Some Relief at the Water's Edge

Looks like the General Assembly is poised to grant some much needed relief to our weary shorelines. Rather than continue to allow the rocking (and to a lesser extent, bulkheading) of our shorelines, the new law, requested by MDE, would require shoreline stabilization take the form of "living shorelines", unless "a property owner could prove erosion is so severe that only an armored shoreline will do."

That's great news for the Bay, even though hundreds of miles of of its periphery have already been hardened. Looks like a number of strong environmental bills are going to come out of the 2008 session. I will re-cap them here after the Assembly adjourns.


From L to R: Wooden Bulkhead, Stone Rip Rap, Headland Breakwater with Living Shoreline

Leopold Appeals to Legislature

Sunday's Sun includes a list of the items that the County Executive is hoping to procure during the 2008 legislative session. Included are:

• Allowing the County to re-coup the $100,000 the Health Department spent in testing well for fly ash contamination from the $1 million fine MDE levied on Constellation and the Reliable Mining operation.
  
• Charging more money for restaurant health inspection permits.
  
• Collecting additional funds from the State to help provide bonuses for science/math/engineering teachers.
  
• Allowing detention facilities to administer polygraph tests to new hires.
  

Homestead Application Repeal Considered

A couple of weeks ago, I pointed readers to the new application that the State requires to extend the Homestead property tax credit this year. Now, faced with a public backlash regarding the application requirement, some in the General Assembly are seeking its repeal. Just to be on the safe side, if you own property in Maryland, you should probably submit the paperwork to avoid a steep tax hike.

Let's Get Ready for the 2008 Session

Today's Capital has profiles and contact information for the entire Anne Arundel County Legislative Delegation.

Anne Arundel County's Delegates and Senators are a strange mix. We are represented by the Speaker of the House, one of the most powerful individuals in the Assembly, but also by the "least effective Senator", and the "fourth least effective Delegate".

We're also home to at least one Delegate who can't seem to get himself out from under clouds of suspicion about various illegal activities.

Newcomers, James King (R) and Steve Schuh (R) bring a set of fresh faces, and some interesting new ideas to the Assembly. Let's hope they can all work together to make Maryland a happier, healthier place to live.

Terrapin Ban Update

If Governor O'Malley signs the terrapin harvest ban on Tuesday, as he is expected to do, it will go into effect on July 1st. Here's hoping that the state reptile never sees another bowl of turtle soup.

Suspicious Scholarships

On Monday, the Capital ran a piece describing one of the less well known practices conducted by some Delegates and Senators. Each year, each Senator is provide with approximately $138,000 and each Delegate receives about $35,000 to dole out as "legislative scholarships." The total amount allocated to the programs for FY08 is $11.4 million.

Why Senators or Delegates are uniquely qualified to determine who is eligible for need-based aid is an important question (particularly given that the State already has institutions set up for precisely this purpose). More important, to my mind, is the question raised by Common Cause: Aren't financial gifts, given with no oversight, extremely susceptible to abuse?

Several proposals are on the table, and both Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to retain vestiges of the program (although other Republicans and Democrats are very uneasy with the program). My suggestion is, abolish the programs and divert the funds to the Maryland Higher Education Commission to distribute as scholarships. Certainly, there's no way Senator Jennie Forehand's (D - Montgomery) bill to "lift the $2,000 cap on awards and allow senators to pay the annual undergraduate tuition and fees for a full-time student at the University of Maryland College Park" should be allowed to pass.

I encourage you to check out the list below and look for familiar names. There are a number that raise red flags for me, including children living in exclusive, gated communities and the children of lobbyists making six figures (or more).

Scholarship recipients from Districts 21, 30, 31, and 32

Local Delegates and Senators who opt out:

Senator John Astle (D) (Did not opt out until '08).

Del. Virginia Clagett (D)

Washing Our Hands of Phosphorus

This week the House of Delegates passed a bill phasing out the use of phosphorus in dishwashing detergents. If passed in the Senate and signed by the Governor (who says he will sign the bill), Maryland will join Washington state in being the only states to require phosphate-free detergent (so far).

Legislature Decides Not to Tie Allstate's Hands

Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee wisely decided against passing a bill that would have required insurers to write homeowners' insurance policies in coastal areas that some have deemed a poor investment because of their risk.

As I've said here before, there's no reason private (or public) insurers should subsidize poor and/or dangerous investment choices on the part of individuals. Floodprone areas, or those susceptible to other sorts of natural catastrophes shouldn't be built on from this point forward. It's that simple.

DeGrange Has Change of Heart

I think it's sweet that Senator DeGrange has decided he's so secure in his defense of "property rights" that he can sponser a bill and announce it to the world on the editorial page of the Sun. Too bad, when it mattered most, he voted to allow Baltimore County to steal the homes of working class residents in 2000.

Sun Legislative Guide

The Sun's online guide to the 2007 Legislature.

Senator Jimeno Retires

Sun coverage here.

Capital coverage here.

Dwyer Wins After Recount

Anne Arundel County will be saddled with an embarassing Don Dwyer for at least 4 more years. Joan Cadden lost by 25 votes after the absentee and provisional ballots were recounted.

George Wins District 30 Race

Barbara Samorajczyk (D) has decided to withdraw her request for a re-count and conceded the District 30 House of Delegates race to Ron George (R). George retains the seat, formerly held by Herb McMillan, for the Republicans.

Close Delegate Races Go to Court

The races for District 31 and District 30 House of Delegates are going to court. Democrats Joan Cadden, who is losing by 28 votes to Don Dwyer, and Barbara Samorajczyk, who is losing by 53 votes to Ron George, are contending that 242 votes that should have been counted in their races we're inappropriately disqualified.

Quote of the Week

"If you think I was ineffective before, Katie bar the door." Delegate (for the time being) Don Dwyer, on his potential to be even less effective over the next 4 years should he be re-elected. He currently trails Joan Cadden by 30 votes.

Republicans Suffer Local Setbacks

With the County Executive race still too close to call (Leopold up by 344 votes) at least a few things are fairly clear:

In the District 21 Senate race, Jim Rosapepe handed incumbent Democrat turned Republican John Giannetti a resounding defeat (the Democrats previously held, and swept the 3 House seats).

In the District 30 Senate race, John Astle appears to have held his Senate seat, ousting challenger Herb McMillan in what had to be one of the nastiest races in the County. (The House race is still too close to call, though incumbents Mike Busch and Virginia Claggett look safe, and Barbara Samorajczyk leads the closest Republican, Ron George by about 500 votes). If Samorajczyk holds on, the Dems pick up one House seat here (McMillan's).

In the District 31 Senate race, Democrat Walt Shandrowsky leads an extremely tight race with Bryan Simonaire (this seat was previously held by Democrat Phil Jimeno). The District 31 House race is a mess, but current leaders are incumber Joan Cadden, and Republican challengers Steve Schuh and Nic Kipke (Republican incumbent Don Dwyer trails Kipke by 500 votes).

In the District 32 Senate race, Democrat Ed DeGrange cruised to re-election. The Democrats picked up one seat in the House, with former Councilwoman Pam Beidle knocking off Republican incumbent Terry Gilleland. Dems pick up one House seat.

In the District 33 Senate race, Republican incumbent Janet Greenip dispatched challenger Scott Hymes by almost the exact same margin she beat former County Executive, Bobby Neall in 2002. The Republicans will retain all three House seats.

Democrats Frank Weathersbee (State's Attorney) and Ron Bateman (Sheriff) appear to have won as well.

Capital Coverage of State Senate Races

District 21
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33

District 31 House Profile

Today's Sun covers the race for District 31 House of Delegates. The race involves Democrats Joan Cadden, Thomas Fleckenstein, and Craig Reynolds against Republicans Don Dwyer, Nick Kipke, and Steve Scuh. Delegate John Leopold, who is running for County Executive, has vacated his seat in the District.

Capital Coverage of the House of Delegates Races

District 21
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33A
District 33B

Capital Endorsements: State Senate

Today's Capital lays forth their endorsements in the five area State Senate races.

District 21
Jim Rosapepe (D)

District 30
Herb McMillan (R)

District 31
Walt Shandrowsky (D)

District 32
Ed DeGrange (D)

District 33
Scott Hymes (D)