20070515 News Clips

State News

May 15^th, 2007

BGE rate decision could come this week

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/05_14-40/TOP

State regulators could issue a decision on Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.'s request for a 50 percent rate increase this week, leaving customers only days to decide whether to sign up for a deferral plan.

I think you could expect to see something within a week. Two weeks on the outside," Public Service Commission Executive Secretary O. Ray Bourland said last week.

O'Malley Considers Gas Tax Increase

Transportation Projects Would Benefit From Funds

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/14/AR2007051401577.html

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley said yesterday that he is weighing an increase in the state's gasoline tax and other options to help pay for billions of dollars in transportation projects that the state could not otherwise afford in coming years.

O'Malley (D) said that state transportation officials have advised him that an additional $400 million to $600 million a year will be needed to keep pace with the state's needs during the next two decades, including a proposed light-rail Metro line connecting Bethesda and New Carrollton and light rail or bus service along part of the Interstate 270 corridor.

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert) said it would be "ill-advised" to raise the gas tax at a time when the price of gasoline is so high.

"That's a horribly bad idea now," O'Donnell said. "I think most of my constituents, and most Marylanders, think we should be cutting the gas tax instead of raising it."

O'Malley Ponders Ways To Raise Money For Transportation Projects

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=57805

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley says the state needs to find "progressive" means to pay for road projects as it attempts to shore up the Transportation Trust Fund.

He says the current transportation spending levels aren't enough to protect state residents' quality of life.

Ehrlich calls OMalleys decision a prudent move

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7371&Itemid=35

Although declining to offer specific criticisms or speculate as to the motivation, former Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich called Martin OMalleys call to departments to reduce spending by $200 million a prudent move. Even though the state is looking at a $1.5 billion structural deficit next year, the General Assembly took no measures to create new revenue streams or increase existing ones during the session that ended last month. Governor OMalley had pledged not to increase taxes during his first year. Last week the Governor instructed his cabinent to look for budget reductions from every state department. Ehrlich, who now hosts a weekly talk show on WBAL radio, was asked about the plan by a caller

O'Malley to sign smoking ban in bars, restaurants

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20070514-112229-4454r.htm

Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to sign a statewide smoking ban and tougher penalties for repeat child-sex offenders Thursday.

Advocates for tougher sex-crime penalties and state Republicans said they are pleased that Mr. O'Malley will sign what is known as Jessica's Law, which they sponsored in the General Assembly session.

O'Malley cutting wire on first Allegany Business Center building

http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_134093648.html

Gov. Martin O'Malley will participate in a wire-cutting ceremony for the first building in the Allegany Business Center at Frostburg State University on Tuesday.

The invitation-only event will include Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development David Edgerley, FSU President Jonathan Gibralter, the Allegany County commissioners, Sen. George Edwards and Glenn Weaver of Academic Privatization of Maryland.

O'Malley to be in Allegany County Today

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7373&Itemid=35

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will participate in a wire-cutting ceremony for the first building in the Allegany Business Center at Frostburg State University this afternoon, and will spend much of his day in the county. The event will include Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development David Edgerley, FSU President Jonathan Gibralter, the Allegany County commissioners, Sen. George Edwards and Glenn Weaver of Academic Privatization of Maryland. The new 50,000-square-foot technology facility, the FSU Resea rch Center, is being developed by a group of private investors known as Allegany Research Properties, LLC. A spokesperson for the company says this project has come to fruition because of the tremendous teamwork exhibited between the state and the county

Kelly expects major changes in Attorney General's office

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7374&Itemid=35

Delegate Kevin Kelly, a longtime member of the House Judiciary Committee in Annapolis, says he expects major changes in the office of the Attorney General with last falls election of Doug Gansler. The position had been held by Joe Curran for 20 years before he opted to retired in 2007, and many critics argued that the office become stagnant. Kelly, addressing area business leaders, describes Gansler as a dynamic, ambitious leader who ultimately will run for the states highest office. Until then, Kelly said citizens can expect a different approach in the coming years from the Attorney Generals Office

National News

State Senator Considering Challenge To Gilchrest

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=57799

One of the two Republicans in Maryland's congressional delegation could face a challenge in next year's primary election.

State Senator Andrew Harris told WBAL News that he's going to use this weekend's spring Maryland State Republican Convention in Annapolis, to gauge support for a run against incumbent Congressman Wayne Gilchrest.

Sen. Harris mulls run against Rep. Gilchrest

http://www.wmdt.com/wires/displaystory.asp?id=61586345

First District Congressman Wayne Gilchrest could be facing a re-election challenge from within his own party.

Republican state Senator Andrew Harris says he's testing the water for a possible run against Gilchrest next year in a party primary.

Bush, Once Party-Builder, Leaves Republicans Weakened, Worried

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLEVpghgS04Y&refer=home

Representative Tom Davis, a veteran Republican campaign strategist, sees one bright spot for his party's prospects in 2008: President George W. Bush's term will be drawing to a close.

Many Republicans blame Bush's pursuit of the Iraq war for putting them in the minority in 2006 and fear further losses in 2008. Increasingly, they're looking past Bush at a perilous future.

Representative Wayne Gilchrest, a Maryland Republican, said Bush policies that catered to a narrow swath of ideological base voters on issues such as abortion, the role of religion and stem-cell research have hurt the party's image of inclusiveness.

``The rhetoric coming out of the Bush administration has exacerbated a view of the Republican Party that is not reality,'' he said. ``It's a separate little niche in the Republican Party that never really had the bully pulpit before for a lot of reasons, and now they have the bully pulpit.''

Democrats Domestic Agenda Hits Gridlock

http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002511613.html

Democrats face a legislative traffic jam that threatens to leave the party without a single high-profile domestic victory heading into the Memorial Day recess.

On issues ranging from energy policy to a lobbying overhaul, Democrats acknowledge that they must show as soon as possible that they can govern.

Most immediately, some Democrats see an immigration overhaul (S 1348) pending in the Senate as the partys best hope for scoring a legislative victory.

The office of Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., released a statement last week with 14 bullet points of legislative accomplishments. The accomplishments, though, were weighted toward bills passed by the House but not enacted into law.

Vice President Cheney Says "There's Been Not Enough Attention Paid To The Consequences" Of Adopting Democrats' Iraq Policies. THE VICE PRESIDENT: "I think there's been not enough attention paid to the consequences that would flow if we were to adopt the policies that have been recommended by a majority of the Democrats. Nancy Pelosi and 169 Democrats last week voted for immediate withdrawal from Iraq. Everybody I've talked to in the region everybody thinks it would be a disaster. And it's important that we succeed in Iraq. If we can't succeed in Iraq, then it does have consequences for the broader war on terror. Al Qaeda has said Iraq is the central front in their war on the United States. You do not want to withdraw and give them a victory in Iraq." (Fox News' "Special Report," 5/14/07)

Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice Discusses U.S.-Iran Talks On Iraq. "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday the United States decided to hold talks with Iran about security in wartorn Iraq because officials believed the timing was right. She said the idea of the talks came from talks with Iraq's neighboring countries in the region, saying 'we all made a commitment there to do what we can to help the Iraqis.' 'And one of the most important things is to help the Iraqis is dealing with their border issues, with the flow of foreign fighters and arms across the border,' Rice added, 'and from our point of view and the coalition's point of view, dealing with the dangerous technologies that are originating in Iran that are putting our soldiers at risk. So this seemed to be a good time to follow up on some of the general commitments that the neighbors took.'" (Matthew Lee, "Rice Confirms Talks With Iran," The Associated Press, 5/14/07)

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih Expresses Optimism For Progress On Oil Law And Amending The Constitution. "Iraq's parliament should pass a new oil law and make progress on amending the constitution before the end of the month, two key 'benchmarks' being demanded by U.S. officials, a top Iraqi official said yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, one of the highest-ranking Kurdish officials in the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, said that despite the increasingly pessimistic debate in Washington, Iraqi lawmakers should take action on both difficult issues in the coming days. 'In any other cou ntry, such a law would take years and years to draft, even if you had stability,' Mr. Salih said. 'We've done the basic work in six months on what has historically been a very contentious issue.'" (David R. Sands, "Iraqi Backs 'Benchmark' Action," The Washington Times, 5/15/07)