Legislators on State Circle are starting to weigh in on the Governor’s legislative agenda which was released earlier this week. Bills in the Governor’s agenda will address renewable energy, foreclosure, education, healthcare, sex offenders and job creation.
In a video interview with The Washington Post, Governor Martin O’Malley (D) shares his plans for easing health-care reform costs, Maryland’s concerns, and reversing unemployment trends in the state. The interview took place in their newsroom.
For once, I will not give Governor Martin O’Malley (D) the hard time that I have in the past, at least not in the conventional way. As a matter of fact, I am going to take this opportunity to give him some advice. Governor, you have $700 million that will need to be cut and going into an election year to boot…wow. You have been doing budget cuts through the Board of Public Works, similar to what you have been doing for the past two years. I know myself and fellow conservatives have been pounding on you for not doing any real budget cuts.
Now we are at a crossroads situation when it comes to the budget. From the looks of things, the stimulus money which the Federal Government pushed onto everyone will not get anyone through the midterm elections, not even Republican Governor’s who did not want any part of it. The slots bill which you convinced most people to vote for is in a situation equivalent to couples and creepers on the Jerry Springer Show, dysfunctional. The main benefactor of the constitutional amendment could not even follow the rules and everything is now in the hands of a judge. However, do not take away the fact that most Marylanders showed that they wanted slots despite your earlier frustration in dealing with the issue.
Governor, it’s time to cut the budget and put the false piety’s aside. Now for the advice, just do it. Just go ahead and cut the budget because someone is not going to be happy about what is cut. As you learned recently in West Baltimore, not many people in the neighborhood were not happy with your decision to endorse and submit plans to build a light rail through their neighborhood. You were convinced that it is the right way to go and you tried to sell them on it. Just between you and I (and the people reading this,) you probably did not sell them on the fact that this light rail plan you are proposing is not shiny, new or faster than Light Rail 92. However, you made a tough decision on a transportation issue, which you are to be commended for. Now is high time for you to do the same when it comes to the budget.
Whether you cut a useless bureaucratic department or a vital function of either education or public safety, some people will not be happy about the decision you make. If you did not learn that with your light rail announcements, well, I guess that I should look for something to go up in the future. Just keep in mind the last Governor who decided to raise taxes.
P. Kenneth Burns is the editor of Maryland Politics Today. His email is kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us.
from mdroads.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Because of recent events in my life, I find my days starting sometimes in the Baltimore area, which we call Central Maryland. By the end of my day, I return to my domicile in Prince George’s County, which is referred to on this blog as being apart of the Capital Region. You might see me flip flop which region I am in because I live in Laurel. In any event, I am a regular traveler of Interstate 95 because of my regular employment in the commonwealth of Virginia. I could not help noticing in the area arounf the construction of the I.C.C. a sign. There were a number of signs in that area, including the one telling drivers what the construction was for. Then underneath the sign for the I.C.C., was a smaller sign which said “Martin O’Malley, Governor.” I also noticed a similar sign on Route 29 in Montgomery County declaring the same thing.
At this point, the red flag was raised. It was last year when O’Malley (D) criticized former Governor Robert Ehrlich (R) for appearing in state-financed ads, while at the same time appearing in state-financed ads on radio and on the sides of buses advertising a hotline to help those with mortgage problems. Republicans at the time railed against O’Malley doing the double standard. O’Malley spokeman Rick Abbruzzese telling The Washington Post at the time that the difference between Ehrlich in a state ad and O’Malley in a state ad is that the O’Malley ad is an effort to educate the public.
Governor Martin O’Malley (D) will be a guest participant in an online forum being hosted at The Economist’s website. The live online debate, which opened yesterday, asks the question: Is it right to collect people’s DNA sequences?
The governor’s statement will be released this Friday. You can participate in the meantime at economist.com.
Over the weekend, Governor Martin O’Malley officially changed his tune on the death penalty, by asking the members of the House of Delegates, many of whome were going to try and revive the repeal effort, to support the Senate version of the bill which would put in place stricter protocols for a death penalty case.
The Baltimore Sun reporting that O’Malley (D) said that a repeal effort would not be possible unless the Senate gained new members in the 2010 elections. Governor O’Malley trying to put some chivalry on what is a defeat for his agenda said that “The Senate has spoken. I would have preferred that we repeal the death penalty, but we have made considerable progress with the Senate’s version. I plan to testify in favor of that rather than going back to a deadlock.”
O’Malley said that he is ready to go with new protocols for lethal injection, that he said earlier this year were prepared during the same time that his death penalty commission were studying the issue. The governor added that he would begin looking at the cases of the five men that are currently on death row.
As first hinted last month right here on Maryland Politics Today, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson (D) is considering a run for statewide office.
We now learn from The Gazette that he is considering a challenge to Governor Martin O’Malley in the 2010 Democratic Primary.
The Gazette noted last week that Governor Martin O’Malley (D) refused to answer any questions from Len Lazarick, the state house reporter for the now-denfunct Baltimore Examiner. Before Lazarick was able to get his question out, O’Malley cut him off with a “no comment” adding that “I’m not answering any questions from your newspaper. I’m refusing to talk to the Examiner ever again after this week.” It was reportedly an acknowledgment of the demise of the Baltimore Examiner. What the governor may not realize is that Lazarick’s pieces also appeared in the Washington Examiner which is very much still in publication.
In any event, Governor O’Malley was rude and I would also like to add insensitive. Just because the publication is ceasing, does not mean that you embarass the person that is covering you. In other words, don’t snub the person you will more than likely see in the future. Should Lazarick be ressurected for Maryland coverage in the Washington Examiner (assuming that he did not lose his job,) Mr. O’Malley’s face will have a side of egg on it. In addition to that, to embarass Mr. Lazarick in such a way is uncalled for. What has The Examiner done to you Governor?
Let this be a stern example to other members of the press that Governor O’Malley will snub you at a moment’s notice should your publication close up shop.
P. Kenneth Burns is the editor of Maryland Politics Today. His email is kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us.
Church and state are separate, so they say. No one has said that to Governor Martin O’Malley who is soliciting support for his efforts to abolish capital punishment in the free state.
The Baltimore Sun reporting this afternoon that O’Malley (D) was making an appearance at African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Legislative Day event, asking those in attendance to not take any vote for granted and urged them to write to legislative leaders.
Will the third time be the charm for the Governor? His last two attempts stalled out in committee. This time he has a more current study…saying the same thing as a University of Maryland study. This report came from a commission which was established last year. Governor O’Malley had stated last month, should this third attempt fail, he will issue protocols to enforce the death penalty.
Governor Martin O’Malley (D) has been listening to a lot of woe as of late, especially with how the overall economy is doing and last night he heard it in person. The governor started his year long town hall series that will not only place him outside of the box called Annapolis, but will prime him for a re-election run.
The Baltimore Sun says that the first forum was held last night in Western Maryland.
Governor Martin O'Malley (D) meeting with reporters following a radio forum at Phillip's Seafood Resturant at the City Dock in Annapolis. O'Malley said that death penalty protocols will be ready if the general assembly does not appeal capital punishment.
ANNAPOLIS — Governor Martin O’Malley said that should the general assembly fail to repeal capital punishment in the free state, new death penalty protocols will be ready to go.
O’Malley (D), who was speaking to reporters following a radio forum held by WEAA (88.9FM) host Marc Steiner, said that work on the new protocols were continuing at the same time as the state commission on the death penalty, which was charged to research the implementation of capital punishment in Maryland, in addition to making a recommendation about it’s future.
The governor was hopeful that capital punishment would be repealed in Maryland this year, adding that he believes that the report by the commission is very good and hopes that every member of the general assembly reads the report.
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and WEAA Radio host Marc Steiner this morning at the Phillip's Seafood Resturaunt at City Dock in Annapolis.
ANNAPOLIS — This morning Governor Martin O’Malley (D) along with House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) and Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) participated in a question and answer forum this morning at the Phillips Seafood Resturant at City Dock Annapolis.
It was the 6th Annual Annapolis Summit presented by Marc Steiner of WEAA (88.9FM) and Steiner says that it was the biggest turnout in the event’s history. The program will be aired this evening at 5:00p.m. on WEAA. Miller and Busch are featured in the first hour of the program, while the Governor will be in the second hour of the show.
The Governor during his hour declared that he was a Ravens fan. Among serious issues, he addresses questions concerning the budget, the sales tax, teacher pensions, police spying, open space preservation, BGE rate hikes and the death penalty.
Steiner’s program will air on Public Radio Delmarva and WAMU (88.5FM)
