Offshore Drilling and the Gulf Oil Leak Disaster
June 30, 2010
Jim Rutledge, Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate
As many of you know, initial stages of offshore oil exploration have been conducted along Maryland, Delaware and Virginia’s coastal waters, with indications of potentially productive wells. This could mean substantial employment and revenue for Marylanders if the oil industry finds these areas to be favorable, and can move us forward on the long road to energy independence, but environmental challenges abound.
Senators and Representatives were quick to blame BP for the disaster that occurred on April 20, but the fact is that Senators and Representatives have responsibility for oversight of the federal agencies that monitor companies such as BP and Exxon to conduct oil drilling in a safe, proven manner. In fact, Barbara Mikulski is a member of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, but she, like other members of the majority, failed to exercise oversight, instead choosing to blame the disaster solely on BP. She ignored the GAO’s report in 2008 that cited severe deficiencies and gross misconduct in the US Minerals Management Service.
As your Senator, Jim Rutledge will hold federal Agencies and Departments, like the Department of Interior, accountable for performance using common sense tools that were developed for solid program management and product development. For example, NASA’s Technology Readiness Level or TRL* rating system is used to help decide if a new process or product is ready to move into the next stage of development or production. Had the MMS applied TRL principles to evaluate BP’s application to drill a deep well, approval would not have been granted because BP could not demonstrate their state of readiness to proceed to the next stage - - the actual drilling.
The difference between Rutledge and Mikulski is that as your Senator, Jim Rutledge will be working for you, the American Citizens, and not the oil companies or foreign businesses. A Democrat-led Congress was lax on holding federal agencies accountable for performance and ethics. When you send Jim Rutledge to the US Senate, he won’t permit Agencies or oil companies to use our oceans as offshore laboratories to try unproven ideas that can jeopardize our shores, our seafood, and our Bay. As your Senator, Jim Rutledge will demand that companies engaged in off-shore drilling have developed and tested disaster management plans and equipment before new, risky processes are approved.
* An Expanded TRL Assessment Chart can be downloaded from www.Voters2010Guide.com
jimrutledge@rutledgeforussenate.com |
U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Rutledge-Taxes Raised Overnight
June 27, 2010
U.S. Candidate Jim Rutledge
FOREST HILL, Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Rutledge is disappointed that Congress has failed taxpayers again by raising taxes in the middle of the night. The House and Senate Conference Committee agreed to a financial reform bill that will have serious consequences for consumers. The legislation contained over 1900 pages and calls for 19 billion dollars in taxes to establish a new bureaucracy in Washington. Jim Rutledge said, “Washington always ends up solving one problem by creating another.”
The Rutledge for U.S. Senate Campaign believes the hasty actions by Congress regarding the Wall Street Reform Bill may result in harmful consequences to the economy. Financial analysts are warning that this legislation may limit access to credit, stymie economic growth, and cost jobs. In the rush to provide Barack Obama a political victory Liberals refused to address the government controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which has already cost taxpayers 145 billion dollars since the housing collapse.
Washington’s response to every crisis is to create a bigger bureaucracy. The Rutledge Campaign points to Thursday’s Washington Times article written by Jason Clemens and Julie Kaszton which states, “government is expanding the one truly systemic risk to our economy: itself.” Jim Rutledge said, “Once again Washington has over stepped its mandate in pursuit of bigger government.”
Jim Rutledge agrees that the biggest obstacles to economic recovery are career politicians like Barbara Mikulski who continue to tax and spend. Rutledge said, “Washington spends too much, takes too much, and refuses to be held accountable.” The Rutledge for Senate Campaign thinks its time to cut spending, cut taxes and reduce the size of government.
For more information about Jim Rutledge and his campaign for U.S. Senate in Maryland, please visit the campaign online at www.rutledgeforussenate.com.
Summer Exhibit hosts local artists by Vickie Grinder
June 24, 2010
The summer exhibit at the Thurmont Regional Library Art Gallery is under way displaying a pair of talented local artists: Emily Sloviko and Nancy Houston. The art exhibition will hang until August 27th. The tour is self-guided with all paintings numbered to coincide with the information located at the beginning of the tour upon arrival.
Emily Sloviko was born and raised in Winchester, Virginia but has lived in the Thurmont area for many years. She and her husband Fred have owned and operated the Rambler Inn in Thurmont for 30 years. Before retiring in 2004, Emily never formally trained as an artist but her mother, Earlene Cone, an artist of many mediums, introduced her to oil paint at an early age. Emily is drawn to realistic style of painting and she primarily works in acrylics now.
Nancy Houston is a long time resident of Thurmont and is currently employed as a surgical assistant at Catoctin Veterinary Clinic. She currently enjoys painting the dogs, cats, horses and other pets that have formed a special bond with their people. Nancy has a strong family history in the arts so it was not surprising that she felt a calling to the visual arts at an early age. She began her instruction in her early 20’s under local artist Dennis Blalock at his Firedrake Fine Arts Studio, in Thurmont. Dennis’s instruction focused not only on the craft of painting but the more important art of seeing. Nancy experimented with many mixed media techniques before finding acrylic on canvas to be her method of choice. Ms. Houston’s work was featured in the Thurmont Times in April of this year.
Take a break and enjoy the talents of two local ladies!
O’Mally-Brown Campaign
June 24, 2010
Governor Martin O’Malley
O’Mally-Brown Campaign
Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony Brown will pick up where they left off four years ago-a gubernatorial race with former Governor Bob Erlich. I contacted the O’Malley-Brown Campaign and requested a statement in reference to the upcoming governors’ election. The following is a statement released by Rick Abbruzzese, Deputy Campaign Manager for the O’Malley in regards to the Erlich Campaign:
“This is not a plan. Bob Ehrlich’s so-called plan is all talk and no action - he is proposing a commission, a summit, a task force, three reviews and two explorations, but nothing to actually create jobs or help small businesses struggling because of the global recession. This lip service is insulting because Maryland’s small businesses and families expect and deserve more from a former governor. As governor, Bob Ehrlich actually proposed the largest-ever increase in state spending and increased taxes and fees that hurt Maryland’s small businesses and families, while benefiting special interests. Now as a lobbyist, Bob Ehrlich has spent the last four years helping his clients export American jobs, bail out Wall Street banks, and defend giant oil companies. In stark contrast, Governor O’Malley has delivered results, including the Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit to put unemployed Marylanders back to work and a rapid response small business loan guaranty program to get credit flowing again to our small businesses.” Governor O’Malley’s record of progress is listed.
Be sure to follow daily press releases under the “today” tab
Governor O’Malley Record of Progress
Job Creation Tax Credit
- The Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit signed into law this year by Governor O’Malley will give any business that hires an unemployed Marylander a tax credit of $5,000. In the FY2011 budget, Governor O’Malley allocates $20 million for the new jobs program.
- With this year’s budget, the O’Malley-Brown Administration created the Maryland Small Business Credit Recovery Program to streamline the loan approval process and allow the State to guarantee a small percentage of loans, helping banks provide much-needed capital for our small businesses.
Innovative Partnerships to Create Jobs
- Governor O’Malley announced a public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake to create 5,700 new direct and indirect jobs at the port.
- With incentives from the State of Maryland, General Motors announced that it will produce the next generation of electric drive motors at its facility in White Marsh. The company will construct a high-volume electric drive manufacturing facility at the Baltimore County Transmission plant, creating approximately 200 jobs and retaining hundreds more already at the plant.
- After launching Bio2020, a 10-year, $1.3 billion investment in life science and biotech research and development, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is continuing their strong support in this emerging field by increasing the Biotech Tax Credit from $6 million to $8 million.
- Governor O’Malley was recognized this year for his outstanding leadership in growing and promoting Maryland’s biotechnology industry. The award was presented by Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) CEO Jim Greenwood and Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB) Chairman H. Thomas Watkins.
- Governor O’Malley launched a multipronged strategy to build on Maryland’s cyber security assets to create and protect Maryland jobs, and to advance the cause of security not just in our State but for our country and allies across the globe.
- BRAC will bring an estimated 60,000 jobs to the State of Maryland. Governor O’Malley’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Subcabinet, led by Lt. Governor Brown recently, designated five “BRAC Zones” throughout Maryland in 2008 to help direct and prepare for BRAC-related growth opportunities while enhancing the quality of life for all Maryland citizens. In 2009, two more BRAC zones for workforce development were designated: the City of Aberdeen and Howard County.
Expanding Opportunity for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
- Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown recently launched MBE University, a conference that travels throughout Maryland to offer training, opportunities, and information on the tools necessary for minority or woman-owned businesses to expand and create jobs. In FY 2009, the State made $1 billion in procurement payments to MBE firms which helped create or save 18,906 jobs.
- In Fiscal Year 2009, Maryland state agencies achieved 22 percent MBE participation, up from 20 percent in the previous year. These include over $1.6 billion in awards to MBE firms, an increase of 26 percent in one year, and $1 billion in payments to MBE firms.
- Governor O’Malley launched the Maryland Clean Energy Center, which is tasked with moving Maryland forward by creating 100,000 new green jobs Statewide through the development and deployment of clean energy technologies all across our State.
- The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 proposed by the Administration this year will provide $10 million in tax credits in FY 2011 to support thousands of construction jobs to revitalize our communities and neighborhoods.
- Governor O’Malley launched the Maryland Skills2Compete program to prepare our citizens for the increasing number of “middle-skill” job openings. The initiative will ensure that every Marylander has access to at least two years of training or education past high school.
- Governor O’Malley created the Higher Education Investment Fund, Maryland’s first-ever dedicated funding source for higher education. Since being established in 2007, the HEIF has invested more than $100 million in Maryland’s institutions of higher learning, with more than $42 million planned for this year alone to make critical investments in higher education and workforce development possible across our State.
- Governor O’Malley’s budgets have increased student financial aid by $95 million, with a record investment of $462 million for tuition assistance and scholarships to help more students and families across Maryland realize their dreams of a college education.
- Governor O’Malley has invested 35% more in Maryland’s community colleges since taking office, bringing the total 4-year commitment to $1 billion.
- In 2009, Maryland retained jobs better than all but 4 other states in the country. Additionally, 58 new business enterprises decided to locate in Maryland last year, creating or saving 6,465 jobs.
- Maryland’s unemployment rate in Maryland remains more than 20% below the national average as the Administration continues to work with local and national business partners to expand opportunity in every part of our state.
- Under Governor O’Malley, Maryland is one of only eight states to maintain a AAA bond rating certified by all 3 major bond rating agencies — saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
Bob Erlich Campaign in full swing by Vickie Grinder
June 24, 2010
Photo courtesy John Kinnaird
Seems former Governor Bob Ehrlich (R) wants his old job back in Maryland. This announcement means another face-off of his opponent and current Governor Martin O’Malley. Erlich hopes to win back his seat as Maryland’s governor in a much-anticipated rematch with incumbent Governor O’Malley, who defeated him in 2006. Bob Erlich visited Thurmont in June and met with a group of residents and business owners at the Guardian Hose Company. Governor Bob Erlich and former Lt. Governor Michael Steele are no strangers to Thurmont. In 2005, Thurmont was awarded the Main Street Destination by Erlich and Steele. Thurmont First had the opportunity to interact with this administration on several occasions. During the June town hall session in Thurmont, Erlich touched upon the recently passed Health Care Reform Bill which he called “a disaster.” He also commented if reelected he most certainly would challenge the bill and if in fact it is legal. The Erlich Campaign is fuming about higher taxes which are costing jobs and also feels the state must develop a better business reputation than it currently represents. Erlich feels we must decrease taxes to attract more companies to do business in Maryland. Erlich also stated in a recent appearance in Frederick at Colonial Jewelers, “if elected the sales tax would be decreased from six to five percent.” Erlich will focus on what has happened to the state during the four year term under Dem Governor Martin O’Malley. Erlich recently made the comment, “While more than 200,000 Marylanders are out of work, while our taxes rise and our incomes fall, Governor O’Malley has chosen to mislead you with falsehoods about my record in an effort to distract you from his. Governor O’Malley has already damaged our reputation as a place to do business; we should not allow him to do the same to our standards for honest political debate. I think 2010 is going to be the message year. The message from small business: Enough,”
Erlich has focused on “Take Maryland Back,” while O’Malley’s touts his administration will “Take Maryland Forward.” This campaign is heating up with fireworks on the horizon, and both candidates have vigorously emerged from their corners for what promises to be the event of the season!
Click the “today” tab for daily press releases from both camps!
Rosemary McDermott Democratic Candidate Judge of the Orphans
June 24, 2010
Rosemary McDermott Democratic Candidate Judge of the Orphans
Court for Frederick County
| On January 8, 2009 an earthquake struck Costa Rica. That same day, my life was shaken, not by an earthquake, but by my doctors. I had just been discharged by the hospital after suffering a serious case of pneumonia followed by a heart attack. The hospital cardiologist informed me that I needed to start my “good-byes.” My heart would no longer take me much further along the path of life. I had a very short time left to live.Not one to give up, I went to my cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Traill sent me to Philadelphia’s esteemed Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Two months later I was the recipient of a heart of a 22-year old young man, who had been killed in an accident. His family wanted a part of their son and brother to live on. Now I am living a second chance at life, with the mind and experiences of a 66-year old woman, and the heart and vitality of a 22 year old young man. I cannot wait to begin my new life. My burning desire with this new chance at life is to contribute my skills, talents and new-found energy towards public service.
I was advised to close my law practice in Thurmont, Maryland after the heart transplant; sixty hour weeks were discouraged by my doctors. With a strong background in education, government and law, I found a perfect way to give back to my community: service as an Orphans’ Court Judge. What is an Orphans’ Court? No, it’s not a court for orphans. It’s a probate court. When a Will of a deceased loved one is contested, the parties go before and Orphans’ Court Judge to seek a decision. An Orphans’ Court Judge must be a person of compassion tempered by an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the law. After a loved one’s death, the survivors are suffering from grief and other emotions. The Orphans’ Court Judge hears the facts, reviews the law, and in a rational, caring manner issues a decision that is based on the law while at the same time sensitive to the situation. A gift of communicating the law in an understandable manner goes far in mending any chasms created by the emotional stress of having lost a loved one. I know I am that person. I would bring all my experience as an attorney, as a teacher, and as a caring citizen of Frederick County to the position. It would be a way to support the community that has supported me during one of the biggest challenges of my life; having a heart transplant. I would be honored to serve you as your Judge of the Orphans’ Court for Frederick County, Maryland. |
Governor O’Malley Record of Progress
June 24, 2010
Governor Martin O’Malley
Job Creation Tax Credit
- The Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit signed into law this year by Governor O’Malley will give any business that hires an unemployed Marylander a tax credit of $5,000. In the FY2011 budget, Governor O’Malley allocates $20 million for the new jobs program.
- With this year’s budget, the O’Malley-Brown Administration created the Maryland Small Business Credit Recovery Program to streamline the loan approval process and allow the State to guarantee a small percentage of loans, helping banks provide much-needed capital for our small businesses.
Innovative Partnerships to Create Jobs
- Governor O’Malley announced a public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake to create 5,700 new direct and indirect jobs at the port.
- With incentives from the State of Maryland, General Motors announced that it will produce the next generation of electric drive motors at its facility in White Marsh. The company will construct a high-volume electric drive manufacturing facility at the Baltimore County Transmission plant, creating approximately 200 jobs and retaining hundreds more already at the plant.
- Video on the General Motors Plant
- After launching Bio2020, a 10-year, $1.3 billion investment in life science and biotech research and development, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is continuing their strong support in this emerging field by increasing the Biotech Tax Credit from $6 million to $8 million.
- Governor O’Malley was recognized this year for his outstanding leadership in growing and promoting Maryland’s biotechnology industry. The award was presented by Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) CEO Jim Greenwood and Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board (LSAB) Chairman H. Thomas Watkins.
- Governor O’Malley launched a multipronged strategy to build on Maryland’s cyber security assets to create and protect Maryland jobs, and to advance the cause of security not just in our State but for our country and allies across the globe.
- BRAC will bring an estimated 60,000 jobs to the State of Maryland. Governor O’Malley’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Subcabinet, led by Lt. Governor Brown recently, designated five “BRAC Zones” throughout Maryland in 2008 to help direct and prepare for BRAC-related growth opportunities while enhancing the quality of life for all Maryland citizens. In 2009, two more BRAC zones for workforce development were designated: the City of Aberdeen and Howard County.
Expanding Opportunity for Minority and Women-Owned Businesses
- Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown recently launched MBE University, a conference that travels throughout Maryland to offer training, opportunities, and information on the tools necessary for minority or woman-owned businesses to expand and create jobs. In FY 2009, the State made $1 billion in procurement payments to MBE firms which helped create or save 18,906 jobs.
- In Fiscal Year 2009, Maryland state agencies achieved 22 percent MBE participation, up from 20 percent in the previous year. These include over $1.6 billion in awards to MBE firms, an increase of 26 percent in one year, and $1 billion in payments to MBE firms.
- Governor O’Malley launched the Maryland Clean Energy Center, which is tasked with moving Maryland forward by creating 100,000 new green jobs Statewide through the development and deployment of clean energy technologies all across our State.
- The Sustainable Communities Act of 2010 proposed by the Administration this year will provide $10 million in tax credits in FY 2011 to support thousands of construction jobs to revitalize our communities and neighborhoods.
- Governor O’Malley launched the Maryland Skills2Compete program to prepare our citizens for the increasing number of “middle-skill” job openings. The initiative will ensure that every Marylander has access to at least two years of training or education past high school.
- Governor O’Malley created the Higher Education Investment Fund, Maryland’s first-ever dedicated funding source for higher education. Since being established in 2007, the HEIF has invested more than $100 million in Maryland’s institutions of higher learning, with more than $42 million planned for this year alone to make critical investments in higher education and workforce development possible across our State.
- Governor O’Malley’s budgets have increased student financial aid by $95 million, with a record investment of $462 million for tuition assistance and scholarships to help more students and families across Maryland realize their dreams of a college education.
- Governor O’Malley has invested 35% more in Maryland’s community colleges since taking office, bringing the total 4-year commitment to $1 billion.
- In 2009, Maryland retained jobs better than all but 4 other states in the country. Additionally, 58 new business enterprises decided to locate in Maryland last year, creating or saving 6,465 jobs.
- Maryland’s unemployment rate in Maryland remains more than 20% below the national average as the Administration continues to work with local and national business partners to expand opportunity in every part of our state.
- Under Governor O’Malley, Maryland is one of only eight states to maintain a AAA bond rating certified by all 3 major bond rating agencies — saving taxpayers millions of dollars.
O’Malley’s Top Transportation Aide Skipped All 30 Meetings with MARC Rider Advisory Panel
June 24, 2010
Photo courtesy John Kinnaird
ANNAPOLIS - After 900 passengers were stranded on overheated MARC trains this week, Bob Ehrlich released the following statement regarding the O’Malley Administration’s culture of apathy toward MARC commuters. This apathy is demonstrated by the O’Malley Administration’s failure to send its top aides to the state’s MARC Rider Advisory Council meetings. The Council is an independent group of citizens appointed to help State government improve MARC service for commuters. The Council’s minutes indicate that Governor O’Malley’s transportation secretary skipped all 30 meetings convened by the commuter panel since Governor O’Malley took office. By contrast, Ehrlich Administration Transportation Secretary Bob Flanagan attended the majority of MARC Rider Council meetings over four years. Further, Governor O’Malley’s current MTA Administrator has skipped every Council meeting since taking the job in December. The O’Malley Administration is also projected to cut $33 million from MARC next fiscal year.
”Governor O’Malley and his senior transportation leadership have had four years and 30 meetings with MARC riders to learn what’s on commuters’ minds, and chose not to participate. Had they given this citizen panel the respect it deserves, they would have learned years ago of declining service, shoddy operations, overcrowded trains, limited parking, and a general sense of frustration among riders.
”This will change if I am elected Governor. My first transportation secretary was an active participant in this panel’s discussions, and my next transportation secretary will play an equally active role. Commuters deserve a proactive Administration that anticipates and fixes problems, not one that reacts only when the press starts calling.”
The MARC Rider Advisory Council includes 15 members, all of whom are regular MARC commuters. Riders from all three lines serve on the Council, with the goal of representing an accurate cross-section of customers. More information on the panel can be found here: http://mta.maryland.gov/services/marc/serviceInformation/MARC_Riders_Advisory%20Council.cfm
Authority: Bob Ehrlich for Maryland Committee Terry Hancock, Treasurer
U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Rutledge favorite for Baltimore County
June 22, 2010
U.S. Senate Candidate Jim Rutledge was the overwhelming favorite of Baltimore County Republicans in a straw poll conducted Thursday. Rutledge received a super majority of ballots cast to gain the endorsement. Baltimore County is considered a “Bell Weather” county for candidates seeking statewide office. Jim Rutledge said, “This group reflects the heart and soul of the Republican Party in Baltimore County, and I am proud to receive their endorsement.”
The Rutledge for Senate Campaign believes this endorsement is another example of the support and momentum Jim Rutledge is garnering in his effort to reform Washington and return a conservative majority to the U.S. Senate. Rutledge stated, “The Baltimore County Republicans are well informed and very active and this result shows our campaign has mushroomed.”
Jim Rutledge continues to fight to end the out of control spending of career politicians like Barbara Mikulski. The time has come for Marylanders to unite and help return the values of Ronald Reagan to Washington.
For more information about Jim Rutledge and his campaign for U.S. Senate in Maryland, please visit the campaign online at www.rutledgeforussenate.com.
Mike Cady announces candidacy for Orphans Court Judge
June 19, 2010
The Orphans’ Court consists of three elected judges who are responsible for the supervision of estates that must go through probate. They may also appoint guardians for the person and property of minors (under age of eighteen). The Orphan’s Court convenes several times a week to conduct formal hearings involving estate and guardianship disputes and rule on petitions regarding them.
Having served as Vice President of the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners from 2002 to 2006, I feel both qualified and prepared to serve the county in this capacity. As a Commissioner, I was involved in numerous administrative and quasi-judicial hearings, and presided over many of them. In addition to my duties as a Commissioner, I also actively served as Commissioner Liaison to the:
- Adult Public Guardianship Board
- Child Advocacy Center
- Substance Abuse Council
- Commission on Disabilities
- Coalition for the Homeless
- Board of Education
- Planning Commission
- Tourism Council
- Parks & Recreation Commission
- Weinberg Center for the Arts
For more information centurion1973@gmail.com
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