Del. McDonough: Illegals Gain Power

Maryland continues to become the worst state in the nation in terms of protecting its citizens against the invasion of illegal aliens. It is accurate to characterize Maryland as the Number One “Sanctuary State” in America. The Governor and General Assembly leaders support the legislative agenda of CASA of Maryland and other pro-illegal proponents. Once again, i n the 2008 session of the Maryland General Assembly, all of the legislation proposed by lawmakers in opposition to illegal aliens was defeated. Moreover, none of these much needed proposals were allowed to emerge from committee for a full floor vote.

I introduced the Citizens Right Act which many consider to be the centerpiece of any anti-illegals agenda. This initiative would have, for the first time, permitted ordinary citizens to file a complaint against elected officials based on the premise that the official is violating the Federal Immigration Act. The complaint could eventually result in the official being removed from public office.

Another important bill was the Voter Verification and Fairness Act which would require affidavits confirming that an individual is an eligible voter. The bill would prevent illegal aliens from voting, especially the ones that are exploiting the motor-voter law associated with acquiring drivers’ licenses. Continue reading Del. McDonough: Illegals Gain Power

Maryland Global Warming Bill Frozen as Session 2008 Ends

State Delegate Donna Stifler (District 35A), tells The Dagger that Senate Bill 309 has been killed by the House Economic Matters Committee.

The bill would have required the Department of the Environment to develop plans, adopt regulations, and implement programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% from 2006 levels by 2020. It also would have set goals of reducing emissions 90% by 2050.

To read more about the now-defeated bill, you can see it here: http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/billfile/SB0309.htm.

Up in Smoke: A Cigarette-Lover Supports the Maryland Smoking Ban

We’re taught early in our school years that tobacco was first discovered upon European’s adventures to North American Indian territory. Cheek and jowl with its addictive quality, tobacco use quickly went ‘Internationale,’ pretentiously inhaled among the upper classes.

It wasn’t until the late 18th century that smoking was perceived as vulgar by, “the arbiter of high fashion in high society in London, Tunbridge Wells and Bath, George Brummell. Beau Brummell, succeeded in making it unacceptable for nearly 80 years. Then in the 1860’s smoking reemerged, influenced by royalty and the aristocracy.”

Now, nearly a century and a half later, smoking is once again under siege, for reasons unbeknownst to the earlier pretenders of fashion and spiritualistic tradition. Scientific advances, health research and taxations are culminating to produce mixed signals regarding the use of tobacco products. Continue reading Up in Smoke: A Cigarette-Lover Supports the Maryland Smoking Ban

Horse Racing in Maryland, a $2 Billion Industry? Wanna bet?

The MoBseen: Life’s observations as seen through the eyes of Mark.

We, the voters of the Free State, will have the chance to vote on slots coming to Maryland.

Current polling by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies and the Washington Post Polling suggest that Maryland residents are in favor of Maryland slots and those favoring slots continue to outnumber those opposing slots. The question remains of course, where to put the parlors and who will be the beneficiary of the millions generated by this new gambling.

I should point out to those opposed to Maryland slots that we already have gambling in Maryland and on a very broad scale; We have The Lottery, Lotto, The Daily Pick 3, The Daily Pick 4, (twice a day!) Bonus Match 5, Mega Millions, Multi Match, Racetrax, Maryland Hold’em, Keno, Scratch-Offs, and of course horse racing. We also have Off Track Betting (OTB) and XpressBet.

The fact is, we have no shortage of vehicles to separate money from man and woman here in the Free State! These, of course, are all state-ordained gambling games. This in addition to all of the illegal numbers that are run everyday and the illegal slot machines in bars throughout the state, bingo nights at churches, VFWs and fire halls (these licensed by the State) and of course the office pools during March Madness.

The politicians, led by the both Governors Ehrlich and O’Malley, have and are supporting slots. This in itself is not what puzzles me, it’s the justification that is used to “sell” the slots to the constituents. Continue reading Horse Racing in Maryland, a $2 Billion Industry? Wanna bet?

Can a Thin Population Bear the Hunt?

In four days 51 black bears were killed in Maryland. With little more than 500 American black bears living in the state and a majority of residents preferring a non-lethal alternative to black bear control, the hunting season for black bears took place last week for a third year in a row. But was the decision to reopen the hunt after a 51-year-old ban too soon for this typically peaceful omnivore?

History of the Hunt

The 51-year-old ban on hunting the state’s largest land animal was lifted in 2004 after the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) claimed to have studied hard on the topic. In the mid-1900’s, the black bear was a highly endangered species in Maryland because of logging and hunting. By 1991 there were only 79 black bears found in the wild according to DNR. During the ban, the black bear began a slow growth back up the ladder, but remained mostly in the western counties such as Garrett and Allegany. Scarcely 300 bears later, DNR granted Marylanders the right to hunt the black bear through a lottery. Continue reading Can a Thin Population Bear the Hunt?

Good Cop/Bad Cop: A Would-Be Mayor Comes Clean

Twenty-three years ago, Aberdeen mayoral-candidate Mike Bennett made the biggest mistake of his life.

This week, as he prepared for a candidate’s forum showdown, Bennett, a Vietnam veteran and ordained deacon, was exorcising old ghosts and cutting off at the pass an anticipated ambush set by his detractors.

In 1984, I was six years old, George Orwell’s fears were becoming reality and Mike Bennett was a thirty-something upstart with the Maryland State Police hankering for a promotion.

The seedy story that’s recently been circulating the drain, where I usually hang out, is that a couple decades ago Bennett and his state police colleagues buddied up with some guys in the local print shop and were able to swipe a copy of the MSP sergeant’s exam.

Of course, that’s not the truth. The local whisperers left out a few details, which Bennett was more than happy to provide. Continue reading Good Cop/Bad Cop: A Would-Be Mayor Comes Clean