The Castle Demands More!

by Delegate Mike McDermott

A large pile of books were delivered to my office today containing the Governor’s Budget for the coming year. It makes it crystal clear this governor is out of touch with anyone but the elites of Maryland. The ruling class running this state use to go after millionaires, call them names, raise their taxes, and watch as they moved their residency out of state. Having so successfully destroyed that revenue stream, now they turn to those making only 100,000.00 per year.

Sounds like the O’Mallley plan is to expand the “1%” until it becomes the “30%”.

Here are a few low points of the O’Malley budget:

The governor claims $7.5 billion in cuts as he has done every year. The reality is a spending plan that increases 2013 spending just as in years past by a billion dollars.

The governor mentions $311 million in new tax revenue yet fails to mention the additional tax and fee increases such as the massive flush tax and 15 cent fuel tax.

All these taxes will be tacked on to those already existing in the budget...known and unknown.
If you make $100,000 or more, you will see a phasing out of some important Personal

Exemptions such as your mortgage deduction and charitable donations.
His budget continues the discredited practice of transferring dedicated funds from established trust funds to cover over spending in the rest of the budget.

This budget will seek to be funded on the backs of small business with phased out tax deductions and new expanded taxing regulations.

The governor has now defined the “rich” in Maryland as being those making $100,000 or more and they will likewise be taxed at higher rates and experience significant limitations on personal and business deductions..

The budget would apply sales tax to all Internet purchases.

It increases the tax on smokeless tobacco products.

The budget calls for shifting the cost of teacher pensions to the counties who have no room in their budgets for these incredible costs.

The bottom line:

This budget grows government and insures that our private sector will continue to struggle. It expands the definition of “rich” to apply to 30% of our people and insures the middle class will continue to shrink. The disposable income of Marylanders will continue to evaporate, and our local service providers will experience the decline. Deductions that have helped Maryland families keep more of their income at home will , instead, go to the O’Malley coffers. Counties will be forced into budget decisions that will, no doubt, pass on additional taxes to the people of Maryland.

While Maryland struggles under the weight of an ever expanding debt, the governor lifts his eyes to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Not so fast guv...not so fast.

New Posts to fall below.

GOP Votes Against Raising Debt Limit

The GOP controlled House kicked off its new session with a symbolic vote against raising the debt limit. Last summer's bipartisan debt and budget pact allows the President to raise the debt limit 15 days after he officially notifies lawmakers the government is close to the current $15.2 trillion cap. That is unless Congress votes to deny the borrowing increase. The measure to block the increase is expected to pass the House easily. But it's dead on arrival in the Senate. The president's veto power also guarantees that the increase will go through.

USDA Announces $308 Million In Aid To States

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) — The nation's top agriculture official is expected to announce Wednesday more than $300 million in emergency assistance to 33 states and Puerto Rico to help them recover from an unusually intense year for natural disasters across the U.S.

Utah and Missouri will receive the most disaster aid, together taking in $109 million, or more than one-third of the $308 million in aid from Department of Agriculture watershed and conservation emergency funds, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told The Associated Press ahead of a formal announcement later Wednesday.

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Disability Administration Officials Ask To Revamp Accounting System To Cure Spending Ills

A flawed, outdated and ineffective method of accounting is the reason why the Developmental Disabilities Administration discovered a startling $33 million in unspent funds, and Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Joshua Sharfstein said that the agency is committed to fixing those problems.

Continue Reading...

Porn Industry May Leave LA If City OKs Condom Use

(CBS/AP) Porn vendors in Los Angeles are threatening to pack up their sex toys and leave the nation's porn capital if authorities carry through with their effort to require condoms on adult film sets.


On Tuesday, the Los Angeles city council voted 9-1, granting final approval to an ordinance that would deny film permits to producers who do not comply with the condom requirement.


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Maryland Evenly Split On Gay Marriage And Immigrant Tuition, New Poll Finds

A new poll finds Marylanders closely divided on two hot issues that will likely appear on the November ballot – same-sex marriage and tuition breaks for illegal immigrants. Voters are nearly split down the middle, a new Gonzales poll found. Voter also rated Gov. O'Malley, Sen. Cardin and President Obama.

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GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY PRESENTS FY 2013 BUDGET FOCUSED ON A BALANCED APPROACH OF REDUCTIONS AND INVESTMENTS TO CREATE JOBS

Budget closes a gap of approximately $1 billion; includes $800 million of reductions; and makes investments in job creation and innovation, skills and education, health care, public safety, and sustainability

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 18, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley today, joined by Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and Secretary T. Eloise Foster, presented the proposed FY 2013 budget for the State of Maryland, which focuses on a balanced approach of reductions, revenues and investment to create jobs, innovate and rebuild Maryland’s infrastructure.

“To create jobs, a modern economy requires modern investments, and that’s why our proposed budget for FY 2013 invests in job creation and its key ingredients: education, innovation and rebuilding our State’s infrastructure,” said Governor O’Malley. “We balance these modern investments with fiscally responsible revenues and cuts that will bring our six year total to $7.5 billion, the most of any six-year period in Maryland’s history. Our budget is a pro-jobs, pro-opportunity, pro-growth budget that takes a balanced approach of cuts, revenue and investment.”

To close a budget gap of approximately $1 billion, the FY 2013 budget includes almost $800 million of reductions, bring­ing total reductions during the O’Malley-Brown Administration to $7.5 billion. Additionally, the FY 2013 budget plan constrains total budget growth to just 1.9 percent, ex­cluding the appropriation to the Rainy Day Fund; reduces general fund spending, after the appro­priation to the Rainy Day Fund, below the FY 2012 level; complies with the General Assembly’s Spending Affordability Com­mittee (SAC) guideline for the sixth consecutive year; cuts the structural def­icit by more than half – 59 percent, exceeding the SAC recommendation of 50 percent; and preserves $837 million of cash resources in the Rainy Day Fund ($673 million) and unallocated fund balance ($164 million).

The FY 2013 budget proposal also includes a $3.6 billion capital budget with State infrastruc­ture and construction spending that will support over 37,000 jobs and leverage an additional $1.4 billion in local government and private sec­tor spending that will ultimately support nearly 15,000 Maryland jobs.

The budget protects the progress made in areas that promote job creation and move the State forward with:

· Record public K-12 education direct aid of $5 billion, a $108.5 million increase over FY 2012.

· $373 million for new construction and renova­tion for our public schools, bringing the six-year total to $2 billion.

· Health coverage for more than one million Mary­landers who would otherwise go without insur­ance, 400,000 more than when the O’Malley-Brown Administration took office.

· The third consecutive year of a modest three percent tuition increase, after an unprecedented four years in which tuition was frozen at the 2006 level; and

· Full funding for Program Open Space and a record $25 million investment in the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund, bringing the total investment over five years to $88 million.

“In Maryland, we understand that the best way to create jobs and help our families, friends and neighbors through these difficult economic times is to come together around our shared priorities,” said Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown. “The budget that Governor O’Malley has outlined today takes the balanced approach we need to improve the health of our communities, invest in our children’s education, strengthen our infrastructure, and put more Marylanders back to work.”

The O’Malley-Brown Administration has resolved significant budget gaps each year since taking office. Facing an inherited structural deficit estimated at nearly $1.7 billion, the Administration worked with the General Assembly and the people of Maryland to make tough choices with significant budget reduc­tions and modest revenue actions. After rebalancing the State’s fiscal trajectory, the global economic downturn hit and created substantial new deficits in subsequent years. Under Governor O’Malley’s leadership, the Administration has been successful in mak­ing the tough choices that have protected the State’s long history of sound fiscal stewardship, reducing the structural budget gap.

Among the tough choices in the FY 2013 budget is sharing teachers’ retirement costs with local governments. Currently, the State pays the en­tire cost of teacher pensions, totaling $946 million in FY 2013. Teacher salaries, the key cost driver of pen­sion costs, are determined by local jurisdictions. The budget proposal requires locals to pay 50 percent of the combined costs of social security and teacher’s retirement con­tributions. Locals currently pay for social security only, which accounts for one-third of the combined costs. The Administration is proposing several measures to mitigate the impact of this cost shift, including increasing local revenue, enhancing aid to less wealthy jurisdictions, and providing targeted budget relief.

Throughout these unprecedented fiscal challenges, the Administration maintained a re­cord of fiscal responsibility by cutting State spending, eliminating positions from State government and preserving the State’s Rainy Day Fund. These choices have helped Maryland retain its Triple A bond rating, one of only nine states in the nation certified at this level by all three rating agencies.

Job Creation and Innovation

To spark even greater job creation, the State’s FY 2013 budget proposes smart investments to create, save and support Maryland jobs.

Investing in 21st century infrastructure for Maryland creates jobs and prepares our schools, transportation infrastructure and more for the future. State infrastructure investments will play an important role in supporting Maryland’s economy over the coming years, which is why the FY 2013 budget includes a $3.6 billion capital budget with State infrastruc­ture and construction spending that will support over 37,000 jobs and leverage an additional $1.4 billion in local government and private sec­tor spending that will ultimately support nearly 15,000 Maryland jobs.

The FY 2013 budget includes a $23 million investment in Maryland’s knowledge-based industries through InvestMaryland in target industries such as the life sciences, information technology and clean energy; a $10.4 million investment for Stem Cell Research, bringing the State’s total investment to $101.6 million since 2007; $8 million for tax credits to spur investment in biotechnology; a 7.5 million for Film Production Tax Credit; and $7 million for Sustainable Communities Tax Credit to promote urban redevelopment & create jobs.

Skills and Education

For the fourth consecutive year Education Week magazine has ranked Maryland the number one public school system in America. Governor O’Malley’s FY 2013 budget maintains investments in Maryland’s best-in-the-nation schools and fully funds direct K-12 education aid. In FY 2013, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is investing a total of $5.7 billion for public schools, a $1.2 billion or 27.7 percent increase over FY 2007 funding. A record $5 billion in direct education aid will be distributed among Maryland’s 24 local jurisdictions in order to maintain and build upon the progress.

The Geographic Cost of Education Index, which adjusts school funding for educational cost differences across Maryland’s jurisdictions, is fully funded at $128.8 million. The O’Malley-Brown Administration is the first administration ever to fund any part of GCEI.

Governor O’Malley’s FY 2013 capital budget allocates $373 million to build and renovate schools across the State. In addition to $351.4 million in the traditional school construction program, this includes $6.1 million for the Aging Schools Program and $15.3 million in Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs). The FY 2013 budget also includes $5 million for capital improvements at the Maryland School for the Blind.

The budget also includes $5.4 billion for higher education, keeping tuition growth at three percent for the University System of Maryland and Morgan State University- only the third increase in seven years.

A Stronger, Healthier Future

The FY 2013 budget invests in providing access to health care for over one million adults and children in Maryland. The budget includes $27 million in State funds (which leverage $20 million of matching federal dollars) for an unprecedented investment in the system of supports and services for individuals with developmental disabilities in Maryland; $27 million to expand community based-services as alternative to institutional care; $5 million to support long-term recovery and housing for substance abuse patients; and $4 million to launch a pilot program to reduce health disparities in targeted communities.

Driving Down Violent Crime

With a balanced approach of reductions and investment, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is protecting our critical investments in public safety. Violent crime and homicides have been driven down to the lowest rates in Maryland since the 1970s.

The Governor’s FY 2013 budget includes more than $2.2 billion to protect public safety, $201 million more than when the O’Malley-Brown Administration took office. The budget includes $45.4 million in police aid to local governments and municipalities; $20.8 million in local law enforcement grants to target domestic violence, substance abuse, and gun trafficking; $52 million for the continued development of Maryland’s Public Safety Communications System, which when fully implemented will provide a modern, wireless, interoperable radio system for all Maryland law enforcement, public safety agencies, and first responders; $4.4 million to bolster staffing (93 positions) and patient safety at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital; $51 million for Maryland Emergency Management Agency to oversee federal homeland security directives and Maryland’s overall security readiness. The budget also funds two new trooper classes to maintain force strength.

A More Sustainable Future

The FY 2013 includes $25 million for the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund to support urban and storm water projects, agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs), and targeted innovative practices within watersheds, bringing total operating spending over the first five years of the Fund to $88.1 million.

The budget includes $36.6 million to preserve approximately 8,100 acres through the Rural Legacy Program and state Program Open Space; $28 million in capital projects to improve the health of the Bay by upgrading storm water infrastructure; $23 million for State Park improvements, green projects and upgrades; $18 million for the cover crop program, which enrolled a record 567,000 acres last year; $8 million for oyster restoration; and $5 million in new operating funding to implement the Watershed Implementation Plan.

BLaCK OuT 2012

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What The Elite Think About Tax Cuts

I have written before that WaPo columnist Ezra Klein is the go to go columnist for the Washington-Wall Street elite. More than one WalWash player has pointed me to Klein columns. In an otherwise boring Klein column, written yesterday,I found this gem:

If any time does not allow a substantial, permanent tax cut, this is it. Deficits are large, and stretch as far as they eye — or the economic model — can see.
These guys, the real elitists, just don't think in terms of government spending cuts.

To them, it's all about higher taxes that squeeze the middle class, and eventually get so onerous that they drive the youth away, just like what is occurring now in Greece and Spain. The Greek and Spanish youth that have any savvy are leaving the country.

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"Tuscany" The Goat, Found With 23 pound Chain embedded In Her Neck In Anne Arundel County, Md.

LINTHICUM, Md. (WUSA) -- A goat, with a 23-pound chain embedded in its neck, was found wandering in Maryland, animal control officials said Tuesday.

The goat was found by an 11-year-old girl in Linthicum on January 12th, when she saw it wandering on River Road, officials said.

The chain weighed down on "Tuscany" the goat's neck so much, the goat became severely injured by it.

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Detroit Teeters On The Brink Despite Autos Comeback

DETROIT (CNNMoney) -- Detroit automakers are back on their feet, showing their best profits in years. But the city of Detroit's finances are worse than ever.

The city won't have enough money to pay its bills by April, unless Mayor Dave Bing can get the council and municipal unions to agree to steep spending cuts he's announced. By the end of its fiscal year in June, that shortfall will hit $45 million.

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40 Dead Animals Found In Columbia, Maryland Home

COLUMBIA, Md. (WUSA) -- Forty animals were found dead in a Maryland home, Monday afternoon, police said.

The massive discovery happened at around 2:30 p.m., on the 9600 block of Lambeth Court in Howard County, Md., police said.

"Animal Control officers responded to evaluate the location. On the property, there were 19 deceased animals in a freezer, including birds, rabbits, a guinea pig and a hermit crab. In cages and loose in the home, there were 21 deceased animals, including birds, cats, rabbits and a snake," police said.

The animals were left in the home to fend for themselves, with no access to food or water, police said.

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Factories Rev Up, but Hiring Doesn't

A healthy pickup in production of manufactured goods last month added to the gathering momentum for the U.S. economy. So far, that growth has done little to help the job prospects for the millions of factory workers still sidelined by the 2007 recession.


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Maryland Lawmaker Proposes Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — A battle is brewing in Baltimore County over transgender rights. One lawmaker is pushing to protect those individuals from discrimination, but his plan is meeting stiff resistance.

Andrea Fujii has both sides of the argument and the vicious attack that started it all.

The councilmember sponsoring the bill says he wants to stop discrimination, yet critics argue what seems well-intentioned is misguided.

The videotaped beating of a transgender woman named Chrissy Polis inside a Rosedale McDonald’s last year spotlighted the issue of violence and bias against those who are transgender.

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For Love and Money: Why Men Spend More When Women Are Few

When women are in short supply, they expect men to pay more for engagement rings, dinner dates and Valentine's Day gifts.

When women are scarcer, new research finds that men tend to get all impulsive with their money, borrowing more and saving less, in much the same way that a male peacock will shake his tail feathers harder if there aren’t many peahens around.

In Columbus, Ga., for example, there are 1.18 single men for every single woman. The average consumer debt is $3,479 higher there than in Macon, Ga., less than 100 miles away, where there were 0.78 single men for every woman. There are other differences between the two metropoles, but Vladas Griskevicius, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management thinks the sex ratio difference is a significant one.

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World Bank Warns On Risk Of Global Recession

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The World Bank Wednesday slashed its 2012 growth forecasts for both emerging and developing economies from its estimates of only six months ago, and warned the world is on the cusp of a new global recession that could be as bad as the crisis four years ago.


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Maryland Lawmakers Consider Increasing Penalties For Elder Abuse

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — The beating of an elderly man by his paid in-home caretaker is under consideration in Annapolis. Advocates for the elderly want lawmakers to impose increased penalties on people guilty of abusing vulnerable adults. Political reporter Pat Warren has more from the daughter of the victim.

It’s hard to imagine and harder to watch. Ninety-year-old John Taylor, bedridden, was beaten by a woman hired to care for him in his home.

“I discovered that my father had endured three more beatings within that same month,” said Jacqueline Taylor.

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Iranian Company Wants To Send Toy Drone To Obama

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- An Iranian non-profit company says it will honor U.S. President Barack Obama's request that Iran return a drone that crashed there last year.

 But instead of the actual drone, the company says it will send miniature toy versions. A lot of them. "We plan to send a full squadron of 12 to the White House for President Obama as a present," said Reza Kioumarsi, a spokesman for the Aaye Art Group, a Tehran-based non-profit, non-governmental company that makes novelty items.

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President Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline Makes Wrong Choice On Job-Creation And Energy Independence

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama rejected one of the largest shovel ready projects in the nation when he stopped the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline would provide $20 billion in private investment to boost the American economy and create 20,000 jobs over the next two years. It would also provide America access to about 830,000 barrels of secure and reliable oil that will help ensure our energy future.

“We can’t wait for the President because his inaction will hurt the American economy and consumers through higher energy costs,” said Rep. Andy Harris. “The time to act is now and that’s why I’ve cosponsored H.R. 3548 which takes the authority to approve the Keystone Pipeline out of his hands. This bill allows the project to move forward and encourages economic growth and job creation through the construction of the pipeline.”

Maryland Senate Proposes Animal Abuse Registry

Sen. Ron Young Says State's Not Doing Enough

BALTIMORE -- People convicted of abusing or neglecting animals could soon have their information made public in something similar to Maryland's sex offender registry.

State Sen. Ron Young, D-Washington and Frederick counties, is sponsoring a bill that would keep track of animal abusers. If passed, an abuser's photo and address would be posted in a state database for 10 years.

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Chicago Police Arrest 7 In Videotaped Beating Of Teen

CHICAGO –  Chicago police have arrested seven teenagers in the beating and robbery of a 17-year-old high school student that was filmed and posted online.

Police announced the arrests Wednesday morning and said they included a 15-year-old girl.

One of the teens was charged as an adult in the attack that went viral after being posted on YouTube. The rest were cited in juvenile delinquency petitions. All were charged with one count each of robbery and aggravated battery.

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New Tool Reveals Country's Most Polluted Places: How Close Do You Live?

Thanks to a new tool from the EPA, you can see how close you live to the country's biggest polluters.

Looking for some awkward synergy? The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a comprehensive database of America's greatest greenhouse gas creators. It interactively indexes the 6,700 power plants and other facilities responsible for 80 percent of U.S. emissions, in an accessible online resource that gives interested citizens the ability not only to monitor their local and national pollution, but also to reproduce data-specific graphs and charts to fire off to colleagues and friends on social networks.

The tool debuted the day after President Obama made his first-ever visit to the EPA, a much less impressive debut. Fueled by billions of tons of the greenhouse gases the EPA's GHG Reporting Program data publication tool dutifully tracks, global warming has recently unleashed an unseasonal hellscape on the U.S., with temperatures scorching some regions 40 degrees above normal. But at least Obama came with his environmental game-face on.

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Alcohol And Pregnancy: It’s Never Safe For Developing Babies, Especially In The First Trimester

Drinking and pregnancy don’t mix, but when are babies most vulnerable to the effects of alcohol?

The end of the first trimester appears to be the period when alcohol can wreak the most havoc on fetal development, causing physical deformities as well as behavioral and cognitive symptoms, according to research in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

According to the March of Dimes, about 1 in 12 women admit to drinking during pregnancy, and 1 in 30 say they binge-drink, or consume five or more drinks at one sitting. Exposure to alcohol in utero leads to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in about 40,000 newborns every year in the U.S. While adults can break down alcohol relatively safely, still-developing fetuses tend to keep more alcohol in their blood, which can hinder the development of brain and body.

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US to Force Drug Firms To Report Money Paid To Doctors

To head off medical conflicts of interest, the Obama administration is poised to require drug companies to disclose the payments they make to doctors for research, consulting, speaking, travel and entertainment.

Many researchers have found evidence that such payments can influence doctors’ treatment decisions and contribute to higher costs by encouraging the use of more expensive drugs and medical devices.

Consumer advocates and members of Congress say patients may benefit from the new standards, being issued by the government under the new health care law. Officials said the disclosures increased the likelihood that doctors would make decisions in the best interests of patients, without regard to the doctors’ financial interests.

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How Can We Change The Way We Teach Our Kids Social Values?

Why, I would like to know, do we teach our teen daughters to be demure and to minimize compliments? When did we make a collective decision to teach them about the unwritten social rule that they must never admit to liking their bodies? When did we decide to teach them to hide their good grades so they are not seen as too smart, too aggressive, bragging, or too competitive? Why, if they have a blemish, do they need to point it out to their friends immediately?


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Constitutional Amendment Not Needed: Congress Already Has A Remedy

Although the Constitution already includes a remedy, certain elected officials and public interest organizations are advocating for a constitutional amendment to overturn recent Supreme Court decisions that have corrupted elections, public officials and government. They are using Vermont town meetings as a springboard for the campaign. Critics of the constitutional amendment approach point out that an amendment would not solve the problem, legitimizes the Supreme Court seizure of power over elections, would keep the Supreme Court in charge and diverts from a solution already in the Constitution that more effectively solves the problem with far less effort. The simpler alternative that is already available in the Constitution deserves attention.

Supreme Court decisions legalizing private interest financing of election campaigns have enabled a vast increase in private interest control over our federal government. The 1 percent contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in election campaigns to empower themselves and disempower the 99 percent. To keep that money flowing to themselves, elected officials waste enormous sums of taxpayer's money on government contracts, subsidies, bailouts, wars and tax cuts for the rich. The 1 percent thus receive enormous returns on their political investments. By contrast, the government uses the resulting deficits to justify cuts in needed spending on education, health care, environment, safety and infrastructure that would benefit the 99 percent who do not buy elections and influence.

Here is why a constitutional amendment is not needed to end this disenfranchisement of the 99 percent. The revolutionary leaders who wrote the Constitution, fresh from overthrowing the tyranny of King George, included sufficient checks and balances on all three branches of government - including the courts - to prevent the kind of tyranny we now suffer.

Under our existing Constitution, Congress already has the power to stop the court from making any more of the decisions that have allowed the 1 percent to buy elections. Then Congress can pass legislation reversing the unconstitutional decisions the court has made to corrupt elections.

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Report: Captain Claims He "Tripped" Into Lifeboat

(CBS/AP)  

The cruise ship captain under fire for abandoning his vessel while thousands of passengers scrambled for rescue has reportedly come up with an explanation for his flight - he accidentally tripped and fell into a lifeboat.

Jailed since the accident, Capt. Francesco Schettino appeared Tuesday before a judge in Grosseto, where he was questioned for three hours.

Several English-language newspapers have reported that, according to La Repubblica, Schettino testified that "the passengers were pouring on to the decks, taking the lifeboats by assault."

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Detectives Seek Public’s Help In Cold Homicide Case

Location: Residence in the 36000 block of Winner Circle, Stable Farm, Rehoboth, DE
Date of Occurrence:
Friday, January 26, 2007 at 12:50 p.m.
Victim:
Paula F. Grossi, 45 (picture attached)

Suspects:

White male, 40 years of age, 5’06” tall, 200 lbs, with an unknown type of mark (possibly a tattoo) under his left eye. He was seen wearing a pair of black overalls, brown construction boots, a black knit cap, and dark gloves (see attached composite sketch- thin face).
White male, 20-25 years of age, 5’07” tall, 160 to 170 lbs. He was seen wearing a hooded jacket, white gloves, and a wool “skull cap” (see attached composite sketch- round face).


Resume:
Rehoboth, DE- Delaware State Police Homicide Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in solving a five year old homicide case that occurred in Rehoboth.

On Friday, January 26, 2007, the Delaware State Police responded to a residence located in the 36000 block of Winner Circle, in the Stable Farm development of Rehoboth, DE for the report of a shooting that had occurred. Upon their arrival, troopers located a female victim, later identified as Paula F. Grossi, suffering from a gunshot wound. Ms. Grossi succumbed to her fatal injury and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was subsequently turned over to the medical examiner’s office who determined that the cause of her death was homicide.

Arriving troopers also learned that a relative of the victim and a friend were asleep in a second floor bedroom of the home when the shooting occurred. They advised troopers that two white male suspects confronted them in the bedroom and bound their hands and feet. The suspects then ransacked the home prior to fleeing. The relative and the friend were then able to free themselves at which time they located Paula Grossi on the first floor of the home.

The subsequent investigation has produced several leads in the case; however, detectives have been unable to make an arrest. Detectives have been able to obtain composite sketches of both suspects (See attached).

The Delaware State Police are asking anyone who may have any information in reference to this homicide or may recognize the suspects depicted in the sketches to contact Detective Roger Cresto at the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit at 302-741-2732. Citizens may also provide a tip by texting keyword “DSP” plus your message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters may also provide information through lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Callers can also submit information via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com.

Wikipedia Editors Criticize Site's SOPA Protest

(AP)  

NEW YORK - Can the world live without Wikipedia for a day? The shutdown of one of the Internet's most-visited sites is not sitting well with some of its volunteer editors, who say the protest of anti-piracy legislation could threaten the credibility of their work.

"My main concern is that it puts the organization in the role of advocacy, and that's a slippery slope," said editor Robert Lawton, a Michigan computer consultant who would prefer that the encyclopedia stick to being a neutral repository of knowledge. "Before we know it, we're blacked out because we want to save the whales."

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O'Malley Discusses Shift Of Pension Costs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Gov. Martin O'Malley discussed plans Tuesday with legislative leaders to shift teacher pension costs to Maryland counties and reduce tax exemptions for high-end earners, participants in the meeting said.

Maryland currently is one of the few states in the nation that picks up the entire teacher pension cost, which is projected to be about $900 million in the next fiscal year. O'Malley, a Democrat, is talking about a 50-50 split with counties. In return, the state would share half of the $450 million in social security costs currently paid entirely by counties. Overall, the state would save about $225 million.

"I think it was a balanced proposal by the governor _ some revenue enhancements, as well as a discussion about shared responsibility and liability for teachers' pensions that we've talked about in the past," House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, said after the meeting.

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SU Hosts 'Best Communities' Celebration Saturday, January 21

SALISBURY, MD---The Salisbury-Wicomico County area last year was named one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” for the fifth time by the America’s Promise Alliance.

Now, the public is invited to see why first hand during a communitywide celebration of the achievement from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, January 21, in the Atrium of Salisbury University’s Perdue Hall.

As part of the program, Youth Leadership Academy students present the results of their daylong workshop, “Discovering the Power of Your Own Voice.”

Admission is free and the public is invited. To RSVP and for more information call Dr. George Whitehead at 410-543-6369 or e-mail giwhitehead@salisbury.edu.

Source

Two Horses On The Loose Near WorWic

There are two horses loose on Long Ridge Road. One is a brown quarter horse and the other is a white miniature horse.

World Bank Warns Of Growth Slowdown

The World Bank cut its growth forecast. It says a possible slump in economic growth could be more severe than the 2008 crisis.

Full Story

BREAKING NEWS: House Votes Against Debt Ceiling Increase

House rejects President Obama's request for a debt ceiling increase in symbolic vote that isn't expected to hold up the increase.

From Fox News

Baltimore. Co. Council Hears Testimony On Transgender Bill

Baltimore County Council members heard emotional testimony Tuesday as dozens of residents turned out to speak about a proposal meant to prohibit discrimination against transgender people.

Supporters of the legislation, introduced Tuesday by Catonsville Democrat Tom Quirk, said the county must protect transgender people in the workplace and other areas. Opponents said they fear the bill would have dangerous consequences, including allowing men into women's restrooms.


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COUNTY COUNCIL CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF STRAUSBURG AS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Salisbury, MD -- January 12, 2012 The County Council, following County Executive Rick Pollitt’s appointment, on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Mr. R. Wayne Strausburg to the position of Director of Administration left vacant by the retirement of Mr. Theodore Shea back in August 2011.

Council members welcomed Strausburg and expressed that they were looking forward to working with him. Mr. Strausburg is now the chief administrative officer of the county overseeing the administrative functions of the county’s departments and agencies under the authority of the County Executive. He is also primarily responsible for developing the county budget.

“I am deeply honored by Executive Pollitt's appointment and by the County Council's unanimous confirmation of that appointment,” Strausburg said, “I look forward to working with the Executive, the County Council, our county employees and citizens in meeting the challenges that face Wicomico County.”

“Based on his extensive record of service to Wicomico County, his successful career in the business world and his total grasp of the nature of the challenges and opportunities we face in county government, I am more than satisfied that Mr. Strausburg is the right man, at the right time for the right job,” said County Executive Pollitt.

Strausburg resigned from his position as president of the English Company and is expected to begin in his new role in mid-February.

Rasmussen Survey: Romney, Gingrich Top GOP Poll

Newt Gingrich has pulled within easy striking distance of Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP nomination, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released Wednesday.

The poll of 1,000 likely GOP primary voters nationwide on Tuesday, the day after Gingrich delivered a highly praised debate performance, shows Romney with 30 percent support and Gingrich closing at 27 percent. Given the margin of error, plus or minus 3 percent, the two candidates are virtually even.

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Salisbury Skate Board Shop Closing On The Plaza?

Not that we ever expected them to last very long, the Salisbury Skate Shop was removing their fixtures yesterday. Not long before that they were removing their video games as well.

Ron Paul Addresses Boos From South Carolina GOP Debate

Ron Paul is pushing back against critics of his “Golden Rule” in foreign policy and questioned those who booed him at Monday’s GOP presidential debate.

Speaking in Spartanburg, S. C. Tuesday afternoon, Paul referenced America’s threats of an oil embargo on Iran.

“This is why I bring up the “the golden rule” if we don’t want people to ban oil imports to our country, why should we do that to another country,” said Paul adding “I don’t know why that is such a negative term for people to boo that. 

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BEST AIRPORT SECURITY EVER

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners. It's an armored booth you step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on your person.

Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone, with none of this crap about racial profiling. It will also eliminate the costs of long and expensive trials.

You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement: “Attention to all standby passengers, El Al is proud to announce a seat available on flight 670 to London”. Shalom!”

Supreme Court Declines To Take Up Cases Involving Online Attacks By Students On School Officials, Other Students

PHILADELPHIA –  The U.S. Supreme Court has passed up a set of cases for the online age -- whether schools may censor students who are off-campus when they create online attacks against school officials and other students.

The court let stand the suspension of a West Virginia high school's "Queen of Charm," who created a Web page that suggested another student had a sexually transmitted disease, and invited classmates to comment.

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BREAKING NEWS: Obama Administration Confirms Keystone Pipeline Rejection

Obama administration denies permit for Keystone pipeline project, as president cites 'arbitrary nature' of a congressional deadline.

From Fox News

Bipartisan Shore Legislation Passes Quickly

Mathias sponsored legislation to redistrict Somerset County passes with unanimous support.

Annapolis, Maryland – Less than 24 hours after convening, the Maryland State Senate unanimously passed emergency legislation to redistrict Somerset County. Senate Bill 46, sponsored by Senator Jim Mathias (District 38 – Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester) will alter the Somerset County Commissioner’s districts and intends to do so to allow the Somerset primary elections to proceed on schedule.

“This was an issue that needed to be addressed with urgency, and I am thankful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle with their willingness and help in moving this along.” said Senator Mathias. “This is an important bill which affects all residents of Somerset. I am pleased to be working so effectively with Delegate Charles Otto and I appreciate his work and cooperation in shepherding this legislation through the House. I hope that throughout this session we can work on legislation that is both bipartisan and important for the residents of the Lower Shore and the state of Maryland.”

Senator Mathias represents District 38, which includes all of Somerset and Worcester Counties and part of Wicomico County on the Lower Eastern Shore. He is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over healthcare, energy, and business legislation. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served the residents of the Lower Shore as a member of the House of Delegates and as Mayor of Ocean City.

Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Agrees With Newt Gingrich, Says He Would Send Blacks Back 'To The Plantation'

he Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, the super-conservative African American Republican who has campaigned vigorously against Kwanzaa ("The Racist Holiday From Hell" he has called it), the Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. and President Barack Obama, said he has a simple solution to black America's employment woes: hard labor.

"One of the things that I would do is take all black people back to the South and put them on the plantation so they would understand the ethic of working," Peterson told The Huffington Post's Black Voices on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm going to put them all on the plantation. They need a good hard education on what it is to work."

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FOREIGN COMPANY BUYS U.S. ELECTION RESULTS REPORTING FIRM

By Bev Harris
http://www.blackboxvoting.org

In a major step towards global centralization of election processes, the world's dominant Internet voting company has purchased the USA's dominant election results reporting company.

When you view your local or state election results on the Internet, on portals which often appear to be owned by the county elections division, in over 525 US jurisdictions you are actually redirected to a private corporate site controlled by SOE software, which operates under the name ClarityElections.com.

The good news is that this firm promptly reports precinct-level detail in downloadable spreadsheet format. As reported by BlackBoxVoting.org in 2008, the bad news is that this centralizes one middleman access point for over 525 jurisdictions in AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, KY, MI, KS, IL, IN, NC, NM, MN, NY, SC, TX, UT, WA. And growing.

As local election results funnel through SOE's servers (typically before they reach the public elsewhere), those who run the computer servers for SOE essentially get "first look" at results and the ability to immediately and privately examine vote details throughout the USA.

A mitigation against fraud by SOE insiders has been the separation of voting machine systems from the SOE results reports. Because most US jurisdictions require posting evidence of results from each voting machine at the precinct, public citizens can organize to examine these results to compare with SOE results. Black Box Voting spearheaded a national citizen action to videotape / photograph these poll tapes in 2008.

With the merger of SOE and SCYTL, that won't work (if SCYTL's voting system is used). When there are two truly independent sources of information, the public can perform its own "audit" by matching one number against the other.

These two independent sources, however, will now be merged into one single source: an Internet voting system controlled by SCYTL, with a results reporting system also controlled by SCYTL.

With SCYTL internet voting, there will be no ballots. No physical evidence. No chain of custody. No way for the public to authenticate who actually cast the votes, chain of custody, or the count.

SCYTL is moving into or already running elections in: the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, India and Australia.

SCYTL is based in Barcelona; its funding comes from international venture capital funds including Nauta Capital, Balderton Capital and Spinnaker.

Here is the link to the press release regarding SYCTL's acquisition of SOE:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/scytl-acquires-soe-software-becoming-the-leadin%20g-election-software-provider-2012-01-11

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Ariz. Man Wants Wife Prosecuted For Adultery

(CBS) GLENDALE, Ariz. - It's one thing to point out that adultery is against the law in about half of all the states. It's quite another to prosecute a straying spouse. 

That's what a Glendale, Ariz. man wants authorities to do under his state's anti-adultery law, claiming his wife has been a serial cheater for more than a decade.

Dave Banks told CBS affiliate KPHO about his wife's wayward ways, saying, "She's had seven or eight affairs that I know of."

He believes the archaic law should be enforced because he says there's nothing else being done to save families these days.

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FOUR JUVENILES CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH NUMEROUS MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION INCIDENTS

On January 14, 2012, at approximately12:30 a.m., Ocean City Police responded to 1201 Atlantic Avenue, “Decatur House,” in reference to destruction of property.

While officers were responding to the initial complaint, patrol officers spotted four persons on the boardwalk involved in the act of damaging property. Officers were able to detain two suspects, however, two fled the area.

Officers arrived at the Decatur House and met with the complainant, who advised they had heard something breaking, looked outside and saw several boys running north on the boardwalk. Officers noticed a damaged boardwalk storefront at the “Beach Daze,” which is located in the Decatur House building.

The investigation revealed that the two suspects who had been detained by the responding patrol were juveniles. Police later determined that there had been a rash of malicious destruction incidents earlier in the evening, all occurring in the downtown boardwalk area and that the four persons initially spotted by the responding patrol were responsible.

As a result of the detention of the first two suspects, Ocean City Police were able to identify and locate the other two suspects who had fled the area. The OCPD has charged four juveniles in connection with at least 23 different acts of malicious destruction. Current property damage estimates are over $5,000.

The juveniles were also responsible for stealing and attempting to throw a scooter in the bay earlier in the night. Police are still investigating this incident and have recovered the scooter. Additional charges are pending.

Ocean City Police have released the juveniles to their parents pending a Maryland Department of Social Services review.

Ocean City Police are asking anyone with any information regarding these incidents to please contact the Ocean City Police Department at 410-723-6610.

Passengers Accidentally Told Plane Is Crashing

(CBS News)  

Passengers aboard a British Airways flight got the scare of a lifetime Friday when they were mistakenly told that their plane was about to crash-land into the water.

"This is an emergency announcement," a female voice announced over the intercom as the 747 was cruising at 35,000 feet over the North Sea. "We may shortly need to make an emergency landing on water."

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Divorce Agreement

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, regressive, Marxists, and Obama supporters, et. al.:

We have stuck together since the late 1950s for the sake of the kids, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has clearly run its course.

Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right for us all, so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

1. Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by land mass, each taking a similar portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy. Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides had such distinct and disparate tastes.

2. We don't like redistributive taxes, so you can keep them.

3. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU.

4. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA, and the military.

5. We'll take the nasty, smelly oil industry and you can go with wind, solar, and bio-diesel.

6. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore, and Rosie O'Donnell. You are, however, responsible for finding a bio-diesel vehicle big enough to move all three of them.

7. We'll keep capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart, and Wall Street.

8. You can have your beloved lifelong welfare dwellers, food stamps, homeless homeboys, hippies, druggies, and illegal aliens.

9. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms, greedy CEO's and rednecks.

10. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .

11. You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us.

12. You can have the peace-niks and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

13. We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values.

14. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism, political correctness, and Shirley McLain. You can also have the U.N., but we will no longer be paying the bill.

15. We'll keep the SUV's, pickup trucks, and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

16. You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors..

17. We'll continue to believe healthcare is an earned luxury and not a right.

18. We'll keep "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "The National Anthem."

19. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute "Imagine", "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Kum Ba Ya," or "We Are the World".

20. We'll practice trickledown economics and you can continue to give trickle up poverty your best shot.

21. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our constitution and our flag.

22. Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like-minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you answer which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.

Sincerely,
John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

Banks Rely On Lending As Trading Profits Shrink

The nation’s biggest banks are getting back to the business of writing loans to businesses and consumers after another year of dismal returns from in-house investment trading.

That increased lending, by itself, won’t add much to future economic growth, though, at least not unless the economy grows and creates more loan demand. But as businesses -- especially small and medium-sized companies ­-- get back on their feet, they’re going hat-in hand to the bankers for financing, much of it for new equipment and technology to boost output.

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