GOVERNOR O’MALLEY, MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE PUBLIC SERVICES FOR GOVERNOR SCHAEFER

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 19, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced jointly today official plans for the late Governor William Donald Schaefer to lie in state at the Maryland State House and Baltimore City Hall on Monday and Tuesday of next week. 

“Governor Schaefer’s life was spent in service to the communities he loved, and his unrelenting drive to ‘do it now’ was a constant pursuit of a better Maryland for the people he served,” said Governor O’Malley. “And so it is fitting that as we mourn the loss of Maryland’s indomitable statesman, the people of Maryland can celebrate his legacy properly.”

“William Donald Schaefer personally touched the lives of thousands of Baltimore City residents, and it is fitting to allow the citizens of Baltimore to pay their final respects at City Hall, where he dedicated so much of his life to serving our great City,” said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.  “For me, and for an entire generation of residents, he set the standard for what it means to be the Mayor of an American City.”

Governor Schaefer will lie in state at the Maryland State House in Annapolis beginning at 10am until 2pm on Monday, April 25^th.  A brief arrival ceremony will take place outside the Maryland State House at 10am, and the State House Rotunda will be opened for public viewing at that time. 

Monday afternoon, a special tour of Baltimore will be arranged for Governor Schaefer through the neighborhoods and landmarks of the City he spent his life defending.  Planned route will be announced later this week.

From 6pm until 9pm on Monday, Governor Schaefer will lie in state at Baltimore City Hall, and again all day Tuesday from 9am until 9pm.  City Hall Rotunda will be opened for public viewing during those times.

Funeral services will take place at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore at 11am on Wednesday, April 27, and internment at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Hunt Valley following funeral services. 

WHAT:           Governor Schaefer to lie in state at Rotunda of Maryland State House 

WHEN:           Monday, April 25, 2011

                        10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Maryland State House

                        100 State Circle

                        Annapolis

CONTACT:    Shaun Adamec, Office of Governor O’Malley

                        Additional media instructions for planning purposes will be announced this week.

WHAT:           Governor Schaefer motorcade to tour Baltimore landmarks

WHEN:           Monday, April 25, 2011

                        Motorcade will leave Annapolis at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Route to be announced

                        Baltimore

CONTACT:    Michael Golden, spokesman for Governor Schaefer

                        Additional media instructions for planning purposes will be announced this week.

WHAT:           Governor Schaefer to lie in state at Rotunda of Baltimore City Hall 

WHEN:           Monday, April 25, 2011

                        6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

                        Tuesday, April 26, 2011

                        9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Baltimore City Hall

                        100 N. Holliday Street

                        Baltimore

CONTACT:    Ryan O’Doherty, Office of Mayor Rawlings-Blake

                        Additional media instructions for planning purposes will be announced this week.

WHAT:           Funeral services for Governor Schaefer

WHEN:           Wednesday, April 26, 2011

                        11:00 a.m.

WHERE:         Old St. Paul’s Church

                        233 Charles Street

                        Baltimore                     

CONTACT:    Michael Golden, spokesman for Governor Schaefer

                        Additional media instructions for planning purposes will be announced this week.

           

WHAT:           Internment of Governor Schaefer

WHEN:           Wednesday, April 26, 2011

                        Following funeral services

WHERE:         Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens

200 East Padonia Road
Timonium                     

CONTACT:    Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, Maryland National Guard

                        Additional media instructions for planning purposes will be announced this week.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE BAKER ANNOUNCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

New development projected to support 30,000 jobs and generate nearly $100 million in revenue for State and County

ANNAPOLIS (April 19, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker today announced a joint agreement that will allow for the construction of the final phase of the Intercounty Connector (ICC/MD 200) and assist economic development efforts in Prince George’s County.  The tri-party agreement – between the state, the county, and developers of a future project known as Konterra – includes construction of a planned I-95 interchange with Contee Road near MD 198 and extension of Virginia Manor Road for access to a 2,200-acre mixed-use development at Konterra.  When completed, the Konterra development is projected to create 30,000 jobs and bring nearly $100 million in tax revenue to the county and State.

“This innovative agreement benefits the public sector, the private sector, and most importantly, the citizens of Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland by creating jobs and fueling economic progress in this area,” Governor O’Malley said at an event today.  “We are standing here today because all three parties involved were willing to think outside the box and look at the long-term potential for job growth and economic activity in northern Prince George’s County.  Together, we can create thousands of jobs and drive hundreds of millions in economic activity to an important region that is growing even in tough economic times.”

Since 2007, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Prince George’s County have participated in discussions with the owners of Konterra to acquire 240 acres of land needed for the construction of the ICC/MD 200.  This agreement brings an ‘eminent domain’ land acquisition proceeding to an amicable resolution.  Under the agreement, a series of highway improvements will be constructed to facilitate access from I-95 and the ICC, and to enable planned development in the area to proceed.

“This critical public investment will create jobs and economic opportunity for generations of Prince Georgians and Marylanders,” said County Executive Baker. “On behalf of the citizens of Prince George's County, I want to thank Governor O'Malley for his unwavering support to bring economic development to the County.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the owners of Konterra agreed to donate approximately 240 acres of land required to build the ICC, plus approximately 80 acres needed for highway improvements in the area, in lieu of actual payment from the State Highway Administration (SHA) for the property.  SHA will proceed with construction of a modified version of the remaining two ICC contracts (formerly known as contracts D and E), which will extend the ICC from I-95 east to Virginia Manor Road and US 1.  SHA also will construct service roads between exits, known as collector and distributor or “local lanes,” along I-95 north of the ICC interchange.

Additionally, SHA will construct the planned interchange connecting I-95 with Contee Road Extended in the vicinity of the current Van Dusen Road Bridge over I-95 between MD 198 and MD 212. This new interchange is included in the current Prince George’s County Master Plan and has been identified by Prince George’s County as one of their highest transportation priorities. The construction of the Contee Road interchange will be complete by mid-2015.

Prince George’s County will construct a new roadway, to be known as Virginia Manor Road Extended, to connect the ICC/Virginia Manor Road interchange with the new I-95/Contee Road interchange.  The new roadway will continue west to connect this new intersection with existing Old Gunpowder Road.  MDOT will pay $30 million of the cost for this new roadway, with Prince George’s County repaying the state a combination of $10 million in cash and county-owned land that is needed by the state for highway improvements.

Konterra is situated in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, straddling Interstate 95 just one exit north of the Capital Beltway.  Konterra will include a mixed-use town center, upscale retail and hospitality venues, technology campuses, educational institutions, and residential and business communities.  Economic studies estimate annual tax revenues of $65 million to the state and $31 million to Prince Georges’ from Phase I of the development.  When the development is complete, annual tax revenue is estimated to be $95 million. The improvements SHA, the County and the developer have agreed to will accelerate the Konterra development.  In Phase I alone, it is projected that nearly 3,500 direct and indirect construction jobs will be supported by the project.  Economic studies estimate that 30,000 permanent jobs will be created at build-out of the development. 

The first segment of the ICC from I-370 to MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) opened to traffic February 23.  The remaining segments of the ICC from MD 97 to I-95 are under construction and should be complete late 2011/early 2012.

SHA will formally invite local and national contractors to participate in the procurement of MD 200/ICC “Contract D/E Modified” in early May. Construction of this last ICC segment will begin in early 2012 and be complete by late 2014.   The procurement of the next segment of the ICC will include the extension of the ICC from I-95 to an at-grade intersection at Virginia Manor Road. The contract will also include an option to later construct an ICC/Virginia Manor Road interchange and extend the ICC to US 1, contingent on available future funding within the previously approved ICC financial plan.

For more information about the MD 200/ICC project, please call the ICC Community Outreach staff at 1-866-462-0020 or visit the ICC web site at http://www.iccproject.com/ and/or the MDTA web site at http://www.mdta.maryland.gov/.

White House Explains Obama's Flip-Flop On Signing Statements

The White House defended President Barack Obama’s use of a so-called "signing statement" for the fiscal year 2011 budget compromise even though candidate Obama said in 2008: “We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end-run around Congress.”

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that back in 2008 Obama, meant the president should not abuse signing statements--not that he was against ever using signing statements.

“He never said he was opposed to all signing statements,” Carney told reporters on Monday. “We’ve pointed to numerous statements in the campaign where he made clear that every president must maintain the right, of course, must maintain the right, to have signing statements, to raise constitutional concerns or objections about the laws passed by Congress that he signs into law.”

Obama’s signing statement was in response to provisions in the budget compromise, reached on April 9 between Obama and congressional leaders, that dealt with funding of four White House “czars,” a provision to block funding for transferring terror suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay prison inside the United States, and to transferring Gitmo detainees to other countries.

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The Charles Schulz Philosophy

The  following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the  creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point. 1. Name  the five wealthiest people in the  world. 2. Name  the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name  the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. 4  Name  ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 5. Name  the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 6. Name  the last decade's worth of World Series winners. How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies.. Awards tarnish.. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: 1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school. 2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money...or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most Pass this on to those people who have either made a difference in your life, or whom you keep close in your heart, like I did. 'Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia !' ''Be Yourself. Everyone Else Is Taken!"

Obama Welcomes The 'Boss' Of Al-Jazeera As 'Your Highness'

Last Thursday, President Obama hosted Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani of Qatar, otherwise known as the Boss of Al-Jazeera, for a meeting in the Oval Office.

Obama called him “Your Highness” and “His Highness,” even though the Emir dropped his robes of royalty for a business suit.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani financially sponsors Al-Jazeera and its most famous personality, anti-American and anti-Semitic cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who has just returned to Egypt from Qatar to supervise the transformation of that one-time U.S. ally into an Islamic state.
The Emir gave an interview to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer the same day he met with Obama, and made the rather absurd comment that although he, and the government of Qatar, finances Al-Jazeera, “it is impossible for me to have influence to tell Al Jazeera what to do. Because they are journalists, and they will understand if the emir of Qatar is interfering in their job. They will not respect the job they are doing. Even internationally, Al Jazeera will not be respected.”

More here

House Republicans Embrace Path To Prosperity

It has been said a million times, but it bears repeating still: America’s enormous borrowing is catching up with us.  The costs of doing nothing are very real.  Medicare is going bankrupt.  Future Social Security beneficiaries face an abrupt 22% benefit cut.  Americans of all ages face massive tax increases, skyrocketing interest payments, and fewer job opportunities.  We cannot tax and borrow ourselves out of this problem.  We have to save Medicare and Social Security, cut wasteful spending, and get Washington out of the way of job creation.  And we need to start today.

The Budget Committee proposal that House Republicans approved last week begins this important work.  Called The Path to Prosperity, this budget cuts $6.2 trillion from President Obama’s spending plan – without raising taxes by a penny.  During the budget debate, RSC members presented a plan that would have built on the Budget Committee’s proposal and balanced in just nine years.  Although I was disappointed that our balanced budget proposal did not get the votes required for passage, I fully supported the Path to Prosperity.

This is a critical time in American history. The choices we make over the next two years will determine what kind of country our children will inherit.  I will continue fighting to ensure the American Dream isn’t taken away from our children and grandchildren by those who seek to solve our problems at their expense.

God Bless,

Congressman Jim Jordan

Chairman, Republican Study Committee

Statement From Representative Andy Harris

“The passing of Gov. Schaefer is truly a sad moment for all Marylanders.  He was a true public servant and, because of his “do-it-now” attitude, will always remain an icon in state and local politics.  Though the Inner Harbor and Oriole Park at Camden Yards will be lasting reminders of Gov. Schaefer for future generations, I will remember him for his lifelong love and devotion to the people of Maryland.”

Chuck Campbell Update

Good Morning Everyone,

It is with great pleasure that I share with you today a wonderful conversation I just had this morning with Chuck Campbell.

As every one knows, Chuck had a double lung transplant and has dealt with a couple of minor setbacks but today I am pleased to inform every one that Chuck may finally be out of the Hospital as early as tomorrow.

They're getting ready to do a final x-ray on Chuck this morning and if all goes well they'll take out the last tube, monitor him for the next 24 hours and he'll be out of there.

That being said, Chuck and Vicki will have to spend the next four weeks in Fairfax to visit rehab every other day and check in with the Hospital to make sure every one is comfortable with his heading back to the Eastern Shore.

The biggest thing Chuck talked about most this morning was that he wanted each and every one of you to know just how grateful he is for your thoughts and prayers as well as support over the last year and a half. He added that none of this would have been possible without all of you.

For me, it was a really cool conversation because every 5 seconds he didn't have to stop what he was saying to gasp for air from an oxygen tank. Its the old Chuck who is now back with us and ready to take on the world once again.

Salisbury Police Department Press Release

On April 18, 2011 at approximately 10:16 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police arrested the below listed suspect on an outstanding arrest warrant for a domestic assault that occurred on April 17. On that date, Officers responded to a residence on the six hundred (600) block of Riverside Drive for the report of an assault. Upon arrival the officers met with an adult female who advised that she had been involved in a domestic type argument with the below listed suspect. The argument escalated and resulted in the suspect striking the victim in the facial area. The victim was transported to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center for treatment and was treated then released. The suspect had left the area prior to the arrival of the officers which led to the arrest warrant.

ARRESTED: Charles Richard Carey, III, 30 years of age Delmar, Maryland

CHARGES: Second degree assault

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking
CC # 201100014480

On April 19, 2011 at approximately 1:32 am, Officers of the Salisbury Police received a call to respond to a residence on the one thousand (1000) block of John Street for the report of a domestic dispute. Upon arrival the officers met with both of the below listed suspects. Each suspect exhibited signs of injury from an assault. The officers learned through interviews that each suspect had assaulted the other during the course of a domestic argument. The suspects did not require any medical attention. Prior to the altercation, suspect # 1 damaged a computer that was the property of suspect # 2.

ARRESTED #1: William Harrison Wilson, 21 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES:
Second degree assault
Malicious destruction of property

ARRESTED #2: Angie De Dennis, 19 years of age Salisbury, Maryland

CHARGES: Second degree assault

DISPOSITION: Released to Central Booking CC # 201100014792

My Paging Experience: A Student's Perspective On The 2011 General Assembly In Annapolis

By Katie Rodriguez, James M. Bennett High School

This year I had the privilege to serve as a student page in the Maryland General Assembly. I was assigned to the House of Delegates for my paging duties. The first week, Jan. 17-21, was an introduction week. As pages, we did get to learn a lot, however there was not much action on the floor. We ran many errands for different delegates, but we also got to meet and talk with them. Aside from sitting in on committee hearings and meeting with our delegates, much of our free time was spent together, as pages. We grew very close, through our various outings and explorations of downtown Annapolis, and by Friday it was hard to say goodbye. We had our second week to look forward to, though.

My second week, March 7-11, was a lot busier. There was a lot of action on the floor over some very controversial bills. Seeing people come together to advocate for their side of the bill was a great experience. The debates were never-ending, it seemed; however, we never were bored because we ourselves would get consumed by them.

The paging experience opened my eyes to the world of politics. While I have always aspired to become a lawyer, my time in Annapolis increased my awareness and interest in the political world. I met many people - delegates, senators and other pages - who I will never forget. Overall, I had an amazing experience and would certainly recommend this program to anyone interested in politics, or who wants to learn more about politics.

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES 2011 BLUE CRAB WINTER DREDGE SURVEY RESULTS

Population at 2^nd highest level since 1997; Management actions continue to benefit Maryland

RIVA, MD (April 19, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is at its second  highest level since 1997 and well above the target for the third year in a row, setting the stage for a Bay-wide recovery. The results of the 2011 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey indicate that management measures put into place in 2008 are continuing to pay dividends for the crab population, the industry, recreational crabbers and those who just plain enjoy the Bay’s favorite crustacean.  Joined by stakeholders, elected officials and staff, Governor O’Malley made the announcement from the deck of Mike’s Crab House near Annapolis, overlooking the South River.

“Today we continue to realize the benefits of the very tough decisions we made three years ago – decisions that are bringing us closer to our ultimate goal: a self-sustaining fishery that will support our industry and recreational fisheries over the long term,” said Governor O’Malley. “At 460 million crabs, our population is at its second highest level since 1997, and nearly double the record low of 249 million in 2007. And for watermen across the Bay, the unusually high abundance we saw last year translated into a harvest of more than 89 million pounds — the highest since 1993.”

The survey also reports that 254 million adult crabs survived an unusually cold winter in the Chesapeake, above the current population target for the third year in a row.  This marks the first time since the early 90s that the Bay has seen three consecutive years where the adult population was above the target (200 million crabs) and the combined commercial and recreational harvest was below the target of 46 percent. 

“This annual survey, not only gives us the best accounting of our populations, it is also an excellent predictor of the upcoming harvest,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John Griffin.  “While we are heartened by these results, we remain committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to keep the harvest in balance with the population over the long term.”

Estimates of abundance are developed separately for young of the year crabs, mature female crabs, and adult male crabs. Together, these groups of crabs will support the 2011 fishery and produce the next generation of crabs.

“The Bay’s blue crab population can vary dramatically from year to year, and 2011 has presented some challenges,” said DNR Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell. “Crabs are vulnerable to extreme cold, and this past winter’s deep freeze is to blame for the fact that as much as 31 percent of Maryland’s adult crabs were lost to winter kill, as opposed to about 11 percent in 2010. Crab reproduction was also lower in 2011—again, not unexpected given its natural variability, which is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.”

“Quite clearly, this year presented a perfect storm,” explained Dr. Tom Miller, professor of fisheries at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.  “It was warmer than normal going into the winter, got cold rapidly in early December and then stayed very cold and below average from mid-December to the beginning of February.  Any one of these would have caused increased mortality, but in combination, they were exactly what we didn't need.”

Maryland’s management system of daily catch limits and closed periods is designed to adapt and ensure that annual crab harvest stays balanced with annual shifts in abundance. DNR will begin working immediately with the industry, the public and our advisory commissions to determine if minor adjustments to Maryland’s regulations will be made this year. 

“Our stakeholders and citizens can rest assured that never again will we allow the removal of 60 to 75 percent of our population, which ultimately resulted in the fishery’s decline,” said Governor O’Malley.

Preliminary harvest numbers in the 88-94 million-pound range confirm that a robust industry can coexist with regulations designed to rebuild a self-sustaining, healthy blue crab population.  In addition, recreational crabbing license sales increased by 8 percent in 2010, evidence that word about improved catch rates spread quickly among local communities and more individuals enjoyed this great Maryland tradition.

Through a historic collaboration in 2008, Maryland, Virginia and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) took strong coordinated action to reduce harvest pressure on female crabs by 34 percent.  At that time, scientists from all three jurisdictions deemed conservation measures necessary as blue crabs suffered near historic lows in spawning stock.

“The Bay’s blue crab population is healthy and now is showing signs of resiliency, thanks to our stock rebuilding efforts with our Maryland partners,” said Steven G. Bowman, Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

“We cannot control the weather. It was a harsh winter and crab mortality was higher than normal. In fact, it was the worst we’ve seen since 1996. Thankfully, we acted when we did in 2008 to begin rebuilding the crab population, or the crab census results we see today would be grim indeed.”

“The coordinated management of blue crabs since 2008 clearly demonstrates the conservation gains that can be achieved when Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions act collectively toward a common vision – in this case a healthy blue crab population and sustainable fishery,” said Peyton Robertson, director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. “The Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team, recently established under the Chesapeake Bay Program, will build upon this collaboration to address other sustainable fisheries issues of shared interest among the Bay jurisdictions.”

The primary assessment of the Bay’s blue crab population is conducted annually by DNR and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS).  Since 1990, the survey has employed crab dredges to sample blue crabs at 1,500 sites throughout the Chesapeake Bay from December through March. By sampling during winter when blue crabs are buried in the mud and stationary, scientists can develop, with good precision, estimates of the number of crabs present in the Bay.

With the help of stakeholders and members of the General Assembly, the O’Malley-Brown Administration achieved major victories in the 2011 legislature, passing bills that increased enforcement authority and penalties for certain egregious violations of striped bass, oyster and blue crab rules.

In September 2008, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service responded to Governor O’Malley’s request for disaster assistance funding for watermen impacted by the declining blue crab population.  With support from Senator Barbara Mikulski and Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, DNR received $15 million that extends into 2012 to assist management efforts and mitigate the impacts from the blue crab fishery disaster.  In Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010, Governor O’Malley and the Maryland General Assembly also directed $6 million in capital funding toward these efforts. 

Salisbury City Council Budget Schedule

Click on image to enlarge.

Trump: I’m ‘Last Person Obama Wants To Run Against’

Though many still scoff, he says ‘I'm leading in every poll’ among GOP field

Donald Trump’s continued insistence that Barack Obama produce a U.S. birth certificate to prove his presidency constitutionally legitimate may be merely an annoyance to Obama — but that’s not why the White House is watching the real estate tycoon’s latest courtship with a 2012 run of his own, Trump said Tuesday.

“I know many people at the White House and one in particular,” Trump told Savannah Guthrie of NBC News in a taped interview broadcast on TODAY. “The last person he wants to run against is Donald Trump. That I can tell you.”

Story: Trump: I have ‘real doubts’ Obama was born in U.S.

Sounding increasingly like he might seriously seek the Republican nomination, Trump pointed to his vast (though sometimes disputed) personal wealth, his standing in the polls, and his willingness to take on China on trade and OPEC on oil prices as reasons Obama might prefer to face one of a handful of former and current governors considered the GOP’s most likely candidates at this point.

But before he can ask the Republican party for the right to represent it in 2012, the 64-year-old host and executive producer of NBC’s “The Apprentice” must first convince a large number of skeptics that he really intends to run, and consequently open his vast real estate, gaming and media interests to close scrutiny.

Video: Trump ups ante in feud with Cosby (on this page)

“What do you think you can do to really prove to people that you are serious, that you are a contender, and that you are presidential?” Guthrie asked Trump.

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Md. Schools Will Hire Firm To Find New Superintendent

Maryland schools ranked No. 1 in the nation by Education Week for three consecutive years and No. 1 in AP Success in the College Board’s “Advance Placement Report to the Nation: 2011,” during the last part of her tenure.

So finding the state's next superintendent of schools is a major initiative.

The Maryland State Board of Education announced Friday plans to hire a search firm to assist in the process of finding the new state superintendent of schools, who will replace retiring Superintendent Nancy Grasmick.

The Board made the decision during a Thursday teleconference, but has not yet settled on a particular firm or a target date to conclude the search. “No timelines have been determined,” said Maryland State Department of Education representative Maureen Moran. “That will all come to fruition when the search firm is hired.”

Grasmick, 72, is the nation’s longest-serving appointed state superintendent, having held the title of Maryland Superintendent of Schools since 1991. Grasmick will retire on June 30, with another year left on her contract.

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Delaware Faculty Salaries Top National Average

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- A new report says professor salaries at the University of Delaware are about $20,000 higher than the national average for doctoral institutions.

The American Association of University Professors says the average full-time UD professor receives a salary of $101,500. It also said full professors make on average $136,300, associate professors $92,000, assistants $77,900 and instructors $60,800. The report says those salaries also are well above the national average for public doctoral institutions.

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New Black Panthers Declare Racism Day

The New Black Panther Party – an organization known largely for their intimidation  of voters outside a Philadelphia precinct- has announced plans for a “National Day of Action and Unity,” – ironically urging followers (on their day of unity) to boycott all “non-black business” on April 23.

The New Black Panthers plan to protest non-black establishments and entities via “rallies, marches, demonstrations, programs, and confrontations” in over 60 cities.

“Because blacks worldwide are dissatisfied at their current condition,” the Panther’s announcement explains.

The group urges the authorities to leave them be, not to worry about the late April protests.

“This is organized by a new younger leadership un-approved by our former slave or colonial master,” they explain. “We are grassroots activists, youths, residents, union members, community residents, spiritual people, revolutionaries and freedom fighters who have decided to take a stand together April 23rd.”

The New Black Panthers say they are trying to get more attention for the plight of blacks everywhere and will not rest until they are heard.
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Editors Notes: Due to the volume of racial comments I have elected to remove comments on this Post.

GOP's Conservative Agenda Reshaping Nation

Empowered by their election victories in 2010, Republicans are moving ahead state by state with a conservative agenda that could reshape the nation.

Voters put the GOP in the majority in 25 state legislatures and 29 governors’ offices in last year’s elections.

Bills that would have met a quick death under Democratic control have advanced under Republican majorities.

And the Republican gains are turning out to be every bit as important in shaping the nation’s ideological direction as anything happening in Washington, according to an Associated Press report examining the rightward shift in many state capitals.

Newly elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s curbs on public sector collective bargaining in Wisconsin has been followed by similar action in Ohio, where Republican John Kasich has replaced Democrat Ted Strickland, and at least 20 states are taking aim at public employees’ pay, benefits or bargaining rights.

In Florida, the Republican-controlled legislature has produced a law imposing more accountability on teachers, along with 18 proposed restrictions on abortions.

Michigan, with Republican Rick Snyder replacing Democrat Jennifer Granholm in the governor’s mansion, has reduced the amount of time unemployed workers can collect jobless benefits.

Indiana may soon have the broadcast school voucher program in the nation.

In Virginia, GOP legislators enacted a law that will close the state’s abortion clinics.

Missouri lawmakers have approved a tax cut long sought by businesses in the state.

In North Carolina, where the GOP won control of both houses of the legislature for the first time since 1870, Republicans appear ready to pass limits on damages in medical malpractice suits and an expansion of charter schools in the state, and have made progress in giving gun owners more rights to carry concealed pistols.

More here

GOP Members Backing Out Of Commitments To Stop Debt-Ceiling Hike

Despite enthusiastic new support for freezing the debt limit from conservative talk stars Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and Sean Hannity, a new WND survey of House Republicans shows slippage for the position where it counts most.

Last month, as many as 142 House Republicans were on board with WND's "No More Red Ink" campaign, which urges them to say no to any hike in the debt limit – an action that would require the federal government to stop borrowing immediately and make the biggest cuts in spending in the history of the country. The number was up from 122 Republicans only a few weeks before.

But WND's most recent survey shows that number has slipped further away from the 218 votes needed to block a debt hike, as only 103 now maintain a firm resolve to vote against it, while another 53 say they would concede to a debt-limit raise if other legislative goals are met.

A spokesperson for Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., for example, told WND the congressman would vote to raise the debt limit if it were coupled with "enforceable spending caps" and "meaningful budget reform."

"What we see in three successive head counts of House Republicans is that this issue of the debt limit is very volatile," said WND's Joseph Farah, organizer of the "No More Red Ink" campaign. "I remain confident, especially with the outspokenness of other high-profile conservatives, that this is very much a winnable fight. The problem clearly remains with the House leadership, which is inhibiting many members from taking a hard-line position.

"What we see happening in the last week strongly suggests House Republicans need to hear from constituents more than ever," said Farah.

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Arizona Could Override Eligibility Veto

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is admitting it's possible her veto of the state's eligibility bill for office-seekers could be overturned by members of the Legislature.

"One could anticipate that because certainly they have the numbers down there, but I would be really disappointed," the Republican Brewer told Greta Van Susteren of the Fox News Channel last night. "I am hopeful that they won't."

The measure, House Bill 2177, would have required presidential candidates to provide their birth certificates and other documentation to appear on the ballot.

In her veto message to House Speaker Kirk Adams, Brewer wrote, "As a former secretary of state, I do not support designating one person as the gatekeeper to the ballot for a candidate, which could lead to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions."

She continued: "I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates' among other records to the Arizona secretary of state. This is a bridge too far."

Activists are already urging Arizona residents to contact their lawmakers, urging them to override the veto.

A letter one constituent sent to them states in part: "The governor says 'one person' should not have power over the ballot – well, she has just single-handedly vetoed a 2/3 vote of the Legislature and the will of those of us who voted you into office. I don't understand how she can veto a veto-proof vote!

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Liberalism: The New Crack

Early in his legendary “I Have A Dream” speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. assessed the unhappy situation of black Americans, a century after their emancipation.  It is the darkest passage in a speech blazing with radiant imagery and uplifting messages of hope:

One hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

The better part of five decades has passed since that speech was delivered, the Civil Rights Act was signed, and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society was engineered.  Sadly, Dr. King’s diagnosis could be pronounced again today, with only a few minor changes.

Most of the social and economic indicators have been getting worse, year after year, despite a vast amount of money and energy poured into the black community by liberal programs.  Perhaps “despite” is not the right word… for much of black America’s plight is caused by the Big Government programs intended to help them.

Blacks suffer much collateral damage from the collapse of urban America.  Big cities have been wrecked by decades of liberal control.  Cities like Detroit have been virtually destroyed as high taxes, stifling regulations, and public-union dominance killed businesses or drove them away.

The system of dependence and futility built around black Americans needs them to survive.  It will not easily let them escape.  Black children find themselves trapped in a failing public education system, which has vast amounts of money and political clout available to keep the doors chained shut.  The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship voucher program for disadvantaged kids, which was shut down by the Obama Administration but may soon be re-authorized by Congress, enjoys 74% support from the community.  That didn’t stop Obama from killing it without any of his customary dithering or fanfare.

Black Americans have the misfortune to be one of the largest political collectives in the American electorate.  The Democrat Party depends on collecting 85% or more of a substantial black turnout for its political survival.  In order to keep these voters motivated and properly bundled, black leaders and white liberals sell a narrative of hopelessness.

No deviation from liberal orthodoxy is allowed – the Left slanders no one as viciously as a black conservative.  The clients of liberalism are reduced to making increasingly angry demands for diminishing increases in a bankrupt quest for “social justice.”  Unacceptable results are protected by making alternative solutions unthinkable.  The result is a vicious cycle of political addiction.  Liberalism is the new crack.

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Investigation Of ’Secret’ Obamacare Mee tings Expands

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton is expanding his investigation into the meetings between special interest groups and the Obama White House that set the stage for the passage of Obamacare, sending document requests to 12 industry groups and unions that played a key role in the negotiations.

In April 18 letters to the groups, Upton asks for extensive details and documents about each organization’s interactions with the White House in regards to the health care law.

The requests come as the Obama White House has so far declined to provide its documents about the meetings.

At issue are special deals struck between interest groups and President Obama to either garner the support of major industry sectors or soften their criticism of the health care law.

In one major instance, the pharmaceutical drug sector agreed to back the legislation as long as the costs to that sector did not exceed $80 billion. The drug sector eventually spent over $100 million on television advertisements touting the law.

The industry groups and unions subject to Upton’s request are AARP, AFL-CIO, AdvaMed, AFSCME, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Business Roundtable, Federation of American Hospitals, PHRMA, and SEIU.

Feb. 18, Upton wrote to Nancy-Ann DeParle, who served as Obama’s health care reform “czar” during the period during which Obamacare was considered in Congress and has since been promoted to the president’s deputy chief of staff, requesting a range of documents relating to meetings and negotiations over the health care law.

The letter requested a list of staff working for the White House Office of Health Reform, a list of their meetings on health care with special interest groups, notes or minutes from those meetings and all written communications between the White House and outside groups on changes to the health care system.

In response, White House counsel Robert Bauer suggested the inquiry was too time consuming to comply with.

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White House Cooks The Books

White House officials have unveiled a taxpayers’ “Federal Tax Receipt” website to goose publicity for a week of presidential speeches on the deficit, but the online receipt hides the president’s deficit spending and conceals the growing national debt.

But interest payments actually cost the nation $414 billion in 2010, according to the Treasury Department. That’s roughly $1,380 per person, or $4,140 for a family of three, or 218 times more than the White House website shows.

This week, “the president will be heading across the country talking directly about his vision for how we reduce our deficit, create jobs and grow the economy,” Dan Pfeiffer, the White House’s communications director, said in a Friday press conference to announce the website and speeches

The plan for the week’s campaign includes interviews with regional media, town-hall events in northern Virginia on Tuesday and in Nevada on Thursday, plus a moderated question-and-answer session on Wednesday from Facebook’s California headquarters. The Facebook event is expected to reach many younger voters, whose support for Obama has recently plunged to 29 percent, according to a recent Pew poll. Virginia and Nevada are swing states that are important to the president’s 2012 reelection campaign.

The town-hall events, Pfeiffer said, will be headlined, “Shared Responsibility, Shared Prosperity.”

The webpage, at whitehouse.gov/taxreceipt, allows people to plug in their tax payments to see how their income taxes are spent among up to 34 accounts, such as “health care,” housing assistance” or “atomic energy defense activities.”

The site obscures President Obama’s use of borrowed funds, which amounted to $1,293 billion in 2010. That federal deficit was a third of the $3,552 billion spent by the federal government, and about 50 percent more than was paid in taxes.

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CPAC Dumps Director Who Ridiculed Eligibility Issue

The staff director of the nation's largest annual gathering of conservatives was dismissed  by the American Conservative Union today, a year after publicly embracing the homosexual activist group GOProud and ridiculing those suggesting Barack Obama had not proven his constitutional eligibility to serve as president.

In a board meeting, the ACU, the host of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, voted to replace Lisa De Pasquale as executive director of the event. Earlier this year, following the CPAC meeting in February, ACU Chairman David Keene was replaced by Washington lobbyist Al Cardenas.

The acceptance of GOProud as a participating sponsor of CPAC led to major controversy within conservative ranks, with many previous sponsors, including the Heritage Foundation, Family Research Council, Concerned Women of America and American Family Association, all abandoning the event their sponsorship in 2011.

But it is on the eligibility issue that the ACU has made its most dramatic turnaround. Last year, after receiving a private email from WND’s Joseph Farah, offering to organize a panel on the eligibility issue for CPAC, De Pasquale never responded – except publicly in the Los Angeles Times where she scoffed at the request.

“Farah asked if he could speak on the issue (birther movement), but that isn't something we're interested in,” she told the paper. “It would fill a room. But so would a two-headed monkey. There really are so many more important issues, and it's only a three-day conference."

This year, however, as WND previously reported, ACU is using the popularity of the eligibility issue as a fundraising vehicle. The group is now soliciting funds for a national advertising campaign based on the theme that Obama is not eligible to be president.

The key argument of the ACU solicitation is that Obama is ineligible to be president because he was adopted by his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro, and, as a consequence, became a citizen of Indonesia when he lived as a child in Indonesia for four years with his mother and his stepfather.Read more

White House Email System Carries Union News Releases

The White House this week transmitted two union promotions  through its tax-paid email system, and although both praised the president, they gave no appearance of having any other link to Obama administration operations, prompting a Washington watchdog to wonder where is the dividing line between big labor and the president.

The criticism comes from Judicial Watch, which just one day earlier issued a report that the Obama Health and Human Services agency plans to spend $200 million of taxpayer funds to promote Obamacare, the president's signature law that has been declared unconstitutional by two federal judges.

The union promotions were from the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, and the American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees, or AFSCME. While both interact regularly with the government and lobby on behalf of their own interests, they are separate organizations from the government.

The releases from the unions on White House email gave no indication there was any White House interaction; they simply were union statements.

"With the Obama administration, it is hard to tell where big labor unions end and the Obama administration begins," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "It is not unusual for a White House to promote favorable commentary, but it seems improper to slap 'The White House' label on it as the Obama White House did.           

"It seems like the radicals at the SEIU are writing official White House press statements. And I didn't think the federal government could lawfully accept 'volunteer' assistance such as that," he said.

Read more and see the document

Debt Collector Can't Harass Through Facebook Friends, Court Rules

In a precedent-setting case, a court has ruled that a debt collector can't continue to contact a debtor's friends and family on Facebook about her car payments, reports the Orlando Sentinel. The debt collector had already emailed, texted her, and called her at home and work, according tot he lawsuit, 23 times in one day.

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Make Your Own Laundry Detergent At Home

In just 30 minutes, you can have a five-gallon bucket of homemade laundry detergent that costs 50 cents less per load than store bought, says dollarstoremom. All you need is washing soda, grated bar soap, borax, boiling water, and large bucket. Get the recipe and ideas for adding scents and so forth on the blog. And yep, this mixture will even work on HE washers, according to the commenters.

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GOP Official Under Fire For Email Of Obama As Chimpanzee

Orange County Republican Party member Marilyn Davenport says she doesn't think depicting the president as a chimpanzee is racist.

Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com

Check Out President Obama And VP Biden’s 2010 Tax Returns

It’s Tax Day, and if you’re miffed and looking for a Tea Party Tax Day event [1] to join, perhaps you should first take a look at what the Obamas are paying in federal taxes. It might provide a bit of consolation.

According to the First Family’s 2010 tax return [2], the Obamas paid in excess of $450,000 in federal taxes—more than the President’s $400,000 salary. Much of the family’s income is from book sales, which slowed over the past year, causing their income to dip from $5.5 million in 2009 to $1.7 million last year. As the New York Times notes [3], the Obamas had a tax rate of just over 26 percent.

The Bidens earned about $379,000 in income [4] and paid $87,000 in federal taxes last year—a tax rate of about 23 percent.

That’s more than the average federal income tax rate, which, according to the Associated Press is 9.3 percent [5]. The AP also reported that the richest U.S. households—whose income is officially taxed at 35 percent—paid a tax rate of about 17 percent after factoring in lucrative tax breaks.

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Northrop Grumman Hiring In Virginia

Northrop Grumman has taken the first steps to opening its new headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. The Washington Post reports the company is hiring executives, putting its insignia on the new building, and hiring more people. Only about half of its corporate staff, based in Los Angeles, is planning to move. The move is slated to begin in late summer and will be done in phases, and once it is complete the company will give up its Rosslyn office.

CR Could Provide Some BRAC Traffic Relief

The six-month continuing resolution Congress passed earlier this month was mostly about cuts, but it also included several hundred million dollars in new spending pushed through by the Maryland and Virginia congressional delegations. That money will pay to help solve some of the huge traffic problems this year's military personnel moves are expected to create around the DC area.  

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In 12 Years, Income For Richest 400 Americans Quadruples, Tax Rate Nearly Halved

New datareleased by the IRSreveals that, over a period of 12 years, tax rates for the richest 400 Americans were effectively cut in half. In 1995, the richest 400 Americans paid, on average, 29.93% of their income in federal taxes. In 2007, the last year for which the IRS has released data, the richest 400 Americans paid just 16.63%.

In 1995, just 12 of the 400 richest Americans paid an effective tax rat of between zero and 15%. By 2007, that number skyrocketed to over 150. The massive reduction is due to both Bush-era tax reductions for the wealthy and the aggressive exploitation of tax dodges and shelters. (For details, check outthis reportfrom BusinessWeek.)

As their tax rates plummeted, the total income of the richest 400 Americans skyrocketed. In 1995, the combined income of the richest 400 was just over $6 billion. By 2007, the combined income of the richest 400 was almost $23 billion.

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How Many Chernobyls Before We Get It?

Twenty-five years after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor explosion, a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami devastated northeast Japan, killing and injuring thousands of people and crippling the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant. Though the likelihood of this catastrophic event was known, the plant was not designed to withstand the massive tsunami that disabled its backup power and cooling systems. Compounding the crisis, the plant's disaster preparedness plan and equipment were woefully inadequate for emergency response.

Japanese authorities enforced an immediate (likely permanent) evacuation zone of 12 miles around the plant, later expanded to 18 miles. Within a week, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced a far grimmer assessment of the nuclear disaster's risks, and Americans within a 50-mile radius of the plant were told to evacuate. By day nine, radioactively contaminated agricultural products as far away as 65 miles were banned for sale, and radioactive iodine was found in Tokyo's drinking water 142 miles away. Within a fortnight, an Austrian air monitoring network stated that radioactive releases from Fukushima approached those of Chernobyl. By week three, the new maelstrom was highly radioactive water leaking through cracks into groundwater, spilling into the sea through maintenance tunnels and contaminating marine ecosystems. In week four, a welter of long-lived problems that will worsen over time - namely, stresses on containment structures filled with water, explosive atmospheres in reactor structures and salt buildup from seawater doused on fuel rods -were identified by NRC nuclear engineers assessing the crisis.

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Members Of Congress, Activists Use Tax Day To Call For End To Afghanistan War

To mark Tax Day, a bipartisan group of legislators and activists launched a campaign to show average Americans how much of their money was used this year to continue funding the Afghanistan war.

Progressive advocacy group Rethink Afghanistan created a Cost of War Calculator, which allows Americans to determine the amount of money they personally paid through taxes to continue funding the presence of US troops in Afghanistan. Along with several members of Congress, religious leaders and veterans, the campaign included a press conference and a chance for taxpayers to send their representatives IOU requests for the amount of their wages spent on the war, now entering its tenth year.

Bolstering the significance of Tax Day are the recent debates in Congress over federal budget proposals, as well as burgeoning presidential election campaigns on both sides. "I think the budget fights have drawn everyone's attention to how we're spending money here," said Derrick Crowe, political director at Brave New Foundation, which operates Rethink Afghanistan. "A lot of the time, when people are talking about the costs of war, there are these huge numbers - when you talk in terms of billions and trillions, people don't have a tangible understanding of what that means. With this [IOU] tool ... you'll be able to see what you paid. You'll be able to understand immediately what you could have spent."

The group of Congress members joining in the campaign include Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Arizona), Walter Jones (R-North Carolina), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-California) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-California).

"There are very few national needs that rise to the level of ending our costly, destructive and increasingly pointless wars and April 18 reminds us just where our money is going despite our own preference to bring our troops home," Grijalva said Thursday during a press conference. "This remains a moral, fiscal and national security disaster that is draining our treasury and for what? The American people have been asking that question for years without a satisfactory answer and I think it's time we answered them by bringing our troops home."

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CHAIR PETER O’MALLEY STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland Democratic Party Chair Peter O’Malley released the following statement on learning of the death of Governor William Donald Schaefer:

"William Donald Schaefer was a remarkable individual and true leader whose unwavering commitment and passion to public service made a real difference in the lives of all Marylanders. From his service in World War II, his work transforming Baltimore as Mayor, to his years of leadership in Annapolis as Governor and then Comptroller, William Donald Schaefer fought tenaciously for Maryland's future. Governor Schaefer's forward-thinking vision was coupled with a deep compassion and steadfast sense of duty to the citizens he served. We should all be grateful for his lifelong service to our great state."

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT CHESAPEAKE BAY ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 18, 2011) –TODAY, Governor Martin O’Malley will make an important announcement regarding the blue crab fishery and the health and future of the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2008, Maryland and Virginia took strong, coordinated action to reduce harvest pressure on female crabs by regulating harvesting in the Bay.  At that time, scientists from both jurisdictions deemed conservation measures necessary as blue crab suffered near historic lows in spawning stock. 

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to Make Announcement about Blue Crabs in Maryland

WHEN:           TODAY, Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:         Mike’s Crab House  

3030 Riva Road

Riva, MD

Get directions.

GOVERNOR O’MALLEY TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

Governor and County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III to Provide Details of High-end Development and Highway Improvements

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 18, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will join Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III tomorrow to announce details of a tri-party agreement that will open the door to economic development in northern Prince George’s County.  The announcement will focus on construction of the next section of the Intercounty Connector (ICC/MD 200) and additional highway improvements in the county to support priority projects. 

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley, County Executive Baker to announce Prince George’s economic development initiative

WHEN:            TOMORROW, Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:         Intercounty Connector (ICC) at I-95 construction site**

                        6101 Van Dusen Road

                        Laurel, MD                  

DIRECTIONS FROM I-95:

From Washington, D.C. and points south:  Take I-95 north to Exit 29A for MD 212 East toward Beltsville.  Merge onto MD 212 South/ Powder Mill Road.  Turn left at Old Gunpowder Road.  Travel approximately 2 miles, then turn right onto Van Dusen Road.  Travel approximately 1.2 mile and location to construction field offices will be on your right. It is signed 6101 Van Dusen Road.  Follow service road to event site.

From Baltimore and points north:  Take I-95 south to Exit 33B for MD 198 West/ Sandy Spring Road toward Burtonsville.  Travel .8 miles, then turn left at Sweitzer Lane.  Follow Sweitzer Lane for approximately 1.1 mile, then turn right onto Van Dusen Road.  The destination will be approximately 394 feet on your left.  It is signed 6101 Van Dusen Road.  Follow service road to event site.

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE SEPTIC POLLUTION

Governor signs Executive Order establishing Task Force to include agriculture, science, development and public sectors

MILLERSVILLE, MD (April 18, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Delegate Maggie McIntosh, Chair of the House Environmental Matters Committee, Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegate Steve Lafferty, lead sponsors of this year’s septics legislation in the Senate and House of Delegates, and others for the signing of an Executive Order on septics pollution.  The Executive Order creates a Task Force composed of a broad cross-section of representatives from business, agriculture, science, environmental advocacy and government to study the issue of the use of septic systems in Maryland, and the extent to which they contribute to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay.

“There’s greater recognition now for the societal costs of sprawl development on septic.  Continuing down the same path will undercut the progress we’ve made on restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay and will overburden our farmers and other industries that are making changes to limit pollution in our waterways,” said Governor O’Malley. “I look forward to reviewing the conclusions from this task force as it examines the issue in greater depth, and my hope is that it will serve to inform our efforts next year to successfully ban new, major developments from relying on polluting septics in our state.”

The creation of the Task Force on Sustainable Growth and Wastewater Disposal follows a vigorous debate on the issue during the 2011 session of the Maryland General Assembly over the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act (SB 846 and HB 1107).  Ultimately, the General Assembly concluded more time was needed to study the issue.  Today, Governor O’Malley’s Executive Order establishes the framework of that study.

"Creating a new policy for rural septic use is a win-win solution: it retains our rural farm area and reduces both sprawl and nitrogen, and the attendant and enduring harmful effects of both,” said Senator Paul Pinsky.

"I am very pleased that the Governor is announcing this task force so soon after the legislative session ended, said Delegate Lafferty. “It is a clear recognition that we must address Maryland's future growth and economy without continued reliance on septic systems. We must find new ways to support growth while greatly reducing the pollution septics are causing to our Bay and waterways."

During the next 25 years, new Maryland developments relying on septic systems are expected to account for 26 percent of growth, but 76 percent of new nitrogen pollution. In other words, a quarter of the State’s future growth will cause three-fourths of its future wastewater pollution. Septic proliferation also fragments vital agricultural and forest lands and fuels dispersed land consumption, resulting in increased public costs and the need for additional roads, schools and other public services beyond the State’s growth areas.

Currently, approximately 411,000 Maryland households are on septic systems.  If nothing is done, total nitrogen load from septic systems will increase by 36 percent over the next 25 years.  Nitrogen is the most damaging pollutant in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's waterways. To comply with the EPA’s Bay “pollution diet” Maryland must reduce nitrogen 21 percent by 2020.

In March, Governor O’Malley testified before the General Assembly and delivered a presentation outlining the extent of the damage the continued proliferation of septic systems will do to the Chesapeake Bay.

The Executive Order requires the Task Force to report its findings by December 1, 2011. The Task Force will include the members from the Senate and House, and the secretaries of the Maryland Department of Planning, the Department of the Environment, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources. It will also include the chairs of the Critical Area Commission and Sustainable Growth Commission; local government officials, environmental advocates and representatives from the scientific community, agriculture, development and real estate.

Governor O’Malley signed the Executive Order at the Arlington Echo Environmental Education Center, a facility of the Anne Arundel County Public School System on the Severn River in Millersville.  The Center serves to inform students and parent volunteers about how their actions affect the Chesapeake Bay and to motivate them to take Bay-friendly actions when they return home.  The Severn lies in the Lower Western Shore Watershed, which has the greatest nutrient pollution load from septic systems in Maryland.