From Del. Kathy Szeliga:
“Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It’s a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It’s a day to be with the family and remember.” Ronald Reagan 1986 – Click here to read entire text
Memorial Day is a day for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This holiday was started after the Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. For more than a century, Memorial Day has been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in our military service.
Please take a moment to pray for the families of our fallen heroes as they struggle through the death of their loved one.
Memorial Day is also a good opportunity to pray for our Wounded Warriors and for the protection and blessings on all the members of our Armed Forces.
Good Work from Annapolis
As you know, I was recently elected to be the Minority Whip in the Maryland House of Delegates. Leader Nic Kipke and I have been working hard to bring attention to important issues facing our state.
Maryland Prison Corruption Exposed:
The GOP House Caucus took action after learning that the Baltimore City Detention Center is in complete disarray. Corruption is rampant at the jail and the gangs are running wild, including drug running, money laundering, and sex with corrections officers that resulted in four guards getting pregnant! If you click on the story below from WBALTV, you can see a picture of the King Pin of the Black Guerrilla Family Gang – he’s talking on a contraband cell phone, smoking a cigar and being photographed by another inmate who is using another contraband cell phone! OUTRAGEOUS!
GOP Demands O’Malley Take Responsibility for Jail Corruption
TV, radio, and print media covered this story widely across our state. There will be a hearing in Annapolis in June to further address this problem. I will keep you informed as we work to expose corruption and clean up this prison.
GOP Senate and House Leadership Outraged at Audit Findings:
Senate Leadership EJ Pipkin and Ed Reilly, partnered with House Leadership, Nic Kipke and Kathy Szeliga, to expose a recent audit of Federal Stimulus funding for Baltimore City and Prince George’s County Public Schools. An obvious lack of accountability allowed schools to spend tax dollars intended to educate low income kids on:
* $222 pencil sharpeners
* 145 custom engraved watches in velvet pouches for principal gifts
* 100 custom engraved laser pens/USB devices, $25 each for principals
* $99 per person dinners that included fried chicken, cole slaw, potato salad, biscuits, cookies and soda
* $4,352 for 2 dinner cruises of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor
* many other types of outrageous waste, fraud and abuse of our tax dollars
You can read the report yourself here: OIG Audit of MD Education
And you can read a story that was on the front page of the Baltimore Sun on Thursday, May 23 here: Sun Story on Audit
I will also keep you informed about this issue as we progress. Taxpayers expect accountability. Teachers who spend their own hard earned money on students expect all school systems to play fairly – not abuse the system and buy $222 pencil sharpeners and take cruises at the Inner Harbor at taxpayer expense.
THEY MUST DO BETTER!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday weekend!
Kathy
Kathy Szeliga
Minority Whip, Maryland House of Delegates
I wish you represented my district in Eastern Harford County.