From the campaign of Dave Tritt:
Dave Tritt, a Republican Candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 35A, is raising concerns over the endorsement policies of the Maryland Right to Life Political Action Committee (MDRTL PAC). This after the organization endorsed a candidate running for re-election who, in 2007, voted for a budget bill containing $2.2 million in funds used to perform 3,580 abortions in Maryland.
Many in the pro-life community look to the MDRTL to provide accurate information about the voting records and views of elected officials with regard to protecting human life. Recently, the MDRTL endorsed incumbent Donna Stifler (R-35A). Del. Stifler ran as a conservative, pro-life candidate in 2006. But in her very first year in the General Assembly, she voted FOR the budget bill that squandered the surplus, led to tax increases in the special session, and provided taxpayer funding for 3,580 abortions.
“When I questioned the MDRTL Director, she replied that RTL does not score final passage of the budget bill – only any amendments to restrict abortion funding. In other words, if efforts to rescind abortion funding fail, delegates who still vote for the final bill will get a free pass from MDRTL and not have their ‘100% pro-life’ MDRTL designation threatened. Voters deserve to know the full story on their elected officials’ records, not the misleading abbreviated version. How can an organization sworn to defend life not rate legislators on the primary bill that funds the practice it exists to oppose? No one should be able to cast a vote to fund abortions at taxpayer expense and expect conservatives to give them a pass on Election Day.
“I want to emphasize that I do not question Del. Stifler’s pro-life beliefs. I am not trying to paint her as a pro-abortion champion. Instead, I am merely asking why she apparently didn’t bother to read the bill. Elected officials are responsible for the votes they cast, because those votes create policy. Voters are seeing increasing numbers of politicians demonstrate they are out of touch with average Americans by voting on legislation they haven’t even read, and this, at best, is what Mrs. Stifler did. In addition to designating funds for abortions, the budget bill was filled with pork, fraud, waste, and abuse. Any legislator who believes in common sense and fiscal responsibility should have voted ‘NO’ to that budget. It helped set us on the course for increased taxes and higher debt.”
Maryland taxpayers are currently burdened with over $1 billion annually in debt service and interest alone due to years of deficit spending. Tritt notes that Del. Stifler voted for increased deficit spending 75% of her time in office.
Dave is running because he believes our county and state need leaders that will do the right thing no matter what. “We need more delegates that will go to Annapolis and not forget whom they represent. We need delegates who will lead, not be seduced into the Annapolis political culture like many of our current elected officials.
“If entrusted by the voters with this key position, I will not only vote to defend life, but also work tirelessly to defend your wallet from politicians who continually squander your hard earned money and mortgage the future through deficit spending.”
Full documentation of these votes can be found here: http://www.davetritt.com/about-our-opponents
Here is Stifler’s reaction Saturday morning:
“This is just politics as usual. I have been Mr. Tritt’s delegate for four years and this is the first time he’s raised any concerns about my voting record while in office. I am proud of my 100% rating with MDRTL, as well as all my other endorsements from pro-business and pro-second amendment groups, and my endorsement from the MD Farm Bureau.
I question his facts on my votes for “deficit spending”, as his arguments have been proven false before, and I thank my constituents for their overwhelming support of my time in Annapolis.”
I love how Delegate Stifler is not refuting these facts presented, but rather is saying that she is questioning his assertion, not denying. Plain and simple, she voted for O’Malley’s budget. O’Malley’s budget included lots of spending. O’Malley’s budget included spending for abortions. But she’s questioning that assertion, not denying it.
I would challenge Delegate Stifler to demonstrate where my arguments have been proven false. I have been running for delegate for over 13 months, raising concerns about the records of the incumbents the entire time. If her voting record was better, I can assure you I would not be spending time away from my family to run for this office.
Facts are stubborn things. Both delegates from 35a have voted for deficit spending every year they have been in office except this election year. Taxpayers are now responsible for over $1 BILLION in debt service and interest EVERY YEAR because of these votes. Apparently the incumbents do not think this is a problem, since they vote for it repeatedly. Jason Gallion and I DO think it is a problem, and that is why we have gotten involved.
Many troubling votes by the delegates from 35a can be found here:
http://www.davetritt.com/about-our-opponents
I would encourage voters who are interested in knowing the facts to visit my site and check the facts for themselves. The issues are linked to the Maryland General Assembly website, where people can read the bills for themselves.
Mr. Tritt,
It seems your facts are sound. I applaud you for doing the research and presenting traceable links with your facts. Let it be known that if you are elected We The People…will follow your voting record and hold you accountable for every vote. Honor and Integrity are not enough. You must add Vigilance to the list.
In Liberty,
Jon
Thank you, Mr. Schaffer.
I agree fully with your comments about accountability, honor, integrity, and especially vigilance.
Gratefully,
Dave Tritt
Nancy Jacobs voted for this same budget bill: http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/senate/1025.htm
Should MDRTL revoke that endorsement too?
The bill passed in the House by a vote of 133 to 5: http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/house/1106.htm
With you as our fearless leader, it would have passed 132-6.
One of the “nay” votes was Mr. Anesthesiologist himself, the redoubtable Dr. No –
Andy Harris, who has always met a bill he didn’t like.
Right on the money, Bob. Criticizing other candidates instead of formulating your own plan and concrete platform demonstrates an absence of leadership skills. Dave Tritt should focus on his issues rather than crusading against MDRTL and Delegate Stifler. I wonder if he was busy researching his negative flier and that’s why he missed the 200 people who were at the Forum.
Just as a matter of clarification, the “Bob” in the above post is not me, “Bob Frisch.”
dagger dan, we all know that arrogant andy is a whack job. Anything that he’s voted for or against is not relevant to any argument.
These T-ballers had better do their homework quick and vote for rob fisher tuesday.
Thank you for the information Mr. Tritt. I just wish you had attended the candidate’s forum hosted by the RCHC, but you were a NO SHOW. I think your flier contains some mistakes. Please don’t spread lies. You are better than that,
Dear CV,
Kindly share with me the specific items on the flier that you believe are incorrect. If I made a mistake, I will quickly issue a public correction. I don’t think I will be doing that, however, as I have done my homework on these issues. You can rest assured I will not be spreading lies- the truth about my opponent’s records is bad enough with no need for exaggeration. It is a shame that you and others would attempt to smear a person’s character by accusing them of being a liar while the facts to the contrary are staring you right in the face.
I’m glad you missed me at the meeting. I can see from the tenor of your post that you are genuinely disappointed…;) I missed you, too!
Way to go Dave!! People are sometimes blinded by the truth. I recently heard that Mrs. Stifler is looking for a job. She told the person she is only busy from January to April. We need a Delegate that is not part time. I for one do not believe that a person who is a long term sub should claim to be a teacher. I have gone fishing but that does not make me a Fishermen. Maybe Miss Stifler can work at a bakery boxing cookies!!!
David Tritt is right and he has the courage to bring these points out. It is a shame that our elected officials feet have not been held to the fire before. They have been voting like this for years and they need to be held accountable. We have to watch these officials like hawks. David will be a good candidate and his honesty and service will be for WE THE PEOPLE!
By this logic anyone who votes against the budget is anti public schools, road upkeep, BRAC improvements, veterans mental health programs, etc.
I think faulting someone for voting for the budget that allows our State to run is absurd.
I will take the word of MDRTL and other endorsing organizations over yours. You are serving your own agenda by posting this slanderous flier. You should stand on your own merits. What specifically will you do to help our struggling state and Harford County?
While I have your attention, Can you address to us why you would run for sheriff (with no law enforcement experience) and then run for delegate the next election cycle? Are you just looking for a steady government job or are you out of your mind? Good thing you don’t have a chance.
CV… please name something that is wrong on the flier. Dave challenged you to do so, and you still haven’t. I’m interested to know.
Mr. Tritt,
You are very good at criticizing your opponents. I have yet to hear what it is that you will do. If you plan to go to Annapolis and vote NO on everything, not only will you be ineffective but you will also be disrespected by your peers. That would be a great way to represent Harford County. No wonder you do not appear at the forum.
Isn’t that what a challenging campaign is supposed to do? They have to convince us why change is necessary. Kind of makes sense doesn’t it?
Has anyone read the bills Tritt references? They don’t support the conclusions he reaches.
I didn’t know MDRTL endorsed Donna Stifler and Wayne Norman. Thanks for letting me know!
Mr. Tritt has done his research on the budget bills that Harford delegates Stiffler, James, Riley and Norman all voted into passage. The bill contains funds for many areas, and much waste in it. The budget that raised MD sales tax is what we address here. Gov. OMalley and the state congress are out of touch with the real world, as proven by the many new increases in state fees, w/ no apparent increase in services provided.
I support public schools.
I do not want my tax money to support multiple abortion clinics, sex ed in elementary schools, or many of the other “inventive” ways that this budget is applied in our state. I believe Mr. Tritt and Mr. Gallion, Mr. McGrady and either Mr. Glass or Mr. Paff will read and study the bills they are asked to sign and make state laws.
I think that the current delegates ought to speak to their constituents in a townhall setting to answer what they did in Annapolis and why they did it. I do think that we need a new team to represent us and to restore Honor to our state.
Well said Malachi! No one was watching in the past but we are watching everything.
Your facts are wrong. The sales tax increase was enacted in a 2007 special session. Every GOP delegate voted against that budget and those tax increases.
I give Mr. Tritt credit in his clintonesque ability to spin the truth.
Dave, you are wrong. There was no budget presented during the special session, only a tax increase bill. Yes every Republican member voted against the tax increase, but then several of them turned around and spent that money raised by the tax increase. That doesn’t sound very conservative to me. If you are against the tax increase, you have to be against what the tax increase buys too. It’s like Delegate McDonough voting for a huge increase in government run healthcare, but then voting against the funding for it. Very hypocritical. Too bad Delegate McDonough things government run healthcare is the “right thing to do”.
Dave- The post you’re referring to was made by Malachi, I did not refer to the special session or tax increases. I was referring to the votes supporting runaway deficit spending in the capital budgets (Stifler and Norman) and the operating budget of 2007 (Stifler only), which was the subject of the original post.
Please pay attention to the authors of the posts.
Anybody want to actually address Stifler’s vote that funded murder, or will you simply continue to ignore it and accuse Tritt of slander? If running for another office and beating out other candidates with better name recognition is all you have on him, it illustrates to THIS “concerned voter” that Mr. Tritt has pretty impeccable integrity–you’ve got no dirt to exploit. It’s amazing how thin-skinned local incumbents and their political underlings are when all that is being questioned is the candidates’ job performance and voting records, not their character. If you didn’t want to deal with the heat of scrutiny, perhaps you shouldn’t have voted that way in the first place. You’d go a long way in establishing credibility if you answered the charges instead of whining about the criticisms of your decisions. Instead, the fact that you publicly cry foul at every opportunity about this flier demonstrates that it has made its home under your skin.
Not to mention Stifler’s yes vote on taser registration and the fact that she swore she would sign a petition to get Delegate Smigiel’s carry permit reciprocity bill to the floor of the house, and then failed to do so.
Voting for waste, personal environmental agenda, lack of fortitude on 2A votes for political expedience, does she forget what area of the state she actually represents? She might as well be a Washington politician because she acts like one every trip to Annapolis.
Instead of renewing promises and representing her constituent’s positions, she sends her surrogates out to websites to defend her defenseless positions. All it takes is for a few other candidates to point out her faults and promise to do things the opposite way and that secures my vote. I don’t need completely anti-establishment, but it’s time that Annapolis like Washington, heard the taxpayers are tired of debt, debt service, senseless spending, and needless government “programs.”
Here’s the infamous vote on the 2007 operating budget:
Nancy Jacobs and Barry Glassman votes YES:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/senate/1025.htm
Susan McComas and JB Jennings and Stifler voted YES:
http://mlis.state.md.us/2007RS/votes/house/1106.htm
It passed 130-5.
The flier spins the truth. One Bill requires prior training or authorization for the use of police communication equipment and Tritt says that the Bill is increased regulation of consumers. He supports Barry Glassman who has a very similar voting record as Stifler and Norman. He thinks you can go to Annapolis and just say NO. YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING THAT WAY. He is out for a Government paycheck.
Jason Gallion would be wise to disown this twit, Dave Tritt.
Consider voting the real servant Gallion and either Stifler, Norman or Seman. Anyone but Tritt.
Good policy, Concerned Voter. Resort to elementary school name-calling. That really bolsters your credibility. We need more legislators who say no– that’s the problem. We have too many who say “yes” to the Left so they can pal around with them after-hours.
RINO Hunter,
You have no idea what you are talking about. You have no experience as a legislator and thus can not comprehend what it takes to serve your constituents. “Saying NO” is what is wrong with the MD Republican Party. We are in a super minority. We have to compromise on some issue in order to accomplish anything. In Annapolis there are 2 options. Say No and let the liberal win or compromise as our founding fathers did when they created the Constitution. Only when you compromise can republicans ever gain ground. I have been an active Republican for over 30 years. I have seen a great deal of growth in recent years as a result of the republican parties ability to compromise and be practical in a government where Dems move to the left.
I disagree Concerned Voter. There is another option. A better option. Say no AND OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE, and show that to the voters and let them decide whether the ALTERNATIVE was the better bet on election day. The Republicans are currently saying no and not offering an alternative.
I guess if you can’t beat them; then join them. The Harford County Democrat way is, if you can’t win switch parties and run. I would bet CV you have not always been a Republican. The problem is that Democrats will never compromise on any issue. They will vote against a good bill one year that is submitted by a Republican. Then the next year issue the same bill under the Democrat side and pass it. Compromise will never move us forward. Maybe Lincoln should have compromised with the Democrats in the South and let them keep slavery. He stood strong and one the day.
Concerned (about your cushy job) Voter,
The Republican party in General is in trouble and it is because of their constant willingness to “work” with the Democrats. Voting “NO” and getting nothing done would be a step in the right direction. What we need are representatives willing to go to Annapolis and repeal laws, cut spending, and return Liberty to the American people.
Obviously you DON”T GET IT. The current Trio serves with neither Honor nor Integrity. Your personnel attacks are disgusting. Satan is a cruel master.
Calvin,
That is a definitely an option but in Maryland the chances of success are slim to none with that strategy.
Then the people get what they deserve and want. Elections are about the voters making a choice. We are letting the voters of Harford County decide whether they want someone who will play ball and compromise with Democrats, or if they want somebody that will stand up and say no. But a place as strongly Republican as Harford County shouldn’t have these “negotiating” Republicans. They belong in those Baltimore County and Howard County districts where you need to be moderate to win. Conservative principals do not waver in Harford County.
I respectfully disagree Calvin. There is there is nothing so absurdly out of balance in the State that makes me think we should “opt out” of the process by paying the salaries of representative only for Harford County’s needs to take a back seat through nothing but No Votes.
Maryland is a reasonable 15th in the nation per capita for overall tax revenues (wikipedia) while being one of just 6 states maintaining across-the-board AAA credit ratings. If there is a way to measure the quality of services delivered by the states, we’re probably tops on that list as well. In summary, our tax rates are normal, we’re doing a great job meeting obligations and getting good results for what we pay for. The biggest dangers financially for the state is the ongoing macro-economic picture: a stock market going nowhere that hampers ability to meet pension obligations and higher unemployment payments to citizens due to a prolonged recession. We’re weathering the storm well and it really looks like we’ll be able to ride it out even through this double-dip. I’m happy to finally be living in a state that can say that.
Delivering divisive, always vote No candidates to the state (McDonough and Impallaria, for instance) simply means Harford County is not getting anywhere near a fair-slice of the state pie causing us to keep local property taxes higher than otherwise necessary.
Any economist can tell you we should be striving for a system of taxation across all Harford county residents that is the most fair and efficient (note I didn’t say progressive – I’m not a liberal). To that end, no economist is going to say that taxing residents based upon property value meets any true standard of fairness and efficiency. They will point out that Income Tax and Sales Tax revenue are much better ways of pooling revenue to meet our collective obligations for any given year. The way we shift more of the burden in Harford County from Property taxes to Income and Sales Taxes is to be working effectively at the state level.
Failing to do this is placing an undue obligation to pay for growth in the county on the backs of deck against our elderly and farmers (those who typically have lots of property value but relatively low mortgages) — a notion that is truly absurd.
Sending McDonough and Impallaria to the state to stack the deck against our retirees and farmers is exactly the wrong plan. These two do nothing while living off the taxpayer dole as they seek to breed divisive conflict in search of press attention that might gain them an even higher office for doing nothing. Not only do they need to be voted out in this election, we should be demanding their salaries back for the poor representation we received to date.
ForestHillResident –
I recommend you immediately contact the board of elections and change your party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.
BR
Don’t worry Bulle****er — I’m not quitting the party despite the fact that McDonough and Impallaria have given it a bad name. They need to go. Vote for anybody but those two.
ForestHillResident
It’s the content of your posts that concern me as a conservative Republican not McDonough or Impallaria. Pat and Rick are going to win handily and I’m not going to try to persuade you to vote for them.
BR
No I’m a conservative. I just see a difference between the Sharon Statement and the Mt. Vernon statement.
ForestHillResident
I don’t care which statement you prefer since from reading your posts you don’t seem to have conservative beliefs.
BR
P.S. For the record I’ll stick with Sharon.
Ahhh, the good old dagger. Deleting posts yet again!
Please clarify. Nothing has been deleted. Sometimes comments get labeled as spam when multiple links are embedded, but I’m not seeing anything in the queue.
From the Tax Foundation –
Score for Maryland 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index 4.26
Rank 45 out of all states
Major Compoents of the State Business Tax Climte Index, FY 2010
Maryland’s Overall Rank is 45
Corporate Tax Index Rank is 14
Individual Income Tax Index Rank is 49
Sales TAx Index Rank is 10
Unemployment Insurance Tax Index Rank is 37
Property Tax Index Rank is 38
Maryland is in trouble and not even a friendly business state.
This is their rank out of 50 states
I went to the web site http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/34.html and I think you mistyped your stats. To be consistent I made sure to also be consistent meaning a higher number is worse) Corporate Tax is 35, not 15. Individual Tax is 41, not 49 and Property Tax Rank is 26, not 38. State Sales & Excise Tax is 26, not 10).
My wikipedia data on taxes was from 2007 so my bad for not acknowledging the recent tax hikes that primarily took the forms of apparently bank-busting 1% Sales Tax and Corporate Tax hikes. I am all for rolling these back as the economy recovers but I don’t agree with underfunding pensions or running up deficits to cut a corporate tax that Ehrlich characterizes in his comments more as an inconvenience than an impediment.
From what I can see The Business Tax Climate rank shifted from us being one of the best places in the US to do business (rank of 5.05) in 2007 to now being one of the worst. Seems kind of incredible that a 1% tax change shifts the business environment that greatly. Especially when I see reports from back then that only a third of the largest corporations were paying any kind of corporate taxes. Especially when we Maryland was not hit nearly as hard as so many other states by the first half of this recession.
I understand the need to say something if you want a public job but I don’t get the prioritization of this theme so consistently by every candidate in the primaries.
Candidates need to explain what they’re going to cut or how big of deficits they intend to run up because everyone si looking the same. Right now all of you sound like my patients talking about plans to lose weight but yet missing the point that doing so involves either diet or exercise (preferably both).
@ForestHillResident, As a candidate for State Senate in District 7 Maryland has antiquated laws that needs addressing.
In 2007, I helped pass the witness protection laws after being listed as a murder witness. My name and address were written on the charging documents and given to the killers in the detention center. I suspected the drive-by shootings were misdirected anger, 15 witnesses were killed in 2005. On all my flyers for State Delegate in 2006, I championed for changing this policy to protect all citizens. Also another idea…
By changing the violation of probation laws of holding non-violent citizens, (detained at everyone expense for 45 days) before they can receive a court date. Citizens are held in bondage without a bail review,losing jobs, cars, homes for trafic and other nonviolent offences while Maryland lets killers free claiming overcrowded detention centers and jails. By correcting the time between arrest and court dates of detained citizens, we can save tax dollars, and protect our citizens from the violent criminals our jails were intended for. Wouldn’t you a citizen, tax payer and voter agree! http://rebeccaforsenate.com