May 2003 Newsletter

Contents

• President's Report by Steve Lafferty
• New Format and Time for Club Meetings
• May 13 Meeting - Legislative Wrap-up
• April Membership Meeting - A Commentary
• Towsontown Festival
• Democratic Pride Dinner Postponed
• Governor Ehrlich and the Truth
• Delegate Doctor Dan Reports
• Ben Franklin Tales
• Membership Update
• Membership
• Upcoming Club Events
• What Do You Think?

President's Report by Steve Lafferty

Let me start by thanking various Club members for recent contributions that should be acknowledged:

• Tom Quirk for an awesome Legislative Reception which, for the first time, brought together Clubs and legislators from throughout the County, Congressmen, the County Executive, Judges and a former County Executive;
• Margie Brassil and Herb Lodder for organizing a thoughtful and productive April meeting where ideas and suggestions for the Club's future took center stage;
• Cheryl Bost who was elected as the next President of the Teachers Association of Baltimore County;
• Vicki Schultz-Unger for her tireless efforts to retain funding of public school education of children in the County;
• Judy Katz, who along with Margie, brought back many members;
• Noel Levy for his very successful Stream Clean Up as part of Earth Day;
• Tom Dawes for his persistent voice on behalf of the federal budget, peace and the protection of Social Security; and,
• Bob Derbyshire who stepped up to organize the Club's Fundraiser.

As Margie reports later, Club members at our April meeting identified priorities that the Board will now use to set out a short term action plan. We need to take these ideas and energy and build for future - with your involvement.

Now that the day-to-day fighting in Iraq is winding down, we can only hope that the national Democrats raise their voices about President Bush's dramatic efforts to reduce environment protection; about his economic plan that mostly helps the very wealthy and creates huge deficits without creating jobs or stimulating production - it is clearly not a remedy for success; and about a federally mandated program for schools (No Child Left Behind) that is unfunded and has caused an uproar in States throughout the nation.

In Maryland, Governor Ehrlich will take his plea into communities. Surely, he will blame Democrats and continue to deny that he proposed the property tax increase; that he could not present a coherent proposal for slots and needed help from the Senate President; that taking money from the Transportation Trust Fund does hurt local governments; and that Democrats cut taxes before he took office. His misrepresentations should not go unanswered.

The Governor has also made it clear that he is committed to cutting $1 billion from the budget. Contrary to the naive assertions of some, this cannot be recouped by eliminating waste. No, it means eliminating jobs and services to families, children, the disabled, poor, elderly and communities.

I guess this is the definition of changing the culture of government. And, consider the impact on groups that provide job training, provide day care for children and adults, and serve the mentally ill. As funds are reduced, their services - and the number of their employees - will be reduced. This truly is a change in the philosophy of government.

A story not reported (at least as of this writing) is how the Governor has undertaken his political purge of "second tier" officials. Making political contributions to Democrats, working for Democrats and being loyal to former Democratic leadership are all causes for termination. The spoils of politics, even if to the detriment of citizens and communities.

The end of the legislative session does not end the work and commitment needed. Certainly, the slots issue remains alive and well. Money needs to be preserved for Bridge to Excellence (Thornton report on education) and the Governor needs to be pushed do so.

County Executive Jim Smith has presented a budget that has money for more teachers, to increase the pay for first year teachers, for two more County Ride vehicles, for firefighter protection, a new police station and added support for older communities. The Council has a hearing on April 28 where you can lend your voice on these and other issues.

Adequate health care still is on the agenda. Health care costs are rising at 15-20% a year, employees' groups have made serious concessions and the legislature cut the Children's Health Program. Rep. Dick Gephardt sees this as his centerpiece. Health Care for All is still campaigning for these matters and needs support.

These are difficult times, economically and politically. It is important that, as Democrats, we continue to speak out, be involved in addressing the poor judgments of government and strive to bring others into the process so that we have leadership for tomorrow. Lend your voice to those issues that matter to you and help the Club be your voice for a stronger County and State.

Steve Lafferty

New Format and Time for Club Meetings

Starting in May - Social Time starts at 7 p.m. The Board of Directors wants to encourage all Club members and guests to have some time to socialize and just talk politics! So, starting at our May 13 meeting, we are changing the time and format of our meetings. We will have social time from 7 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. when we will start our regular program. We will try very hard to end our program by 8:30 p.m. and then allow time to get together to talk about the evening's speaker or presentation.

Quote:

"The worst government is the most moral. One composed of cynics is often very tolerant and humane. But when fanatics are on top, there is no limit to oppression."
H. L. Mencken, Mencken's Notebooks (1956)

May 13 Meeting - Legislative Wrap-up

The Club's monthly meeting in May will feature Sen. Jim Brochin (42nd District) and Del. Adrienne Jones (10th District).

Sen. Brochin is the first Democrat elected to represent the central part of the county in the legislature since 1994. He served on the Judicial Proceeding Committee and worked hard to bring support to Towson's revitalization efforts.

Del. Jones was the Speaker Pro Tem, the first African American woman to serve in that post. As a key House leader, she worked closely with Speaker Mike Busch.

Both will bring interesting perspectives to share with us. Please plan to attend - and bring your friends!

April Membership Meeting - A Commentary

By Margie Brassil and Herb Lodder

One purpose of the April meeting was for members to get to know one another, and we believe that aspect of the meeting was highly successful.

Another, equally important purpose of the meeting was to get feedback from club members about what they wanted from the CBCDC and what they wanted the club to accomplish during the next year. The ten general members and eight board members who attended April's meeting provided some very helpful feedback.

The answers to the question "What should be the club's priorities over the next year?" can be grouped into several major themes:

• Increase (club and party) membership, especially minority membership.
• Develop monthly general meetings that will attract more people to attend club meetings.
• Educate about Democratic issues and values.

Certainly all of these are worthy goals that the club should and could work on.

But, to the question "How can you help in realizing these priorities," there were few concrete ideas about how to achieve the above goals and no volunteers.

Not to despair, however. We're sure many of you would have liked to have had input on developing priorities for the club, but just couldn't make the meeting. And, we're sure many of you would like a chance to help the club, and the Democratic party, achieve its goals, but may be unsure how.

The next step will be for the board to create an action plan to achieve these goals. Then, don't be surprised when we call you to help us implement that plan; because the ONLY way we are going to build our strength and get more Democrats elected to office is when we ALL play an active role.

Towsontown Festival

Saturday May 3 ( 10 am to 6 pm) and Sunday May 4 (noon to 6 pm) we will be co-sponsoring a booth with the County Central Committee. We still need volunteers to staff the booth both days. We only need one or two hours of your time, so please give Margie Brassil a call to sign up. 410-377-6488

Democratic Pride Dinner Postponed

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the State Democratic Party, the Democratic Pride Dinner set for May 19 has had to be postponed. The State Party leaders worked very hard to line up the Presidential candidates as an important part of this annual event. Unfortunately, the pull of California worked against us. Those of us who are in the trenches appreciate the efforts of the State Party to bring us together.

Governor Ehrlich and the Truth

By Jim Kehl

The Maryland Republican Party recently asserted that Gov. Ehrlich and Republican legislators recently saved Maryland taxpayers $3 billion in additional taxes. This claim is disingenuous and illogical.

The GOP calculated the $3 billion of increased taxes by adding up all of the tax proposals enumerated by Maryland's General Assembly. These various ideas for increased taxes represented possible solutions to Md.'s projected deficits. However, estimates of Md.'s deficits have ranged from $1.2 to $1.7 billion. No legislator would vote for $3 billion of tax increases to solve a $1.7 billion deficit. At most, they would only vote for tax increases totaling $1.7 billion and even that assumes that they would not vote for any spending cuts.

The tax proposals are comparable to a restaurant's menu. No one expects a diner to order every choice on the menu. Instead, the diner will select the dishes he/she deems most desirable. The same can be said of the tax proposals. Various parties offered alternatives with the expectation that only a portion of the alternatives would be accepted. The notion that all $3 billion of proposed tax increases would have been enacted is ridiculous.

Governor Ehrlich himself proposed raising property taxes on all property owners by five cents per $100 of property value owned. The governor has also promised to veto revenue measures that would close corporate tax loopholes. Proposing property tax increases on all property owners while simultaneously refusing to close tax loopholes for corporations hardly constitutes "holding the line" on a working person's tax burden.

Finally, GOP chairman John Kane is the person who devised the "conversion tax." The conversion tax consists of corporate political contributions to the Republican Party by businesses who wished to be favorably viewed by the Ehrlich Administration. Mr. Kane does not consider this to be buying access or influence, but rather to be an investment in good government. John Kane's advocating tax minimization for the average person is like James Bond advocating celibacy. The messenger just does not fit the message.

Please keep these points in mind when you hear the GOP's talking points on this subject.

Quote:

"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground."
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Col. Edward Carrington (1788)

Delegate Doctor Dan Reports

Dear Friends,

Thank you again for your help, advice, and support during the 2003 legislative session. While headlines focused almost exclusively on the budget challenge, many other important things happened. I'll try to summarize these briefly; if you'd like further information or details on any topic, please let me know. You can also get information from my web site www.drdanmorhaim.com and the Maryland General Assembly site at mlis.state.md.us.

Maryland, like almost every other state, faced a marked downturn in revenues due to the slumping economy and an upsurge in social needs. At the same time, we all desire quality schools, a sound health care system, public safety, a growing economy, and a better environment. Since the state constitution mandates that a balanced budget be passed (unlike the Federal government, the State cannot deficit spend), a difficult and emotional debate ensued, and the legislature was faced with a difficult assignment. Regardless of whether or not slots are included in the equation, it is clear there will be unpleasant cuts to services and tax hikes.

For my part, I believe there are areas within government where spending can be more efficient and strategic. In my new position as Chair of the Government Operations subcommittee of the newly constituted Health and Government Operations Committee, I have the opportunity to do just that. This committee oversees procurement/purchasing, minority business enterprise, and other related issues. Because the state spends over $5 billion each year, this area becomes increasingly important.

As Chair, I am making sure that each tax dollar is spent wisely. I was the House floor leader for much of the successful legislation in this area, notably the bills that improve 911 emergency phone service, help small businesses and minority contractors seek resolution for disputes, facilitate the way contractors and building trade workers get paid, and review the state's procurement process to find efficiencies.

As someone who was an early critic of the proposed CareFirst conversion from nonprofit to for-profit status, I was heartened by the Insurance Commissioner's report forbidding the change. It is vital that this company continue in its nonprofit mission to take care of Marylanders. I cosponsored legislation to keep CareFirst true to this goal while maintaining it as a strong and viable company and a large employer in the region.

This year I was also appointed to the Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee. This important committee oversees the regulatory process, ensuring that State agencies follow the direction of the Governor and the legislature.

Other significant legislation that I introduced this year included:

• HB 343 protects health care workers and first responders from infectious disease, especially AIDS;
• HB 172 promotes "green" building design, which saves money and protects human health and the environment;
• HB 911 promotes recycling of computers, an increasingly needed service;
• HB 231 would help people use living wills;
• HB 232 would reform Medicaid by emphasizing prevention;
• HB 174 helps limit noise pollution; and
• HB 230, supported by dentists and hygienists, makes delivery of dental care easier.

I sponsored bond bills for Sheppard-Pratt Hospital, the Irvine Nature Center, and the Odyssey School, all important parts of life in Baltimore County. I also worked on local and regional issues with my colleagues Senator Paula Hollinger, Delegates Jon Cardin and Bob Zirkin; County Executive Jim Smith, Councilmen Ken Oliver, Kevin Kamenetz, Sam Moxley and T. Bryan McIntire and; Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Ben Cardin, and Dutch Ruppersberger.

The Beltway interchange at Reisterstown Road was completed, and the new Garrison Police Station construction is well underway. I continue to press for a middle school in Owings Mills, as well as to ensure adequate community input into new school boundaries and the proposed development of the Owings Mills Metro Station property.

This year marked the beginning of my third term representing you and I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me. After the legislature adjourned, I returned to my regular job as an emergency physician. I am fortunate to have direct experience with patients from every part of our community, with my fellow health care workers - doctors, nurses, pharmacists, PA's, technicians, paramedics, and others - and with the larger health care system. I look forward to working with you during the interim as we lead up to the 2004 session. Please stay in touch on any issue!

Dan K. Morhaim, M.D.
Delegate, District 11

Ben Franklin Tales

Benjamin Franklin was a talented chess buff. However, he regretted the addictive aspects of the game, which drew him away from "the finest gardens and walks, a pure air, beautiful women, and the most agreeable and instructive conversation." Occasionally, though, he managed to combine pleasures-for instance, by playing chess with a friend-Madame Brillon-while she bathed. (Her tub had a wooden cover.) One evening they got so absorbed that Franklin did not get home to Passy until eleven o'clock. Madame Brillon, who was less than half Franklin's age, was blessed with an understanding husband, and she must have been extremely clean. [From: American Heritage Dictionary of American Quotes]

An English peer invited Franklin, during his stay in London, to admire a house the peer had recently had built for himself. Behind he handsome colonnaded facade, he house was oddly and inconveniently laid out on account of the narrow and irregular plot on which it had been constructed. "All you need to do to enjoy your house, my lord," Franklin observed, "is to rent a spacious apartment directly across the street." [From: The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes]

At a meeting of a Parisian literary society, Franklin found himself a bit at sea as flowery compliments in French were exchanged. Not fluent in French, he decided that it would be safest to clap only when he saw a lady of his acquaintance applauding. After the gathering, Franklin's grandson said, "But Grandpapa, you always applauded and louder than anyone else, when they praised you." [Ibid.]

"The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, its Contents torn out, and stript of its Lettering and Gilding, lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; for it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, in a new & more perfect Edition, corrected and amended by the Author." [written by himself]

Membership Update

The Club now has 119 paid-up Members for 2003!!! This includes 26 members who are new this year and 25 who were reinstated after a lapse. If every Member gets a friend to join and if those who have lapsed come back, we will continue to grow. GREAT!!!

Membership

Regular membership in the Club is open to any person who is registered as a Democratic voter in Maryland. The current annual dues are only $20.00 per person You may be receiving this newsletter even though not a member. This is one of our ways to reach out to concerned citizens and Democrats. We encourage you to be a part the Club in our effort to build a stronger base in the central part of the County.

The label shows your status, including the last year for which you are paid up if a member. If your dues are current, we thank you. If not, or if you want to join our club, please send the coupon and your $20.00 dues to: Herb Lodder, 120 W. Seminary Ave., Lutherville, MD 21093.

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Upcoming Club Events

Regular Meetings begin with Social and Refreshments at 7:00 PM, followed by club business and speakers at 7:30 PM. Our meetings are open to all.

Meetings are held at the East Towson Community Center, Lennox and Jefferson (left onto Jefferson from Towsontown Blvd East of York Rd.)

What Do You Think?

Members of the CBCDC are invited to send their own articles and letters of about 300 words or less. Send yours to the editor as the text of an e-mail message (not as attachment!).

We reserve the right to edit for grammar and space and to exclude anything we judge to be inappropriate for this publication. The opinions expressed are always those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Club.

	CBCDC News
	Editor
	404 Kilree Rd. #301
	Timonium, MD 21093

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