Dayhoff Soundtrack: MD Senate Republican Slate: Maryland Fails to Provide Timely Ballots to Our Troops

Monday, August 09, 2010

MD Senate Republican Slate: Maryland Fails to Provide Timely Ballots to Our Troops

The Senate Republican Caucus has joined with the House Republican Caucus in opposition to the waiver requested by the Maryland State Board of Elections so that ballots do not have to be sent to military and civilian personnel serving overseas in compliance with federal election laws. The full statement follows:

(Annapolis, MD) Today, The Joint Republican Caucus of the Maryland General Assembly released the following statement in response to the Maryland Board of Elections' request for a waiver of the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.

"This federal law exists to ensure that those who are fighting to defend our democracy, have the opportunity to participate in it" said House Minority Leader Anthony O'Donnell. "This waiver request is just one more slap in the face to the Maryland men and women who are serving our country, and a reminder that the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature consistently disregard the importance of, and sacrifices made, by those honorable citizens."

"I am dismayed that the Maryland government can't provide better support for our troops. We teach our children the importance of democracy and participating in elections. However, through their inaction, the liberal Democrat monopoly in Annapolis has ignored the very people who risk their lives so that we can continue to have these freedoms." said Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman.

The MOVE Act was signed into law by President Obama last October, and requires that states ensure that ballots are sent to military voters serving overseas at least 45 days before the election, due to the unavoidable delays associated with delivery into sometimes dangerous areas.

"If compliance is impossible, according to the Board of Elections, why wasn't the legislature approached about a solution" continued Delegate O'Donnell. "Why wasn't this brought up as an issue until now? Our Maryland citizens serving overseas deserve more consideration than appears to have been given to this issue. The Democratic leaders previously gutted legislation intended to give a well-deserved benefit to military retirees, and attract and retain these highly skilled personnel who are essential to economic growth and prosperity. They then enacted legislation hindering the ability of our armed services to recruit a new generation of well-trained, admirable citizens giving back to their communities through military service. It is disgraceful, but not surprising that this waiver request is but one more example of a lack of consideration and respect for active duty military and veterans by the O'Malley administration and Democrat leaders in the legislature in Maryland."

In 2005, the Ehrlich administration introduced legislation that would exempt 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes if the retiree had served 20 years of active duty. The legislation was first amended in committee to cut the exemption in half and eliminate the exemption for retired officers, and was then killed. Retired military personnel households spent over $2.5 billion on goods and services in Maryland when this legislation was introduced, and are an integral part of Maryland's economy as they transition their extensive training and skill sets into the private sector.

"Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership has not learned what our neighboring states have known for quite some time, exempting 100% of military retirement income from state income taxes is a tremendous economic stimulus tool. Therefore, in addition to being the right thing to do for those who have sacrificed for all of us, giving a greater tax break to veterans would help to energize our economy and create new jobs in Maryland" continued Senator Kittleman.

In the 2010 legislative session, legislation was introduced by the chairman of the Ways and Means committee that prohibits schools from releasing information regarding student scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test to military recruiters. This test is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense to measure vocational aptitude of potential enlistees.

"These three issues show a continuing pattern in Maryland where the liberal Democrat leadership displays anti-military philosophy in state policy" concluded Senator Kittleman.

To see prior posts about the 2010 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, visit our website atwww.mdsenategop.com or sign up to be our fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maryland-Senate-GOP-Slate/289658452326?ref=ts

LABELS: ELECTIONS 2010, ELECTIONS 2010 MARYLAND, ELECTIONS AND VOTING,MARYLAND SENATE GOP SLATE, MILITARY