From the office of Del. Mary-Dulany James:
Dear Friends:
As the third week of the 2011 legislative session comes to an end, while some were kept in the dark during the winter weather, I am hard at work here in Annapolis on a number of things I want to keep you up to date on.
Helping People Kept In The Dark During Winter Blizzard
As I am sure you have experienced, we have seen some serious winter storms over the past weeks. Because there were major power outages, and big unregulated utilities were in some places unacceptably slow in restoring power to their customers and our constituents, we are taking up legislation this year to penalize big utilities who do not make our constituents their priority. The failure of big utilities not only individuals and families on a personal level – trying to live in homes without lights or heat – but also harms our small businesses that can lose thousands upon thousands of dollars in lost revenues when they are unable to open for business. The penalties will be put into a fund to reimburse individuals, families, and small businesses, for their economic losses during power outages that big unregulated utilities, which are seeing record profits, were derelict in not resolving using best practices. It seems only fair that our utilities should be working for us when we need them most, and they should pay when they clearly fail to do the job.
State Of The State Address
Additionally this week was the Governor’s State of the State address. I was pleased to hear him speak about fiscal responsibility in the budget. While it is austere, I am glad to report that it includes no new taxes, and maintains critical services. Additionally the Governor touched on other matters, but did not elaborate to the point where I might be able to share insight upon them.
The Best Of BRAC
As you know, over the past decade, I have been intimately involved with bringing every possible benefit from BRAC to our area as I can. Last night I attended a reception with county officials and military leaders from Aberdeen Proving Ground that put some of those developing opportunities on display. This week Harford County economic development director Jim Richardson said that he anticipates as many as two contractor positions to be created for every new BRAC-related Army job. This is all good news, but there is still work I am doing to maximize these benefits.
I recently sent a letter of concern to Senator Roy Dyson and Delegate David Rudolph, the Senate and House Chairs of the Joint Committee on Base Realignment and Closure. (The letter is included below.) I expressed my worry that it was not at all clear whether and how Maryland’s educational systems and services are meeting the needs of our citizens and businesses relative to providing workforce training and development opportunities in the areas where BRAC will create new jobs at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade. I expect our universities and community colleges to provide educational opportunities that will help prepare Marylanders to grab these opportunities that BRAC presents. I am pleased to report that the Chairmen heeded my call, and will hold a hearing on this matter shortly. In these updates I will notify you of when this hearing will take place and what concrete actions I and others will take this session to make sure our BRAC educational needs are met. These are our future jobs and I want all of my constituents, including the young people in our high schools, to be able to take full advantage of BRAC-related careers.
As always, I hope to hear from you soon and that you will take the time to share with me the issues that are important to you. When you are in Annapolis please stop by.
Very Truly Yours,
Mary-Dulany James
January 19, 2011
The Honorable Roy Dyson
102 James Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991The Honorable David Rudolph
231 House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991Re: BRAC Committee Task Force Meeting
Dear Senator Dyson and Delegate Rudolph:
I am writing following our Joint BRAC Committee Task Force meeting yesterday. I was concerned to hear some of the comments regarding the status of educational training and opportunities at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) and statewide.
Major General Justice stated that his three areas of prioritization relative to programs in higher education and training were: (1) Systems Engineer programming, (2) Software Engineering and (3) Technical level skills relative to Community College offerings and outreach at both Harford and Cecil Community Colleges. Except for programs with the University of Maryland School of Engineering at APG, it was not at all clear whether and how Maryland’s educational systems and services are meeting the needs of our newest citizens and businesses relative to providing workforce training and development opportunities in these areas.
For these reasons, I am writing to ask the Joint Committee to hold another meeting prior to the passing of the Budget to focus specifically on Educational Services to BRAC communities. I would like to hear from representatives of Harford and Cecil Community colleges, the University of Maryland system and Morgan University about their plans and activities relative to meeting these needs at APG. It would also be appropriate to hear from representatives from Anne Arundel and Howard Community Colleges and the University of Maryland system about what they have each done and plan to do to meet the needs of the Fort Meade community. While APG and Fort Meade are the two most impacted bases, perhaps the MD Association of Community Colleges and the Maryland Higher Education Commission could speak to program developments to meet needs at the other BRAC sites. A representative from the University of Delaware talking about its plans and programs planned at APG would be an appropriate invitee.
Finally, perhaps the Secretary of DBED could round out the panel and move us forward as we talk about the economic development plans for Maryland beyond BRAC and how these educational programs could facilitate that growth.
BRAC presents, as you are keenly aware, the most significant economic development opportunity for Maryland since World War II with extraordinary benefits to the State of Maryland and its tax base. We welcome these new citizens with open arms and I want to make sure Maryland is maximizing her resources properly, investing resources wisely and exposing our newest citizens to Maryland’s finest educational opportunities.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this regard.
Sincerely yours,
Mary-Dulany James
State Delegate,
Harford & Cecil Counties
Dear Mary-Dulany James,
I was impressed with your comments and positions given in this article.
There is one issue that needs revisited. At this time of high tutition for college students, why are people over the age of 60 permitted to go to commumnitys colleges without paying tutition?
The money spent entertaining seniors could be better spent reducing tutition or permitting low income students to go free. Last year I read that HCC keeps it swimming pool warm so seniors can use it to exercise. Because of this it cannot be used for students to swim as was its orginial purpose.
The purpose of a community college is to train future workers not give free entertainment and exercise to anyone of 60!
At study need to be made how must it costs the state’s community college to permit seniors to go free.
I know of one community college, not HCC, that loses over 1,000,000 a year on seniors. I know becaused I used to work there.
Oh great, the cost of the penalties will be passed on to the consumers. Even if the bill includes a provision for customers to receive something from the penalties, we still break even (and still have high utility bills).
Then I hope that’ll you fight SB 304 if it somehow passes and makes it to the House
http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/sb0304.htm
Creating a renewable energy surcharge, that the bill specifically says can be passed on to the consumer!
This article outlines exactly how out of touch our Annapolis folk really are. Fining the utility or making some corporation “pay its fair share” only means that the cost of goods or services goes up. The company, be it a monopoly utility or small Mom and Pop has to make a profit in order to exist. That profit is averaged out, nationally to be at least 3%. If the company can not make the profit they will go out of business. Squeezing the company with fines, fees or taxes (all confiscation of wealth) only means that cost of goods and of goods and services goes up by that amount plus. Quit looking for ways to get more income. Look for ways to cut the cost of Government. I would suggest starting by reducing the workforce to some historical level, perhaps what it was in 1963, before the big eared bunghole from Texas created the so called great society.
All the good folks in Annapolis need to realize that the ATM is now empty. You can not get more out of us without causing a degradation in the tax base, IE, we move away or quit working or stop reporting or stop buying, etc.
Economics is simple, why the hell can’t our elected officials get a grip on things?
All well said. But most in Annapolis don’t care what you think or say (i.e. tax increases several years ago). They need money and will find it anywhere they can. When the electric goes out, I’m as frustrated as the next guy. And hitting the utilities with fines may serve as an incentive for the companies to do a better job (from a public relations perspective – what company wants to be in the news – fined for failing to serve its customers). But like many have said here, the costs will only be passed onto the consumer. What comes out of all this? The state will make money, the electric company passes it onto the consumers, and consumers get their electric on 15 minutes sooner (but pay dearly for it).
This State’s politicians need to start fining themselves for doing such a bad job thus filling the budget holes they created in the first place. I know that is silly and will never happen. Unfortunately, the cost to live in this state (and many others) are going up (from all directions including energy and food), and there is nothing we can do about it.
It is expected that those who benefit the most from tax and spend liberals, for example those who receive entitlements -those who generally do not pay taxes) will vote for these people. But what is really sad is that many Marylanders who do work hard, pay their taxes, and do what they can to make it to the next paycheck, will continue to vote for the same “ole tax and spend liberals” in their local elections.
It is what it is . . . and Marylanders are stuck with these people for as long as THEY (the politicians) want to be there. For them it’s a great job with great benefits; for us . . . it the same ole same ole.
What change did you vote for in your last local election? Did you vote for a new CE, Council Members, Sheriff, States Attorney, etc.?
Utilities can’t just pass the cost on to the consumers because rates have to be approved by the utility commission. Utilities need to be managed as they provide a critical public use and the relative cost can’t be higher than that of their competitors. Deregulation gave utilities the right to compete and thus lower prices for the consumer, many of you would probably agree that bringing free market principles to the delivery, production and sale of energy is best handled in the private sector. Now the only thing that can keep them in check is to attach penalties and fines when utilities do not provide the service that they are suppossed to bring to the consumer.
The govt ATM still has money in it, but govt needs to cut expenses and reduce its role to reflect today’s economic climate. I am all for sensible govt that is efficient and provides for the public good in an economical manner.
Constellation Energy (BGE) has or will be asking for an increase in rates. A deal will be worked out with “Owe” Malley and his well paid (over paid) PSC. Consumers will get a $100(+/-) dollar rebate but that will not come close to what the rate increase will cost. The so cvalled fines will be a drop in the bucket compared to the rate increases that will be allowed. Some Marylanders will think it’s a good deal because one of their bills will come in cheaper than the previous month. Then they get hit with reality. Yet these foolish voters continue to vote in the same ole tax and spenders liberals.
I can just see it now (or not see) the back room deal going on . . . “OK energy people, we need to make the people think they are getting something in return for the rate increase. You will get your increase and recover quickly the rebate paid out. By the way, how much did you say you were contributing to the democratic party? The voters forgot about the last back room “special session” a few years ago that resulted in an increase in our sales tax and some other things. I can’t wait for the next surprise this year or next (increase in gas tax, alcohol, fees, fines, you name it’s coming). It has to come this year or next because the third year is too close to elections. Of course that does not seems to matter.
In regards to energy, Obama and friends (O’Malley and others) need to stop worrying about turning poop into gas and allow drilling in this country.
I can’t afford to have BG&E penalized, so stop already.
Seriously, it won’t matter. Those in Annapolis will do whatever they want because they know they will be voted back in . . . there’s no incentive for them to do otherwise.
Delegate Dulany-James,
I hope you and your colleagues support HB 241/SB 240 Criminal Law
–Restrictions Against Use and Possession of Firearms, that would enhance penalties for those in possession of firearms who have previous firearm convictions. Its about time that Maryland law really punished those criminals from committing the same or similar types of crimes with firearms. Please support this bill and encourage your constituents to see the light. Even the NRA won’t oppose this one.