DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thursday, October 14, 2010
New Study Shows Maryland’s Business Climate Lags Behind Neighboring States
Ehrlich Pledges to Create Jobs for Families by Improving Business Climate
Baltimore– While visiting Maryland Thermoform, Bob Ehrlich today pledged to change the business climate in Maryland after a new study by the Maryland Chamber Commerce reinforced how uncompetitive Maryland is with the neighboring states of Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The study, done by Ernst and Young, measured corporate taxes in three important Maryland industries: financial services, bio-tech research and manufacturing, and professional services. Maryland ranks dead last in tax rates for each industry except one.
“In our debate on Monday, Governor O’Malley said, when it comes to being competitive with other states, there are winners and losers,” said Ehrlich. “It is now clear that, under four years of Martin O’Malley, Maryland is now losing. Under my Administration, this will change on Day One.”
The Chamber study concludes that:
· Maryland has the highest tax rates for both financial services and professional services,
· Business taxes in Maryland are higher for both the professional and financial services industries
· Maryland has the highest state and local taxes paid by middle-class families,
· Maryland is ranked worst in combined individual income tax rates,
· Maryland has the highest electricity cost for both commercial and industrial users.
· The study shows Maryland is competitive in biotechnology, thanks in part to Bob Ehrlich authoring an enacting the biotech tax credit in his first term.
BACKGROUND: According to a recent study of business confidence done by the Jacob Francis Institute, Maryland’s business confidence has declined 58% over the last four years. A study done by the Tax Foundation concluded Maryland has dropped 21 spots in the Business climate index over the last four years to 45th worst in the nation.
O'MALLEY RELEASES PLAN ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Will continue commitment to Maryland's children and working families
Baltimore, MD -- Governor O'Malley joined with members of the Maryland Family Network and other community advocates to announce a new early childhood education plan.
Governor O'Malley said, "Science tells us that 90% of a human's brain development is completed by age 3. Early childhood education could not be more important for Maryland's future--for education, for our workforce, for jobs, for our ability to compete and win in the global economy."
During the next legislative session, Governor O'Malley and Lt. Governor Brown will convene the Forward Ahead Summit on Early Care and Education to build on existing initiatives and continue to move forward on early childhood education.
The Governor acknowledged the importance of partnering with experts in the field. He said, "We have heard your voices and taken your advice about early care and education. And we want to hear more from you--and we hope you'll participate in our Summit. Together we can make a difference for Maryland's youngest children and their families"
Under the leadership of Governor O'Malley, Maryland has made progress on early education. Maryland is the only state in the country that administers a kindergarten assessment and this year, 78% of children entering kindergarten are evaluated as "fully ready" to learn by their teachers compared to 58% five years ago.
Governor O'Malley set big goals to reduce infant mortality 10% by the end of 2012 and under his leadership, Maryland is on track to become the first state in the country to end childhood hunger within its borders.
After Bob Ehrlich failed to provide adequate funding for the Infants and Toddlers Program, Governor O'Malley made the important decision to increase investment in the program by 71%--facilitating a 50% increase in the number of children receiving early intervention services since 2003.
These funds not only help prepare our children for the future, they also save taxpayers money. In the last fiscal year alone, because 44% of students exiting the Infants and Toddlers program were able to forgo expensive preschool special education, Maryland taxpayers have been able to save nearly $27 million.
After Bob Ehrlich chose to freeze the subsidy for the Child Care Subsidy Program allowing the number of children on the waitlist to outnumber those receiving services, Governor O'Malley made the important decision to increase investments in the Child Care Subsidy. As a result, today, there is currently no waiting list.
But while progress has been made, Governor O'Malley knows that more needs to be done. And that is why he plans to hold The Forward Ahead Summit on Early Care and Education in order to bring together experts from the early childhood education field so that we can continue to move forward for Maryland's children.
BREAKING NEWS
Parsonsburg EMS dispatched to WOR-WIC for an accidental shooting at the Police Academy. More to come....
UPDATE: We're told one cadet did in fact shoot himself in the foot. He will be fine.
Correction- It was a Salisbury University Officer that shot himself in the foot.
UPDATE: We're told one cadet did in fact shoot himself in the foot. He will be fine.
Correction- It was a Salisbury University Officer that shot himself in the foot.
Find The Perfect Gift At Quota Club’s Christmas Craft Fair
(Salisbury, MD) On October 30th and 31st, 2010 the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center will be transformed into a shopper’s paradise as the Quota International of Salisbury holds its 24th Annual Christmas Craft Fair. More than 180 vendors from far and near have the opportunity to display their crafts while shoppers can take advantage of finding one-of-a-kind unique gifts for the special person on their list.
Many returning venders request the same location in the Civic Center because their loyal customers look for them each year, while new vendors are excited to participate in one of the East Coast’s largest craft fairs. Because of its diversity of crafts and vendors, this Craft Fair offers a wide variety of items to suit everyone’s taste. Whether you’re beginning your holiday shopping or looking for a birthday, anniversary or other personal gift, the Quota Christmas Craft Fair is the place to shop. Parents, remember to bring your cameras to capture that special moment with your child and Santa Claus.
Many returning venders request the same location in the Civic Center because their loyal customers look for them each year, while new vendors are excited to participate in one of the East Coast’s largest craft fairs. Because of its diversity of crafts and vendors, this Craft Fair offers a wide variety of items to suit everyone’s taste. Whether you’re beginning your holiday shopping or looking for a birthday, anniversary or other personal gift, the Quota Christmas Craft Fair is the place to shop. Parents, remember to bring your cameras to capture that special moment with your child and Santa Claus.
Check us out at our website: http://www.quotacraftfair.com/ for more information. Please join us on Saturday, October 30th from 10:00am to 5:00pm and on Sunday, October 31st from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is $5.00 per person and children under 12 are free.
SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
1:30 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM 306
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
WORK SESSION
Naylor Mill Road/MBAS Annexation – Chris Jakubiak
FY11 Bond Issuance – Pam Oland/Teresa Gardner
School zone speed cameras – Ivan Barkley
Amendment to the Fire Prevention Code – Bill Holland
Adoption of 2009 Codes into the Property Maintenance Code – Tom Stevenson
Downtown fire protection ordinance – Rick Hoppes/Tom Stevenson
General discussion/upcoming agenda
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD IN CONFERENCE ROOM 306 OF THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING (125 N. DIVISION STREET) FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE COUNCIL’S 1:30 P.M. WORK SESSION.
Halloween Bus Tour – Haunted Eastern Shore – October 31, 2010
Sponsored by Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, MD – Tour Guide is Mindie Burgoyne
MARION STATION, MD – Chesapeake College has just announced a Halloween Ghost Tour - the third in a series of bus tours across the Upper Shore. This ghost tour will focus on East Dorchester County and include sites associated with the Eastern Shore's two most famous ghostly characters - Big Lizz and Patty Cannon. The tour includes sites in Reliance, Vienna, Elliotts Island, and Greenbriar swamp, and will be led by author, Mindie Burgoyne, from Marion Station, who wrote the popular book, Haunted Eastern Shore: Ghostly Tales from East of the Chesapeake.
Guests will meet the bus in Cambridge and venture out on a four hour, spine tingling tour of both desolate and populated spots known to be haunted by ghosts or associated with tales of the dead. First stop on the tour will be the Patty Cannon properties in Reliance where Burgoyne will detail the life of kidnapper and murderer, Patty Cannon. She’ll show guests the sites where Cannon’s house and tavern once stood as well as where she buried the bodies of her victims. The bus will also pass Indian settlements, the town of Vienna, the area once known as Ghost Island and visit Elliotts Island.
The last stop will be Decoursey Bridge, because who wouldn't want to meet up with Big Lizz on All Hallows Eve? Burgoyne will tell guests how people have seen Big Lizz emerge from the swamp her bloody head in hand, and how she motions to folks asking them to follow her to the where her master's treasure is buried. But so far no one who followed has ever returned. If time allows, Burgoyne will have the bus take guests "down below" to Andrews and Bishops Head to hear about Wild men haunting the swamps and residents who vanished without a trace.
This is the third bus tour was added after the first two offered sold out and left a waiting list of half a bus load. This will be the sixth haunted tour Mindie Burgoyne has led this year - five of which sold out their 50 available seats. Burgoyne's book, Haunted Eastern Shore, published by History Press, just went into its third printing after being released only one year ago on October 1st 2009. She has also put up a Facebook page for fans of her book which now has over 5400 fans that check it for updates on tours and occasion postings of haunted stories.
When asked about the success of her books and tours, Burgoyne states, "Ghosts are hot. Any time of the day or night you can flip through the TV channels and find at least one program airing on ghosts or the paranormal. The Eastern Shore has such a rich heritage, with a landscape that's largely unchanged. Our ghosts are images in that landscape and easy for a visitor to visualize them if given a little information."
Cost of the Halloween Ghost Tour is $29 per person - Advanced Registration Required
Passengers will meet at the Cambridge campus of Chesapeake College. For more information or to register, contact Marci Leach at 410-827-5833 or http://www.blogger.com/.
NOTE: Copies of Haunted Eastern Shore: Ghostly Tales from East of the Chesapeake will be available for sale after the tour. $17.99 + tax = $19.06. Author will sign copies.
Frank Kratovil Dodges The Discussion On Jobs
SEVERNA PARK, Md. – Even with the American economy stagnant, higher taxes to come in January, and a grim outlook for the future, Frank Kratovil’s television ads still do not mention jobs.
Forced to stop running his phony ads against Andy Harris, Politician Frank Kratovil reveals something in his new television commercial: He has absolutely nothing to talk about.
“It's obvious in his new ad Frank Kratovil is running away from Nancy Pelosi and his poor record on jobs,” said Bill Lattanzi, Campaign Manager-Andy Harris for Congress. “Kratovil says many fictitious things in his ads, but not once does he mention what he will do to create jobs or jumpstart our economy.”
Kratovil to date has run six television commercials without once mentioning out-of-work Marylanders.
Sugary Drink Makers Push Back At Government Curbs
State and local governments across the nation are increasingly using the government's power to battle rising obesity rates by taxing sugar-sweetened drinks, changing food labeling and promoting exercise.
But food and drink lobbyists and special interest groups are starting to push back.
"Government is getting too big and too involved in our lives," said American Beverage Association (ABA) spokesman Chris Gindlesperger, whose group's products are being targeted by some of the latest initiatives.
Last May, D.C. lawmakers approved a measure that would add sports drinks, soda and other sweetened beverages to the list of food items subject to the city's 6 percent sales tax. The money from the D.C. tax would be used to fund physical education programs in local schools. A similar bill was passed in Colorado in February.
But food and drink lobbyists and special interest groups are starting to push back.
"Government is getting too big and too involved in our lives," said American Beverage Association (ABA) spokesman Chris Gindlesperger, whose group's products are being targeted by some of the latest initiatives.
Last May, D.C. lawmakers approved a measure that would add sports drinks, soda and other sweetened beverages to the list of food items subject to the city's 6 percent sales tax. The money from the D.C. tax would be used to fund physical education programs in local schools. A similar bill was passed in Colorado in February.
Americans Against Food Taxes (AAFT) has begun ad campaigns in Washington and elsewhere nationwide featuring moms at grocery stores saying, "I can decide what to buy without government help. The government is just getting too involved in our personal lives." One radio ad also makes it political, though not personal — saying voters need to send Congress a message, but giving no names of anyone on any ballot.
The food fight has indeed gone national, though the results have been mixed.
• In Philadelphia, restaurants are now required to display nutritional information on menus, and Mayor Michael Nutter proposed a soft-drink tax, but the Philadelphia City Council decided not to consider it for a vote.• In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom instituted a citywide policy that removed Coke, Pepsi and Fanta Orange from all vending machines on city property, but allowed the diet versions of the drinks to stay.
• In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently sent a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban sugared drinks from being purchased in the city with food stamps. Bloomberg also was an early pioneer both of mandating nutritional information on menus and using city government's power to ban restaurant use of trans fats.
The food fight has indeed gone national, though the results have been mixed.
• In Philadelphia, restaurants are now required to display nutritional information on menus, and Mayor Michael Nutter proposed a soft-drink tax, but the Philadelphia City Council decided not to consider it for a vote.• In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom instituted a citywide policy that removed Coke, Pepsi and Fanta Orange from all vending machines on city property, but allowed the diet versions of the drinks to stay.
• In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently sent a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban sugared drinks from being purchased in the city with food stamps. Bloomberg also was an early pioneer both of mandating nutritional information on menus and using city government's power to ban restaurant use of trans fats.
More from The Washington Post story.
Dignity Denied
ARLINGTON, Va. - Tim Langowski was working for Lane Construction at Arlington National Cemetery clearing away brush and debris with a bulldozer when he found something odd.
"I was working at the Cemetery in late spring, early summer of 2005. I was clearing some paths so we could do our survey work on the job and stuff, and I was coming around one of the small roads when I happened upon what I thought originally was a ball off a flag pole."
"I got off the [bulldozer] and I went and picked it up, and it actually had a cap on one side, and I turned it over, and on the other side the cap was not on it."
"It" was not what he thought it was. Langowski, 50, from Frederick, Md., was caught off guard and deeply affected by what he saw when he peered inside the ball.
"Inside that ball were actually some ashes," he says. "It was a sad thing to see."
GO HERE to read more.
"I was working at the Cemetery in late spring, early summer of 2005. I was clearing some paths so we could do our survey work on the job and stuff, and I was coming around one of the small roads when I happened upon what I thought originally was a ball off a flag pole."
"I got off the [bulldozer] and I went and picked it up, and it actually had a cap on one side, and I turned it over, and on the other side the cap was not on it."
"It" was not what he thought it was. Langowski, 50, from Frederick, Md., was caught off guard and deeply affected by what he saw when he peered inside the ball.
"Inside that ball were actually some ashes," he says. "It was a sad thing to see."
GO HERE to read more.
Debate Questions For Governor O’Malley – Marylander’s Still Deserve The Truth
1. You have repeatedly said that you do not plan on raising taxes but with an estimated $6 billion structural deficit facing Maryland, what is your plan to fix the budget?
2. In the first debate you said that your tactic of arresting thousands of innocent people in Baltimore saved lives. Do you stand by this statement?
3. You also referred to illegal immigrants as “new Americans.” Do you believe that people who enter America illegally should be made citizens automatically?
4. You repeatedly stated in the first debate that you are fighting to protect the Chesapeake Bay. If so, why did you raid $155 million from the Bay restoration fund?
5. A recent Maryland Chamber of Commerce report ranked Maryland worst for business taxes in two out of three industries in comparison to our neighbors. Do you think high business taxes are hurting employment here in Maryland?
6. If 100,000 Marylanders have lost their jobs since you took office, how exactly have you created 33,000 jobs?
7. In the first debate you admitted there are winners and losers when states compete. Did Maryland win or lose when Northrop Grumman decided to move their headquarters to Virginia and not Maryland?
8. How do you plan to close the budget gap you created by using one time federal stimulus dollars on mandated programs like education and Medicaid?
9. You said in the first debate “I’ve made college more affordable.” How is that possible when costs went up 35%?
10. Why did you give your senior staff raises totaling over $600,000 in the middle of a recession?
Let’s Get Flip: Dems Pursue Ehrlich On Video
We got to see some of their handiwork Tuesday as the Maryland Democratic Party released a video titled “Bashful Bob.” The Democrats released the spliced together video because O’Brien and Becker are not independent journalists, as the tape implies. They work for the Democratic Party as part of its opposition research, and the video has an authority line from the party in the last few seconds.
The tape gives the impression that Ehrlich wouldn’t talk to any reporters the day of Monday’s debate. The ex-gov did inexplicably scoot out the back door of WJZ and would not talk to a few reporters who had staked out his SUV. “No questions right now. Happy, very happy,” he says on the tape.
The bulk of the more than 30 reporters and videographers covering the event, including me, were out in front of the WJZ building waiting to be spinned by both campaigns. Gov. Martin O’Malley got to put his spin on the event, after other top Democrats had heaped praise on him.
It was left for Ehrlich communications director Andy Barth, who apparently lost the coin toss, to try to explain why Ehrlich wasn’t there, and that “he always takes questions from reporters.” But not today.
Ehrlich usually does take questions from reporters after most events – and O’Malley often doesn’t. But the party video, out of sequence, shows Becker pursuing Ehrlich as he enters the back door of the building. She asks him, “Are you uncomfortable with the O’Malley supporters?” as if he were some bad guy in a “60 Minutes” ambush interview. Ehrlich and his team laugh at the question.
GO HERE to read more.
Why Do These Guys Hate Each Other So Much?
In that light, a long essay written by Len Lazarick in August for the October issue of What’s Up? Annapolis and What’s Up? Eastern Shore magazines holds up pretty well. These men have so much in common in their backgrounds, but are so different in philosophy. What led them to this grudge match? Was their anger a product of their clashing ambitions or something more personal?
GO HERE to read more.
House Of Delegates Candidates Question
I have noticed this sign for several weeks now. It is located on Camden Ave. Southbound just past Cedar Lane. I was always under the impression that candidate signs had to come down 7 days or sooner if the candidate does not win the primary. I just checked the MD ballot, Ms. Brewington is not listed there. I then went to the MD code regarding candidate signs and per § 11B-111.2. Candidate or proposition sign. I have attached it below. Just wondering if these rules just don't apply to her???§ 11B-111.2. Candidate or proposition sign.
(a) In general. -- In this section, “candidate sign” means a sign on behalf of a candidate for public office or a slate of candidates for public office.
(b) Exceptions. -- Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association may not restrict or prohibit the display of:
(1) A candidate sign; or
(2) A sign that advertises the support or defeat of any question submitted to thevoters in accordance with the Election Law Article.
(c) Restriction. -- A recorded covenant or restriction, a provision in a declaration, or a provision in the bylaws or rules of a homeowners association may restrict the display of a candidate sign or a sign that advertises the support or defeat of any proposition:
(1) In the common areas;
(2) In accordance with provisions of federal, State, and local law; or
(3) If a limitation to the time period during which signs may be displayed is not specified by a law of the jurisdiction in which the homeowners association is located, to a time period not less than:
(i) 30 days before the primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition; and
(ii) 7 days after the primary election, general election, or vote on the proposition.
Verizon To Charge You $3.50 To Pay Your Bill
Starting October 16, all Verizon Communications landline, FiOS, and DSL customers will have to pay a $3.50 fee if they pay their bills by credit or debit card. (Currently there are no plans to apply to same to wireless customers). The only way to get around it is to sign up for auto-billing. Verizon says the new fee is because they have a new vendor for processing credit and debit transactions, and they're passing on the lack of savings to you.
More »
More »
Delusional Thieves Caught Stealing Entire Mansions
A ring of confused folk in Georgia are stealing entire million-dollar homes, deeding themselves the property with bogus paperwork and squatting inside.
More »
More »
Insurers Denied Health Coverage To 1 In 7 People, Citing Pre-Existing Conditions
The nation’s four largest for-profit health insurers denied coverage to more than 651,000 people over a three-year period, citing pre-existing conditions, according to an analysis of insurer data detailed in a Congressional investigation.
Between Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group, and WellPoint, that averages out to a denial of coverage for one out of every seven applicants, according to an Energy and Commerce Committee memo about the investigation.
The memo, released by Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak [1], both Democrats, touts provisions in the health care reform bill that address pre-existing condition denials.
But all politics aside, the investigation contains some interesting figures and information culled from thousands of pages of documents provided by the insurers. The memo points out, for instance, that since 2007, the number of denials on the basis of pre-existing conditions has risen each year, outpacing the increase in applications for insurance coverage:
Between Aetna, Humana, UnitedHealth Group, and WellPoint, that averages out to a denial of coverage for one out of every seven applicants, according to an Energy and Commerce Committee memo about the investigation.
The memo, released by Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Bart Stupak [1], both Democrats, touts provisions in the health care reform bill that address pre-existing condition denials.
But all politics aside, the investigation contains some interesting figures and information culled from thousands of pages of documents provided by the insurers. The memo points out, for instance, that since 2007, the number of denials on the basis of pre-existing conditions has risen each year, outpacing the increase in applications for insurance coverage:
A year-by-year analysis shows a significant increase in the number of coverage denials each year. The insurance companies denied coverage to 172,400 people in 2007 and 221,400 people in 2008. By 2009, the number of individuals denied coverage rose to 257,100.Between 2007 and 2009, the number of people denied coverage for pre-existing conditions increased 49%. During the same period, applications for insurance coverage at the four companies increased by only 16%.GO HERE to read more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)