Whats new? O'Malley, his tax plan which is the pits and a proposed special session.... This Governor of ours wants all of our money. To see what I have been helping out with and to also sign a petition (Maryland Residents only, if you please) expressing your contempt for this plan go to:
Thanks to Senator EJ Pipkin for giving us a venue to speak our minds on the WHOLE tax plan!
Any questions? You can email me from this very page! (Or post a comment!)
Currently I am working to keep the OMalley government from reaching into our wallets. I received the following Press Release this morning from Senator Pipkin and want you all to see it.
This is reason number 763 on the "Why I am a fan of Senator EJ Pipkin" list!!!!!
September 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEN. PIPKIN: GAS TAX INDEXING IS "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"
Senator E. J. Pipkin (R. Upper Shore 36) tagged efforts to tie the current 23.5 cent a gallon state gas tax to inflationary cost increases "a cruel assault on the wallets of all Marylanders."
He said that linking gas tax increases to the CPI (Consumer Price Index) or other inflationary indicators, called indexing, is a method used by some states – Florida and Maine – to get gas tax increases without any legislation action. "In short," asserted Pipkin, "indexing produces automatic tax increases. As far as I'm concerned such automatic tax increases constitute taxation without representation."
Gas tax indexing has been proposed as a way to raise transportation revenue in the O'Malley Administration's Transportation Funding Overview, a report presented to Senate and House committees that deal with the state budget. The report points out that an advantage of indexing the gas tax is that it ties revenue growth to inflation. As inflation rises, so, too, will the gas tax "without any consideration of consumers' income, which may not rise at all," declared the Eastern Shore lawmaker.
Pipkin said, "My fear is that the leadership in Annapolis, hungry for more transportation revenue, will stop at nothing, including approving automatic gas tax increases, to obtain those dollars."
He pointed out that the gas tax is a regressive tax. "The high income earner pays the same per gallon tax as the average and low-income wage earner. However, a regressive tax always takes a larger proportional bite out of the average person's income. The high income earner barely feels the gas tax bite, while it makes the average income earner struggle to keep up with increasing gas taxes. Marylanders are already pressured by the soaring cost of electricity and gasoline. An automatically rising gas tax adds insult to injury," said Pipkin.
He emphasized, "Indexing will take the brakes off of gas tax increases. Ultimately, indexing will remove the layers of oversight and review, which now govern approval of transportation projects because increased transportation revenue will be assured without the vote of the people's elected representatives."
Senator Pipkin said, "It is the height of irresponsibility for representative government to remove itself from the business of increasing taxes. Taxation without representation, whatever form it takes, must be stopped. Be assured, I will continue to fight gas tax indexing as a form of taxation without representation."
For those of you who read the letter to the editor, from Joseph Gannon, I would refer you to the other side of the story located at:
http://qacbuzz.com/articles/0801usercomments.html
To my knowledge, Mr Gannon has not bothered to actually find out the facts of his allegations (from BOTH sides) and frankly, I find it very telling that the Democratic Central Committee has so little to do in this county that they feel compelled to involve themselves in the Republican Party.
'Nuff said.
I read something on another local blog that criticized a campaign for sending out a missive to the Rep Central Committees across the state trying to point out certain facts about their opponent. Frankly, I didn't get what the problem was but being new, I turned to my dear friend Andrew Langer who happens to not only live in my neighborhood but is very much in touch with how things are done in the political world. With his kind permission, I have reprinted his response. Please keep in mind that he is only responding to a friend as a friend and not, as a leader, employee or volunteer of ANY organization.
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Yeah, I saw that last night. Speaking for myself, and not as a member of the QACRCC, on the whole, I found Kurt Babe's response to be a bit odd and overblown - long on rhetoric and short on substance.
Babe called the e-mail "unethical" and "repugnant", but never really lays out a foundation for why he thinks it to be so. Now, I didn't receive Meekins' initial e-mail, but at first blush it seems to be a fact-based e-mail, informing Central Committee members of the recent coverage of Wayne Gilchrest's historical voting records, and his tendency to vote with caucuses other than his party's - as well as the good Congressman's public disdain for that self-same party.
Now, what's "unethical" about that? Why is informing party officials as to the public perception of, statements by, and attitudes of one of their charges (because, after all, Central Committee members are in no small measure responsible for supervising and advising elected officials) repugnant?
Chris Meekins never makes a request of the Central Committe members. He never makes a characterization of the congressman's voting record or his statements. In fact, all he does is state a set of facts regarding him.
No, what I find "unethical" is that Kurt Babe took an e-mail meant for Central Committee members, of which he is no longer one, and rather than contact Chris Meekins and say, "Um, Chris, you sent this to me, but I'm no longer a member of the Republican Central Committee," he not only sent this explosive and over-reactive response, he also took the original e-mail and his response and sent it to a 3rd party for publication to the general electorate.
Obviously, Meekins' motivations for sending the e-mail are apparent - and there's nothing unethical in making certain that the facts are known regarding an incumbent. Central Committee members know their official duties and obligations (including not getting officially involved in primary challenges and supporting whomever emerges from those battles). Likewise, there's nothing to say that on their own, Central Committee members can't privately support (financially or otherwise) candidates of their choosing (provided it doesn't interfere with the discharge of theirduties).
But one wonders just what motivated Kurt Babe - to not only not correct Meekins, but to respond in precisely the manner that he did, and to then lay those e-mails out for public display. One would think that if he were really concerned, that he'd send the e-mail to his former colleagues on the Republican Central Committee, reminding them of their duties and obligations.
No, I think his motivations are clear, too.
Again, these are just my thoughts as me, Queen Anne's County resident and someone involved in GOP politics for all of my adult life.
- Andrew
Recently printed in the Star Dem...just a clue as to whats happening 'round these parts, folks.
Dear Editor,
These have been controversial times for the Republican Party in Queen Annes County and the resolution of these issues are at hand. It was with great joy that I received the news this morning that Andrew Langer and Barb Pivec were selected to represent the Republican Party as members of the Queen Annes Central Committee. Also appointed to Treasurer (a non voting position) was Deanna Couch. Mark Reed was appointed to be the Liaison for Teenage Republicans/Young Republicans.
There were a total of four applicants and any of them would have represented us exceptionally well. Perhaps this is why all of the applicants were given significant roles to fulfill for the Republican Central Committee. Central Committee members have a tough job in that it is “all guts and no glory“. They must deal with the running of the day to day Republican Party endeavors and have very little to say in governmental policy. In fact, having sat at many a Central Committee meeting, I can tell you that all of the discussions I have seen had to do with fundraising for the GOP or special projects such as voter‘s registration. Not very glamorous stuff at all but extremely necessary.
Central Committee is absolutely not about issues or platforms. The function of the Central Committee is to act as a team to further the cause of good government by enlisting the citizens involvement within the party. This requires lots of effort and very little thank you's because the public generally doesn’t realize the work required to keep a political party moving and growing. Basically, it requires the members to come to monthly meetings and actively participate in promoting the goals of the Republican Party. The fact that only four people applied for the position during the three week application period is testimony to the difficulties of the job. To act as a team and be successful in this job requires attendance and participation.
Once again, my sincere congratulations to all of our newest leaders on their appointment to the Central Committee, I am sure they will do a fabulous job!
Sincerely,
Andi Morony
President,
The Republican Club of Queen Annes County
I have been working hard on getting "Jessica's Law" passed in Maryland and I haven't been diligent about my blog. The good news is we FINALLY got it out of the House Judiciary. We expect it to go to second reading Tuesday or Wednesday and third reading/vote by the end of the legislative session...barring any more suprises. Special thanks to Diana Waterman for all her tireless efforts rounding us all up and getting us there and all. Also, thanks to Dad who actually called several representatives and Governor O'Malley's office to put his support in. Funny story, it was Barb's email demanding that we stop what we were doing RIGHT THEN AND THERE and call that got him involved. Thanks, Barb! There are many more "thank you's" that should go out but suffice it to say that I am grateful to all of you who wrote emails, made calls or came to support those of us testifying (Mike and Patrick especially for cutting out part of their work day to "hold my hand" on the days I had to testify). It seems all of your efforts will be paying off.
Diana and I went up the House Judiciary yesterday to see the vote on our bill and also ended up being interviewed on Channel 45 News (it ran last night)...was VERY exciting for me. Bill O'Reilly's crew was there and...well...keep an eye on his show this week, I will let the interview with Valerio speak for itself. You'll get the picture.
The House also voted on the smoking ban yesterday. Before I go any further, yes, I smoke. That said, there's an interesting story that was in the Star-Dem today that I heard about up in Annapolis. It seems that a delegate who evidently was as frustrated with the taxing and banning of a legal substance as I am actually introduced a bill to be the first state to OUTLAW smoking, period. It was put to several proponents of the "we have to tax tobacco" team that if they were really all that concerned about the health of Maryland's citizens, then they should forget the taxation and just outlaw it all together. The Star-Dem reports that the measure defeated....I ask you, how can that be? The Democrats cry out that they are so concerned with our health...if that were REALLY true, why not outlaw smoking entirely. No, my friends and neighbors, this is about MONEY. They can't afford NOT to tax everything in sight. Hell, now they want to tax gasoline because they need more money (what, we arent paying enough NOW?) and gee whiz, the tax on gas hasn't been raised in more than ten years. I WONDER WHY?!
The Dems have also managed to get a bill passed that allows TWO TIME violent criminals to get their right to vote back. I heard the debate on the floor and all I could do was shake my head. "This will make them productive members of society" was my particular "favorite" (NOT!)
You gotta be kidding me. Seems to me that when you go to jail particularly for a SECOND violent crime, you knowingly forfeit certain rights. Whats next? Restoring their right to bear arms? I am a strong proponent of the Second Amendment but I fear this is where we are heading. No criminal should be legally permitted to own or carry a firearm, CLEARLY. This dumb bill for criminals to vote is bogus I am just worried about what is next for Maryland.
I need to run. I will update you on more very soon. The ER bill is chugging right along though I dont know when a vote is scheduled. Keep your fingers crossed.
a
GREAT NEWS!
At EJ Pipkin's
press conference this morning, it was announced that University of Maryland Medical Services, in conjunction with
Shore Health Systems will be sponsoring our ER in QAC, ASSUMING
we can get the bill passed in Annapolis. As Senator Pipkin said,
this is quite a commitment from them as our ER will not be a
moneymaker. SUCH an awesome development in our quest for local emergent
care!!!!!!!!
FYI: There is only one other ER in the state like the one being proposed...its in Shady Grove and opened 6 months ago.
Please don't forget to come on Thursday for the first Hearing on SB 750 at 1:00pm
.
If you want to testify you should be there by noonish to sign up. I
will be happy to arrange carpools if anyone has any interest in it.
We still need all the signatures we can get on the petition, so please ask your friends and neighbors if they have stopped by
www.QaErNow.com and signed.
* * * * * NEWS ALERT * * * * *
EJ Pipkin has introduced leglislation in Annapolis that is meant to cut the red tape to get Queen Annes County an Emergency Room. WOOO HOOO! I can't begin to tell those of you who live outside the county how interminable the ride is to our closest ER with a sick or injured child.
But we can't do this alone...you MUST let the legislature know you support this. If you live or do business (accidents happen ANYtime!) in QA's county, PLEASE go to www.qaerNOW.com 
and sign the online petition. There is a mailing list (email only) if you want to be apprised of the bill's progress. This is an urgent decision for every resident in QA's county. Please take the two minutes or less to show your support for this issue!
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