Blog Posts - March 2011

A Matter of Priority

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 30, 2011

Yesterday, following a motion made by Commissioner Todd Morgan seconded by Commissioner Cindy Jones the St. Mary's County FY 2012 Budget was voted upon to forward to public hearing on April 26 at Great Mills High School auditorium.  This was a 4-1 vote.  I cast the lone vote of opposition.

As I referenced in an earlier budgetary vote and prior THA post, there are priority problems in the upcoming budget:

A Public Invitation

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 29, 2011

The St. Mary's Board of County Commissioners will be holding our monthly Public Forum on Tuesday April 5 at 6:30 pm in the Chesapeake Building at the Leonardtown Governmental Center.

This is a very good way to bring issues to all five County Commissioners in an open public manner.

Having pushed to keep these town hall forums operating on a regular basis, I am glad to see the renewed interest and growing participation in this democratic process.  Please feel welcome to attend and speak up on issues that are important to you.

Obama gets a question

Submitted by Editor on March 29, 2011

Obama gets a question

Libya: Wrong country, wrong war!

Submitted by Editor on March 26, 2011

Commentary
By Larry Klayman
March 26, 2011
 
In the last few weeks in particular, American foreign policy has never looked worse. To describe it as the "Keystone Cops of Diplomacy and War-Making" would be too charitable. The fault lies not just with President Barack Hussein Obama, our obsessively pro-Arab and pro-Muslim president, or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his easily compromised sidekick, but also with the inert and incompetent Republican political establishment.

Bartlett Lets Faith Be His Guide as He 'Teas' Up Social, Fiscal Issues

Submitted by Editor on March 25, 2011

By LAURA E. LEE
Capital News Service
Friday, March 25, 2011


WASHINGTON - Roscoe Bartlett was a tea partyer before the tea party was cool.
But that doesn't mean that the Republican congressman from Frederick is confined to the agenda of the fiscally conservative movement. His religious roots and scientific background also influence his political perspective.

Sundown Sunday

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 25, 2011

As readers and participants of the Town Hall Alliance website know, County government has established entitlement funding to subsidize a network of select non-profit groups that hold concerts, annual festivals, or other non-essential services.

It is especially tragic to see this special interest money getting a priority as teachers are facing job loss or rank and file County employees fear for their positions.  Certainly, the basic needs of education, public safety, and transportation should be more important than throwing a party at taxpayer expense.

Into the Darkness: Where Constitutional Illiteracy Is Leading Us

Submitted by Editor on March 24, 2011

Guest Commentary
By John W. Whitehead
March 23, 2011
“Unless we teach the ideas that make America a miracle of government, it will go away in your kids’ lifetimes, and we will be a fable. You have to find the time and creativity to teach it in schools, and if you don’t, you will lose it. You will lose it to the darkness, and what this country represents is a tiny twinkle of light in a history of oppression and darkness and cruelty.

Trump bets Obama doesn't have a birth certificate from Hawaii to show anyone...TIME TO PONY UP BARRY!

Submitted by Editor on March 24, 2011

Donald Trump is calling on President Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate and end speculation he was born outside the United States.

"I want him to show his birth certificate.

Obama On Oil: More Misleading Rhetoric

Submitted by Editor on March 24, 2011

Guest Commentary by Howard Rich
President Barack Obama says that Americans are "tired of talk" when it comes to rising gas prices. Unfortunately his administration continues to say one thing and do another on this critical economic front – ignoring opportunities to increase our oil supply while at the same time taking credit for production gains that he is actively seeking to dismantle.
Such doublespeak is obviously nothing new from Mr.

A 4-1 Difference of Opinion

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 23, 2011

During our budget session on Monday, the St. Mary's County Commissioners were asked to forward both the Operating and the Capital Budget forward for public hearing at the end of April.

Only that week, did we learn of a 1.8 million dollar public hearing reserve and we had not yet received the Board of Education budget but, of course, I have heard much from parents, teachers, and taxpayers about the proposed cuts from State reductions.

A Reduction of Administration

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 23, 2011

Following a 5-0 vote, the St. Mary's Board of County Commissioners appointed Robert Kelly who is the Director of Information Technology to also manage Public Safety.  This consolidation of two departments reduces the need for one director whose contact will not be renewed.

This accounts for a savings of over a hundred thousand dollars.

As we confront these economically depressed times, we may have more department heads with the talent and strength to manage consolidated departments.

More from the Diddler on the Roof

Submitted by Editor on March 23, 2011

Obama is along for the ride

Do you know about this sales tax on your house as part of Obamacare that Steny Hoyer supported?

Submitted by Editor on March 22, 2011


Will You Ever Sell Your House?
 
 Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8% sales tax on it?
That's $3,800 on a $100,000 home etc.
When did this happen? It's in the health care bill.

The Ted Kennedy Chronicles:

Submitted by Editor on March 22, 2011

The Ted Kennedy Chronicles:
A Look at the Latest Declassified FBI Files
By Dr. Paul Kengor

Your Thoughts on Administrative Consolidation, Please

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 19, 2011

Back in the mid-1990's, the State Health Department would not allow local farmers to make pickle relish and other acidified foods for public sales and consumption without an extensive regulatory process.

It took over a decade of negotiation and on-site meetings to make the application process attainable so you may now purchase locally produced pickles and relish at the farmers markets.

95 year old hero!

Submitted by Editor on March 17, 2011

This  venerable and much honored WW II vet is well  known in Hawaii  for his seventy-plus years of service to patriotic  organizations and causes all over the country.

Murders and Moral Bankruptcy: Where Have You Gone, Eyre Crowe?

Submitted by Editor on March 17, 2011

 Guest Commentary
By Dr. Marvin Folkertsma

In January 1907, a German-born official in the British Foreign Office wrote a memorandum that since has been indelibly linked to his name for its incisive analysis and uncanny prescience.
Eyre Crowe had good reason to scrutinize Germany’s foreign-policy initiatives.

Miami Mayor beat in recall as voters rebelled at 14 % increase in real estate taxes so spending could continue without cuts

Submitted by Editor on March 15, 2011

While the Three Stooges of St. Mary's, Todd Morgan, Cindy Jones and Dan Morris prepare to blow $60 million or more on a road to nowhere, the voters of Miami Dade threw out their mayor who refused to make cuts and instead raised taxes:

(Reuters) - Voters in Miami-Dade, one of the most populous U.S.

St. Mary’s Commissioners Shills for Developers and Will Bring In More PG County Crime Problems

Submitted by Editor on March 15, 2011

Political Commentary
By Kenneth C. Rossignol

The 7th District Business Bottom Line

Submitted by Larry Jarboe on March 10, 2011

Last night, I attended a follow-up meeting at the old public meeting room in Leonardtown to discuss business challenges in the Seventh District.

The main challenge is the low elevation and clay soils which restrict the use of conventional septic systems in this area.

The vast majority in the room agreed that a public system offerred by MetCom is not the answer.  We do not want to encourage high density development in rural areas.

There are other working alternative systems used in other states like South Carolina which has a similar low country dynamic.