Wicomico County Democratic Club

Monthly meeting this Wednesday

2010-05-17T15:38:00.004-04:00

The Wicomico County Democratic Club is excited to have Delegates Norm Conway and Jim Mathias as its guest speakers this week. Their discussion will focus on this years general assembly session and the upcoming election season. As always the meeting will take place at 7:00pm at the Knights of Columbus on Emerson Ave. We hope to see everyone there!

3rd Friday this week

2010-05-17T15:33:00.003-04:00

Salisbury's monthly 3rd Friday event will be held this Friday, May 21st. Come out and enjoy food, drinks, and fellowship. We hope to see everyone there!

Message from Governor O'Malley: Creating jobs for Maryland

2010-05-14T16:16:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

This week, we announced that in the most recent quarter we created or saved more than 13,800 jobs in Maryland thanks to President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These figures reflect jobs created or saved in key sectors including health, education, housing and transportation.

In addition, thanks to the tough choices we've made investing in our public schools at record levels even in tough times, Maryland finds itself in an appealing position when it comes to teaching jobs. While many states are slashing education budgets to make ends meet, Governor O'Malley's record K-12 investments have not only made our public school system #1 in the nation for two straight years, but it's also meant Maryland continues to be a magnet for the nation's best educators.

Maryland construction workers will benefit from three major development projects in the near future. In Towson, a 12-story office development could bring as many as 500 workers to downtown, including the corporate headquarters for MileOne, one of the nation's largest privately-held automobile sales and service delivery networks. And in Baltimore City, the new expansion of the Shock Trauma Center will employ 300 construction workers, and will add another 250 employees to staff the expansion when it opens.

Finally, we learned this week that Maryland was one of only six states nationwide who saw their number of visitors rise in 2009. The report by D.K. Shifflet & Associates showed that Maryland had 29 million visitors last year, 1 million more than in 2008. While the rest of the nation saw their tourism business drop by 5.5 percent, Maryland enjoyed an increase of 3.5 percent.

Martin O'Malley
Governor

A Message from Lt. Governor Anthony Brown

2010-05-14T16:15:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends,

This has been an extraordinarily interesting and exciting week for me in Israel.
I've spent the last week here with an impressive group of Marylanders, including Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers and Delegate Tony O'Donnell – an old friend from my days in the General Assembly. In addition to representatives from our State government, our group represents Maryland's nonprofit and business communities. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation generously sponsored our educational mission and provided us with the opportunity to engage in a professional exchange with a variety of Israeli colleagues.

We began the mission by meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Israel James B. Cunningham, who provided us with an assessment of U.S. strategic interests in the region and the political and security challenges facing Israel. We also heard from the spokesperson for the U.S. Security Coordinator on our efforts to restructure and train the Palestinian National Security Force so they can enforce the rule of law while making them accountable to the government and the people. Our travels included a visit to the Israeli border with Lebanon and to the Golan Heights where we discussed with Israeli experts the security threats confronting Israel from within and outside its borders. We were introduced to the complexities of Israeli politics by a professor from the Hebrew University and heard first hand the Palestinian perspective from a Palestinian reporter in Jerusalem. No visit to Israel would be complete without a visit to Ashkelon – Baltimore's sister city. In Ashkelon, we observed local efforts to provide educational, employment and other social services to the Ethiopian-Israelis who arrived here nearly two decades ago. And today, we visited the newly renovated Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

This mission also provided me an important opportunity to build on Governor O'Malley's business development mission to Israel in 2008. I met with several Israeli business leaders in order to open Maryland's doors to new opportunities and possibilities. Kinneret Savitsky, CEO of BioLineRX – an early-stage pharmaceutical drug development company that recently opened an office in Rockville – commended our shared efforts to increase Maryland's competitiveness in the global economy. Later, I met with a multi-billion dollar high-tech manufacturing company that is interested in opening an office on the East Coast and is seriously considering headquartering its operation in Maryland.

I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet with men and women from Israel who share our belief that every individual has the power to change the world just as a drop of water can make an impression on a hard stone. I'm excited about returning to Maryland to see my children and to spend the next few months talking to as many Marylanders as possible about the progress we've made together and the work yet to be done.

Thank you for reading.

Anthony G. Brown
Lieutenant Governor

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES VIOLENT CRIME RATE AT ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1975

2010-05-10T22:25:00.002-04:00

LARGO, MD (May 10, 2010) - Joined by law enforcement officials, including U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein, Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey and members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89, Governor Martin O'Malley today announced historic reductions in crime in Maryland for 2009. According to 2009 year-end crime data compiled by the Maryland State Police and submitted to the FBI for use in the national crime statistics report, Maryland's violent crime rate is at its lowest level in Maryland since modern crime-tracking began in 1975. Similarly, total crime declined to its lowest level since 1975, as have homicides, dropping 12 percent since 2008 with 57 fewer people murdered last year in Maryland than the year before.

"Protecting the public's safety is the greatest obligation of government at every level," said Governor O'Malley. "It is not by chance, but by choice that even in tough economic times, we've delivered results for the people of Maryland, driving down crime throughout our One Maryland to its lowest levels in recorded history. Working together, we're aligning our efforts between state, local, county, and federal law enforcement and government at levels never before seen in our State.

These statewide figures are also reflected in Prince George's County, where Governor O'Malley made today's announcement. Overall crime is at its lowest level in the County since 1975, with violent crime in the County is at its lowest level since 1984 and automobile thefts dropping to the lowest level since 1985.

"I want to thank Governor O'Malley for his commitment to public safety that has led to record crime reduction across our state in 2009," Johnson said. "During difficult times, many questioned our methods in reducing crime, but today I am proud that we stayed the course and reached record crime reduction in Prince George's County in 2008 and 2009."

Statewide, data for 2009 show reductions compared to 2008 not only in homicides but also in motor vehicle theft (-23.0%), robbery (-9.0%), aggravated assault (-3.0%), breaking and entering (-5.0%), and larceny-theft (-6.0%).

Twenty jurisdictions reported reductions in total crime, with nine reporting double-digit reductions between 2008 and 2009. Fifteen jurisdictions noted specific reductions in violent crime (murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault), with seven reporting double-digit decreases. Twenty-two jurisdictions noted specific reductions in property crime (breaking and entering, larceny/theft, and motor vehicle theft), with eight jurisdictions reporting reductions of 10 percent or more.

"For the last three years, Governor O'Malley has directed State public safety agencies to engage in the local fight against crime like never before," said Kristen Mahoney, Director of the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention. "By focusing on improving violent probationer compliance, reducing illegal gun trafficking, increasing warrant service, and applying the most effective law enforcement technology and information sharing strategies to our collective fight against violent crime, I am proud to stand with the Governor and our partners on the federal, state and local levels to realize a safer Maryland.

Governor O'Malley tasked the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention with forming both local partnerships, and working partnerships across borders of neighboring states and the District of Columbia to crack down on violent criminals. At today's announcement, Governor O'Malley highlighted some of the programs implemented in the last three years that have contributed to these dramatic reductions, including:

* Public Safety Dashboard: A database of life-saving information shared with 16,000 law enforcement officers and government servants in more than 100 agencies. This innovative approach to information sharing currently registers between 25,000 and 40,000 hits per day.

* License Plate Recognition Software: Through the application of advanced license plate reader technologies, funded largely through the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, local and State law enforcement is delivering real results to crack down on auto theft. Motor vehicle theft dropped 23 percent statewide last year compared to 2008.

* Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force: Through innovative cross border collaboration, this task force comprised of law enforcement agencies from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, has issued 1,000 warrants to help make neighborhoods safer in the DC Metro area.

* Violence Prevention Initiative: This innovative approach to managing and supervising the most violent offenders has driven violent crime down in Maryland to its lowest levels since 1975. Crime data show these individuals have the greatest propensity for committing future acts of violence.

* Anti-gang initiatives: Resulting from reforms championed by the O'Malley-Brown Administration, Maryland agencies now share gang intelligence information among over 100 partner agencies within Maryland and with regional partners.

* DNA: After inheriting a backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed and 15,000 uncollected DNA samples, Governor O'Malley allocated the necessary resources to eliminate that backlog leading to case closures and arrests of violent fugitives. In 2009 alone, 103 murderers, rapists, and other criminals who might otherwise be walking the streets were arrested thanks to DNA technology.

* Unprecedented interagency cooperation: As a result of efficiency reforms implemented by the O'Malley-Brown Administration, the Department of Parole and Probation, and Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Services, and local law enforcement cooperate and communicate at unprecedented levels, ensuring low recidivism and high rates of supervision for the most violent offenders.

2010 campaign kickoff fundraiser

2010-05-05T17:21:00.002-04:00

Featuring United States Senator Ben Cardin

Pittsville Fire Hall, Pittsville, MD

Sunday, May 23rd 2010

3pm to 6pm

Tickets $30/person

Menu – Fried Chicken, Sliced Ham, Potato Salad, Pasta Salad, etc…

2010 is an extremely important year for our Local, State, and Federal Democratic Candidates. Come join the Democratic Club of Wicomico County and Senator Ben Cardin, as we rally our candidates and our Party toward victory in November! Your contribution allows us to open a campaign headquarters, pay for literature, and mail to citizens. Tickets are $30 a piece. Make your check payable to the Democratic Club of Wicomico County.

We’ll see you on May 23rd in Pittsville!

A Message from Governor O'Malley

2010-05-04T13:40:00.001-04:00

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow, I’ll be joined by Lt. Governor Brown, Senate President Miller and House Speaker Busch at a bill signing ceremony to enact a number of important bills designed to protect our children. Among them is a package of bills that will strengthen our laws for prosecuting and supervising sexual predators, as well as legislation that will improve our #1 nationally ranked public school system.

There are a number of bills that we’ll sign tomorrow that may not receive the same amount of attention, and I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of them. These include a bill that will make the Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline more readily available to our students who are in trouble. There’s also a bill to protect our children from the harmful effects of lead poisoning. Juvenile courts will now be able to order blood lead level tests earlier in the legal process so detection and treatment can come sooner, potentially minimizing the dangerous effects of lead poisoning for our children.

Another bill modernizes the child support guidelines so parents are financially responsible for their children.

We will also sign legislation sponsored by Senate President Miller to establish a Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program that will provide young adults with meaningful service opportunities and promote, preserve, protect and conserve the environment. This program complements the Civic Justice Corps we created earlier in the Administration to build a more service-oriented culture among Maryland’s youth.

Martin O'Malley
Governor

STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY ON MARYLAND’S ADDITION OF 35,800 JOBS IN MARCH

2010-04-19T10:33:00.001-04:00

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 16, 2010) – Governor Martin O’Malley issued this statement today following the announcement that the number of employed Marylanders increased for the first time in more than two years in March, adding an estimated 35,800 jobs.

“Today’s announcement is good news for families and businesses in Maryland. While we still have a way to go, these jobs numbers show that our economy is beginning to turn in a positive direction. We will continue to focus our energies on creating jobs, saving jobs, and improving the conditions under which small businesses can create and save jobs in order to keep Maryland moving forward. In Maryland we still have an unemployment rate that is far below the national average, and we will continue to leverage the enormous job-creating potential of our State, including strategic tax cuts for businesses that hire unemployed workers, and investments in important growth sectors of our economy, our world-class workforce, and our nation’s #1 ranked public schools.”

House of Representatives passes comprehensive health care legislation, goes to President Obama for his signature

2010-03-22T19:07:00.003-04:00

USA Today

New York Times

CNN

Baltimore Sun

After almost 100 years it has finally happened. The United States Congress has passed, and the president will sign, comprehensive health care reform legislation.

A quick overview of what this bill will do:

Expand Medicaid to cover an additional 32 million people

Close the Medicare "Donut Hole" and provides rebates to seniors that fall into it

Pre-existing conditions will no longer be able to disqualify an individual from obtaining insurance

End the practice of insurance companies dropping policy-holders just because they get sick

Ends benefit caps

Creates insurance exchanges where people and small business can pool together and buy insurance at a cheaper rate

Provides tax incentives and credits to small businesses so they can provide insurance to their workers

Allows children to stay on their parents insurance plan until the age of 26

Lowers the deficit by 1.3 trillion dollars over the next 20 years

Now, here is what this bill does NOT do:

It does NOT set up government death panels
It does NOT give the government access to your health and financial records
It does NOT ration health care
It does NOT give the government the right to approve or deny medical treatments
It does NOT provide health care coverage to illegal immigrants

Airport Kratovil, Mikulski, Cardin Announce $1.17 Million Federal Grant for Salisbury Airport

2010-03-18T23:05:00.000-04:00

Date: 3-11-10 – For Immediate Release

Contact: Kevin Lawlor, 202 225 5311

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Kratovil (D-MD) along with Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin (Both D-MD) announced that Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico regional airport will receive a $1,175,000 grant from the Department of Transportation

Salisbury Airport will use the funds for construction that will extend the runway and make air traffic safer for the residents of Wicomico County as well as those travelling to the region for both business and pleasure.

“These are critical funds that will make the air travel safer while improving our region’s status as a world class vacation site,” said Rep. Kratovil. “Improving both the safety and capacity of Salisbury Airport means easier access to the Eastern Shore for tourism and commerce, providing a shot in the arm for the local economy.”

"Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport plays a key role in maintaining the Eastern Shore's economy. This runway extension will give more Americans access to beautiful Eastern Shore, while providing easier access to the area's historical landmarks and tourist attractions," said Senator Mikulski. "I have consistently fought for the Eastern Shore in the U.S. Senate, and I will continue to work to ensure that Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport has a voice in Washington."

"Improvements to the Salisbury-Ocean City Regional Airport will be a tremendous benefit to Wicomico County and the entire Eastern Shore," said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. "Wicomico County is a major tourist destination and airport improvements will help foster overall economic growth and development."

http://grants.ost.dot.gov/public/ViewMessage.cfm?MsgID=b4kmp02jbu

Message from Sen. Mikulski: Census 2010: Making Sure Maryland Gets Its Fair Share

2010-03-18T23:00:00.000-04:00

Spring is almost here. Before long the crabs will swim up the Bay again. But this year, there's another important sign of spring. That's the 2010 Census form in your mailbox.

The formula for success on the Census is simple: 10:10:10. It's 10 questions, which take 10 minutes to fill out, and which will determine for 10 years whether or not Maryland gets its fair share of federal funds. You don't have to worry that your answers will be used for any other purpose than to compile an accurate count. That's the law.

Our Constitution requires that every 10 years, we all be counted. The outcome of the Census determines everything from how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives to how much federal money each state receives to create jobs, help with health care costs, build roads and so many other vital things. It's a critically important effort - we each need to do our part to ensure that all Marylanders are counted, because all Marylanders count.

We've done a census every 10 years since 1790. Why is this important?

Information from the 2000 Census has been used to determine how federal funding is awarded during the last last 10 years. Just look at what that meant for Maryland in 2009: $629 million for highway planning and construction; $420 million for housing vouchers; $300 million for unemployment insurance; $191 million for local educational agencies; and $199 million for special education grants.

If we want Maryland to get its fair share for the next 10 years, everyone needs to fill out that census form.

The Census forms will be mailed beginning this week. If you live in a rural area, someone may deliver it by hand to your household.

You have about two weeks to return the completed census form. Households that don't respond by April 1st will receive a follow up letter and a personal visit from a Census worker.

I am so very proud of the of the dedicated federal employees who work at the Census headquarters in Maryland. They're already working hard to make sure that no one is left out.

They need our help. Remember, it takes 10 minutes to fill out 10 questions for 10 years' worth of federal dollars. So be sure to fill out your form so Maryland gets its fair share. You bet I'll be filling out mine.

For more information about the upcoming count, or to find out about temporary employment as a Census worker, go to www. 2010.Census.Gov.

Obama seeks to overhaul ‘No Child Left Behind’

2010-03-14T21:56:00.002-04:00

ATLANTA - President Barack Obama is promising parents and their kids that with his administration's help they will have better teachers in improved schools so U.S. students can make up for academic ground lost against youngsters in other countries.

A plan to overhaul the 2002 education law championed by President George W. Bush was unveiled by the Obama administration Saturday in hopes of replacing a system that in the last decade has tagged more than a third of schools as failing and created a hodgepodge of sometimes weak academic standards among states.

"Unless we take action — unless we step up — there are countless children who will never realize their full talent and potential," Obama said during a video address on Saturday. "I don't accept that future for them. And I don't accept that future for the United States of America."

In the proposed dismantling of the No Child Left Behind law, education officials would move away from punishing schools that don't meet benchmarks and focus on rewarding schools for progress, particularly with poor and minority students. Obama intends to send a rewrite to Congress on Monday of the law.

The proposed changes call for states to adopt standards that ensure students are ready for college or a career rather than grade-level proficiency — the focus of the current law.

The blueprint also would allow states to use subjects other than reading and mathematics as part of their measurements for meeting federal goals, pleasing many education groups that have said No Child Left Behind encouraged teachers not to focus on history, art, science, social studies and other important subjects.

And, for the first time in 45 years, the White House is proposing a $4 billion increase in federal education spending, most of which would go to increase the competition among states for grant money and move away from formula-based funding.

The blueprint goes before the House Education and Labor Committee on Wednesday as Obama pushes Congress to reauthorize the education law this year, a time-consuming task that some observers say will be difficult. Committee Chairman George Miller, a Democrat from California, praised Obama's plan.

"This blueprint lays the right markers to help us reset the bar for our students and the nation," Miller said in a prepared statement.

New name for 'No Child'
Education Secretary Arne Duncan briefed a handful of governors, lawmakers and education groups on the plan Friday, including Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican.

"The governor is very supportive of the direction the secretary is going," said Perdue's spokesman Chris Schrimpf.

A few other highlights from the blueprint:

— By 2020, all students graduating from high school would need to be ready for college or a career. That's a shift away from the current law, which calls for all students to be performing at grade level in reading and math by 2014.

— Give more rewards — money and flexibility — to high-poverty schools that are seeing big gains in student achievement and use them as a model for other schools in low-income neighborhoods that struggle with performance.

— Punish the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools using aggressive measures, such as having the state take over federal funding for poor students, replacing the principal and half the teaching staff or closing the school altogether.

— Duncan has said the name No Child Left Behind will be dropped because it is associated with a harsh law that punishes schools for not reaching benchmarks even if they've made big gains. He said the administration will work with Congress to come up with a new name.

Amy Wilkins, a vice president with The Education Trust in Washington, D.C., called the blueprint a "culture shift."

"One of the things America has not been clear about is what k-12 is supposed to do," Wilkins said. "In this, we're saying K-12 is supposed to prepare kids for college and meaningful careers."

The nation's first federal education law — Elementary and Secondary Education Act — was passed in 1965 as part of Lyndon B. Johnson's war on poverty. The law has been reauthorized several times since, most recently in 2001 under President George W. Bush.

It was criticized by educators for focusing too much on testing and not enough on learning. Daniel Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, said he is glad to see No Child Left Behind go away.

"We're delighted over that," he said. "We have not been a fan of No Child Left Behind."

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Courtesy of MSNBC

A Message from Governor O'Malley

2010-03-11T22:54:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends,
Last month, I was honored to have the chance to visit our troops serving in Iraq, and I was grateful for the opportunity to tell them how much we appreciate their service.
During a refueling stop in Germany, I also had the honor to meet with the Chaplain of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Major Meyners, and visited with soldiers recovering at the hospital. Many wounded warriors arrive at the hospital from the battlefield with little more than the clothes they are wearing. The Chaplain told me about their Wounded Warrior Ministry Center, also known as the Chaplain’s Closet, a program that provides Wounded Warriors with personal items while they receive care.　
For more information on the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center, please click here.
For additional questions, please contact the Wounded Warriors Ministry Center.
Martin O'Malley

Governor

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES ACTION FOR EASTERN SHORE POULTRY FARMERS

2010-03-11T22:52:00.001-05:00

GOVERNOR MARTIN O'MALLEY ANNOUNCES ACTION FOR EASTERN SHORE POULTRY FARMERS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 10, 2010) - Governor Martin O'Malley announced today new assistance for poultry farmers in Maryland, as the state works with poultry industry stakeholders to address environmental standards and recover from snow-related damage last month. Governor O'Malley met with the Eastern Shore delegation Monday evening, along with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment to discuss concerns and solutions.

"We're working together to find solutions that protect our natural resources and strengthen family farming in our state," said Governor O'Malley. "Maryland farmers serve as stewards of the environment by protecting land that might otherwise be developed. It's our obligation to find way we can continue to protect the environment while keeping family farming profitable. I'm pleased we're able to come together on these actions to support our family farms and the jobs that support them."

"The Department of Agriculture is dedicated to putting farmers first and helping farmers in their times of need, such as recovery from the recent severe snow storms, and also to help farmers comply with regulations that protect soil and water quality, the Chesapeake Bay, and all Maryland families," said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.

Because of the time it has taken to approve the final new source poultry operation guidelines, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will see that new poultry operations take first priority in obtaining technical assistance to prepare Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) that are required by the new Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Permit. In addition, to assist farmers who are required to obtain CNMPs, MDA has secured commitments from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service to increase the level of technical assistance available with three additional staff members to develop these plans statewide. Additionally, more than 30 Maryland Soil Conservation District staff will be cross trained to assist with plan development.

Governor O'Malley also discussed ways the state can continue to support farmers struggling to recover from snow-related damage to chicken houses. MDA continues to identify, along with federal agency partners, the damage caused by the snow storms and respond to needs that the agriculture community may have in order to clean up, recover and rebuild from storm-related damage. The goal is to help producers get back in full operation and recover losses as quickly as possible. MDA has compiled a list of available resources for producers, which includes information about indemnity programs, emergency grants and loans, instructions for emergency burning permits, information on disposal of poultry and livestock mortality and information about rebuilding and rebuilding in more energy efficient ways as well as cash incentives for energy projects.

Working with MDA, today the Department of the Environment announced it would extend the deadline allowing the temporary burning of poultry houses to April 18, 2010, other livestock shelters and manure storage structures that suffered structural collapse during the heavy snowstorms of February 2010, subject to conditions that protect the environment and public health.

Following Governor O'Malley's request for an expedited review process, Maryland has completed and EPA has approved construction guidelines needed to build new poultry houses. Maryland is the first State in the country to have final, EPA-approved New Source Review requirements, which allow new construction to proceed under assurance farmers will be in compliance with EPA standards. The Departments of Agriculture and Environment worked closely with farmers on these new requirements.

Maryland is developing "rapid response teams" led by MDA with MDE to evaluate the conditions on farms when environmental issues arise and help farmers take corrective actions if necessary. These teams reinforce the existing MDA-MDE partnership to jointly respond to water quality complaints on farms. The plan is to swiftly make available existing technical expertise and financial assistance to avoid delay in identifying and resolving on-farm environmental impacts if they exist to protect water quality.

###

Rachel McCullough

Eastern Shore Outreach Coordinator
Governor's Office of Community Initiatives

45 Calvert Street, Room 404
Annapolis, MD 21401

Office: 410.260.7483
Mobile: 410.336.8032
Email: RMcCullough@goci.state.md.us

A Message from the Governor Creating Jobs, Making Progress

2010-03-11T22:48:00.002-05:00

A Message from the Governor
Creating Jobs, Making Progress

Three months ago, we stood at the Port of Baltimore and announced an innovative new public-private partnership that would mean new investment and construction at the Port, allow for the State to maintain ownership of the Port, and provide for 5,700 new jobs in the area.

Yesterday, we took an important step forward by breaking ground on a new 50-foot berth at the Port that will provide for 3,000 construction jobs to improve our port and surrounding highways, and give way to 2,700 jobs resulting from the increase in shipping traffic. With this construction, the Port of Baltimore will be one of only two ports on the east coast that can accommodate the mega ships that are becoming the norm in the shipping industry, meaning more business for the port and more opportunity for the surrounding area.

Overall, the partnership will generate $1.8 billion for the state over the terms of the agreement. That means more dollars to fund our #1-ranked public schools, to provide health care to more Marylanders, and to improve our State’s transportation and infrastructure.

By working together and making the connections that create progress, we can create better days and a more prosperous future, not just for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children.

Martin O'Malley
Governor
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Governor O’Malley Releases Results of TELL Maryland Survey

Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by state and local education officials, principals and teachers, recently unveiled the results of the first ever statewide survey of Maryland educators, an initiative titled "TELL Maryland." The survey, championed by Governor O’Malley, serves as a unique opportunity to gather information about school conditions, teacher satisfaction, and opportunities for improvement in the teaching and learning environments throughout the State. More than 43,000 educators took advantage of the survey, providing school-level data on more than 1,000 schools throughout Maryland.

The purpose of the survey is to support sound educational policies and practices based on the views of teachers, principals, and other certified educators in Maryland’s public schools. The survey was available to all licensed educators in Maryland public schools, including pre-K–12 classroom teachers, vocational-technical educators, special area teachers, school-based administrators, principals and assistant principals.

Preliminary results were shared with schools in May of last year, and teachers and principals have already begun implementing many of the actions indicated as needed by the survey results.
Governor O’Malley, Lt. Governor Brown Promote Higher Education Achievements

Governor Martin O’Malley, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, joined by legislators and business leaders, recently celebrated the achievements for Maryland’s higher education system and outlined a blueprint for the future. The O’Malley-Brown Administration remains committed to expanding the opportunity for a college education to more Marylanders rather than fewer.

In 2006, in response to a 40% tuition hike over the previous four years, the General Assembly passed the Tuition Affordability Act to freeze tuition and created the Commission to Develop the Maryland Model for Funding Higher Education, chaired by Delegate John L. Bohanan, Jr. (commonly known as "The Bohanan Commission"). The Bohanan Commission, comprised of university presidents, private sector leaders, elected officials and educators across the State, created a 10 year blueprint for funding the State’s higher education system and continue the development of a top-tier workforce in Maryland. Governor O’Malley has introduced several pieces of legislation this session to continue the higher education gains for students across the State, which were based in part on recommendations of the Bohanan Commission.
Governor O’Malley Announces Boys and Girls Club “Youth of the Year” Winner

Today, Governor O’Malley announced the winner of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland’s "Youth of the Year" award in Annapolis. The winner of the award, Najee Banks is 16 years old, attends Edmondson Westside High School and has been a member of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Baltimore for 10 years. He is also is an honor roll student who someday hopes to be an archeologist.

The Youth of the Year competition is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier annual national competition. Each of the five regional winners receives a $10,000 scholarship and enters the national competition held in Washington D.C. In addition, each year’s five regional finalists are honored at a congressional breakfast in Washington, D.C. The National Youth of the Year receives an additional $15,000 scholarship, totaling $26,000 in scholarships and is installed by the President of the United States.

E-mail askthegovernor@mpt.org

Maryland Events

10th Annual Gaithersburg St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 13, 10-11am at Washington Center and Grand Corner Ave. in Gaithersburg. Bagpipes, Celtic dancers, marching bands, equestrian units and more.

9th Annual CCBC Women's Expo 2010
March 13-14, 10am-5pm at the Community College of Baltimore County in Catonsville. More than 100 women in business, health, fashion, home decor including workshops and book fair.

Chesapeake City St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 13, 12N in Historic Chesapeake City, Bohemia Ave. Annual St. Patrick's parade walk, drive, animals welcome, antique cab, bagpiper, free and fun.

10th Annual Eagle Festival
March 13, 8am-4pm at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Cambridge. Festival celebrating eagles and other birds of prey, featuring live animal programs and children's activities.

Office of the Governor

Photos from Governor O'Malley's trip to Iraq

2010-03-02T21:10:00.001-05:00

Wicomico Dems —

I was honored to have the chance this weekend to visit our troops in Iraq.

Some of our service members there are on their third tour of duty. Their bravery and fortitude is inspiring — and I was grateful for the opportunity to tell them in person how much we all appreciate their service.

The visit was sponsored by the Department of Defense. Over the course of it, I was fortunate to meet with members of the Maryland National Guard; Army Reserve A Company of the 323 Military Intelligence Battalion; and Army Reserve 392 Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Task Force Raven.

We took a few photos together, which are now up on Facebook. To view them, click below (or if you'd prefer to see them on our website, click here):

View photos of Maryland troops in Iraq
http://www.martinomalley.com/Iraq

Thank you,

Martin O'Malley

Next Wicomico County Democrats Meeting

2010-02-28T20:24:00.002-05:00

The next meeting of the Wicomico County Democratic Club will be held on March 17th at the Knights of Columbus on Emerson Ave at 7:00pm. Salisbury City Police interim chief Ivan Barkley will be the guest speaker. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

A Message from Lt. Governor Brown

2010-02-28T20:23:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends,

Earlier today, Governor Martin O'Malley, on a U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored trip, arrived in Iraq where he will be meeting with Maryland troops and men and women of the Maryland National Guard on active duty in Iraq.

One of the reasons I am so proud to work with Governor O'Malley is because of his strong support for Maryland's military families and our veterans. For 25 years, I have served as a member of the United States Armed Forces and I am proud to continue my service as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. Five years ago, I had the opportunity to serve in Iraq alongside some of the most dedicated and patriotic men and women I've ever met. Today, nearly 2,000 Maryland-based soldiers and men and women of the Maryland National Guard are on active duty overseas.

Please join Governor O'Malley and me in keeping our service members and their families in your thoughts and prayers while they serve on our behalf.

Click here for additional photos.

Anthony G. Brown

Lieutenant Governor

Mayor Ireton releases 3rd Friday Video detailing Christmas Lighting ceremony

2009-11-19T10:55:00.000-05:00

A Message from Lt. Governor Brown

2009-11-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

Today, this week, this month and every month, we honor the courage and sacrifice of our nation's veterans. The men and women who have served with honor and dignity in our name have defended our freedoms throughout every chapter of our history. This year, in the days after the tragedy at Fort Hood, Veterans Day is a solemn moment of remembrance. Words fail us during these times and we turn to prayer and seek comfort in the strength from one another.

While we mourn the fallen and offer our thoughts and prayers to their families, it is important that we also pay tribute to those veterans among us. Yesterday, I had the great privilege to join veterans from a "Century of Service" at the War Memorial Plaza in downtown Baltimore as we unveiled a new public outreach campaign to raise awareness about the many services available to our veterans and their families. That announcement is one of many veterans-related events Governor O'Malley, Mrs. O'Malley and I have and will participate in this week.

On Monday, I participated in the annual MCVET Veterans Day ceremony in Baltimore, joined veterans of World War II and the Korean War in Montgomery County for a ceremony honoring the service of our Greatest Generation and spent time with some of our wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Today, I will take part in the Seat Pleasant Veterans Day Remembrance Ceremony, bring greetings at the University of Maryland Veterans Day Ceremony and attend the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 Veterans Day Celebration.

Governor O'Malley and Mrs. O'Malley will kick off the Guard and Reserve Institute Training this morning in Timonium. Later in the morning, Governor O'Malley and Mrs. O'Malley will join Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy Grasmick and Brigadier General James A. Adkins to launch a letter writing campaign thanking veterans, service members and military families for their sacrifice and service to our country.

We all hope you join our efforts and honor those who have served in your name. Time and again, our veterans have answered our call. This Veterans Day, let us answer theirs.

Best regards,
Anthony Brown
Lt. Governor
Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves

A Message from the Governor: Honoring our Veterans

2009-11-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

This week as we recognize Veterans Day, we pause to honor those brave soldiers who have defended our nation throughout history. Tomorrow, I'll share the holiday first with area educators who will be receiving training on the unique needs of military children, particularly those whose parents are deployed on active duty. Later, I'll join my wife Katie where she will accept letters of gratitude from over 300 students to be sent to military veterans and their families as part of "Operation Appreciation." Students from around the state will write letters of appreciation to our nation's veterans.

Our nation is built upon the generations of brave men and women who squared their shoulders against the forces of fear and tyranny so that we could continue to enjoy the blessings of this nation and our way of life.

Just as these veterans have always been there for us – through times of turmoil and tranquility, through famine, flood and war – we as a people are committed to being there for them. Last year, we signed into law legislation that ensures that Maryland's veterans receive the reintegration services they deserve. In addition to providing crisis services and better behavioral benefits for our veterans, this legislation helps those veterans obtain access to mental health services upon their return home from deployment.

Currently, more than 370 troops from Maryland remain active in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are husbands and wives, parents and friends. To those currently serving, and to the veterans of America: Thank you.

Martin O'Malley
Governor

Sen. Mikulski Announces $2 Million to Extend Broadband in Maryland

2009-11-10T19:51:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today announced Maryland has been awarded a $2 million grant through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program. The program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will increase broadband access and adoption through better data collection and broadband planning.

“Forty years ago, interstate highways were crucial for economic growth in our rural areas, now it’s the information superhighway. Expanding broadband in Maryland means economic development, jobs growth and innovation whether you are a small business, a school, a major employer or a NASA Center,” Senator Mikulski said.

NTIA has awarded the Maryland Broadband Cooperative Inc. (MDBC) approximately $1.5 million for broadband data collection and mapping activities over a two-year period and almost $500,000 for broadband planning activities over a five-year period in Maryland, bringing the total grant award to approximately $2 million.

The data will be displayed in NTIA’s national broadband map, a tool that will inform policymakers' efforts and provide consumers with improved information on the broadband Internet services available to them.

Policy over Politics: Op-Ed from Congressman Kratovil

2009-11-10T19:48:00.001-05:00

The discussion of health care reform has been one of the most partisan and heated public debates our country has seen in years. As a freshman lawmaker, it has certainly been an eye-opening experience. What has struck me the most, however, wasn’t the anger and unruliness that grabbed so many headlines during August, but rather the number of people I would encounter who believed that I should commit to voting one way or the other before even knowing what would be included or excluded from the legislation. This was perhaps the only aspect of the health care debate that was truly bipartisan; I heard from many Republicans who demanded that I oppose any health care reform package, regardless of its contents, while some Democrats have told me I had a duty to unquestioningly support the bill simply because it was a priority for my party’s leadership.

It’s unfortunate that this debate – on one of the most important challenges facing our nation today – has been reduced to such a black-or-white oversimplification. The need for reform is clear: Without reform, premiums and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise rapidly for both middle class families and employers. But the pathway for achieving reform is far more complex. The goals of reform must be two-fold: expanding coverage and reducing long-term costs by significantly slowing the rate of health care inflation. This health care reform debate offers us a historic opportunity, but passing a bill that does not truly achieve these goals would waste this historic moment.

Since the introduction of H.R. 3200 in July, I have voiced a number of concerns about the legislation. Chief among these were the bill’s failure to curb long-term costs, it’s potential to increase the deficit, and its inadequate protections for small employers, which I fear may have an adverse impact on job creation. Following the August recess, I also led a group of my fellow freshman in sending a letter to House Leadership urging them to include additional reform proposals in this bill, such as allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines and promoting policies to reduce medical errors, lawsuits, and medical malpractice rates.

While the revised H.R. 3962 made progress toward these goals, I am not convinced that the final bill is a fiscally sustainable approach to reforming health care. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that the bill does not reduce long-term health care costs, and that it drastically increases federal health care spending in the near-term and long-term. Furthermore, while the bill is projected to decrease the deficit over the first 10 years, the CBO said this reduction is largely due to the removal of a $210 billion provision to correct the formula by which doctors are paid under Medicare. That “Doc Fix” language was moved into a companion bill, which Congress will consider later this month. Taken together, these bills will increase the deficit substantially in the years ahead.

To be successful, health care reform must both expand coverage and reduce long-term costs. Unfortunately, this health care reform legislation will significantly increase long-term spending, is unlikely to reduce the deficit, and even costs several hundred billion dollars more than the $900 billion target for which President Obama has advocated. As the debate moves to the Senate, both parties would be well advised to dial back the propaganda, put down the talking points, and focus instead on the substance of legislation before them. I’m hopeful that a better bill is still possible, one that more effectively bends the cost curve while going further to protect small businesses, increase competition, and decrease the deficit. If and when a bill does come back from the Senate, it will be policy, not politics, that will determine my support.

SALISBURY MAYOR JIM IRETON MAKES STATEMENT REGARDING RECENTLY FILED LITIGATION

2009-11-04T14:32:00.002-05:00

Mayor James Ireton, Jr., made a statement earlier this afternoon regarding recently filed litigation against the City of Salisbury.

Mayor Ireton stated, “The City of Salisbury Charter and Employee Handbook clearly states the grievance process, and that process applies to all city employees, including Allan Webster. This lawsuit is a distraction from solving the serious problem of crime that we have in Salisbury and is an attempt to subvert our City Charter. It is a distraction to our citizens and our police officers on the street.

That being said, I will direct City Attorney Paul Wilbur to move to dismiss this frivolous lawsuit immediately. While Part One crimes are up 11% so far this year, it is farfetched to believe it is possible to serve and protect the same citizens you are suing.

All City of Salisbury employees and department heads follow the rules laid out for them in the City Charter and Employee handbook; they agree to these rules and regulations while employed. It is unacceptable and unlawful for one employee to decide to write the rules over in order to suit one’s self.”

Governor O'Malley named Governor of the Year

2009-11-04T10:14:00.002-05:00

Dear Wicomico County Democratic Club,

We've got some exciting news that I wanted to share with you: Gov. O'Malley has been named "2009 Governor of the Year" by Governing magazine.

Citing his "data-driven approach to policy and administration," Governing singled out Gov. O'Malley for "bringing no-nonsense, statistics-based performance measurement to his state, producing a better-informed, better-managed government."

I hope you're as proud as I am that Gov. O'Malley has, with your support, made Maryland a model of smart, 21st-century governing tactics.

Can he count on your continued support to keep up his work to make Maryland a leading example of smart government — with real-world results that benefit all of us?

Contribute to Gov. O'Malley's campaign now:

http://www.martinomalley.com/SmartGoverning

As Governing notes, states around the country are struggling through tough times — and Gov. O'Malley is helping to prove that "strong, smart leadership is possible in the most difficult of circumstances."

When resources are scarce, it's more important than ever that they're used as efficiently as possible.

With programs like BayStat and StateStat, Gov. O'Malley has ensured that resources don't go to waste on projects that don't work, and that taxpayers' dollars are put to use where they will do the most good.

He's accomplished it by making sure that agencies are coordinating with each other, that their leaders are held accountable for their work, and that data is used to assess progress toward goals.

By re-imagining how Maryland's government is run, Governing writes, Gov. O'Malley has shown that states "can improve performance by measuring what they do and relentlessly monitoring their progress."

Gov. O'Malley will continue to put his unique vision to work for Maryland in the years to come — if we give him the support he needs to do it.

Support the O'Malley/Brown campaign with a donation now:

http://www.martinomalley.com/SmartGoverning

Thank you,

Tom Russell
Campaign Manager
O'Malley/Brown Campaign