News from Annapolis

Listening. Taking Action. Getting Results.

Governor, Republicans Disagree on "State of the State"
Senators, Delegates To Seek Public Input Thursday on Sunday Hunting Proposal
Scholarship Applications Being Accepted

February 4, 2011

Dear Friends, sauerbrey2

The Governor's annual "State of the State" speech was long on rhetoric but short on solutions this week as he addressed the Legislature on the state's budget condition and outlined his legislative initiatives.

Maryland's Constitution requires the Governor to "inform the Legislature of the condition of the State and recommend to their consideration such measures as he may judge necessary and expedient."

While the Governor failed once again to say how he plans to balance the state's long-term budget, he did put forth a welcome initiative to ensure that we don't have to sit hours or even days in cold, dark houses waiting for our power to be restored after storms.

His legislation would set reliability standards for utilities,fining them for poor performance and directing those payments back to affected ratepayers.

However, the Governor's plan to "think anew and act anew" fell flat in the following areas:

*For all the talk of little growth and significant cuts, the Governor's budget is $2 billion higher than last year, increasing from $32 billion in fy 2011 to $34 billion in fy 2012.

*His ill-advised raids on special funds like the Transportation Trust Fund and Chesapeake Bay Restoration fund will fuel new spending.

The Governor's budget takes $120 million out of the Transportation Trust Fund and $90 million from the Bay Restoration Fund while, at the same time, Democratic leaders are calling for increased gas taxes and flush fees to cover the funds' shortfalls.

The Governor plans to replace this money through bonds, which will increase our state's debt and potentially lead to higher property taxes to cover debt service on the bonds.

*His cost shifts and increases will be passed on to citizens.

The Governor's plan includes cuts in Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and increases in nursing home taxes. Both will be passed on to consumers through higher health insurance premiums and costlier hospital and nursing home stays.

Businesses will lose another large portion of the discount they received from collecting sales taxes. This hurts small business.

*The Governor wants Maryland to be the first to enact President Obama's expensive health care mandates. What's the rush, given that the federal plan was ruled unconstitutional just this week?

*We all recognize that health care must be affordable and accessible, but creating a state agency and a government-run health care exchange will cost money, add bureaucracy and risk Maryland jobs.

Click here to view the Governor's State of the State speech and the Republican response (48 minutes, 37 seconds into the broadcast).

To read a transcript of the Republican response, by Delegate Jeannie Haddaway of Talbot County, click here.

For a transcript of the Governor's speech, click here.

Senators, Delegates To Seek Public Input Thursday on Sunday Hunting Proposal

A proposal to allow Sunday hunting on private property in Carroll County will be considered during a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, in Room 003 of the County Office Building in Westminster.

If you are unable to attend, the Carroll County Delegation welcomes your e-mails, phone calls or letters. The Delegation is made up of the Senators and Delegates who represent the county in Annapolis.

Currently, no Sunday hunting is permitted in Carroll County.

Under the State Code, Sunday hunting is not allowed in Maryland, except for in counties that have obtained state legislation that excepts them from that law. Hunters in more counties, including Carroll, are seeking to get exceptions.

Delegate Krebs Accepting Scholarship Applications

Delegate Susan Krebs is accepting applications for 2011-2012 House of Delegates Scholarships. Her Legislative Scholarship Committee bases its awards on leadership, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, employment and scholastic achievement. Scholarship applicants must be high school seniors and live in Legislative District 9B. The awards, which are not renewable, go toward the first year of higher education.

Students may fill out an electronic version of the application by logging onto her website. All scholarship application materials must be postmarked no later than April 30.

To be eligible for a Delegate Scholarship, students must plan to attend a Maryland college, university or private career school. Private career schools must have the Maryland Higher Education Commission's approval to operate and be accredited by a national accrediting association approved by the United States Department of Education. Applicants may also attend a nursing school if the Commission approves the curriculum.

Register to Vote!