Published Letters from Baltimore County Members
May 2005
General Assembly must put people in front of politics
Date: May 25, 2005
Publication: The Catonsville Times
Author: Paul Bunting
The 2005 Maryland General Assembly session has ended with some successes to talk about, such as the governor balancing the budget without increasing taxes again, but some items are worthy of clarification and mention.
The House did pass a slots bill, but this bill was designed to fail from the start. Why else would Speaker Busch allow it to get on the floor for a vote?
After surprising everyone by passing by one vote, Speaker Busch then refused to form a compromise committee, which is unprecedented in the history of the General Assembly.
This bill was created to force the Republican delegates to vote against it and embarrass the administration. The failure to pass a workable slots bill rests with Speaker Busch and the House of Delegates.
Both the House and the Senate passed the Fair Share Health bill. This bill, known as the "WalMart Bill," imposes a fee on companies that employ 10,000 or more people in Maryland while excluding some of the areas largest employers. It would currently affect one company - WalMart.
This bill could endanger a thousand or more jobs to be created in Maryland by WalMart. Customers of WalMart would pay this fee in the form of increased prices at the register. Giant Foods, one of the main supporters of this bill, was so thankful for its' passage they announced after the session was over, that they were consolidating some operations, resulting in a loss of 500 or more jobs.
Marylanders need more job opportunities, not less, and lower prices on goods purchased, not higher. This bill does neither.
While on the subject of increased costs to Marylanders, the repeal of the HMO tax exemption meant thousands of Marylanders saw their health insurance premiums increase. This was done by the General Assembly's attempt at malpractice reform. The governor presented a workable plan that was altered by the House and Senate. Marylanders ended up paying the tab.
When the General Assembly convenes again, they must work with the governor and not play partisan games. The people of Maryland elected the governor. The General Assembly needs to remember - people first, not politics.
Democratic moves betray insecurity
Date: May 10, 2005
Publication: The Jeffersonian
Author: Chris Cavey
The past several weeks have been filled with campaign announcements as our friends in the Democratic Party prepare for primary election battles. I have a few thoughts to share about these interesting developments.
Democratic leaders in this past General Assembly session had a movement going to try to change the primary election to spring 2006 rather than September. This is a good sign - for Republicans.
The Democrats know they will need more than the current 60-day window to repair self-inflicted wounds from contentious primary races. Unity will be tough without defined leadership.
Meanwhile, their would-be leaders, Mr. Duncan and Mr. O'Malley, have slapped Maryland Democrats in the face by hiring campaign managers from outside our state. This indicates that no Democrat in Maryland is trusted, knowledgeable or capable enough to run a gubernatorial campaign that can beat Bob Ehrlich. Doug and Marty feel that only "outsiders" have the perspective to beat a Republican incumbent.
If I were in the Democrat Party, I would be incensed. This show of no-confidence is a certain party divider; no wonder they are expecting post-primary hostility.
My personal favorite is the Democratic Senate race. This race is shaping up as an excellent way to divide the party's voting base.
Cardin, Mfume and possibly Van Hollen have created the perfect three-way party split with Mr. Cardin taking the Baltimore metro area, Mr. Van Hollen taking the Washington area, and Mr. Mfume taking the African-American votes. I couldn't have planned a better split. Most certainly this will cause more than a few "kiss and make-up" problems after draining millions of dollars from the party faithful.
The bonus round, for Republicans, will be the Democratic contests for legislative and other down-ballot positions. When the glass ceiling of the Democratic pecking order breaks, small "gang wars" will erupt all over the state. These will be bitter and contentious because the smaller the territory the more personal the fight.
Afterward, campaign workers, neighbors and friends will have to swallow hard if they want unity. Human nature says it most-likely won't happen.
Republicans, on the other hand, are unified behind a strong leader. We are growing and working with a governor who has a campaign staff made up of Maryland citizens. His core group of campaign advisers is from within the Maryland Republican Party, certainly not out-of-state and out-of-touch.
Republican candidates are looking forward to becoming part of the Ehrlich team at re-election. Our Republican dinners and events are "rock-star" events with Ehrlich and Steele as our headliners.
We Republicans are hoping to further broaden our winnings with the widely popular lieutenant governor as our possible senatorial candidate - and the Democrats' actions speak volumes about their lack of self-confidence in the 2006 election cycle.
Chris Cavey is chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Party. He can be reached at .
O'Malley is no leader on witness protection
Date: May 8, 2005
Publication: The Baltimore Sun
Author: John Fiastro, Towson
Mayor Martin O'Malley can testify about witness protection all he wants before committees, congressmen and cameras, but when it counted during the General Assembly session, he did nothing ("O'Malley testifies on witness protection," May 3).
Offering written support for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s bill was not enough. Mr. O'Malley could have rolled up his sleeves and toiled on this legislation as well. It is what the citizens of Baltimore needed him to do. Wouldn't that have shown the leadership skills that he regularly proclaims to have?
Instead, Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and Governor Ehrlich showed the leadership, made the effort and spent the political capital to get a comprehensive witness intimidation bill passed.
Societal problems require more than smiling faces and photo ops. Solutions to these ills require daily perseverance and tenacity. Perhaps Mr. O'Malley lacks the leadership to complete the task at hand.
O'Malley is no leader on witness protection
Date: May 8, 2005
Publication: The Baltimore Sun
Author: Chris Cavey, Hampstead
For months, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy worked hard to pass witness intimidation legislation with real teeth. The governor, state's attorneys, and witnesses testified for the dire need for the legislation. But Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr. of Prince George's County, chairman of the House Judicial Proceedings Committee, single-handedly held up the legislation because ... well, he could. When the legislation finally came out of committee, it was so badly gutted that Ms. Jessamy called it "toothless."
Where was Mayor Martin O'Malley then ("O'Malley testifies on witness protection," May 3)?
All the while, people continue to be harassed and killed because of the rampant violence and criminals on the streets of Baltimore. The violent criminals are getting away with these horrific acts, even selling their own T-shirts ("'Stop Snitchin' shirts have people talking for different reasons in city," April 30).
Mr. O'Malley is a fair-weather executive, and I suspect he testified this week only because of the presence of news cameras and the coming election. He was way too quiet all this time for anyone to think otherwise. Baltimore should be outraged at his malfeasance.