Town Hall Alliance

Last night, over eighty people spoke at the St. Mary's County FY2012 Budget Hearing.  The meeting started at 6:30 pm and went till almost midnight.

By David Saleh Rauf
Capital News Service
 ANNAPOLIS - The night before a powerful Senate panel voted to approve the state's first alcohol tax increase in decades, one of the world's largest liquor companies wined and dined 11 of the 13 committee members at a popular Colonial-era tavern.
 The tab: $2,863.50.
 The dinner, paid for by British liquor giant Diageo, is just a snapshot of the free meals and free booze lawmakers received during the 90-day session from lobbyists and special interest groups trying to influence legislation and shape public policy.
 F

Gov. William Donald Schaefer, left; St. Mary's City staffer Burt Kumerow, center, and at right, Historic St.

On a National level, you and I will probably have not much effect on the political gridlock in Washington DC.  Both party camps are united against securing American Energy Independence.  The Middle East chaos will control the price of fuel thus ensuring a continuing depressive economy.

Locally, we have our own politically divisive scenario with developers and special interest groups receiving government subsidy while taxpayers and teachers play second fiddle.  Funding FDR and free concerts is a priority over new teachers and para-educators.

By MAGGIE CLARK
Capital News Service
 ANNAPOLIS - A group of state legislators across the country are getting fed up with federal inaction on illegal immigration, so they're taking it upon themselves to reform immigration law.
 Led by members of a group called State Legislators for Legal Immigration, their coordinated strategy called "attrition through enforcement" is designed to impose legislation that makes life so difficult for illegal immigrants that even if they aren't caught and deported, they may just leave on their own.
 Founded by Pennsylvania Republican

A recent policy decision by the director of the St. Mary's Social Services Director Ella Mae Russell prohibits staff of the agency from reporting to police when those with active warrants for child support appear to pick up welfare checks.  Jailing such offenders for whom warrants have already been issued is about the only way to collect child support from them.  A "Jail-Free Zone" at the welfare office allows the deadbeat dads who sire numerous offspring to continue to collect welfare checks to spend on drugs and liquor while taxpayers pay to provide for their children.

From the minutes of the St. Mary's County Human Relations Commission meeting of Sept. 6, 2006