The 2010 session of the Maryland General Assembly has been moving at a snail’s pace. Taxpayers and others may jump for joy and shout, “Thank God!” However, the 800 pound gorilla that is still standing is the budget. The budget process is moving slowly because the Governor has proposed what is actually an election year campaign budget. It is filled with tricks and gimmicks designed to balance the numbers and survive an election year. Most of the balancing acts are achieved through one-time transfers and extends a hand to Washington, hopefully, contemplating more federal money from Santa Claus Obama. Should the President fail to find anymore of our grandchildren’s money, the Maryland budget without the federal taxpayers’ subsidy could be in serious trouble.
The Governor has failed to initiate any honest structural cuts. In the next 5 years, ...Continue Reading
The year 2009 opened on a sad note in Harford County with residents still mourning the death of prominent, longtime school superintendent Jacqueline Haas. Before the year was over, Harford County would lose two other wellknown female leaders – former delegate Joanne Parrott and Harford County Councilwoman Veronica Chenowith.
It was also a year of contradiction. Even as President-Elect Barack Obama slowed his inaugural train ride through Edgewood in January to wave and thank a thousand or so supporters, there were a thousand or so more Harford County residents who fought tooth-and-nail in September to prevent President Obama’s live address to be shown to their children during the school day.
Bel Air High School was demolished and Fallston Library was spared from closure. Art Helton survived another political scandal in Aberdeen while Harford County’s delegation to the Maryland General Assembly played a furious and humiliating game of musical chairs in Annapolis.
The following letter was received from Patrick McGrady:
On Monday, November 16, 2009 the Route 40 Republican Club hosted it’s first fundraising event at the Wetlands Golf Club in Aberdeen. More than 250 people attended the dinner and by 6:00PM the only space left was standing room.
Stephen Wright, the President of the Route 40 Republican Club spoke about the resurgence of conservative values in Harford County. Delegate Pat McDonough spoke next, saying that if Ehrlich were to run for Governor he would support him, but if he made the “wrong” choice (and chose not to run), McDonough would run for Governor. Delegate Rick Impallaria spoke next and continued to pump up the audience for the honored guest.
The featured speaker at the dinner was Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich. Ehrlich spoke about taking back Maryland because even though “Maryland is the bluest state,” there is great opportunity to change the way government operates ...Continue Reading
The following was received from the office of Del. Rick Impallaria:
Delegate McDonough and I have decided to postpone the 9-11 Flag Waving.
The weather makes this very advisable. We are thinking of the health of the participants, who would be standing in the pouring rain, and the safety of drivers on I-95, who will have enough to concentrate on in the rain, without the added distraction of our activity.
We apologize for any inconvenience to you, but believe postponing the event is in the best interests of all considering that the weatherman predicts rain all day.
Take time during the day to remember and pray for the victims who died today in 2001.
The following came from the office of Del. Pat McDonough:
CHOPPERGATE, TAXPAYERS EXPLOITED
DELEGATE PAT McDONOUGH CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION
SIXTY MILLION DOLLAR BID, COMPETITOR LAUNCHES PROTEST
While the media and the press were up in arms over Delegate Jon Cardin’s little scandal about love and helicopters, Delegate Pat McDonough was working on a really big potential scandal involving 60 million dollars worth of taxpayers’ money expended for luxury helicopters. Delegate McDonough is formally asking the General Assembly Joint Audit Committee to review a deal by the Department of Transportation and Augusta Westland A.W. Helicopters.
American Eurocopter has constituted a protest to the Department of Transportation claiming a request for proposals (RFP). American Eurocopter claims that the RSP is invalid and unreasonably designed to eliminate competitors except for Augusta Westland. State law under Comar 21.04.01.02 in part clearly states, “Specifications may not be drawn in such a manner as to favor a single ...Continue Reading
The following was received from the office of Del. Rick Impallaria:
Please join Delegates Rick Impallaria and Pat McDonough at the bridge over I-95 on Old Mountain Road (Route 152) on Friday, September 11, 2009 to wave the flag in solemn remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, and of the sacrifices Americans have made to protect and defend their freedoms.
Plan to arrive 3-4 pm, with the flag waving from 4 – 6 pm.
If you are unable to attend this location and/or live outside our district, feel free to organize a similar event in your community in a high-traffic (but safe) location. Call me at the number below if you need advice.
This is not a political event. This is not a Tea Party. This is not a protest. This is a commemoration. All are welcome. BRING YOUR AMERICAN FLAG.
Delegate Pat McDonough has officially announced that he will be “testing the waters” for a possible campaign for Governor in 2010. The three term legislator plans to travel around the state, visiting with clubs, community groups, and other organizations to hear their concerns and outline his agenda. The Baltimore and Harford County lawmaker maintains that issues will be the centerpiece of his campaign.
“Maryland is on the road to disaster, spending is out of control, taxes are too high, education is not producing results, crime, gangs, and drugs have taken control of our neighborhoods and our prison system, and illegal immigration has transformed us into a sanctuary state,” Delegate McDonough stated. “We need a new Maryland that attracts jobs, exercises fiscal management, and promotes ‘zero tolerance’ on crime and illegal immigration. In order to achieve this goal, we need new leadership.”
Losing all focus and apparently abandoning the previous day’s fight against alleged oppression at the Bel Air Independence Day parade, Del. Pat McDonough and a handful of his supporters have launched an oppressive act of their own – attempting to silence and control this local news web site for daring to call them an “angry mob.”
Yesterday The Dagger used the term “angry mob” to refer to the mad crowd who supported Del. McDonough’s fight, online and in person, to carry his “Speak English” signs in the Bel Air July 4th parade.
Del. McDonough himself referred to them as a “vitriolic” “crowd,” yet he was horrified that we would use such a vile term as “angry mob” to describe his supporters.
McDonough was further incensed that we would dare accuse him of inciting that “angry mob.” He asserts he was merely informing his constituency about the situation.
Del. Pat McDonough has threated to pursue legal action and introduce legislation in Annapolis if the Bel Air Independence Day Committee fails to remove or revise rules he claims prohibit free speech during the annual July 4th parade.
A furious letter writing campaign and bitter back-and-forth between Del. McDonough’s supporters and members of the Independence Day Committee ensued after Parade Chairman Mike Blum and McDonough disagreed over whether the signs the delegate carried with him on the Bel Air parade route violated the terms of a contract for the event.
Although Del. McDonough is now calling the incident a “disagreement” and backing away from using the word “confrontation,” earlier versions of the story included descriptions of “obscene disrespect” and “yanking signs from children.”
Evidence may exist in the form of a video filmed during the parade, but Del. McDonough is unsure of whether he will release ...Continue Reading
An Independence Day incident, during which Del. Pat McDonough was apparently asked to observe long-standing July 4th parade rules forbidding the use and display of campaign signs, has turned into a full-fledged fiasco that played out on airwaves and email throughout the day Monday.
The situation progressed throughout the day with Del. McDonough and Blum debating the incident via telephone lines on the Ed Norris Show on 105.7 FM. By nightfall, a letter-writing campaign was well underway.
What follows are a collection of those unedited letters, most of which support ...Continue Reading
