TAXPAYER BREAKING NEWS, May 2004, continued from Home Page

May 31, 2004. Federal investigators probe Baltimore's Sheila Dixon, reports the Washington Times.

May 29, 2004. State wants voting case dropped, says it's not jurisdiction of courts, reports the Baltimore Sun. "A group of state residents known as TrueVoteMd.org filed suit last month, claiming that state law requires touch-screen machines to print a paper receipt of every vote cast. They say it is a critical backup in case of a recount or if the equipment is tampered with."

May 29, 2004. State aims to cut 351 jobs, reports the Baltimore Sun. "'It's probably like in the past,' DiPaula said, describing next week's decisions. 'We've had very few filled positions that have been terminated. I would expect that trend to continue.'"

May 28, 2004. Politicians who fear self-government. "Ficker, a Republican lawyer whose office is in Bethesda, said no one was deceived." reports the Gazette. "'Everyone knew when they signed that sheet they were in favor of not a make-believe property tax [cap] like the one we have now, but a real one,' he said.'It seems like an attempt by a council that can't win in the court of public opinion. It's a continuation of the darn-the-public attitude.'

May 28, 2004. Vetos not a sweep for business, reports the Gazette. "Ehrlich (R) pleased some businesses by allowing a tax amnesty bill to become law without his signature, which could cost the state as much as $80 million. Meanwhile, he cited business concerns in vetoing a $65 million corporate tax hike tied to a cap on college tuition increases and to the so-called living wage mandate for state contractors."

May 27, 2004. Less is more: In Maryland, deregulation is the bold new idea, reports David Gratzer in the National Review. "It's a bold agenda, and just last month Sabatini's efforts bore fruit when both chambers of the legislature approved a bill allowing no-frills insurance."

May 26, 2004. Compromise closes tax loophole for corporations, reports the Baltimore Sun. "In a letter announcing his decision, Ehrlich said he believes the bill 'overreaches' and 'penalizes legitimate business transactions.' He called on the General Assembly to fix its flaws during the next legislative session.The governor will also allow a related tax-loophole measure to become law without his signature, costing the state $88 million. The bill grants amnesty to those same corporations for taxes they owed dating before 1995. Some of the money has been collected by the comptroller's office and must now be returned."

May 23, 2004. Fixing California --- and other state governments. "Initiative, referendum, and recall provide checks on government. They are not an alternative method of day-to-day management. It's our so-called representative bodies that are failing. The increasing use of the various processes of citizen-led democracy is a reaction to politicians' failures. Part-time legislatures work well in large states and small. No doubt we'll hear the same sky-is-falling harangues from experts of all stripes -- that the business of government is far too complex to allow amateurs to guide it. Professional legislators must, instead, spend more time with the political cabal at the capitol gaining legislative expertise. Professor Mark Petracca handily dismisses this in The Poison of Professional Politics:'The oft-touted expertise of professional politicians as representatives is in contradiction with the essential function of political representation in a democratic republic.... With the professionalization of American politics, instead of public engagement, we end up with public estrangement; instead of civic commitment, we foster civic abandonment; and instead of political empowerment, we are left with political confinement.'"

May 21, 2004. Time for the governor to revisit Maryland's multicultural mandates? "The governor has voiced support for state policies that benefit those struggling with English, including an education initiative that directs additional aid to schools with a large number of limited-English speakers and a school regulation mandating instruction on other cultures," reports the Washington Post." He said he also supports the state's efforts to make public services accessible in other languages."

May 20, 2004. Montgomery County raises taxes on energy, movies, reports the Washington Post. "For a decade, the council heeded the charter limit; but in recent years, with property taxes surging as a result of rising home values, it has opted to override. Republican anti-tax activist Robin Ficker has placed a referendum proposal on the November ballot that would eliminate the override option -- an opportunity for voters to register their displeasure with rising taxes in a lasting manner."

May 19, 2004. State budget crisis could be evaporating, reports the Washington Post. "Statewide, the most significant gains were in personal income and sales tax revenue, which represent the largest chunk of income for the state, Kopp said. Budget officials had projected a 6 percent increase in income tax revenue, and the trend this year is now closer to 9 percent. Similarly, sales tax revenue, which had been expected to increase by 6.2 percent, is now up 8.1 percent. Other sources of revenue, such as state taxes on estates and inheritances, on insurance premiums, and on liquor, gas and cigarettes, are all outpacing expectations.

May 18, 2004. 'Bunk' in eye of governor is a longtime schools priority, reports the Baltimore Sun. "He could ask the General Assembly to approve legislation altering the way multiculturalism is taught in schools, or he could direct the schools superintendent - a member of his Cabinet - to bring new curriculum and instructional goals to the school board. But the governor will probably not make such an effort, Fawell said. 'I didn't get any indication today that that would be the case,' he said. The regulations also touch on language. Under the law, teachers are supposed to 'promote a school climate in which different cultural linguistic patterns are respected.'"

May 16, 2004. Republicans who hate tax caps. "In Montgomery County, the GOP's approach has been a bit more nuanced but, some Democrats say, also more menacing, reports the Washington Post. " GOP Chairman Stephen N. Abrams hand-delivered a letter to the Democrat-controlled County Council offering to withhold the party's endorsement of the tax-limiting ballot measure pushed by anti-tax activist Robin Ficker. Abrams's terms: that the council agree to a number of specific cuts, including a reduction in the county income tax and in support for Strathmore Hall, the North Bethesda concert venue that has suffered from cost overruns.Ficker, a longtime gadfly in county politics, has led several unsuccessful attempts to pass a tax-limiting referendum proposal. But county lawmakers worry that his measure could prove more popular at the polls this November than it has in the past. A formal endorsement by the state party could enhance its chances."

May 14, 2004. Lovable, irascible, unbearable? Discontent over Schaefer swells, reports the Gazette. "Schaefer's latest escapade -- coupled with his close ties to Ehrlich and his scheduled attendance at a fund-raiser next week hosted by bomb-throwing conservative Del. Herbert H. McMillan (R-Dist. 30) of Annapolis -- have sent the hearts of liberal Democrats and Schaefer malcontents aflutter."

May 14, 2004. Frederick County receives authority to increase hotel/motel tax, reports the Gazette. "Sticking by his pledge not to vote to increase any taxes and his belief that government taxes enough, state Sen. Alexander X. Mooney (R-Dist. 3) of Frederick helped to defeat the bill in 2000. Mooney also tried to kill the proposal this year but was unsuccessful, partly because Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market supported the bill."

May 11, 2004. Maryland's governor and comptroller might not like multiculturalism, but Howard County's politicians embrace it, reports the Baltimore Sun. "A spokesman for Ehrlich said the governor would not apologize for the words or tone of his comments but reaffirmed that 'various ethnic groups are essential to the fabric of life in Maryland and in the United States.' But the spokesman said Ehrlich believes that 'various groups need to develop a singular culture as Americans.' MTA emails Ehrlich staff: "The governor is absolutely right. Please let us know if there is some way MTA or its allies can support Mr. Ehrlich's position on this matter of assimilation so vital to the health of our culture and our polity, and to the future of our immigrants and their children."

May 11, 2004. Baltimore takes "go-slow" policy on charter schools, reports the Baltimore Sun. "Despite passage of a state law more than a year ago authorizing charter schools in Maryland, the city school system has adopted a "go-slow" policy that won't permit the first Baltimore charter school until fall 2005 - and then won't let more than three such schools open in the first three years. The parents have asked for an exception to the policy."

May 11, 2004. Ehrlich's change of heart puts bill on Delaware tax shelters at risk, reports the Washington Post. Ehrlich (R) began backing away from the proposal in March, and now his top aides say it sits atop a small stack of bills he is eyeing closely for possible vetoes that could come late this month.

May 10, 2004. Tax foe renews attack on National Governors Association, reports Stateline.org. "Norquist and his allies want governors to follow the lead of Republican Govs. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Arnold Schwarzenegger of California who aren’t paying dues to the NGA and of Gov. Rick Perry of Texas who pulled out of NGA completely, according to an April 19 ATR letter to governors. Spokespersons for Pawlenty and Perry both said the decision to withhold dues was strictly due to budget constraints, not NGA policy."

May 10, 2004. Vouchers without competition. Frederick Hess explains in the Weekly Standard why D.C.'s voucher program is unlikely to drive systemic improvements in the public school system. "In the private sector, when competition is genuinely threatening--as when American automakers and electronics manufacturers were almost wiped out by Japanese competitors in the 1980s--firms either reinvent themselves or yield to more productive competitors. Unions make painful concessions or watch jobs vanish."

May 8, 2004. Ehrlich calls multiculture idea 'bunk," reports the Washington Post. "I' reject the idea of multiculturalism,'Ehrlich (R) said on WBAL-AM (1090) radio. 'Once you get into this multicultural crap, this bunk, you run into a problem. With respect to this culture, English is the language. Should we encourage young folks here to be assimilated, to learn the culture and values? Of course.'"

May 7, 2004. Ehrlich favors special session to decide slots, reports the Gazette. "If the issue does go to referendum, it holds risks for both sides. Democrats are worried that Ehrlich could canvass the state supporting slots and drum up support for President Bush's re-election. Republicans fear that the slots question will drown out the governor's message as he builds support for his 2005 legislative agenda, and could prompt stories about big money gambling interests funneling money into the state leading to Election Day."

May 7, 1004. Ehrlich won't criticize Schafer on multiculturalism, calls for one culture, reports the Gazette. "There's no such thing as multiculturalism," Ehrlich (R) told reporters before a lunch meeting with business executives in Rockville on Thursday. "It's one culture -- American."

May 4, 2004. Express toll lanes pique Maryland's interest, reports the Washington Post. "The toll lanes 'may provide a new source of additional revenue for the state, and in these days of fiscal austerity, every penny counts,' said C. Kenneth Orski, a transportation consultant who lives in Potomac and has been studying toll lanes for years. The money generated by tolls can be used to widen the highway or pay for other improvements, he said. Another reason for the newfound popularity of toll lanes is growing pressure on state governments to do something about congestion, Orski said. 'As highways become more and more crowded, the public is demanding some sort of alternative to getting stuck in traffic,'he said. 'The principle behind HOT lanes is traffic flow in those lanes will always be fluid. Motorists employing HOT lanes will never be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. And using the pricing mechanism, you can actually control the volume of traffic entering these lanes.'"

May 1, 2004. Maryland plan to revive bay is unveiled, $13 billion proposed to upgrade sewage plants, reduce farm, city runoff, reports the Baltimore Sun. "The plan, which proposes costly and politically difficult actions, would affect not only those who live on the water's edge, but also residents hundreds of miles inland."