Col. Terrence Sheridan, the secretary of state police, to discuss the idea of closing the barrack. "Sometimes you have to make tough decisions." But four years ago, under the administration of Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the state studied consolidating the Annapolis and Glen Burnie police barracks and found the most cost-effective maneuver would be to close the Glen Burnie station and bring its operations to the capital. "Considering the communication requirements, from a fiscal aspect, it would be more cost effective to close the Glen Burnie barracks and move all operations to the Annapolis barracks," the study said.

Cell phone ban is killed

By a 12-9 vote, House committee blocks plan to outlaw use while driving

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.cellphone28mar28,0,4292349.story

After coming closer to becoming law than it has in a decade, a bill that would have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving died yesterday in a House of Delegates committee.
National momentum has been building for such bans, which traffic safety advocates say prevent accidents and save lives, and this month the legislation passed in the Maryland Senate for the first time. But it was defeated by a 12-9 vote in the House Environmental Matters Committee, which has killed similar bills in recent years. "A lot of people had concerns," said Del. James E. Malone Jr., a Baltimore County Democrat and chairman of the subcommittee that overwhelmingly urged a defeat of the measure. "Do you say you can't use a cell phone, but it's OK to eat, drink, read and put on makeup while driving?" The measure that passed in the Senate was less stringent than the one Lenett originally introduced. Police would have been able to cite drivers for using cell phones only if they were stopped for another reason, and first offenders would have had no points assessed on their driving records. The ban would have expired after two years unless the legislature renewed it.

State, Constellation reach truce on rates

Rebates, end of investigations let both sides claim victory

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-te.bz.constellation28mar28,0,6218219.story

The years-long dispute over whether consumers were shortchanged in a 1999 deal to deregulate the power industry ended yesterday with Constellation Energy Group and Gov. Martin O'Malley concluding that neither side could afford to keep fighting. The two sides announced a settlement yesterday that allows both to claim a measure of victory, while avoiding a prolonged legal battle that could have distracted from efforts to resolve a looming statewide energy shortfall. Industry analysts say Constellation needed to make peace with lawmakers if it is to invest up to $5 billion in a new nuclear reactor and other generation projects in Maryland and elsewhere. The stakes were equally high for O'Malley, who could ill afford to be at war with the state's largest energy producer at a time when Maryland needs more electricity. Some lawmakers were skeptical of the settlement and whether state negotiators got the best deal for consumers. Sen. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, said he would examine any costs stemming from the 1999 deal for which ratepayers would still be on the hook. Del. Warren E. Miller, a Howard County Republican, called the $170 per-household refund "better than nothing," but he discounted the settlement as a political victory for O'Malley. "I think he still has to explain to ratepayers why there was a 72 percent increase" in utility rates, Miller said.

Bill to exempt some sites from smoking ban fails

Balto. County bars with enclosed 'outdoor' areas had sought change

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.smoking28mar28,0,4983382.story

A bill that would have created an "outdoor" exemption for Baltimore County bars and restaurants to the state ban on smoking in public places died in a House committee yesterday, effectively ending an effort that some health advocates feared could unravel statewide support for the newly imposed law. The bill drew opposition from Baltimore County's executive and health department. It also worried health advocates, who feared other jurisdictions would seek a similar exemption, opening the door to further weakening of the law.

Assembly wrapping up budget work

But members still divided on how to cut $300 million

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.cuts28mar28,0,2703338.story

House and Senate leaders began hashing out the finishing touches on the state's $31.2 billion budget yesterday, although they remain divided on how to cut more than $300 million from state spending. The two sides have not agreed on how much money should go to stem cell research grants and to raises for providers of care for the mentally and physically disabled; how deeply to cut funding for higher education; and when to implement the health care expansion passed in last year's special session.
"We're making good progress," said Sen. David R. Brinkley, the Senate minority leader from Carroll and Frederick counties, who is one of eight lawmakers on the budget conference committee. "It's a tough budget year, and there are a lot of hard decisions to make across the board." By law, legislators must pass a balanced budget before it adjourns next month. The plan they adopt will cover the fiscal year that begins July 1. Their efforts might be complicated by continuing attempts to repeal Maryland's new computer services tax. Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders are backing a plan to replace that $200 million-a-year levy with an income tax surcharge on those earning $1 million or more and cuts from transportation projects and state agency budgets. O'Malley and other state leaders have expressed optimism that a repeal will pass, despite opposition to their proposal.

Session’s work reflects weak economy, pols say

Democratic leaders say they have protected state’s priorities

http://www.gazette.net/stories/032808/polinew195537_32359.shtml

Now, in the waning days of the 2008 session, amid a sputtering national economy and revenue write-downs, lawmakers have scaled back expectations for new programs held up after the special session as examples that the state was moving ahead with its priorities even while addressing a $1.5 billion budget deficit. Legislative leaders said this week that they have protected the hard-fought gains of the special session, including health care expansion, the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund and money for K-12 education. ‘‘The budget you pass is morally what you’re about,” Miller said. ‘‘You need a good balance. You need modest revenue increases. At the same time you need to make sure the public is not unduly burdened at these challenging times.” Republicans continue to say state spending is out of control. ‘‘It was irresponsible to vote those new spending programs in the first place at a time when we couldn’t afford them,” House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Dist. 29C) of Lusby said. ‘‘They may be wonderful ideas if we had unlimited resources.” Meeting the funding needs of programs passed during the special session was an unrealistic expectation, O’Donnell said. ‘‘It was irresponsible, we couldn’t afford it at the time, and nobody should be surprised that we still can’t afford it,” he said. ‘‘The legislature has not cured its spending addiction.” Republicans are not the only ones with spending concerns. Some fiscally conservative Democrats said the state needs to be wary of the national economy. ‘‘We need to stop spending,” Del. Pamela G. Beidle said. ‘‘We don’t know what this economy’s bringing in the next six month or year.”

State OKs Ocean City property tax breaks

Amusement parks have sought relief

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.ocean28mar28,0,7195430.story

The General Assembly has passed legislation that would let local governments give tax breaks to two Ocean City amusement parks, both of which have been grappling with skyrocketing property tax bills. The bills, which were sponsored by Del. James N. Mathias Jr., could help keep Trimper Rides and Amusements and the Jolly Roger Amusement Park in business. Both resort mainstays have struggled with escalating property taxes because of the real estate boom. “They're both very vital to the continued success of Ocean City," said Mayor Richard W. Meehan. Meehan said the town initially wanted the state to pass a tax credit for amusement parks, but that wasn't feasible. So the two bills were the next best choice, he said.

Craig offers reduced budget for Harford

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.budget28mar28,0,3431159.story

Harford County Executive David R. Craig unveiled a $895.8 million proposed budget yesterday for fiscal year 2009 that includes money for renovating schools, expanding the detention center, hiring more deputies and raising salaries for county employees. His 2009 budget plan is $84 million less than the $980 million budget that he proposed last March. Citing a tough economy, Craig said he told heads of various county agencies last fall to make modest requests. "We can see the economy was weak, particularly the housing market," he said. "We told everyone to come in with a conservative budget." Craig wrote in his budget message that the county "places a priority on recruiting and retaining the best employees." The budget, which goes next to the county council, takes effect July 1.

Physical-ed study bill advances in state Senate

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.senate28mar28,0,2615999.story

The Maryland Senate advanced a measure yesterday that would create a task force to study mandating a minimum amount of physical activity or education for students in public schools.
The bill would have required schools to provide students in kindergarten through eighth grade with at least 2 1/2 hours of physical activity a week, but lawmakers changed the bill to study the issue, noting concerns that it would be too expensive and require the hiring of more teachers. The bill also would have required high school students to complete two years of physical education to graduate. The task-force bill still needs a final vote in the Senate; the House of Delegates has not acted on a companion measure.

GOP: Dems blocking expansion of board

http://www.examiner.com/a-1306577~GOP__Dems_blocking_expansion_of_board.html

Democrats are again blocking a bill that would expand the Carroll board of commissioners from three to five, GOP lawmakers say. In a 2004 referendum, voters supported expanding the board to five commissioners, elected by district. But Republicans and Democrats have squabbled in Annapolis for years over how to divide the districts. Carroll’s General Assembly delegation has introduced a bill for the second time in four years calling for a map known as option 1, which would create district lines splitting the towns of Manchester and Hampstead. Sen. David Brinkley, R-District 4, the bill’s co-sponsor, blamed Martin Radinsky, Carroll Democratic Central Committee chairman. Brinkley labeled as false Radinsky’s assertion that option 2 gives Democrats a better chance to win an election. “Marty Radinsky’s working behind the scenes trying to sabotage things,” Brinkley said. “It’s pretty pathetic, actually.” With about two weeks remaining in the General Assembly’s session, both sides agreed plenty of time remains for passage of a bill that would expand the number of commissioners. “We should be able to get something through,” Brinkley said. “I’m still optimistic.”

Senators advance Leopold's agenda

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2008/03_27-6/GOV

The majority of County Executive John R. Leopold's legislative agenda has been cleared for passage after Anne Arundel's Senate delegation signed off on multiple bills yesterday. Senators unanimously supported lifting the caps on food license and well-drilling fees and mandating the Maryland Department of the Environment to pay the county back for environmental testing it did for fly ash contamination. "Fortunately, (Mr. Leopold's) agenda is very modest," said Sen. Janet Greenip, R-Crofton. In terms of the bills to lift the caps on fees for food establishment licenses and well permits, the Senate delegation's two Republicans - Mrs. Greenip and Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena - begrudgingly voted in favor so the county can cover its operation costs.

Wynn to quit seat in June

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080328/METRO/569946917/1004

Maryland Rep. Albert R. Wynn said yesterday he will resign before his term ends to take over a D.C. law firm job — a move that comes after the eight-term congressman's sound defeat in last month's primary. Under state law, Mr. O'Malley can choose to leave the seat vacant for the rest of the term. Mr. Wynn said he hoped his early departure will allow Mrs. Edwards to gain seniority among the incoming freshmen members of Congress and to smooth her transition. However, the winner of the Republican primary, Peter James, said the move seemed more like a transfer of power between Democrats. “I see this as a ploy, since Donna Edwards has name recognition, to get her in there quickly,” he said.

Wynn's Resignation Leaves Maryland Scrambling

http://dcist.com/2008/03/28/wynns_resignati.php

Rep. Albert Wynn may have served 16 years in the House of Representatives, but his announcement yesterday that he was retiring eight months before his final term ends may be the cheapest move in his political career. Wynn, who lost a hotly contested primary to Donna Edwards earlier this year, announced that he was leaving his seat for a job at a local law firm starting in June. His transition to a better-paying job comes at the expense of his constituents in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, who will either have to go six months without a representative in the House, or have to cough up the money for a special election to fill the seat until the November general election. Wynn played up his resignation as something of a gift for Edwards. "My leaving early will also allow our Democratic nominee, Donna Edwards, the opportunity to successfully navigate a special election and be sworn in this summer. This will not only give her seniority in the incoming Congressional Class of ’09 but, more importantly, will allow her to get off to a fast start in serving the citizens of our community. I offer her my best wishes and stand ready to assist in any way possible."

More post-deployment aid urged

O'Malley, Mikulski seek more funds to help returning troops

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-md.guard28mar28,0,3727825.story

Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski told a group of soldiers yesterday that the government must do more to help returning troops by increasing mental health funding and cutting bureaucracy in existing programs. During a meeting at the 5th Regiment Armory in Baltimore, both officials heard accounts from about a dozen members of the Maryland National Guard who had emotional and financial problems after returning from deployment overseas. "When they come back home, just like they stood by America, America has to stand by them," said Mikulski, who vowed to seek an additional $45 million for integration programs nationwide. "We've got to help these guardsmen." Maryland's proposed budget includes $3.5 million for behavioral health programs that would include troops who live in areas where there are now no programs and $800,000 for an integration program that would help veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related illnesses. O'Malley said Maryland must increase its efforts but offered few specifics about what could be done.

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

Time to put government on a diet Rascovar on Politics | Barry Rascovar

http://www.gazette.net/stories/032808/poliras193236_32364.shtml

This is austerity? Maryland’s next budget shows nearly a 4 percent growth in general fund spending — over $550 million more to run state government. Higher education funds are increasing by 9 percent. Aid to public schools is rising by $180 million. Bay restoration funds are growing by $83 million. And yet on Wall Street, there is fear we may be entering a dangerously uncertain period marked by recession and inflation. The collapse of the housing and mortgage markets could spill over into other parts of the economy. It could be a very rough ride — but you’d never know it from the still-growing budgets of local and state leaders. Given the weak national economy, this would be a good time for Annapolis officials to start identifying programs and services to prune or even eliminate. But Maryland’s leaders fear the repercussions of any drastic belt-tightening. Today’s politicians don’t tand up well under pressure. It is easier for them to find ways to increase funding every year for every program. Still, if state revenues continue to plummet, officials may have no choice but to agree on some limited priorities and identify non-essential areas that can be reduced in size.

Look at Maryland’s new budget. When the state comptroller lowered revenue projections by $333 million, did legislators or the governor slash actual spending by an equivalent amount? Of course not. Legislators made less than $150 million worth of on-going program cuts. The rest of the budget balancing was done through fiscal sleights of hand — fund transfers and one-time reductions that don’t provide a long-term answer. It means the state will enter the next budget cycle in worse shape. That $333 million revenue hole is only being plugged temporarily.

A critical victory

Our view: Shorefront land-use reforms are only a start

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.critical28mar28,0,2267636.story

Environmentalists may soon have something big to rejoice: Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal to upgrade Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area program appears to be headed for passage. The House has approved the bill - thanks to some reasonable compromises with local government and others who had opposed it. The Senate should soon follow suit. But as important a victory for the Chesapeake Bay as this might prove to be, there also ought to be a reality check. The General Assembly can toughen the restrictions on shoreline development all it wants, but unless the necessary financial resources for enforcement are provided (along with a real willingness on the part of local government), the state's ambition to maintain a 1,000-foot buffer along the tidal waterfront will never be fully realized. To put it more bluntly, the law is an unfunded mandate that local government can choose to aggressively enforce or largely disregard. That the state has no plans to help pay for any of this enforcement - aside from whatever local governments receive from higher fines - is not surprising under the state's budgetary circumstances, but it's not helpful. It's clear that even with this reform, the Critical Area law will not be perfect. Nor would a "perfect" Critical Area law be the bay's salvation. But a beefed-up Critical Area program is a crucial component in what must be a concerted and continuing effort to protect Maryland's most valuable natural resource. Achieving even that much is a notable accomplishment.

Friday, March 28, 2008

20080328 Linganore High School Band in Disney

Linganore High School Band in Disney

March 28, 2008

The Linganore High School Band from Linganore High School in Frederick County Maryland recently “perform(ed) in the Main Street Parade in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, March 19, 2008” in Orlando Florida. ladorrance has a video up on You Tube:

Linganore High School Band in Disney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xonFPCvflQ

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20080326 Too Little, Too Late - Media Discover Mercury in Fluorescent Bulbs by the Business and Media Institute

Too Little, Too Late - Media Discover Mercury in Fluorescent Bulbs by the Business and Media Institute

Each CFL contains about 5 milligrams of mercury. That’s enough for state environmental agencies to recommend complicated and expensive cleanups for accidental bulb breaks in homes.

20070913 Light Bulb Efficiency Standards

Too Little, Too Late - Media Discover Mercury in Fluorescent Bulbs

Journalists' beloved 'eco-friendly' lights now considered more dangerous than originally thought, after government mandate required their use.

By Nathan Burchfiel

Business & Media Institute

3/26/2008

What is it about government mandates that curse innovation to failure?

Ethanol turned out to be more environmentally harmful than the fossil fuels it was replacing via federal mandate. Now scientists understand the “green” compact fluorescent light bulbs to be dangerous because they contain mercury.

While scientists couldn’t agree on just how beneficial compact fluorescent light bulbs were, journalists on network news shows had widely agreed that CFLs are a good thing.

“They last 10 times longer and they’re really great for the environment,” Kris Connell of Real Simple Magazine said on “The Early Show” March 10.

Each of the three broadcast networks has featured the bulbs and promoted them as energy-efficient, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional incandescent bulbs. Journalists and others who support the bulbs touted their benefits but rarely focused on the potential risks.

NBC’s “Today” show featured the bulbs on its “Today Goes Green” series Jan. 23, 2008, as one way average Americans can adjust their lives to be more “environmentally friendly.”

“If every American home replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than three million American homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars,” co-host Meredith Vieira said.

“Replace just one of your standard light bulbs with one of those curly compact fluorescent lamps,” Diane Sawyer suggested on ABC’s “Good Morning America” April 20. “If every household in the U.S. replaced just one standard bulb with a CFL tomorrow … it would be like taking 2 million cars off the road.”

The Sept. 28, 2007, CBS “Early Show” even said “going green,” including switching from traditional incandescent bulbs to CFLs, was “good for your health, it’s good for your pocketbook, and it’s good for the environment.”

The print media joined in. USA Today called them the “wave of the future” in March 2007. The Los Angeles Times said in April 2007 the bulbs “would be good for the environment and consumers’ pocketbooks.”

With this help from the media, proponents of the bulbs convinced Congress to ban incandescent light bulbs in the energy bill President Bush signed into law in Dec. 19, 2007. The bill increases efficiency standards and effectively bans traditional bulbs by 2014, a timetable considered a victory by supporters like Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., who was the first to introduce legislation that would ban the bulbs.

But what the media ignored or downplayed in the run-up to the ban was that CFLs contain mercury, a highly toxic metal infamous for its presence in thermometers. In the last two years, network news shows mentioned the CFL-mercury link only seven times. Four of the reports came after the incandescent ban had already been signed into law.

Each CFL contains about 5 milligrams of mercury. That’s enough for state environmental agencies to recommend complicated and expensive cleanups for accidental bulb breaks in homes.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommended a woman contact a hazardous waste cleanup company when a CFL broke on her child’s bedroom carpet, sending the mercury level to more than six times the “safe” limit. The crew estimated the cleanup would cost $2,000.

The Maine DEP no longer recommends such an expensive cleanup process, but now suggests a 14-point cleanup plan.

The 5 milligrams of mercury are also enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water beyond safe drinking levels, according to a March 19 MSNBC.com article that “extrapolated from Stanford University research on mercury.”

Read the entire article: Too Little, Too Late - Media Discover Mercury in Fluorescent Bulbs

20071224 What Really Happened in the Middle East by "Director Blue Doug Ross"

What Really Happened in the Middle East by Director Blue Doug Ross

Posted on Kevin Dayhoff – Soundtrack on March 28, 2008

As an historian, one of the most frustrating aspects of following contemporary political events is how often history gets distorted so as to promote a personal or political agenda.

Additionally, as is often the case, the more the inaccurate information is repeated, the more it slowly but surely becomes “the reality” of the issue.

While roaming the web the other night, I came across a history of Israel and the Middle East that certainly more closely resembles the actual history - - as opposed to the inaccurate portrayal of the history of the Israeli Palestinian Arab conflict…

What really happened Monday, December 24, 2007

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-really-happened.html

[…]

“… what really happened in the Middle East? Why is it so dysfunctional? What prevents people of all religions from living in peace? The highlights of The Terrorism Awareness Project's presentation are worth reviewing.”

Review the rest of Mr. Ross’ post here: What really happened

20080327 Maryland General Assembly: HB134 Transporting Pets (and wives) in trucks

Maryland General Assembly: HB134 Transporting Pets (and wives) in trucks

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

Earlier today Mrs. Owl emailed me a PDF copy of “News and Views You can Use,” distributed by Equiery. I cannot find the newsletter on the Equiery web site…

Mrs. Owl wrote “One of several silly aspects of legislation I'm sure,” as she called to my attention commentary on HB134…

_____

Upon reading the newsletter I found the column of which Mrs. Owl was referring on page one: “Maryland General Assembly Session: Opened like a lamb, now roaring like a lion,” by Nancy Hill. She calls to our attention “HB134 - Vehicle laws, Transporting pets in trucks or trailers.”

Ms. Hill writes, “What is quirky about this bill is that ‘people’ over the age of sixteen are allowed by state law to ride in the back of an open truck. As one Senator said, ‘If this bill passes, I'd have to put the dog in the front with me and my wife in the back of the truck.’ […]”

Snip

I looked up HOUSE BILL 134 (File Code: Vehicle Laws - Rules of the Road

Prior Year Introduction As: HB 132/97 – CGM) and sure enough the synopsis of the bill reads:

“Prohibiting a person from transporting pets in or on a truck or trailer on a highway unless the truck or trailer is enclosed on the sides and the top in a manner that safely prevents the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer or unless the pet is confined by a device designed to safely prevent the pet from falling, jumping, or otherwise exiting the truck or trailer; providing that a violation of the Act is not considered a moving violation for specified purposes; defining "pet"; etc.”

The bill was introduced by: Delegate Kevin Kelly, District 1B; Delegate Kathleen M. Dumais, District 15; Delegate Susan K. McComas, District 35B; Delegate Christopher B. Shank, District 2B; and Delegate Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., District 36

And by the way – it passed the House on third reader on March 20, 2008 (127-7)

To sure, a quick search on the internet indicates that a number of state and local governments throughout the nation have such dog tethering laws on the books…

Hey, I’m just as sappy about pets, animals, and dogs as the next person…

Nevertheless, considering the economy; the dynamic that Maryland is currently engaged in driving folks and businesses out of the state with a new and improved version of tax-hell; and last, but not least, are the recent statistics that Maryland is one of the most dangerous states in the union - - is protecting dogs while they ride in a truck what we really need our legislators to be doing these days.

I’m just asking?

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff http://www.livejournal.com/

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT 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. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

20080326 Maryland 7th most dangerous state in the nation

Crime State Rankings 2008

Maryland 7^th most dangerous state in the nation

March 28, 2008

Hat Tip: Most Dangerous States for 2008 posted by Delusional Duck

The results of CQ Press’s annual Crime State Rankings are in. Join us as we reveal which 15 states were ranked as the most dangerous for 2008.

No. 7: Maryland

News: New Hampshire is the Nation's Safest State; Nevada is the Most Dangerous - March 17, 2008 (Click to read press release)

_____

15 Most Dangerous States for 2008

20080327 News Clips

NewsClips 03-27-2008

STATE NEWS

Deal may end 'tech tax'

O'Malley, leaders back income tax surcharge and cuts in spending

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.tax27mar27,0,1651317.story

Gov. Martin O'Malley and top leaders in the General Assembly are lining up votes for a plan to replace Maryland's new computer services tax with an income tax surcharge on top earners and cuts to transportation and other spending. The plan has the backing of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and Sen. Ulysses Currie, the Prince George's County Democrat who chairs the powerful Budget and Taxation Committee. O'Malley's proposal still faces tough opposition from the Montgomery County delegation, the state's largest voting bloc. Miller said the Senate would take up the measure Monday, but he placed the responsibility for rallying votes with the governor. Republicans immediately criticized the proposal. "We have offered plan after plan that would fund all of it with reductions in spending," said Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell, the House minority leader. "We're not going to get into the game of shifting tax burdens around."

Constellation, state agree to settle lawsuits

Move would secure one-time $170 rebate for BGE customers

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.bge27mar27,0,7432257.story

Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to announce today a settlement with Constellation Energy Group, ending a bitter battle between the state and BGE's parent company and securing $187 million in one-time rebates for more than 1 million residential customers, according to state officials who have been briefed on the agreement. The rebates would amount to $170 per customer and be applied to bills by the end of the year. Constellation spokesman Robert L. Gould would not confirm or discuss details of the agreement. "We continue to hold discussions with the state in an effort to resolve the issues related to our respective pending litigation," he said. Besides the rate relief, the agreement clarifies the public service commission's authority to examine the books and records of all utilities, including those of Constellation and its various affiliated companies. Lawmakers had been threatening to pass a bill granting the PSC subpoena power if the company did not reach an agreement with the state.

Md. Senate revises energy credit

Panel proposes to trim electric bills $2, fund efficiency, rebate plans

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.rates27mar27,0,6465355.story

A day after advancing a proposal to give homeowners an estimated $5 monthly credit on their electric bills, state lawmakers decided yesterday to cut that amount to less than $2 while directing the rest to conservation and other programs designed to reduce energy use. The Senate panel voted Tuesday to give all of that money to ratepayers' credits, with several lawmakers championing the idea as a way to give consumers relief as soon as possible from double-digit increases in electricity rates. The issue has become a potent political topic and a difficult one to address because of the complexity of the energy markets. When the panel took up that proposal yesterday, Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, a Republican who represents Carroll and Howard counties, said: "This is where the ratepayers get the shaft." Other lawmakers also objected. Sen. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, called the proposal "a victory for bureaucracy" because the funding for efficiency and conservation programs would accrue to the energy administration. He said that ratepayers should decide how to spend the money and that redirecting the money amounted to "blind faith that the government's going to do it better than the consumer."

Loophole in smoking ban gets backing

Baltimore Co. bar owners seek 'outdoor' exemption

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.smoking27mar27001519,0,771578.story

Del. Joseph J. "Sonny" Minnick co-owns a tavern in Dundalk, and he said he's lost business since the state banned smoking in bars and restaurants. Now, at the request of fellow tavern owners, he is backing a bill that would create an "outdoor" exemption for Baltimore County bars and restaurants. This week, the proposal won the support of a state Senate committee, alarming health advocates. The measure would allow smoking on enclosed decks and patios, in tents or in other outdoor structures of bars and restaurants, and it would apply only to Baltimore County. Eric Gally, lobbyist for the Cancer Society and Heart Association, said allowing Baltimore County establishments some relief from the smoking ban would lead to pressure to extend the exemption across the state. The fear of businesses in neighboring jurisdictions getting a competitive edge from local smoking bans was what tied up the issue for years, he said. "We don't want to keep refighting the fight," he said. "The legislation that passed was designed to maintain a level playing field for everybody."

Senate passes bill on utilities

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.sbriefs27mar27,0,3021891.story

The Maryland Senate approved a bill yesterday that would require gas and electric companies to notify customers at least once a year of any charges they assess for energy efficiency and conservation programs. The legislation, which passed the Senate unanimously, came in response to controversy over Allegheny Power, a Western Maryland utility, sending customers energy-saving light bulbs and then adding the cost to their monthly bills. Under the legislation, utilities must tell customers on their bills and through the company's Web site about the charges imposed and the benefits of such programs. The House of Delegates approved a similar bill this month.

Educational challenges discussed

Meeting focuses on impact of 'No Child Left Behind'

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.ar.simon27mar27,0,5508691.story

Raymond Simon, deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education, met with 19 of Maryland's high-ranking educators yesterday and fielded their questions and concerns about the No Child Left Behind Act. Simon and U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings have visited 25 states since February to discuss the impact of the act, which requires school systems to bring students up to grade level in reading and math by 2014. Anne Arundel's Superintendent Dr. Kevin Maxwell asked if there would be any flexibility in requiring all students to reach the target goals of No Child Left Behind in 2014. Simon stressed that there was no flexibility on this issue. Maxwell lamented about the lack of a pool of highly qualified teachers. He added that universities are not producing large numbers of highly qualified teachers and that local school systems are being held responsible for it. "All we can do is hire what is there," Maxwell said last night after the discussion ended. "It would be great if our colleges and universities could produce enough teachers for us." Other comments included: the need for the federal government to provide more funding at the local school level, finding a way to better share best practices among all school systems, and rebuilding the reputation of schools that are labeled "persistently dangerous."

Push to restrict benefits for illegal immigrants fails

http://www.examiner.com/a-1304370~Push_to_restrict_benefits_for_illegal_immigrants_fails.html

Lawmakers have killed more than two dozen wide-reaching proposals targeting illegal immigrants, from establishing English as the state’s official language to requiring proof of citizenship for all public benefits. Republicans introduced legislation to cut state aid from counties who pass “sanctuary” laws forbidding government employees from inquiring about a person’s legal status. Del. Anthony O’Donnell, the House Republican leader from Calvert County, backed legislation that would require all Marylanders to show proof of citizenship before receiving benefits like public housing and food assistance, a proposal modeled on legislation passed in Colorado. O’Donnell said the proposals at least stimulated debate. He settled for the Democratic-lead study, saying a finding of net financial loss is all but inevitable. “Our constituents are applying increasing pressure on elected officials to take a tougher stand — to quit making Maryland a magnet state for illegal activity,” O’Donnell said. “Next year I think we will have to fish or cut bait.”

Prosecutors frustrated with bills not passed

http://www.examiner.com/a-1304378~Prosecutors_frustrated_with_bills_not_passed.html

Prosecutors faulted state lawmakers for rejecting efforts to toughen laws targeting gangs. The House Judiciary Committee voted down four bills that would have extended sentences for a broader range of crimes often committed by gang members. Del. Don Dwyer, R-District 31, a Judiciary Committee member, said he got no answer when he asked other lawmakers what he should tell a regional anti-gang task force for which he volunteers. Del. Susan McComas, chairwoman of the Harford County delegation, said the committee rejected the bills in part because prosecutors hadn’t used existing gang law enough to show it needed strengthening. Harford County State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly blamed the Judiciary Committee for weakening gang legislation last year, while Burns said Gov. Martin O’Malley and defense attorneys on the committee helped “gut” it. “It’s like giving us a car with four flat tires and asking us to prove that the flat tires affect its performance,” Cassilly said. Sen. Nancy Jacobs had sponsored eight gang-related bills in the Senate, four of them identical to those voted down in the House committee.

Howard may negotiate lower tax collection fee

http://www.examiner.com/a-1304374~Howard_may_negotiate_lower_tax_collection_fee.html

Howard County’s plan to take on the duties of collecting a real estate tax, rather than paying the state for the task, was intended to save money. But, it could make more sense to negotiate a better deal with the state, officials said. “It’s not as cost-effective overall to the citizens” of the county and Maryland, said Councilman Greg Fox, R-District 5. State law requires Howard to pay the 5 percent fee, but Del. Gail Bates, a Howard County Republican, is pushing a bill that would allow counties to broker a deal down to 2 percent. “It gives counties the flexibility if they are considering taking it over themselves,” Bates said. Howard Circuit Court Clerk Margaret Rappaport said, “I would have no problem reducing the fee from 5 to 2 percent.” In Anne Arundel, which took over the duties this year, officials estimate they can save at least $1 million, Budget Director John Hammond said. The county was paying $1.5 million a year because of the 3 percent fee. “We talked to some folks at the state about reducing the fee from 3 percent to 1 percent, but we couldn’t get to first base on that,” he said.

Md. Enviro Center May Get Green Light

http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=598&sid=1373179

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett loves talking about energy conservation, but there's one audience he hasn't been able to reach: thousands of tourists who drive through his western Maryland district to visit the nation's capital. Now Maryland's General Assembly is considering a bill that could help revive the Republican congressman's longtime dream of combining the latest energy-saving technology with a highway rest stop along busy Interstate 270 near Frederick, about 45 miles northwest of Washington. The bill, with bipartisan support and the backing of Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration, would create a state Clean Energy Center. "Much of what they want to do in the Maryland Clean Energy Center is exactly what we wanted to do with our green welcoming center, and that is to showcase the technologies that people could use themselves," Bartlett said. He mentioned rainwater collection, composting toilets, constructed wetlands for filtering wastewater, solar panels, passive solar heating and wind turbines.

EDITORIALS/OP-EDS

DNA bill gives state excess power

http://www.examiner.com/a-1304359~DNA_bill_gives_state_excess_power.html

Phew. It’s not as bad as it could have been. That’s about all we can say about legislation passed in the state Senate on Tuesday that allows law enforcement officers to collect DNA samples from those charged in violent crimes. Gov. Martin O’Malley wanted samples collected after mere arrest. Think about that. Police in this state need no warrant, charge or judicially reviewed probable cause to arrest any citizen. You could be arrested and not charged for something as trivial as loitering, and the government would take your DNA for posterity under the original version. At least the revised bill (it must be reconciled with a House version) calls for automatic expungement of DNA when a suspect is acquitted. But what safeguards are in place to ensure that happens and that DNA is not misplaced or mishandled? DNA evidence is a powerful tool to both exonerate and to convict. But the means of collecting it must not violate the most basic protections guaranteed by our Constitution. Legislators should refuse to reconcile House and Senate versions and let stand the current law permitting collection of DNA only from convicted felons.

Bush's Africa legacy

By Michael Steele

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080327/EDITORIAL/631296533/1013

President Bush showed the world that it isn't words, but actions, that truly make a difference. Millions throughout Africa would agree. Mr. Bush recently completed a historic visit to the African continent; a trip he described as "the most exciting, exhilarating, uplifting trip" of his presidency. During his visit, we saw pictures of the president dancing, celebrating and attending ceremonies with heads of state. But the real story is not about just this one trip; it is about the commitment the president made to Africa and what the United States has been quietly accomplishing throughout the continent over the past eight years under Mr. Bush's leadership. While critics here at home, including many in the press, focused on attacking Mr. Bush at every turn, he steadfastly pushed for greater investments to help the families and businesses of Africa. It's the great untold story that has rarely made headlines here in America, but even so, it has truly changed the world for millions of Africans. During my trade mission to Africa as Maryland's lieutenant governor and on subsequent visits, I had the opportunity to witness firsthand how the seeds of empowerment were being planted through market reforms, health initiatives and long-term strategic planning across the African continent. The time is ripe for Africa — and an African renaissance is beginning to emerge across the globe. Because of the efforts of the Bush administration, America will have an important role to play in helping to sustain that renaissance. Michael Steele, former lieutenant governor of Maryland, is chairman of GOPAC.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

20080324 New York Times Op-Ed: Let’s Not, and Say We Did by William Kristol

New York Times Op-Ed: Let’s Not, and Say We Did by William Kristol

Op-Ed Columnist

Let’s Not, and Say We Did By WILLIAM KRISTOL

Published in the New York Times on March 24, 2008

I shuddered only once while watching Barack Obama’s speech last Tuesday.

Columnist Page

Related

20080319 Jon Stewart on Obama’s Speech in Philadelphia

20080318 Barack Obama’s Speech on Race

Obama - Barack Obama

Times Topics: Barack Obama

It wasn’t when he posed the rhetorical questions: “Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church?”

The real question, of course, is not why Obama joined Trinity, but why he stayed there for two decades, in the flock of a pastor who accused the U.S. government of “inventing the H.I.V. virus as a means of genocide against people of color,” and who suggested soon after 9/11 that “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.”

But orators often ask themselves the convenient questions, not the difficult ones. And Barack Obama is an accomplished orator.

Nor was I shocked when Obama compared Reverend Wright, who was using his pulpit to propagate racial resentment, with his grandmother, who may have said privately a few things that made Obama cringe, or with Geraldine Ferraro, whom “some have dismissed ... as harboring some deep-seated bias.”

After all, politicians sometimes indulge in ridiculous and unfair comparisons to make a point. And Barack Obama is an able politician.

And I didn’t shudder when Obama said he could no more disown Reverend Wright than he could disown the black community. I did think this statement was unfair to many in the black community, and especially to all those pastors who have resisted the temptation to appeal to their parishioners in the irresponsible and demagogic manner of Reverend Wright.

But ambitious men sometimes do a disservice to the best in their own communities. And Barack Obama is an ambitious man.

The only part of the speech that made me shudder was this sentence: “But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now.”

Read the entire column here: Let’s Not, and Say We Did By WILLIAM KRISTOL

20080323 Frederick News-Post Letter to the editor: Knowing what's best for everyone by Guy Noce

Frederick News-Post Letter to the editor: Knowing what's best for everyone by Guy Noce

Originally published in the Frederick News-Post on March 23, 2008

More than a few years ago, I discussed the legal status of sunny side up eggs served in New Jersey restaurants with a friend, a former member of Maryland's House of Delegates. To my knowledge, you can't get a sunny side up egg in a New Jersey restaurant because of the action of that state's legislature. "You have to understand," my friend said, "that legislators think they know what's good for you."

In light of the Maryland Senate passing a law which permits the use of remote speed monitoring systems in parts of Maryland other than Montgomery County, several parts of the statute enabling "speed cameras" should be discussed. They probably know what's good for us.

Read the rest of the letter to the editor here: Frederick News-Post Letter to the editor: Knowing what's best for everyone by Guy Noce

*****

Or here - 20001208 Egg fans uneasy about FDA's 'No over easy' advice

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20080326 Daily Mail UK: Think this picture of Carla is racy?

Think THIS image of Carla is racy? You should see the ones I didn't publish, says photographer

Published in the Daily Mail, UK, 26th March 2008

It's not the look you would normally associate with a First Lady. But the photographer who captured this soon-to-be-auctioned image of the new Mrs Nicolas Sarkozy - former model Carla Bruni - claims he has photos that are even more explicit

[…]

Even so, the First Lady is understandably furious that a nude photo of her went on sale on the eve of her State visit to Britain with her husband.

Experts say the renewed interest in her is likely to send its price up to £2,000.

But an aide to 40-year-old Mrs Sarkozy said: "Carla is very angry, not to say deeply upset, that a commercial organisation has chosen to release this print at such an important time.

"Her priority is to establish herself on the world stage as a first lady France can be proud of."

As well as being the first time that an image of a naked wife of a serving head of state has been sold for profit, it is being touted at a time when Mrs Bruni-Sarkozy and her husband President "Bling Bling" Nicolas Sarkozy are desperately trying to moderate their racy image.

[…]

Read (look at) the entire article here: Think THIS image of Carla is racy? You should see the ones I didn't publish, says photographer

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20080323 Emmitsburg prepares for Bell and History Days

For fellow history buffs – this event looks great:

Emmitsburg prepares for Bell and History Days

Originally published in the Frederick News-Post March 23, 2008
From Staff Reports

Courtesy Photo: This photo, from the Mount St. Mary’s University archives, shows a horse-drawn wagon and students from an earlier era in front of the Terrace, just above the site that is now Founder’s Plaza.

Emmitsburg is rolling out the red carpet.

On April 5 and 6, the heritage of this unique community along the northern border of Frederick County may be explored at numerous locations while traveling in style on a quaint motorized trolley.

Several historic sites, campuses and the local library have come together to present an array of free visitor opportunities during Bell and History Days, the annual opening weekend for Frederick County museums and historic sites.

Bell and History Days, a countywide event, is presented by the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium, with support from the following sponsors: The Daughters of Charity, The Frederick News-Post, Mount St. Mary's University and the National Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation.

According to Colleen Remsberg, Bell and History Days committee chairwoman, Emmitsburg was selected as an area for special focus in 2008 because of a number of milestone anniversaries and to emphasize the countywide nature of the event.

"With Mount St. Mary's University celebrating its 200th anniversary, and preparations under way for next year's bicentennial of the arrival of Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, we knew this was a great opportunity for Bell and History Days and a tremendous location for special event programming," Remsberg said.

The free trolley shuttle, which runs on a continuous 30-minute loop, will drop off visitors at the following locations: National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, Founder's Plaza on the Mount St. Mary's University campus, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Emmitsburg Community Center, where both the library and the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Museum are participating in Bell and History Days.

Visitor parking is available at the Grotto and the Seton Shrine. Because the trolley runs continuously from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 5 and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. April 6, visitors may disembark at any location and tour the site while waiting for the trolley to return to continue on to the next stop.

Seton links

The common thread of the life and legacy of Elizabeth Ann Seton links most of the participating sites.

The National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes, with trails lined with native greenery, statues and other devotional art, was developed in 1875 as a replica of the Lourdes shrine in France where, in 1858, an apparition of the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared.

[…]

More than 100 handbell ringers from eight Frederick County choirs will perform both mass-ring and solo selections. There is no charge and no reservations are necessary.

The program guide for Bell and History Days, including a map inset showing the Emmitsburg trolley route, is available at the Frederick Visitor Center at 19 E. Church St. in Frederick.

The brochures are also available at participating museums and the Mason-Dixon Discovery Center in Emmitsburg. For information, call 301-600-4047 or visit www.fredericktourism.org.

[…]

Read the entire article here: Emmitsburg prepares for Bell and History Days