Members of the Maryland legislature are fighting to preserve and assert the state’s right to refuse federal mandates which are outside the constitutional bounds of federal government. Citizens of numerous states have asked their legislatures to reaffirm the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as they are seeing Washington lawmakers expand government intrusion, especially understood in the current debate of national health care bills. State legislatures are more accessible and accountable to the people than Congress, so those who framed the Constitution included safeguards to prevent the federal government’s regulation of day-to-day affairs.
In Annapolis on Monday, March 8th, testimony was heard on HJ2, a House Joint Resolution sponsored by Delegate Michael Smigiel (Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne’s Counties), Delegate Don Dwyer and Delegate Nicholaus Kipke (both of Anne Arundel County). By affirming Maryland’s sovereignty as described in the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment, the resolution demands ...Continue Reading
(Bel Air, MD) – - The Geriatric Assistance and Information Network and the Harford County Department of Community Services’ Office on Aging are pleased to present the Annual Caregivers Conference – Caring for Those Who Care, on Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the McFaul Activities Center, 525 West MacPhail Road in Bel Air. This year’s conference focuses on topics including becoming a caregiver, parting with possessions, how to navigate the healthcare system, estate law, caregiving tips for Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and legal issues. In addition, there will be about 40 vendors providing resource and service information available for caregivers and their loved ones.
The conference is free to the public; however, registration is required and space is limited. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. To register please call the Harford County Office on Aging at 410-638-3025. For additional conference details ...Continue Reading
Annapolis, March 19, 2010- Delegate Mary-Dulany James has submitted a bill along with her colleague Delegate John Bohanan that would require the State Highway Administration and the Maryland Department of the Environment to put the permitting for certain projects on a fast track. The legislation would require the permit process to be expedited for projects that have a positive impact on the economy and create jobs while maintaining the State’s high standards.
Delegate James has said, “I introduced this bill because it is the right thing to do regardless of the economy.” She went on to say “the State serves the people who create jobs, not the other way around. This is about customer service and the State ought to do a better job by its clients.” The Delegate said projects in her district being held up by permitting is what gave her the ...Continue Reading
House bill 1037 has been introduced to the State Legislature that would give the Governor the power and ability over the Federal Government as well as the President of the United States to request the return of National Guard Troops to the control of the State if the use of military force has expired or the Federal Control is no longer valid.
Delegate Jennings is staunchly opposed to this bill. Citing problems with the context of the bill, particularly in paragraph 3 in the preamble stating “Whereas, The maintenance of Maryland National Guard members in Iraq and Afghanistan, a mission for which they were not trained”. Delegate Jennings, serving in the Air National Guard as an E3 Airman first class, takes offense at the language over the assumed lack of training the members of the National Guard have had in preparing them for ...Continue Reading
The following update was provided by Del. Rick Impallaira:
Annapolis Update #4 – Legislation & State Budget – March 16, 2010
We have passed the halfway point of the General Assembly and at this time I have had bill hearings on all of the bills I introduced this session. The Harford County Tow Bill had a good hearing in committee and should pass both the House and the Senate, having the full support of the Delegation. The purpose of the bill is to give more consumer protection to the public and to allow the Sheriff’s Department to discover stolen vehicles sooner, which will help to reduce insurance costs, as stolen vehicles of course increase premiums for all of us.
House Bill 656 – Election Law – Voting by Felons at Polling Places – Prohibited proposes allowing felons to vote only by absentee ballot. I am not in support of felons ...Continue Reading
(Edgewood, MD) LaserNation, the ultimate live action laser tag entertainment complex, opened its newest Laser Tag Center in Edgewood, MD in February 2010. The center is located at 2208 Hanson Road and joins Food Lion, Dollar General, Triple Crown Martial Arts, Subway and Harford County Dental Clinic in the Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center.
LaserNation laser tag is a fun-filled live-action game played by up to 30 individuals at a time. It is an interactive, high-tech, laser game blending the simplicity of Tag or Capture the Flag with the real-time feedback and action of modern video game systems. The state-of-the-art LaserNation system has the flexibility to allow numerous game variations, assigning teams or individual team members various capabilities which force changes in tactics and game dynamics. The ability to tailor game situations for varying scenarios makes LaserNation particularly appealing to both experienced and new players.
The following was sent to The Dagger on March 16 by Del. Mary-Dulaney James:
Friends,
I am proud to tell you that the House of Delegates moved forward seven bills today that crack down on sex offenders and protect our children and communities. As a sponsor of several of the bills and a fervent support of them all I am very happy to be bringing you this good news.
I am thankful for the overwhelming bi-partisan support of this worthy legislation. The bills are as follows (you can click the bill number to see the full text and status information);
· House Bill 936 brings Maryland into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act. The bill also requires homeless sex offenders, sex offenders convicted of indecent exposure and possessors of child pornography, and offenders who repeatedly abuse children under the age of 14 to register on ...Continue Reading
From the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
BALTIMORE – Administaff, Inc., a nationwide company which provides full-service human resources to small and medium-size businesses will pay $115,000 and furnish substantial remedial relief to settle a harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.
According to EEOC’s suit (Case No. 1:09-cv-02881-BEL) filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, Kingwood, Texas-based Administaff and Conn-X, LLC, a Florida-based cable service provider, violated federal law by engaging in religious discrimination against employees at Conn-X’s Edgewood, Md., office.
The EEOC said that Scott Jacobson and Joey Jacobson, who are brothers, were called “dirty Jew,” “dumb Jew,” and other anti-Semitic slurs by managers and coworkers because of their religion, Judaism. The harassment began in September 2005 and continued for a couple of years and included the defacing of Scott Jacobson’s work vehicle with a swastika symbol, ...Continue Reading
The Harford County Department of Community Services is proud to present the 2nd Annual Volunteer Expo, designed to inform the community about volunteer opportunities available throughout Harford County. The Volunteer Expo will be held Saturday, March 27 at Patterson Mill Middle-High School, 85 Patterson Mill Road in Bel Air, from 9am-noon.
Ever considered volunteering but didn’t know where to start or what opportunities were available? Do you want to spend quality time with your family while helping the community? Does your child need more service learning hours? Would you like to meet new people and have fun? If you answered yes to any of these, come to the Volunteer Expo!
The Volunteer Expo is free and open to everyone of all ages. With nearly 60 participating organizations on site, anyone who attends can find a volunteer opportunity suited to their wants and needs. Whether once a year, ...Continue Reading
Harford County Executive David R. Craig has scheduled visits to all eleven public libraries in the county, where he will be available to speak with citizens about all issues pertaining to county government.
Dubbed “County Executive David Craig – Unplugged,” the visits are an opportunity for citizens to speak informally and in-person with the County Executive on a wide range oftopics, including education, recreation, transportation, agriculture, jobs, and financial issues.
“I have always taken the constituent service aspect of my job very seriously,” stated County Executive Craig. “Local government is the form of government that is closest to the citizen, and these visits will allow the County to both provide information, and to receive input,” Craig remarked.
“Often times, citizens do not know whom to contact when they have a problem with government, while others don’t like to speak publically at large meetings. I hope that this casual ...Continue Reading
(03-25-10) Thursday, March 25, 7pm Havre de Grace Activity Center, 351 Lewis Lane, Havre de Grace, MD Welcomed by Havre de Grace Arts Commission & Havre de Grace Recreation Committee. FREE Open to. […]
Zoning Cases: 5705 Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 pm, County Council Chambers, 212 South Bond St., Bel Air, 410-638-3349 Public Hearing View Zoning Hearing Agenda
