By Maryland Notebook
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
As Congress debates President Bush's plan for a troop buildup in Iraq, Democrats in the Maryland legislature are weighing in with a resounding no.
A one-page letter signed by 83 lawmakers and sent yesterday to the delegation on Capitol Hill starts: "The people of Maryland have not been shielded from the horrors taking place in Iraq."
"When will it end?" the passionate letter continues, urging the delegation of eight Democrats and two Republicans to oppose the president's proposed surge of 20,000 troops. "It is a scandal to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on prolonging a reckless and futile war."
State legislatures don't traditionally dip their toes into matters of foreign policy. But on the Iraq war, the General Assembly has a lot of company: Twelve other states, including California, Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico, have gone even further this year, approving formal resolutions of opposition.
"People have said, 'Should the state legislatures be weighing in on this?' " said freshman Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-Montgomery), who wrote the letter with Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George's). "The answer is yes." At a news conference yesterday, a dozen other Democrats expressed their distaste for a troop buildup, saying that their constituents have spoken.
Pinsky said he approached several Republicans to sign the letter but was rebuffed. He opted for a letter instead of a resolution so that it would arrive in time for this week's congressional debate. When the country went to war four years ago, he was one of 11 Democrats to sign a letter opposing the invasion, prompting an emotional debate on the Senate floor. "It got pretty ugly," Pinsky recalled.
-- Lisa Rein
Clean Cars Bill Moves Forward
Legislation to require the automobile industry to sell cars that create less pollution cleared a House of Delegates committee yesterday.
The Clean Cars bill, sponsored by Del. Elizabeth Bobo (D-Howard), would slash the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to greenhouse gases, requiring new cars to be more fuel-efficient. The measure, backed by top General Assembly leaders and Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), could be the signature environmental policy the legislature passes this year.
The mostly party-line vote in the House Environmental Matters Committee was 17 to 4, with Democrats in favor.
Automakers lobbied hard to strip key provisions but were unsuccessful. The industry says the changes would force higher prices on car buyers and make it difficult to buy large vehicles, which are less fuel-efficient than smaller cars. The bill could reach the House floor this week.
-- Lisa Rein
Health-Care Measure Squelched
Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) says he's making health care a priority this year. The Finance Committee chairman said late Monday that he planned to file a bill to expand coverage to some of the 780,000 uninsured in Maryland using revenue from a $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase.
"I'm 100 percent engaged in expanding medical coverage," he said. The bill would mirror a measure sponsored by Del. Peter A. Hammen (D-Baltimore) and backed by House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel). Middleton said he was submitting the bill on behalf of the Greater Baltimore Committee, a regional business association.
But by yesterday, the bill was nowhere to be found, even after Middleton's office released a lengthy fax with the details. It seems Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) put the kibosh on it. Miller is cool to a tobacco tax unless it is used to help close the state's looming budget deficit. And Middleton is one of a handful of senators vying for Miller's job when he retires in three years.
"He knows what we can afford to do and what we can't," Miller said. "I did indicate that it was kind of inconsistent with where we need to be next year."
-- Lisa Rein
Concerns Over Early Voting
Republicans stalled two bills yesterday that would establish early voting in Maryland, raising questions about how the measures would work.
The bills, which are on the legislative fast track and are being sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), would allow voters to decide whether to amend the state Constitution to allow ballots to be cast in the week before the election. If the bills are approved, voters would decide whether to change the Constitution in 2008.
The General Assembly approved legislation to allow early voting, but the law was deemed unconstitutional by the state's highest court.
On the Senate floor, Minority Whip Allan H. Kittleman (Howard) asked whether the early voting law that was approved by the General Assembly earlier would automatically go into effect, and Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (Frederick) asked where voters would be able to cast their ballots.
Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary's) said new legislation would have to be enacted.
House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (Calvert) said Republicans want to ensure that some "partisan" provisions of last year's bill are stripped out, particularly locations of specific polling places for early voting.
"They gave partisan advantage to Democrats," O'Donnell said. In his district, for example, Waldorf, a Democratic-leaning area, was on the list instead of La Plata, the county seat. The House is expected to take up the bill again today.
Sen. Dolores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County) said those details could be worked out "down the road."
-- Ovetta Wiggins
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