Daily "Recent Prince George's County News" updates were suspended in early March 2016. They were compiled primarily from retweets of news headlines. Those retweets continue, but in unformatted and unarchived form at PG-Politics-Briefs. To follow such headlines on a current basis, follow @pgpolitics on Twitter.
Showing posts with label Gov.O'Malley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gov.O'Malley. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Recent Prince George's County News (12 May 2010)

Public Safety
2010 Election
Other Politics
Education
  • Post: 2010 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards: Kenneth Bernstein, Roosevelt High School, Prince George's County http://bit.ly/9QPaXD 
  • AP: Md. 1st to bar schools releasing tests to military http://bit.ly/9Gmfrb 
Other
Recent Candidate Filings:
  • Ben Barnes
    • Candidate for reelection as Delegate, District 21
    • Filing information: 
      • Barnes, Ben
      • Democratic 
      • Mailing Address 9109 49th Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
      • Public (301) 346-4711
      • Juris. Prince George`s 
      • EMail benbarnes45@gmail.com
      • Status Active 
      • Filed Regular - 05/12/10
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Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Slots & Taxes: What our legislators are saying (part 11)

(Posted 6 Nov 2007)
Special session: Another Prince George’s hospital deal falls through; Three-year $125M plan is not sustainable, O’Malley administration says.
Gazette, 5 Nov 2007 (Tallman)
The O’Malley administration has rejected the latest proposal to buttress the finances of the troubled Prince George’s Hospital Center, although Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown says nothing was declined.

Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the county’s delegation has asked her colleagues to keep mum about their feelings on tax proposals during the special legislative session until a rescue plan is worked out.

‘‘Most of what we do with the special session depends on what we do with our hospital,” said Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Dist. 21) of Beltsville. House whips will be asking delegates’ positions on bills as the session moves forward.

‘‘I would much appreciate it if you would be noncommittal,” she said.

Frush said Brown (D) was presented a plan that would pump $125 million over three years into the hospital system, which includes five sites managed by the Dimensions Healthcare Inc. Under the plan, Prince George’s County would have provided $50 million and the state $75 million, Frush said.

The O’Malley administration rejected the plan because it did not have long-term sustainability, she said.

But Brown said he and Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) were waiting for County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and the Prince George’s County Council to agree on a plan.

‘‘But the county executive and the County Council have not been in agreement of what that long-term solution will be,” Brown said in a Monday evening interview in his State House office.
* * *
Frush said county lawmakers are unclear of where the next move starts. Do they go back to O’Malley’s plan? Do they use a bill[HB 38] from Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier, which would create an independent authority to take over the hospital?

Frush made the announcement on Monday at a delegation meeting, where Johnson’s chief of staff, Mike Herman, was quizzed about an appraisal of the hospital site. The value of the land had been a sticking point during negotiations earlier in the year.

‘‘I am aware of a document that exists,” Herman told the delegates.

After the meeting, however, Herman said the appraisal was ‘‘irrelevant” to either the proposal presented to Brown on Friday or Niemann’s bill.
* * *
Lawmakers Suggest a Bailout Alternative; County Delegation Hopes to Use Its Clout to Encourage State to Make a Better Deal.
Post, 6 Nov 2007 (Wiggins & Helderman).
The Prince George's County legislative delegation revealed details yesterday about a $125 million bailout proposal for the county's hospital system that it wants Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to support during the current special session.
* * *
"I hope as a delegation we will stick together until this problem is solved," said Barbara A. Frush (D), chairman of the county's House delegation. "This is the point in time where we as a delegation will be able to use our clout."

Frush asked the 22 members of the House delegation to say they are "noncommittal" on the governor's tax plan as negotiations move forward.

She said yesterday that the proposal was the product of several meetings among members of the county House and Senate delegations, County Council members and a representative from the county executive's office.

Frush said she mentioned the plan Friday to Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who has been the governor's point person on the issue. Brown said yesterday that the governor is "willing to continue discussions with the county about long-term solutions."
O'Malley hints at tuition freeze.
Diamondback, 6 Nov 2007 (Cohen).
* * *
Members of the House of Delegates Appropriations Committee, who are dealing with potential cuts during the special session, are working to avoid any cuts to higher education, said Del. James Proctor (D-Calvert and Prince George's), vice-chair of Appropriations.

"That's what a lot of this is for," Proctor said, "no increases in tuition."
* * *
The General Assembly has made more progress on the tax increase side of the governor's proposals. The Senate is to vote later this week on most of the plan, including a sales tax increase of 1 percent, a $1 cigarette tax increase and an increase in fees on to register new cars. Senators will make some changes to O'Malley's original proposal on Tuesday, said Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel), though he would not specify what the amendments will be.
* * *
Currie: Slots will pass.
Baltimore Examiner, 6 Nov 2007 (Lazarick).
Several senators raised problems they had with Gov. Martin O’Malley’s slot machine proposal during a Budget and Taxation Committee work session Monday. But its chairman, Sen. Ulysses Currie, predicted that once changes are made in the plan, “I think the votes are probably there to pass this.”
* * *
Miller gives slots a boost; Senate president says he won't block proposal for referendum.
Sun, 6 Nov 2007 (Green).
* * *
Senate leaders said they expect the framework of O'Malley's bill to clear the Budget and Taxation Committee and make it to the full Senate by the end of the week.

"I think the votes are here probably to pass it," said the committee's chairman, Sen. Ulysses Currie, a Prince George's County Democrat.
* * *
Expanded sales tax bill may have short lifespan.
Frederick News-Post, 6 Nov 2007 (Cumber).
* * *
Under a proposal sponsored by Delegate Justin Ross, a Democrat from Prince George's County, tanning, tattoo and body piercing services, swimming pool and hot tub cleaning, and interior decorating and home moving services, could be taxed.
* * *
Committee to vote on O’Malley tax package.
Frederick News-Post, 6 Nov 2007 (Bernhardt).
* * *
Committee chairman Sen. Ulysses Currie said the committee will delay the slots vote until they've made some changes. But they will vote Wednesday on the tax package and transportation funding, which includes a gas tax increase.
* * *
But Senate leaders, including Currie, have said they will support the referendum if it is the only way slots will pass.

Budget and Taxation member Sen. Lowell Stoltzfus was particularly critical Monday of O'Malley's choice to put slots at Ocean Downs near Ocean City instead of at Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's County.
* * *
Though the Budget and Taxation committee has not yet voted on the tax bills or transportation, Currie believes there are enough votes to get them out of committee tomorrow.

Currie, a Prince George's County Democrat, said the committee might take a second look at income tax brackets.
* * *
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

MD Taxers: Tax'n'spend O'Malley announces special session; Ready to rob taxpayers, increase gambling

(Posted 16 Oct 2007)
O'Malley Summons Special Session; On the Budget, Governor Says, 'The Time for Delay Has Passed'
Post, 16 Oct 2007 (Wagner).
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) yesterday ordered the Maryland General Assembly into a special session starting Oct. 29 to consider his proposals to resolve a $1.7 billion budget shortfall by raising several taxes and legalizing slot-machine gambling.
* * *
O'Malley's proposals include overhauling the state's income tax so that upper-end earners would pay more but most taxpayers would get a modest break; gradually reducing the property tax; and raising sales, tobacco, corporate and vehicle titling taxes.

But the governor's toughest sell, it appeared yesterday, will be his plan to generate $550 million for the state from the legalization of slot-machine gambling at racetracks and other locations -- an issue that has paralyzed the legislature in previous years.
[More]
Note: Although the Post's Wagner makes one brief mention of Republican opposition to the special session, he fails completely to report that there is or may be opposition to O'Malley's proposed tax increases, and seems to be repeating only the Democratic party line about the causes of Maryland's deficit.
O'Malley calls special session
Times, 16 Oct 2007 (LoBianco).
. . .
Skepticism about Mr. O'Malley's budget plan and about his chances of success has increased since he ended his statewide tax tour last month.

"The governor has put together a tax plan which he believes benefits 85 percent of voters," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Southern Maryland Democrat. "I think the public is very dubious about that."

House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Anne Arundel Democrat, was in New York yesterday and unavailable for comment, though he has advised against calling a special session and still opposes legalizing slot machines.

Mr. O'Malley's tax package also has drawn the attention of national anti-tax activists.

"Instead of cutting spending to deal with the deficit, O'Malley has the temerity to increase government spending and fleece taxpayers' hard-earned dollars to pay for it," said Nachama Soloveichk, a spokeswoman for the Washington-based Club for Growth.

Mr. O'Malley has asked lawmakers to increase the state sales, gas, corporate and income taxes and legalize slot machines — either by legislation or through ballot votes in 2008.

He also wants to increase car-titling fees, close corporate-tax loopholes and cut education spending by $207 million in his next budget.

In addition, the plan calls for cutting the state property tax, increasing tax exemptions for senior citizens and decreasing the income tax for low-wage earners.

"There's one very simple alternative to coming together and forging a consensus, and that is to default," he said. "The alternative is pretty damaging to the quality of life all of us cherish as Marylanders."

Mr. Miller said yesterday Mr. O'Malley does not have the support of lawmakers to get the proposal passed and counseled him against calling a special session.

"There is not consensus," he said. "The governor does not have the votes."
[More]
Note that unlike the Post, the Times' LoBianco does report on organized opposition to O'Malley's proposed increases. Also, the Times report is somewhat more specific about the actual proposals, and actually quotes a Republican opponent.
O'Malley confident on session; Miller doubts governor has votes for tax-and-slots plan
Sun, 16 Oct 2007 (Drew).
Note: Includes more details than either the Post or Times, as well as more information about Republican opposition. Probably the most complete and balanced report in the four big newspapers today. (The Examiner does not appear to have published an equivalent report--their lead on Gov. O'Malley today was "O'Malley off to Ireland, again").
Back to work
Sun, 16 Oct 2007 (Editorial supporting O'Malley's plan).
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Friday, October 12, 2007

MD Taxers: Tax'n'spend O'Malley ready to announce special session

(Posted 12 Oct 2007)
O'Malley Will Announce Md. Special Session; Session, Set to Begin Oct. 29, Will Take Action to Close $1.7 Billion Budget Shortfall.
Post, 12 Oct 2007 (Wagner).
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) plans to announce on Monday a high-risk special session of the General Assembly with the hope of securing quick action on his plans to close a looming $1.7 billion budget shortfall, his office said yesterday.

Administration officials acknowledged that there is no guarantee that the session, scheduled to start as early as Oct. 29, will be a success, given the governor has not yet secured consensus on several aspects of a complicated plan, including a proposal to legalize slot-machine gambling
* * *
Sen. Ulysses S. Currie, chairman of the Budget and Taxation Committee, said O'Malley is taking a real gamble. "I think without consensus, it's very risky, and we don't have full buy in yet," said Currie (D-Prince George's).
[More]

Comments:

O'Malley and our representatives in Annapolis had ninety days earlier this year to deal with the budget, and they have ninety more days coming up. Do we really have to add to the deficit to pay for a special session just because they refuse to do the job when they are supposed to?

When my expenses exceed my income, I cut back on my expenses, I don't go out and beg or steal from people. Rather than cut spending, O'Malley seems to want to steal more more from me and beg more moeny from gamblers--many of them among the poorer people in the state. But, I guess that's what the mahority of people wanted.
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Friday, August 31, 2007

Republican's Suit Alleges Improper Motive for Firing

First electric rate increases, now this. O'Malley's administration is looking more and more like a clone of Ehrlich's.


Republican's Suit Alleges Improper Motive for Firing
By Lisa Rein

A former Maryland state employee sued the O'Malley administration yesterday to get his job back, saying he was fired because he spoke to a reporter or because he is a white Republican.

To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/30/AR2007083001935.html?referrer=emailarticle



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Saturday, June 02, 2007

O'Malley firings criticized as political

Comment: A few days ago, Gov. O'Malley allowed BGE's rate hikes to go into effect, even though he castigated former Gov. Ehrlich for doing the same thing and promised to stop the increases. Now this. Is there really a difference between O'Malley and Ehrlich?

O'Malley firings criticized as political
Times, 2 Jun 2007 (LoBianco).
ANNAPOLIS -- An unofficial list of state employees dismissed from their jobs or demoted has some lawmakers wondering whether Gov. Martin O'Malley is repeating the same hiring -- and firing -- practices that led Democrats to a 13-month probe of the Ehrlich administration.
More than two dozen state employees were let go or demoted by the state's transportation agencies . . ."
[More]
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Wednesday, May 30, 2007

How many times will O'Malley betray us?

Several days ago, "Democratic" Governor Martin O'Malley vetoed the General Assembly's bill to return true democracy to the election of school board members.

Now he's broken his repeated promises to protect us from electric rate increases and to provide special help for senior and low-income families. O'Malley's new "Democratic" Public Service Commission members acted just like Ehrlich's Republican members. Ehrlich was willing to let the utilities rob us, but at least he didn't lie to us about it the way O'Malley has.


THE DON'T BELIEVE GOVERNOR

Once Known As The "Believe" Mayor, Governor O'Malley Gives Marylanders Reason Not To Believe His False Campaign Promises

Ø DESPITE PROMISES TO "STOP THE RATE HIKES," ELECTRIC RATES ARE GOING UP BY OVER 50% ON JUNE 1ST

THEN - Candidate O'Malley Promised Immediate Relief From Electric Rate Hikes. "Martin O'Malley and Anthony Brown will work to provide immediate relief from the impending rate hikes for our families, small businesses and the most vulnerable in our communities." (O'Malley Campaign Web site, http://www.martinomalley.com/content/591, accessed May 28, 2007)

THEN - Candidate O'Malley Promised To "Stop The Rate Hikes." "'The special interests already have their governor - we need one of our own,' says a voice-over in the mayor's commercial. 'Martin O'Malley: taking on BGE to stop the rate hikes.'" (David Abrams, "Politicos jockey for credit on BGE rate deal," The Capital, 6/25/06)(emphasis added)

NOW - Governor O'Malley Announced His Hand-Picked Public Service Commission Has Approved The Largest Electric Rate Increase in Maryland History – Going Up Over 50% For The Average BGE Customer on June 1st. "It is with reluctance, but with little legal option, that the Commission in this Order approves the approximately 50 percent rate increase resulting from a pass-through of supply costs proposed by BGE for its electric residential customers receiving its Standard Offer Service." (Public Service Commission Order, 5/23/07)

Ø SENIORS AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FORGOTTEN

THEN - Candidate O'Malley Promised To Protect Seniors and Low-Income Families From Any Electric Rate Increase. "O'Malley will also work to ensure that all residents are automatically enrolled in the shock absorber plan, and not be subject to an opt-in provision that disproportionately harms seniors and low-income Marylanders." (O'Malley Campaign Web site, http://www.martinomalley.com/content/591 , accessed May 28, 2007)

NOW - The O'Malley Administration Says There Is Nothing They Can Do To Help Seniors and Low-Income Families. "[Public Service] Commission Chairman Steven B. Larsen said he had concerns about the effect of the increase on people with low incomes, but he said the commission had no legal basis to deny the increase as Maryland transitions to market prices after years of capped rates." (John Wagner and Avis Thomas-Lester, "BGE Customers to Face Heftier Energy Bills in June," Washington Post, 5/24/07)

In Contrast, Governor Bob Ehrlich Reached Agreement For Over $600 Million In Assistance For Marylanders Hit Hardest By An Electric Rate Increase, But A Lawsuit From O'Malley Killed The Deal. " Due to Baltimore City's interference, more than one million Marylanders were saddled last week with an electric rate stabilization plan that includes far less assistance than the plan negotiated with Baltimore Gas & Electric and Constellation Energy in April and includes no concessions whatsoever from energy companies for working families. This unfortunate development resulted from the Baltimore City Administration's lawsuit against the Public Service Commission, which had previously approved a plan that offered customers far more assistance…I introduced a plan that reflected our basic agreement and included $600 million in cash relief from Constellation Energy for working families to help offset the large rate increase resulting from the flawed 1999 deregulation law. The City's lawsuit effectively voided these benefits and stuck working families with a plan that benefits energy companies more than customers." (Governor Robert Ehrlich, Letter to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, 6/5/06)

Ø CONSUMER ADVOCATES NOT APPOINTED TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

THEN - Candidate O'Malley Promised to Replace the Public Service Commission With Advocates For Consumers. "Replace PSC Members: Install Advocate for Consumers in Negotiations. O'Malley will support measures that will immediately get new, independent, competent regulators on the job – replacing the existing industry-dominated PSC." (O'Malley Campaign Web site, http://www.martinomalley.com/content/591, accessed May 28, 2007)
  • Candidate O'Malley Accused PSC Of Not Doing Enough To Shield Consumers From Rate Increases. "Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, a Democratic candidate for governor, yesterday called for commission Chairman Kenneth D. Schisler to resign, saying he and other Ehrlich appointees aren't doing enough to shield consumers from the rate increases." (Andrew Green, "Former industry leaders regulating state utilities," Baltimore Sun, 3/14/06)
NOW - Governor O'Malley Appointed Public Service Commissioners With No History of Consumer Activism. "(Governor O'Malley) named two commissioners (to fill vacant slots) who lack a history of zealous consumer activism." (Barry Rascovar, "O'Malley's reality check: Power has limits," The Gazette, 2/23/07)
  • New Chairman Has No Background in Utility Regulation.
    •  "O'Malley's choice for PSC chairman, Steve Larsen, has no background in utility regulation, which mocks the governor's pledge to select commissioners with expertise in this arcane and complex field." (Barry Rascovar, "O'Malley's reality check: Power has limits," The Gazette, 2/23/07)
  • Former Commissioner Who Approved The Failed 1999 Deregulation Plan Added To PSC.
    •  "(Governor O'Malley's) other 'new' commissioner, Suzanne Brogan, is actually a retread and was one of the members who approved electric rate deregulation in 1999 ­ a move O'Malley and other Democrats loudly denounced as anti-consumer." (Barry Rascovar, "O'Malley's reality check: Power has limits," The Gazette, 2/23/07)
  • Constellation Energy Executive Re-Appointed To PSC. "To top off his PSC moves, (Governor O'Malley) reappointed Harold Williams to another five-year term, even though he worked nearly 20 years for the Evil Empire of state utilities, Constellation Energy." (Barry Rascovar, "O'Malley's reality check: Power has limits," The Gazette, 2/23/07)
Ø O'MALLEY HAS FAILED TO ACT

THEN - Candidate O'Malley Criticized Then-Governor Ehrlich For Allegedly Failing to Act. "O'Malley said the governor and the PSC members he appointed failed to act and hold hearings as they should have to hold down BGE rates. 'The governor should have stepped up and done something,' O'Malley said." (Len Lazarick, "Ehrlich, O'Malley debate electric rates, PSC," The Examiner Washington, Sept. 15, 2006)

NOW - Governor O'Malley Has Failed To Act. " During last year's campaign, O'Malley accused the commission, which then had a majority of Ehrlich appointees, of 'rubber-stamping' BGE's rate request. Yesterday, the tables were turned. 'O'Malley's pledge to hold the line on rate increases and help working families was a false campaign promise,' state GOP Chairman James Pelura said in a statement. 'His lack of visibility on this issue shows he will do and say whatever it takes to get elected.'" (John Wagner and Avis Thomas-Lester, "BGE Customers to Face Heftier Energy Bills in June," Washington Post, 5/24/07)

NOW - On June 1st, Electric Rates Will Go Up By 50% For BGE Customers. "State officials reluctantly approved a 50 percent rate increase yesterday for the 1.1 million residential customers of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., saying they had "little legal option" to defer or reduce the utility company's proposal. The increase goes into effect June 1." (Brian Witte, "Officials Approve BGE's Increase," Washington Times, 5/24/07)(emphasis added)

From The Maryland Republican Party Research Department
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007

O'Malley to endorse Clinton

(Posted 9 May 2007)
O'Malley to back Hillary Clinton
Sun, 9 May 2007

Spitzer, O'Malley to endorse Clinton
Post, 8 May 2007
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