February 28, 2007. "Here’s the new definition of 'highway robbery': When government robs us of our highways," writes Paul Jacoby in Townhall.com. "Crazy, isn’t it? Crazy when the civil servants in charge of our roads believe that cars are evil, roads the enemy, and insist on herding us onto bike paths and trains. B ut there is a method to this madness. I’ve written about it before. The planners are trying to force a complete and society-wide paradigm shift. They want us to give up our cars and walk. Or ride bicycles. Or use the mass transit that most of us in most cities ignore. And they are willing to risk more congestion to force that value transformation. As John Charles suggests, there is vision here. It’s just whacked out. It is, as he says, a 'futuristic' vision. It sure reminds me of science fiction . . . of the socialist sort. You know, people in uniform, silvery body leotards riding on moving sidewalks from one place to another."

February 21, 2007. Heritage Foundation health expert Ed Haislmaier testifies in favor of Maryland's proposed CHOICE health insurance exchange legislation before the Maryland Senate Finance Panel. In testimony submitted for the record, MTA's Richard Falknor endorses the Heritage position: "You are hearing today from Edmund Haislmaier of the Heritage Foundation who explains in detail how SB617 reorganizes Maryland's health-insurance market through a state-sponsored health-insurance exchange. As Haislmaier notes, SB 619 and 620 'propose that Maryland . . . redirect the majority of current federal and state spending on uncompensated care into premium support subsidies to buy the uninsured into private, portable coverage.' This free-market, consumer-choice approach is the basis of MTA support. MTA believes the fundamental principles of working toward consumer ownership of health insurance and instituting consumer choice among competing plans in the CHOICE package, are the best guides to improving access and payment for health care services in Maryland. The Consumer Health Open Insurance Coverage package, crafted, under Senator E. J. Pipkin's bold leadership, with the help of some of the most cutting-edge minds in health-insurance reform, is also our only comprehensive alternative to the current, often protectionist, patchwork of laws and regulations under which health care is now offered or paid for in Maryland.

February 27 , 2007. Tax-increase discussions under way; New revenue would fund priorities, close budget gap, report Laura Smitherman and Andrew A. Green in the Baltimore Sun. "In the Senate, there is a feeling that slots has to be a part of the package," said Sen. Ulysses Currie, the Prince George's Democrat who chairs the Budget and Taxation Committee. 'Whether it's slots first or with some other form of revenue, we haven't yet made that decision, but we realize with a billion-and-a-half structural deficit, slots has to be part of the solution.'"

Family Protection Lobby and Maryland Family Association urge making your voice heard on SB564 (March 1) and HB919 (March 15) -- both gay "marriage" bills); and SB930 (March 13-treatment of convicted child rapists).

February 26, 2007. Tax-pledge dodge sends wrong message, reports Donald Lambro in the Washington Times. "But Mr. Romney, running as a dyed-in-the-wool Reaganite, not only says he will oppose any attempt by the Democrats to raise tax rates, he plans to set forth a series of even more sweeping tax-cut proposals in the months to come. Right now, on economic policy, he is sounding more like Reagan than either Mr. McCain or Mr. Giuliani."

February 25, 2007. Washington Times: Brave New World in Annapolis. "The governor is considering calling a special session later this year to address Maryland's budget deficit, and administration officials say nothing is off the table -- including tax increases. In-state tuition for illegals, vetoed by Mr. Ehrlich four years ago, may be enacted into law in the coming weeks. And the state's huge problems with fraudulently obtained driver's licenses have not been addressed -- making it increasingly likely that when the federal Real ID law takes effect next year, Marylanders will be unable to use their licenses to board airplanes or enter federal buildings."

February 22, 2007.MTA Board Member Joyce Thomann fights for voter verified paper records in Maryland elections (Thomann's prepared testimony on SB 392). "Returning to the Optic Scanners would solve many problems at a much lower cost. The State Elections Administrator has frequently warned that if Maryland were to change its voting equipment, i.e., return to the Optic Scanners, the transition could not be made prior to the 2010 election. The State of North Carolina made the transition in 8 months and conducted an election. Perhaps Maryland's Election Administrator might consult with North Carolina's Election Administrator?"

February 22, 2007. Ehrlich joins law firm with gambling ties, reports Tarron Lively in the Washington Times. "According to its Web site, the firm has been 'heavily involved in gaming-law issues for the past 15 years,'representing a American Indian casino and the contractor for the video lottery in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr. Ehrlich, a proponent of slot-machine legislation during his term, dismissed the notion that the move is an attempt to remain a key player in the slots debate."

February 22, 2007. O'Malley considers extra session to sort out deficit, reports Tom LoBianco in the Washington Times. "The possibility of a special session marks a change for the freshman governor, a Democrat who had said he would not consider legalizing slots or raising taxes in his first year in office."

February 21. Plus Ça (Climate) Change; The Earth was warming before global warming was cool, writes Pete Du Pont in Opinion Journal. "Sometimes the consequences of bad science can be serious. In a 2000 issue of Nature Medicine magazine, four international scientists observed that 'in less than two decades, spraying of houses with DDT reduced Sri Lanka's malaria burden from 2.8 million cases and 7,000 deaths [in 1948] to 17 cases and no deaths' in 1963. Then came Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring, invigorating environmentalism and leading to outright bans of DDT in some countries. When Sri Lanka ended the use of DDT in 1968, instead of 17 malaria cases it had 480,000. Yet the Sierra Club in 1971 demanded 'a ban, not just a curb,' on the use of DDT 'even in the tropical countries where DDT has kept malaria under control.' International environmental controls were more important than the lives of human beings. For more than three decades this view prevailed, until the restrictions were finally lifted last September. As we have seen since the beginning of time, and from the Vikings' experience in Greenland, our world experiences cyclical climate changes. America needs to understand clearly what is happening and why before we sign onto U.N. environmental agreements, shut down our industries and power plants, and limit our economic growth."

February 19, 2007. "Maryland Legislature Should Reject HB 1069's Internet Regulation" - Free State Foundation declares. UPDATE: "In a new study released today by the Free State Foundation, Northwestern University School of Law Professor James B. Speta concludes that “net neutrality is the quintessential federal issue.” Professor Speta’s paper, Net Nutrality is a Federal Issue, explains that applications and content on the Internet are distributed nationally and internationally. Almost never do users access only in-state websites. Furthermore, broadband Internet access providers have national footprints, design their networks based on national business practices, and advertise in national media. According to Professor Speta’s legal analysis, “the FCC has already defined what it considers to be the best net neutrality regime: a general statement of policies to be applied, if necessary, on a case-by-case basis.” For this reason, “State attempts to regulate in this area are therefore preempted.”

February 17, 2007. Health insurance reform bill seems likely, reports M. William Salganik in the Baltimore Sun. "'It's pretty clear the House is going to pass a substantial health care expansion backed by a tobacco tax,' Vincent DeMarco, president of Maryland Citizens Health Initiative, a group working to cover more of the uninsured, said after listening to the testimony." [For more about this proposed tax-hike bill, see HB754 in The Third Rail]

February 14, 2007. Revenue or cuts, O'Malley warned, reports Tom LoBianco in the Washington Times. cccc"Dee Hodges, president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, said Mr. Miller is using his power to leverage taxes and legalize slots. ccccIt sounds like a little threat,' she said. Mr. Miller 'is putting people on notice if he doesn't get taxes.'"

February 14, 2007. MTA'S Larry Helminiak to Maryland Senate Budget & Taxation Panel: Keep our productive citizens in Maryland. Here is the prepared testimony today of MTA Board member and Carroll County entrepreneur Larry Helminiak in support of state senator Janet Greenip's bill SB182 to reconnect Maryland death tax provisions with current relief from provided by the Bush tax cuts. For details, click here for fiscal note on Greenip's proposal. [For more about this tax-hike bill, see SB192 in The Third Rail.]

Helminiak Highlight: "In 2005, the Wall Street Journal named Maryland as one of states where you don’t want to die because of the Estate Tax. This tax drives out independent businesses and valuable taxpayers to 'no-death-tax 'states. The people subjected to this tax are generally the most productive in our society. They do the investing, take the risks, and hire the people 85% of all new jobs are started in small business. They are the farmer, the local restaurant owner, and the small construction company. Thus these are the LAST people we want to leave the state; but that is what Estate taxes do."

February 16, 2007. O'Malley names regulators to oversee power rate raise, reports Tom LoBianco in the Washington Times. "Mrs. Brogan, who served on the commission from 1992 to 2001, supported the plan and said commissioners did not expect Baltimore Gas and Electric rates to skyrocket. She did not say whether she would extend the price cap lawmakers enacted to ease price increases. 'I'm disappointed, but I don't know if going back to re-regulation is the answer, 'Mrs. Brogan said."

February 16, 2007. Gansler: He’s anything but boring, comments Barry Rascovar in the Gazette. "It should not surprise you to learn that Doug Gansler has wasted little time establishing himself as Maryland’s most aggressive and activist attorney general in decades. His assertive actions stand in stark contrast to the cautious paths chosen by both Gov. Martin O’Malley and Comptroller Peter Franchot since their inaugurations."

February 16, 2007. Annapolis Notes: Franchot turns his sights to collecting unpaid amusement taxes, reports the Gazette. "Comptroller Franchot (D) announced Monday that his staff is auditing video poker and other coin-operated amusement devices whose owners have not set up the proper state admissions and amusement tax accounts. The effort will be concentrated in Baltimore city, where an Abell Foundation report last year estimated $15 million in amusement taxes go uncollected because of an illegal slot machine industry."

February 16, 2007. Think tank founder aims to change minds in Maryland, reports Nicole Fuller in the Baltimore Sun. "'It's wrong because Maryland ... is what you make of it,' [Eli] Gold says, his voice rising slightly in protest. 'And it's hard. It's an uphill battle. It's hard work. But if people take an active interest, then it's possible.'"

February 15, 2007. Illegal immigrants are in no position for rewards, writes Maryland Del. Rick Impallaria in the Examiner. "Over the past four years there has been a stand-off, with neither side gaining legislative ground in Annapolis. But we have brought this movement to the attention of the people. I receive more e-mails on this topic than on any other subject. They range from total outrage to thank yous for standing up for what's right. A common phrase is: 'What part of ‘illegal’ don't they get?'These e-mails come from all over the country and from immigrants who played by the rules to come here and are insulted by this behavior."

New study from the Yankee Institute: "Free College for High School Students,” a pioneering study which advocates giving every high school student who finishes his or her graduation requirements in three years a full two-year scholarship to community college. Because two years of community college often costs significantly less than one year of high school, taxpayers can save as much as $10,000 or more for every student who receives a scholarship. Under the plan students can count the first year of community college as the senior year of high school or graduate high school early and go on to college. [emphasis is TBN's]

Randolph May of the Free State Foundation comments: Maryland PSC Chief Resigns--The Way Forward on Energy Policy. "While certainly environmental and other legitimate local concerns need to be addressed, too often worthy projects, whether they will increase electricity or natural gas generation or distribution are stymied by state and local officials who are simply responding to a "NIMBY" (Not-in-my-backyard") attitude by a small group of citizens. Again, legitimate environmental and other concerns should be addressed. But state and local officials have an important role to play in not obstructing the plans of utilities that are willing to invest capital in new plants and other necessary infrastructure, such as natural gas storage facilities or new power lines, to bring on new supplies of energy. Absent the ability to bring on new supply, there will be increased pressure to increase rates for the more limited supply of energy that does exist."

February 13, 2007. Maryland Republican Assembly to delegates: Protect our grass roots. "As the President of the Maryland Republican Assembly (MDRA), I am writing you to ask that you vote against Senate Bill 195 by Senator Brochin and its cross-file House Bill 555 by Delegate Sue Krebs. These bills will make it much more difficult for grassroots political groups like the MDRA, Young Republicans and the Maryland Federation of Republican Women to operate.... Aside from the harm these bills will do to political clubs, they also further erode our First Amendment Rights by establishing another legal barrier the average citizen must hurdle."

February 12, 200. McConnell Senate Leadership: Likely Significant Change, writes Paul M. Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation. "Continuing the sort of leadership McConnell has shown in this first month bodes well for the future. If he can keep it up and explain it well, voters might give Republicans another chance."

February 11, 2007. Voting-bill opposition irks senator; Elections Board officials speak against his measure for paper record of ballots, reports Larry Carson in the Baltimore Sun. "Many officials believe that election results could be vulnerable to electronic tampering without a paper record, but Nordaas maintained that '85 to 90 percent of voters are quite happy [with electronic voting] and feel it's secure.'"

February 10, 2007. Washington Times editorial: O'Malley and the far-left fringe. "The degree to which the far-left has taken over the state Democratic Party was on display in the House Judiciary Committee last week, where John Porcari, Mr. O'Malley's nominee for transportation secretary, said Maryland needs to comply with the federal Real ID Act by next year -- which means, in essence that illegal aliens would be barred from obtaining driver's licenses. The very idea was denounced by the illegal-alien-friendly committee chairman Joseph Vallario, who suggested that Maryland should instead demand repeal of the act. It will be interesting to see if the governor and Mr. Porcari can muster the political will to tackle the Vallario problem on driver's licenses."

February 5, 2007. The Bush plan is good medicine, reports David Gratzer in the Weekly Standard. "The tax incentives arbitrarily reward some and punish others. Consider: If a person works for a company that offers health insurance, the premium is paid in pre-tax dollars; if, however, he's a consultant for that company, he must pay significantly more for the identical insurance, because the premium is paid in after-tax dollars. In other words, the 17 million self-employed Americans are penalized under the existing system."

February 5, 2007. The Bush plan is good medicine, reports David Gratzer in the Weekly Standard. "The tax incentives arbitrarily reward some and punish others. Consider: If a person works for a company that offers health insurance, the premium is paid in pre-tax dollars; if, however, he's a consultant for that company, he must pay significantly more for the identical insurance, because the premium is paid in after-tax dollars. In other words, the 17 million self-employed Americans are penalized under the existing system."

New study from the Yankee Institute: "Free College for High School Students,” a pioneering study which advocates giving every high school student who finishes his or her graduation requirements in three years a full two-year scholarship to community college. Because two years of community college often costs significantly less than one year of high school, taxpayers can save as much as $10,000 or more for every student who receives a scholarship. Under the plan students can count the first year of community college as the senior year of high school or graduate high school early and go on to college. [emphasis is TBN's]

February 2, 2007. MTA BOARD MEMBER JOYCE THOMANN URGES "a return to the reliable, infinitely cheaper, election judge friendly Optic Scanner which uses a voter verified paper record. This paper record is independent of the machine in its creation and can be used to verify the accuracy of the machine itself as well as to conduct a verifiable recount."
xxxxxSays an independent study from Princeton University: "Analysis of the [ Diebold AccuVote-TS Voting] machine, in light of real election procedures, shows that it is vulnerable to extremely serious attacks."

February 2, 2007. UPI reports: Florida plans to dump touch-screen voting. "Experts say the switch in such a large state could mean the end of paperless touch-screen machines. Critics say the machines -- which resemble bank cash machines -- can be hacked, and provide no way to check that vote counts match the electorate's actual choices."

February 2, 2007. Baltimore Examiner editorial: Public-private partnerships right model to build public schools. "A 2005 Maryland Public Policy Institute Study details how numerous school districts in the United States and in the United Kingdom have saved money through partnerships. One example is how in 1998 the Houston Independent School District partnered with Gilbane Properties of Providence, R.I., to build under a lease/purchase agreement two high schools for 6,000 students. Gilbane completed the project a year earlier than under a traditional method at $20 million below the school district’s first estimate. Contrast that with how Patterson Mill Middle and High School scheduled to open next fall in Harford County is coming in about $20 million over its original budget using the usual processes."

February 1, 2007. Peter Ferrara: Personal Accounts, Not Tax Increases--these are opposing alternatives, not complements. "It’s time for a reality check. As set out above, personal accounts will come neither through tax increases, nor cuts in future benefits. Quite to the contrary, the drift toward these politically poisonous alternatives is what has cratered the campaign for personal accounts. If blame is to be handed out, blame those who misled the president down this pain-caucus trail — they are the ones who should be held responsible for any future tax increases due to the failure of reform at the present time."

February 1, 2007. Healthy Maryland Initiatives are clearly not about fiscal health. See two bills: Healthy Maryland Initiative, HB 207 and HB 288.