TAXPAYER BREAKING NEWS, October 2007
continued from MTA Home Page

October 31, 2007. CIS's Michael W. Cutler on Governor Spitzer’s Proposal to Provide Driver’s Licenses to Illegal Aliens. "In the case of illegal aliens, the driver’s license provides a level of credibility that would enable such immigration law violators to conduct business as usual when they should not be conducting business at all in our country since their very presence here is in violation of law and patently illegal." READ MORE.

October 31, 2007. Taxpayer lawsuit filed against Spitzer over illegal alien licenses reports Michelle Malkin. "It’s about time. Judicial Watch, doing the job no one else has done yet, files suit against NY Dem Gov. Eliot Spitzer over those insane illegal alien driver’s licenses." READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Special session opens with a rally and a thud. "After being hassled by State House security personnel for being in the building we were forced to wait outside until 7:30. When I asked about not being allowed into a public building that has been open to the public for the past 14 years that I have been working there, I was told, 'It might have been like that before, but this is now.' One security guard said, 'I don’t make the rules, I just follow them,' as he threw up his hands." READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Washington Post: Many bills, and scant time to study them. "Del. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George's) said opposition to slots among congregants at her church, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, is so strong that 'I think I'd have to find another church home if I voted for slots.'" READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Baltimore Examiner: ‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan. '“The big taxers say we’re really a rich state,' said Dee Hodges, president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, urging legislators to sign a 'no new taxes' pledge. READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Washington Times: "'For the first time in my five years down here, I've seen the other side of the aisle on the defensive,' said Delegate Donald H. Dwyer Jr., Anne Arundel Republican. 'I'm surprised, Montgomery County and Baltimore City elected officials are very concerned..." READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Washington Post: Unity urged as special assembly convenes. "'What we're witnessing today is the flight of common sense from Maryland,' Del. Warren E. Miller (R-Howard) told the crowd." READ MORE.

October 30, 2007. Washington Post: Takoma Park council votes to remain an immigrant "sanctuary." "Takoma Park 'is a sanctuary for me against what is going on in this country,' said resident Jenny Hughes at an Oct. 15 hearing. 'I have always been proud of the fact that our city is a place where I can feel not just physically safe but politically safe.'" READ MORE.

October 28, 2007. Mark Fisher: That's No Way to Win a Horse Race. "Frank Trigeiro loves to play the slots. Like his mother, who used to save nickels in a jar to take on her annual jaunts to Las Vegas, 'I get totally captivated by the machines,' he says. 'I kind of lose it on slots.'" READ MORE.

October 27, 2007. Split builds over slots. "Outspoken slots opponents such as state Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat, conceded before yesterday's announcement that they face a tougher fight than in past years, when Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was the chief backer of slots. 'This year, the devil really is at the door,' Franchot told a group of African-American ministers and other slots opponents at an anti-slots rally yesterday at Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore. 'The other side has never been stronger.' READ MORE.

October 26, 2007. The Capital: "Richard Falknor, vice president of the Maryland Taxpayers Association, said the budget shortfall can be closed without new or higher taxes. 'Ours is not a partisan position. . . . We're for no new Republican or Democrat taxes,' Mr. Falknor said. 'I don't think it's difficult to cut 5 percent out of the budget across the board and take care of any possible deficit in the upcoming fiscal year.'" READ MORE.

October 26, 2007. FLASH FROM AARON MEISNER - Governor has released his slots bill. "...1) 15,000 Slot Machines; 2) Locations at Laurel Park, Ocean Downs, Rocky Gap, Cecil County, and the Middle Branch area of Baltimore City. Note that Pimlico and Rosecroft are not included. We believe that Penn National is the intended licensee of the Baltimore City location. Now that we have locations, we have real work to do in terms of spreading the word QUICKLY. I need everyone to get in touch with as many people as possible ESPECIALLY IN THE IMPACTED AREAS. [underlining TBN's] For more information contact Aaron Meisner at 410-963-7718.
MTA UPATE, October 27: Click here and here for text of the governor's proposals.

October 26, 2007. The Tax Foundation - Governor O’Malley’s Tax Plan Puts Maryland at Risk in Regional Tax Competition. "Lost in the rush to increase taxes is the crushing impact these tax increases will have on Maryland's competitiveness. Maryland needs to be mindful of its competitiveness because investment capital is more mobile now than ever before. Companies can up and move their operations in the blink of an eye, and those states with the most competitive tax systems will be more likely to attract new or expanding businesses. While global outsourcing gets the headlines, states must remain wary of their standing in relation to other states, since the Department of Labor reports most job relocations still occur from one state to another, rather than to foreign destinations. READ MORE.

October 26, 2007. Wall Street Journal: "The Senate passed a seven-year extension of the Internet tax moratorium, with robust language that should stiff-arm even the most voracious state and local governments looking for loopholes to tax your email." READ MORE (Subscription required.)

October 26, 2007. John Fund: Another Man From Hope - - - Who is Mike Huckabee? "Many Huckabee supporters have told me their man should be judged by what he's saying on the campaign trail today. Fair enough. Mr. Huckabee was the only GOP candidate to refuse to endorse President Bush's veto of the Democrats' bill to vastly expand the Schip health-care program. Only he and John McCain have endorsed the discredited cap-and-trade system to limit global-warming emissions that has proved a fiasco in Europe. READ MORE.
See also the Club for Growth report: Mike Huckabee's Record on Economic Issues. "'Governor Huckabee says he is a fiscal conservative,' Club for Growth President Pat Toomey said, 'but his ten-year economic-policy record as the governor of Arkansas is mixed, at best. His history includes numerous tax hikes, ballooning government spending, and increased regulation.'" READ MORE

October 26, 2007. Mark Levin: Getting Reagan Right - - - Charles Krauthammer misses the crucial distinctions. READ MORE.

October 25, 2007. TAX-SAVVY DAN CLIFTON WARNS - - - Capital Gains/Dividend Tax Increases. "While all the attention in Washington is focused on the Rangel tax bill, we believe this is just a precursor for 2009 if the Dems take full control of the government. Some analysts suggest the Dems may get close to 60 votes in the Senate and with a new president will be seeking to move on a major tax bill, most likely including higher capital gains and dividend taxes. Today, Strategas Research Partners released a new report quantifying the impact of four different capital gains and dividend tax proposals on the S&P 500." READ MORE.

October 25, 2007. NTU on the Rangel tax bill. "He would let small businesses continue to take tax-favorable expensing, but then force some of them to shoulder higher self-employment taxes. He would cut the corporate tax rate to make the United States more competitive abroad, but would take away the sensible tax rules that even other countries allow for their own home-grown companies." READ MORE.

October 25, 2007. Americans for Tax Reform analysis: Rangel Tax Hike Facts: Who Gets Their Taxes Raised? "House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) introduced “the mother of all tax bills” today on Capitol Hill. Part of the bill purports to 'cut taxes' by giving away more money to non-taxpayers and paying for it with tax increases." READ MORE.
See also ATR's: Rangel’s Secret Spending Giveaway. READ MORE.
See ATR's LIST of planned tax hikes in Rangel's "Mother of All Tax Bills."

October 25, 2007. Baltimore Sun: House approves heritage area. "Ann Corcoran was not convinced. She and other property-rights advocates see the federal recognition as the leading edge of a larger effort by preservationists 'to ultimately restrict what people do with their properties.' Corcoran, who owns a farm that abuts Antietam National Battlefield in Western Maryland, said, 'You wouldn't need it otherwise, would you? You can have all of these localities that want to promote tourism, which is just fine, they could all get together every month and plan tourist stuff, couldn't they?' READ MORE.
TBN notes what many readers have recognized for some time: The Baltimore Sun misses any key conservative point - - - whether on taxes or property rights - - - it can contrive to do, and almost always give heavy weight in selecting story quotes and opinion to big-government-oriented sources. In this case, a significant fact is that this scheme to use Federal moneys managed by self-selected local groups with the help of Federal agencies to entice local zoning authorities into restricting property rights was opposed by 122 Republicans. These included the Republican Leader and the Republican Whip. (No Democrat voted against the measure.)
That Representative Roscoe Bartlett alone in the Maryland delegation was a defender of property rights is a badge of honor for Dr. Bartlett - - - and a mark of shame for Representative Wayne Gilchrest. The fact that the Heritage Foundation did two devastating reports addressing the Journey through Hallowed Ground scheme, the second also on the broader dangers of National Heritage Areas, somehow escaped the attention of the Sun's reporters. Our opinion is that this legislation could underwrite the same kind of property-rights turmoil in western Maryland that the notorious SB509 abusing eminent domain did in Baltimore County a few years ago.

October 25, 2007. National Center for Public Policy Research: Congress Votes to Line Special Interest Pockets, Threaten Local Rule. "H.R. 1483 passed despite the objections of Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (MD), Virgil Goode (VA), Robert Goodlatte (VA), Thelma Drake (VA), J. Randy Forbes (VA) and Joe Pitts (PA), who represent three of the four states that would be affected by The Journey Through Hallowed Ground heritage area designation. The heritage area would cut through Representative Bartlett's and Representative Goode's districts, posing a direct threat to the rights of their constituents." READ MORE.

October 24, 2007. $2 billion O'Malley initiative readied for Assembly. "Broad outlines of the health plan to be introduced by the O'Malley administration emerged yesterday. According to legislative leaders, it would expand Medicaid eligibility for adults and offer subsidies to small businesses at a cost of about $250 million a year in state money by the time the programs are fully implemented in 2012, with the rest coming from federal matching money." READ MORE.

October 23, 2007. Parks bill evolves into land dispute, reports Washington Times. "Ann Corcoran, a property rights advocate in Maryland [and MTA board member], said the bill removes local land use control and allows wealthy property owners to block what she considers valuable development projects. 'This National Heritage Area designation is for the rich and powerful to maintain their elitist lifestyles in the horse country of Virginia,' " Mrs. Corcoran said. 'Apparently, they also expect some federal dollars for their passions — horses and vineyards. They want to keep out the regular guy, the riff-raff.'" READ MORE.

October 23, 2007. O'Malley, Franchot spar over special session, reports Baltimore Sun. "'In my view, the volatility of the U.S. and Maryland economies, the absence of an immediate fiscal crisis and the lack of detail about the plan could all combine to create a perfect storm of unintended consequences. Rather than act in haste, the fiscally prudent and practically wise thing to do would be to move cautiously and deliberatively throughout this process' Franchot said in a letter to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch." READ MORE.

October 23, 2007. A Recurring DREAM [Mark Krikorian]. "Incredibly, people on the Hill tell me that the sponsors of the bill — Senators Durbin, Hagel, and Lugar — are actually planning a sit-down with a group of illegal aliens today at 3 p.m. to hear why Congress should give them amnesty." READ MORE. Alert from NumbersUSA: "Wednesday Cloture Vote Set For DREAM Act Amnesty Bill."

October 23, 2007. Playing games with school choice, declares the Washington Times."Public schools are clearly failing in a number of areas, even in wealthy neighborhoods. A recent report by the Pacific Research Institute found that in the ritzy town of Saratoga, Calif., a bedroom community of Silicon Valley, just 12 percent of students taking the 2006 California Standards Test's algebra 1 exam scored at or above proficiency. Only 23 percent of students taking the state geometry exam scored at or above proficiency. In Laguna Beach, where homes are worth an average of $1.5 million, a mere 19 percent of high school students passed the Early Assessment Program college-ready English test. In Marin County, home of the nation's highest density of BMWs, only 23 percent of San Marin high schoolers passed the EAP college-ready exam. Clearly, our public schools need overhaul." READ MORE.

October 23, 2007. Commemorating Alger Hiss [United Nations] Day, by Cliff Kincaid. "Hiss’s dream has turned into a nightmare for the world. The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on the U.N.’s Law of the Sea Treaty, giving the world body jurisdiction over the oceans of the world, as well as economic and industrial activities on land which affect the oceans. The pact creates the first independent source of revenue for the U.N., consisting of “fees” or taxes extracted from U.S. corporations wishing to exploit billions of dollars worth of oil, gas and minerals in “international waters” controlled by the corrupt International Seabed Authority. The unfolding scheme will make the U.N.’s oil-for-food scandal look like peanuts." READ MORE.

October 22, 2007. Get Up, Stand Up. National Taxpayers Union Blog: "These proposed tax increases are not going unnoticed, however. The Maryland Taxpayers Association is circulating a petition for citizens who are asking for a comprehensive anti-tax stand. They are demanding no new taxes of any kind, no slot machines and no taxes disguised as fees or charges. To fix the budget deficit, MTA proposes that the government get back to its core responsibilities and eliminate wasteful spending. Imagine that... Please click here to sign the petition and stand up against the Maryland tax hikes."

October 22, 2007. Keeping a Place at the Trough, National Review."At a time when they could exploit a popular issue, Republicans instead continue to support egregious Democratic earmarks lest they lose their own pork. They are still working on the political model of the 'District Mayors' theory pushed last cycle by House Speaker Dennis Hastert: By bringing home the bacon, members of Congress seek to extend their political lives indefinitely. A similar idea was employed in the re-election campaign of Sen. Conrad Burns (R., Mont.), who told Montanans repeatedly that with his seniority, he could continue to deliver federal projects for the state."READ MORE.

October 22, 2007. Oppose 'Hallowed Ground' Scheme. In spite of the opposition of Republican members of the Natural Resources Committee, Americans for Tax Reform's Property Rights Alliance, to say nothing of the Heritage Foundation's critical studies - - - the latest released today, the Frank Wolf-sponsored Journey Through Hallowed Ground scheme will come to the floor of the U. S. House for a vote tomorrow. This JTHG scheme is now part of a larger measure (H.R. 1483) to expand National Heritage Areas across the country. Here, moreover, is the National Taxpayers Union critique of H. R. 1483.
Representative Roscoe Bartlett has steadfastly opposed this stealth property-rights grab.
MTA Board member Ann Corcoran with long experience protecting property rights in Washington County, Maryland, gives TBN her insights into the bigger picture. READ MORE.

October 19, 2007. Slots opponents to rally. "The Maryland Taxpayers Association is promoting the event because its position is that slots are a tax that's hard on the poor and creates a slush fund for state legislators. 'Slots are a bad bet for Maryland,' said executive vice president Richard Falknor." READ MORE.

October 20, 2007. ANTI-SLOTS UPDATE ON PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY -- from Republican chair Mykel Harris (left): "The Prince George’s rally was great. They easily had 300 or more attendees. Comptroller Peter Franchot was very well received with a strong anti-slots speech. So was Delegate Marvin Holmes, Deputy Majority Whip. They expressed a campaign to have people contact their legislator in Thursday of next week to oppose slots. "
FREDERICK STOP-SLOTS RALLY, October 20, 2007: Pastors , independent business owners, seasoned state senator, state taxpayer association reps - - - all join to stop the latest Maryland slots schemes.
Pastor Kenneth Mitchell, Sunnyside United Methodist Church and independent business owner.	Frederick StopSlots organizer Greg Barford, also an independent business owner.
Senator Alex Mooney.	MTA's Richard Falknor.

October 18, 2007. Maryland's senior U.S. senator's high-minded reflection on S-CHIP and Rush Limbaugh . . . "reverse evolution" from Daniel Webster to Barbara Mikulski? Limbaugh: "But I just think this is fabulous news out here that the Drive-Bys have done everything they can to push this whole notion of socialized medicine, to rip the president as being heartless, and cold, and cruel to children. See, this is why you gotta celebrate the new media, folks, and people like me. Because 20 years ago, this would have happened, and there wouldn't have been any opposition to it whatsoever, and you would not know the truth...." (A hat tip to Michelle Malkin.) READ MORE.

October 17, 2007. KUDOS TO STATE SENATOR E. J. PIPKIN who signed the Maryland Taxpayer Protection pledge today. Pipkin has been an outstanding pioneer in developing free-market consumer-choice solutions for health financing in Maryland.

October 17, 2007. Prince William OKs laws denying illegals. "The board also banned county officials from granting business licenses to people who cannot prove their legal status and denied illegal aliens eight taxpayer-funded services." READ MORE.

October 17, 2007.Compromise, Congress - - - Get together on S-CHIP. Marylander Bob Moffit:"Sen. Mel Martinez (R., Fla.) is proposing a sensible compromise that reflects this consensus. It would continue the S-CHIP program to fulfill its original purpose, focusing on kids in working families with an annual income under $42,000. But the compromise would add a middle-class child health-care tax credit, worth $1,200, for families with children enrolled in either employment-based coverage or coverage purchased outside the workplace. The tax credit would be available to all families with incomes between $41,300 to $61,950, reaching as many as 10.5 million children in those income categories. This would be far more effective than the flawed bill the president vetoed, which would have added only 1.2 million children to the rolls." READ MORE.

October 17, 29007. Arlington, Va.—Today, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Bennett in Baltimore struck down as unconstitutional a Maryland law that restricted corporate funeral home ownership to 58 privileged in-state corporations. READ MORE.

October 16, 2007. Maryland's future under government health care? "The Fraser Institute just published its latest survey of average waiting times for non-emergency surgery and other major procedures in the Medical Paradise of the North. The new figure is 18.3 weeks from the time a patient is referred to a specialist until the completion of the procedure. That's the longest wait since Fraser began studying the issue 17 years ago. MORE HERE.

October 16, 2007. Myths & Realities #4 ... Concerning U.N. Law of the Sea Treaty. "Without doubt, the primary objective of the LOST regime and the European regulatory control agenda behind it in mandating protection and preservation of the global marine environment is to invade what every UN member state would otherwise be entitled to -- national sovereignty." READ MORE.

October 16, 2007. Scandal Rocks U.N. Sea Treaty Organization. "Ratification has already been complicated by the failure of Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Legal Adviser John B. Bellinger III to be honest with senators about how provisions in the treaty regarding prevention of pollution from land-based sources can be used to sue the United States over its greenhouse gas emissions. " READ MORE

October 15, 2007. Time to Bring an End to the DREAM Act. "In-state tuition can amount to a taxpayer subsidy of up to $20,000 a year, depending on what the university charges students from the other 49 states. The illegal immigrant also becomes eligible for taxpayer-paid federal student loans and federal work-study programs, for which lawful foreign students are ineligible.There is no upper age limit; any illegal immigrant is eligible for this preference by declaring he entered the U.S. illegally before his 16th birthday. The illegal immigrant doesn't have to prove when he entered the U.S.; he can simply make a sworn statement. READ MORE

October 15, 2007. O'Malley calls for special session. "Although Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller had been pushing for a special session, he told reporters before O'Malley's news conference that he had recommended holding off on calling lawmakers back to Annapolis.'I asked him if he had the votes, and he doesn't as of this day,' Miller said. ' counseled him not to call a special session until he had the votes. He is determined to go forward.'" READ MORE

October 12, 2007. Suburban schools not as good as parents think. "For example, Maryland is ranked as the richest state in the nation, with a median household income of 65,144. But Fordham researchers found that the Maryland School Assessments in reading, taken from third to eighth grade, consistently ranked in the lower third in terms of difficulty, as compared with 25 other states studied. So a child considered a “proficient” reader in Maryland might not be in at least half the country. PRI researchers concluded that some of the underlying reasons for widespread underachievement, even in high-income areas, were mismanagement, collective bargaining agreements and other policies that diminished teacher accountability, and the myth among parents that their own suburban schools were doing a much better than test data warranted. Even in the nicest neighborhoods, they say, many children are not being taught the basic skills they need to compete in an increasingly complex and technological global economy. Their solution? Break up the public school monopoly using a combination of vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, open enrollment and any other innovations that introduce competition into an educational system sorely in need of it." READ MORE

October 12, 2007. Immigrantion debate won't go away. "The immigration debate in Maryland is going to get 'louder,' even though this week Frederick County commissioners voted down a proposal to deny services to anyone in the country illegally and a federal court blocked tighter rules requiring proof that workers have Social Security cards." READ MORE.

October 12, 2007. Annapolis bracing for special session. "On Thursday, O’Malley (D) told WAMU radio that he will make an announcement ‘'early next week.' But lawmakers aren’t sure the governor will be ready. 'As of today, it appears less likely than likely to happen,' said Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Dist. 14) of Olney. 'There is a great distance between the governor and the House and the Senate.'” READ MORE.

October 12, 2007. O'Malley says he'll call next week for session. "O'Malley has proposed increasing the state sales tax from 5 percent to 6 percent, extending the tax to cover more services, changing the income tax structure so that high earners pay more and low- and middle-income filers pay less, increasing the corporate income tax rate from 7 percent to 8 percent, closing corporate 'loopholes' and reducing the state's property tax rate..... As for slots, he has said he plans to model his proposal on a measure passed by the House of Delegates in 2005 that would have placed up to 9,500 state-owned machines at four locations - one each in Anne Arundel, Harford, Frederick, and Allegany counties. Given the GOP's unwillingness to cooperate during a special session, O'Malley said he would consider putting the issue to a statewide referendum in 2008. READ MORE

October 12, 2007. Delegate questions jolly giant green Bay fund. "Questions on the latest version include how to direct the fees while making sure counties and municipalities can get their share.‘The relationship to the tax and what we’re getting is not 1:1,' said Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier. The money generated by fees goes to MDE and MDA and ‘does not necessarily go back to areas where it’s taken from,' Niemann said. ‘I’m not saying I wouldn’t support this, but let’s be honest, frank. We’re creating a taxing mechanism to generate cash.'” READ MORE.

October 11, 2007. Stop their pay, send them home. "Republicans, who took the art of earmarking to new heights when they controlled Congress, have no credibility on this issue. Some are even moaning that they don’t get enough pork to pass around. Rep. Zack Wamp inadvertently let the cat out of the bag, Ellis said, when the Tennessee Republican complained that the Democrats were not honoring the '60/40 split' — an unwritten agreement that the majority party gets 60 percent of all earmark plunder. Wamp’s slip was the first time this dirty little secret, so carefully hidden from voters, has ever been mentioned in public." READ MORE

October 10, 2007. O'Malley spars with Miller on slots strategy."'I think when the Republicans said, "We will not support slots during a special session," they blew that whole thing out of the water,' said Sen. John C. Astle, Anne Arundel Democrat." READ MORE.

October 10, 2007.Unionizing Public Safety Employees Threatens Volunteer Fire Departments and Public Safety."The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act would threaten the existence of many volunteer fire departments, putting millions of Americans at greater risk of fire-related injury or death. Rather than force local governments to collectively bargain with the IAFF, Congress should let them choose the policies that best serve their citizens." READ MORE.
TBN suggests that Eastern Shore citizens ask the good Mr. Gilchrest why he voted against volunteer fireman.

October 9, 2007. Examiner: Protecting companies that play by the rules. "By shining a positive spotlight on firms that protect American workers, Marlett hopes to convince people that honest businesses that support their local communities, instead of undermine them, will prosper — even if their prices are a bit higher as a result." READ MORE

October 9, 2007. Special Session Would Be Risky for O'Malley."'For the governor, this is a huge roll of the dice,' said Barbara A. Hoffman, an Annapolis lobbyist who chaired the Senate budget committee during her tenure in the General Assembly. 'I think he has a long way to go. This has so many moving parts that there's real danger to going in without all the pieces in place. At some point, he may figure out he can't do it.'" READ MORE.

October 9, 2007. English First Rates the 2008 Presidential candidates. "Nearly every candidate says that it is important that immigrants learn English. But the devil is in the details. The current citizenship exam asks for a modest demonstration of English ability that signals that the United States is not serious about the subject. Multilingual ballots, multilingual welfare applications and public service ads in foreign languages urging people to apply for benefits send an even stronger signal: 'don't bother to learn English. We will tell you what you need to know.'" READ MORE.

October 9, 2007. MTA Joins National Coalition Opposing Federal Water and Land Power Grab."'The 'Clean Water Restoration Act' is classic bait-and-switch," said David Ridenour, Vice President of The National Center for Public Policy Research. 'Congressman Oberstar and Senator Feingold advertise that their initiative is designed to reassert congressional intent and add clarity to the Clean Water Act. But that's not the product they're actually selling. Indeed, the Clean Water Restoration Act would be an unprecedented expansion of federal power.'" READ MORE.

October 8, 2007. The World Dictatorship Treaty: Does that get your attention? by Wes Vernon. "LOST empowers the UN (with a history of corruption and hostility to America and our allies) to override many decisions of our own U.S. elected and appointed leaders; includes an International Seabed Authority (ISA) to levy global taxes (the dream of one-worlders) and authorizes a global tax court to settle disputes under the treaty...." Read more.

October 5, 2007. Franchot warns against slots. "Franchot, however, has opposed the governor's plan for a special session in November, calling it 'unwise.' An aide said Franchot wants to analyze revenue projections in mid-December for the coming fiscal year, numbers that could alter the budget picture. Meisner predicted that with the 'adequate amount of sunshine' during the General Assembly's regular 90-day session next year, the slots initiative will 'collapse under its own weight'." READ MORE
TBN agains reminds those Republicans who entertain not-so-secret fantasies about expanding gambling that slots are a tax, a regressive tax, and an opaque tax. Fiscal conservatives have no business supporting slots. As the Wall Street Journal warned in 2004. "Expanding a state government's gambling empire hardly encourages those in charge of the purse to spend more wisely or thriftily. Which is why, as public policy goes, it's a bad bet."

October 5, 2007. New York State County Clerks Rebel against Spitzer ID Plan. "The 10-second TV ad, sponsored by the state's Conservative Party, begins airing today on broadcast and cable stations in the city, Albany, Long Island and Westchester. 'Along the Mexican border, we lock up illegal immigrants,' the ad, titled 'Border Line Insanity,' says. 'In New York, Gov. Spitzer wants to give them driver's licenses. Tell Spitzer he's wrong.'" In a separate statement, Conservative Party chairman Mike Long declared: "Really, governor, what part of 'illegal' don't you understand?" READ MORE

October 5, 2007. Montgomery aid to illegals criticized. "Maryland lawmakers are still trying to enact the REAL ID law, which would force Maryland drivers to prove their national citizenship before obtaining a license. 'Mr. Leggett needs to be enlightened as to what this is doing,' said Delegate Ronald A. George, Anne Arundel Republican, lead sponsor of the REAL ID act. Mr. George said he plans to file the bill again in January. 'I know Montgomery County [residents] would like to have their landscaping done by illegals, and they want someone to do it,' he said. 'But they have to be aware of what the excessive number of illegals coming to this state is doing.'" READ MORE

October 4, 2007. Examiner editorial: Cut taxes to stimulate city growth. "If Baltimore really wants new residents, it must slash property taxes in half. Doing so will be a lot less expensive than investing another $3.445 billion and has the potential to vastly surpass what the city collects right now. More than 26 percent of property in the city is not taxable because it is owned by government or nonprofits, so luring more homeowners and businesses is essential to expanding the tax base." READ MORE

October 3, 2007. O'Malley mounts budget session blitz. "Franchot, who has not been shy about his opposition to O'Malley's slots proposal, said he plans to hold news conferences in Baltimore and Silver Spring tomorrow with religious leaders and elected officials who oppose slots. 'The message will be: Don't be confused by slots at the racetrack,' Franchot said. 'It may take a few years but they'll be in your neighborhood. It's a relentlessly predatory industry, and state after state has showed they can't be contained.'" READ MORE

October 2, 2007. A REAL problem in Annapolis. "Maryland is one of seven states that issue driver's licenses to illegals. How did that happen? In 2003, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Bob Ehrlich signed into law what was supposed to have been a compromise package overhauling the licensing procedures. But House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Mr. Vallario craftily managed to insert language that effectively stripped a requirement that said applicants must present a valid Social Security number. Illegal aliens cannot lawfully obtain Social Security numbers, so it's easy to see on whose side Mr. Vallario stands." READ MORE [And click here for a TV spot about the failure of the last General Assembly to protect Maryland driver's permits. -ed ]

October 2, 2007. Michigan's Tax Hike. "On the one hand, Michigan got a tax hike. On the other hand, minority Republicans (with just two exceptions) stood strong in the House, refusing to vote for it, and making the Democrats cast a bad vote that will cost them. This is the kind of principled stand that will help the GOP win back the legislature next year. They also forced a concession from the teachers unions that will save the state some money. It's the beginning of a budget reform process that will not go forward unless Republicans take over again." READ MORE

October 1, 2007. HERB MCMILLAN: "Are your taxes well spent? Three years ago, Baltimore City couldn't account for $40 million in state education money. It disappeared. The nonprofit Advocates for Children and Youth discovered that $500 million of Thornton funding slated for summer school and tutoring had been used instead for general budget items, including health benefits, salary increases and heating. They also noted that Maryland student scores on independent national tests had failed to improve, despite a $2.2 billion increase in education funding since 2002. Students have performed only marginally better on state tests." READ MORE

October 1, 2007. NOVAK: A Democratic Transition at Treasury. "All this was known to Bush in May 2006 when he tapped Paulson as a Treasury chief who would command respect on Wall Street. It should be no surprise, then, that he is regarded in his own administration less as a true Republican secretary than as a transition to the next Democratic Treasury -- a trademark of a lame-duck regime." READ MORE.

October 1, 2007. GOP Candidates debate 'race' at Morgan State. "In sharp contrast, the candidates to the right of the stage -- Tancredo, Hunter, and Keyes -- completely rejected the liberal message offered by the other candidates. Hunter gave some excellent answers highlighting the Republican Party's strong record on civil rights, and Keyes offered stirring oratory about basic values and national unity. All of it was really good stuff that needed to be heard. But Tancredo won me over early in the debate when he called out the three liberal candidates for their egregious 'race-baiting' and articulated his position that the problems facing the black community primarily stem from the disintegration of the black family caused by the welfare state, and from the massive importation of low-paid immigrant labor. Throughout the debate, Tancredo never accepted the racialist premises of the panelists' questions. He consistently focused on the real problems, and offered some meaningful proposals for reform (unlike Brownback, who repeatedly trumpeted his proposal for an African-American history museum 'on the mall in Washington, D.C.'). READ MORE

October 1, 2007. Boss Hoyer Says, 'We Control This House.' "But at about the same time Pelosi voted, three Florida Republicans -- Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ross-Lehtinen -- were walking up to the podium to change their votes which would have resulted in another Republican win. Before they could vote, McNulty struck the gavel again, resulting in the 214-214 Republican defeat.
According to my source: At that point, the Parliamentarian is shaking his head, 'no.' It’s not a closed vote. And then [Majority Leader, Maryland Congressman] Steny Hoyer can be seen coming up, pointing his finger into the chest of the Parliamentarian and he can be heard saying, ‘We run this House, not the Parliamentarians’.” [Hoyer's angry finger pointing and chastising of the Parlimentarian begin about 53 seconds into this video.]
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