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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20070625 News Clips

News Clips

June 25, 2007

STATE NEWS

Maryland Municipal League Begins Beach Conference

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=59754

City officials from across Maryland are in Ocean City for the annual conference about municipal government.

Mayor calls for 'thorough' review of pension system

http://www.examiner.com/a-797424~Mayor_calls_for__thorough__review_of_pension_system.html

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said she will conduct a "thorough" review of the city's pension policies after a controversial pension was awarded to former Deputy Police Commissioner Marcus Brown.

Slots fail to keep bettors at track

Crowds gal lop to casino games as horse racing declines throughout region

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.slots24jun24,0,6849435.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Maryland racing officials insist that they need slots at the state's tracks to revitalize their industry, which they say is suffering from competition from Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, where expanded gambling subsidizes purses and attracts the best horses. But the experience of those states shows that slots have done nothing to attract more people to horse racing.

78 fired by gov., figures show

300 others resigned, retired; observers draw Ehrlich parallel

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.firings23jun23,0,5184588.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration has fired 78 employees since he took office, and nearly 300 others have left state government through retirement or resignation since he was inaugurated, according to figures his office released yesterday.

It is unclear how that total compares with the 340 firings Democrats attributed to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. during his term. The O'Malley administration did not say how many of the resignations and retirements were voluntary and how many were forced - making it difficult to compare O'Malley's personnel practices with those that launched a yearlong investigation into his predecessor.

"In six months, they've gotten rid of as many people as Ehrlich was criticized for in four years," said Republican Sen. David R. Brinkley, the minority leader from Frederick County, who requested the data.

Maryland Republican Party Chairman Jim Pelura said he has no problem with the notion that a new governor should be able to bring in his own people. The issue, he said, is the "brouhaha" over Ehrlich's practices - and the lack of outcry over O'Malley's.

"It's kind of humorous when you see the double standards applied," Pelura said. "Bob Ehrlich's firing of the 300 or whatever should not have been a story to begin with, and it is unconscionable that they spent taxpayer dollars investigating such a nonstory."

Canned with compassion

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062207/poliras222356_32361.shtml

Rather than be fired by Transportation Secretary John Porcari, Royster announced he was stepping down after just two years on the job. His sin? Having been appointed under Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich.

Reporters Notebook: Three ex-delegates in a room together = the BPW

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062207/polinew225322_32364.shtml

Oy!

As the state Democratic Central Committee elected Michael Cryor as party chairman last week, congressional candidate Donna Edwards was tossed out of the Lanham meeting.

Presidential politicking

His boss was quick to jump on Hillary Clinton’s White House bandwagon, but so far Anthony Brown isn’t throwing his support to anyone.

“D” for domain

Maryland earned a “D” on a national report card on how well it protects home and small-business owners from eminent domain.

County, state coping with gypsy moth woes

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=168773&format=html

Weathering the worst gypsy moth outbreak in 12 years, Washington County is in the middle of a waste monsoon.

Bob Tichenor, chief of Forest Pest Management for the Maryland Department of Agriculture, has been dealing with gypsy moths for 25 years. He says their population seems to go through five-year cycles, and 2007 is right in the middle of a big one.

"We have defoliation from Cecil to Garrett (counties), and possibly some spots south," he said.

Green is a rage in political fashion

Amid growth concern, area Republicans and Democrats back environmental causes

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.ho.green25jun25,0,3979618.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Howard's Ken Ulman is a Democrat and Anne Arundel's John R. Leopold is a Republican, but on environmental issues these days, it may be hard to see much difference between the two county executives.

Leopold and Ulman were also the two first county executives in Maryland to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement promoting a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Leopold signed it in January and Ulman in February.

Arundel suspends 'stepping out' practice

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-te.ar.traffic23jun23,0,6912634.story?coll=bal-local-arund el

As the funeral for Howard County Police Officer Scott Wheeler was under way yesterday, Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold ordered a 30-day halt to the practice of officers stepping out into traffic lanes to flag down speeding drivers caught on radar. Leopold's order makes Anne Arundel County the only metropolitan area jurisdiction to suspend the traffic enforcement technique, a spokesman said. Howard County police are reviewing the practice, called "stepping out," but have not stopped officers from using it. Baltimore City police do not do it.

Charter school doomed at start?

Some blame closure on weak state law

http://capitalonline.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_24-33/GOV

The announcement that one of the county's two charter schools is closing was made on Wednesday. But its fate was sealed four years ago , supporters of alternatives to public education said. When the Knowledge is Power Program Harbor Academy shut its doors after failing to find an adequate building, eyes turned to the state's charter school law, which some believe has dealt heavy blows to the ability of the fledgling institutions to survive.
"It is really an uphill struggle in a state like Maryland," said County Executive John R. Leopold, who consistently lobbied for charter schools as a delegate.

Tax revenue a big topic for elected officials

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.politics24jun24,0,921281.story?coll=bal-local-howard

A shortage of state tax revenue weighs heavily on the minds of elected officials these days, and a lunchtime crowd at a Columbia interfaith center got a preview of the General Assembly's coming struggle over the issue.Maryland is expecting revenue to fall $1.5 billion short of expenses next year if nothing is done, and five Howard County legislators expressed their views to worried members of the Association of Community Services, a group of social service agency leaders who gathered last week at the Meeting House in Oakland Mills. Robey said he feels slot machines are "almost a certainty," although Dels. Elizabeth Bobo and Gail H. Bates said they oppose slots.

STATE NEWS

Mikulski, Cardin back transit grant

Funding would provide shuttles for Fort Meade workers

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.transit22jun22,0,1378881.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

Maryland Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin sent letters this week to the Maryland and Federal Transit Administrations in support of a federal grant request that would fund three buses to shuttle defense workers from Fort Meade to surrounding train stations.

Bartlett asks for road money

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/reporters_notebooks_display.htm?StoryID=61730
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-6) released his budget requests this week, asking for nearly $25 million in federal funds to improve Frederick County roads.

Give pork a chance; as spending goes, the feds could do worse

http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=168632&format=html

If you have listened to the news lately, you know that the two greatest threats to America are terrorism and earmarks.

When asked by The Herald-Mail, Rep. Roscoe Bartlett helpfully released a list of his earmarks, which included funding for Edged Drive/Dual Highway intersection, Interstate 70 and I-270 improvements, the C&O Canal, the Catoctin Aqueduct and a space-robotics institute. All for the price of a handful of cruise missiles.

Mikulski aims to trace guns used in crime

Senator wants ATF to share its database with local police

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.guns25jun25,0,7339111.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

For five years, the National Rifle Association and its allies have successfully lobbied Congress to limit the ability of local police to access federal gun trace data. Now, by moving to remove those limits and increase the ability of local officers to track so-called crime guns, Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is venturing into what is rapidly emerging as the latest battlefield in the war over gun rights.

Obstacle course

Security clearance process to present challenge for BRAC construction
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/06_24-57/BUS
The Base Realignment and Closure process will create plenty of jobs for military saavy co ntractors that want to cash in on construction projects and support services at Fort George G. Meade. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, recently announced a spending bill for $984.2 million for projects at Maryland facilities including $164 million for Fort Meade and funding for a Defense Information Systems Agency building.

The 'Do-Nothing Congress' - Big Salary, Little Work, Free Trips

http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/DickMorrisandEileenMcGann/2007/06/23/the_do-nothing_congress_-_big_salary,_little_work,_free_trips

Americans are not happy about the job that Congress is doing, and with very good reason. According to the results of a Gallup Poll completed last week, only 14 percent of the American people have a lot of confidence in Congress. The first clue that members wouldn't be working harder was when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that the House would take a day off during the first week in session.

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?

Cummings questions maritime fairness

Records indicate bias in Coast Guard's courts

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.judges25jun25,0,1629483.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

The chairman of the House subcommittee responsible for oversight of the U.S. Coast Guard said yesterday that he will convene a hearing to explore allegations that the agency's administrative law system is biased and that its judges are pressured to rule in the Coast Guard's favor.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a Baltimore Democrat, said he also plans to ask Commandant Thad W. Allen to consider immediate action to protect the rights of defendants whose cases are now before the Coast Guard's courts.

"This needs to be looked at quickly," said Cummings, chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. "Even the appearance of injustice or impropriety cannot be tolerated."

20070625 Oh Sugarshoot and golly gee my Soundtrack is rated PG

Oh Sugarshoot and golly gee my Soundtrack is rated PG

June 25^th, 2007

Well, I guess Crablaw has started something here dag-nab-it.

Heckfire, after I read, “Crablaw is R-rated,” - oh perish the thought; I – like W. Crodhil over at “Politics Hon,” was also amused and piqued with curiosity.

Ahhh - I try very hard to keep things “G rated.”

Then again, first of all; I just don’t talk that way… and I try like h-e-double-toothpicks not to use offensive words like “taxes” or “Kennedy” or even “McCain Feingold.”

The second point is that I want “Soundtrack” to make it through the Carroll County Public Schools’ filters and just as importantly, I always wanna avoid a rebuke from my wife.

Holy cow, to my dismay, I’m rated “PG” for using the words, “dead,” and “gun.”

E-gads; the Dr. Pepper went flying at Andrew Kujan’s comment on Bruce Godfrey’s post…

Fiddlesticks; so just how are we to discuss “Baltimore's crime or transit problems in the foreseeable future.” (Crablaw 6/25/2007)

Unbelievable isn’t it.

Crap. I’ll just have to resort to writing about Disney productions.

Kinda makes ya wonder now doesn’t it; like whatever.

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20070625 Congressman Bartlett Applauds Today’s Supreme Court Opinion

Congressman Bartlett Applauds Today’s Supreme Court Opinion

Striking a blow for the 1st Amendment.

June 25, 2007

My Tentacle column this Wednesday will be on the “Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life” and “McCain v. Wisconsin Right to Life” Supreme Court Decision:

Many are singing high praise of the U. S. Supreme Court decision handed down last Monday which took a bite out of the McCain Feingold campaign reforms.

The ruling has been applauded by the unusual alliance of powerful unions, big business, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The court decided in “Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life” and “McCain v. Wisconsin Right to Life”; that restrictions on issue ads run by “special interests” in the waning days before an election are an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.

Initial analysis indicates that the decision will have an impact on the 2008 elections…

Meanwhile Congressman Bartlett says:

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Applauds Today’s Supreme Court Opinion to Help Restore First Amendment Political Speech Rights

Washington, D.C. – The Supreme Court today substantially weakened the McCain-Feingold campaign finance act's restrictions on the type of advertisement non-profit grassroots organizations, corporations and special interest groups may run in the days before an election. Congressman Bartlett said, “It is a step in the right direction for First Amendment political speech rights. My bill, the First Amendment Restoration Act (H.R. 71), goes much further to restore Americans’ First Amendment rights by repealing the “electioneering communication” provision at issue in today’s Supreme Court opinion.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. wrote the 5-4 opinion for the court, stating that Wisconsin Right-to-Life should have been allowed to broadcast ads before the 2004 race for the United States Senate in that state. The portion of the law in question in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) states that labor unions and corporations (including non-profits) cannot use money from their general treasuries to broadcast ads that run 30 days before a primary or 60 days before a general election, are aimed at a relevant electorate and mention a federal candidate by name.

The difference between so-called "issue ads," which are allowed, and those that "express advocacy," which are banned, is often hard to define, Chief Justice Roberts stated. In today's decision, the Supreme Court created a constitutional safe harbor for genuine issue ads. It stated that, only if the ad “is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate” can the ad be prohibited during the blackout period. “Chief Justice Roberts’ reasoning is significant,” Congressman Bartlett said. Chief Justice Roberts reasoned, “In drawing that line, the First Amendment requires us to err on the side of protecting political speech rather than suppressing it.”

Congressman Bartlett said, “The reason that I introduced H.R. 71 (H.R. 689 in the 109th Congress, first introduced as H.R. 3801 in the 108th Congress) is because I am firmly committed to protecting our Constitution. As stated in the First Amendment to the Constitution, ‘Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.’ No constitutional right is absolute; however, it is clearly a violation of the First Amendment to restrict organized group communications and limit what people can say about a candidate and when they may choose to speak out.”

“I, along with many others including the President, believe that the Supreme Court made a mistake in the December 2003 decision upholding the constitutionality of the 30-60 day provision,” said Congressman Bartlett. “The 30-60 day BCRA provision eviscerates the central purpose of the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech – the protection of political speech. My bill would simply repeal this provision. Today’s Supreme Court decision, however, does help to weaken the unconstitutional BCRA provision.”

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For more information Contact: Lisa Wright or Monica DeLong at (202) 225-2721