Save Maryland

Submitted by Jim

Every 20 years the question is placed on the ballot asking the people if they desire a Constitution Convention. This is really the only true voice left for the People of Maryland. I would like to encourage everyone to vote yes for the constitution convention in 2010.

Go check out  http://www.mdconvention.org/index.html, Make sure to sign the guest book. Check back frequently as the page will be changing as updates come in. I sent emails to our politicians requesting their support but some of the responses I got back were troubling, ” I was not aware of this and will get back to you”, “I will investigate and get back to you” and my personal favorite “its on the ballot its up to the people.” This tells me that our politicians are OK with Status Quo, I for one am not, I’ve posted some information about the Convention below.

A little history on the Constitution

The current constitution was ratified in 1867 it forms the basic laws of the State of Maryland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryland_Constitution

A provision in the document requires that every 20 years the people of the state be asked if a state constitutional convention should be convened. Such a convention is called if a majority of the voters request it. This question will next appear on the ballot in 2010.

I was forwarded an excerpt from a book by Dan Friedman called “The Maryland Constitution: A Reference Guide”
Some of the Notables that I read were :

“The enactment of Article XVII in both the 1930 and 1950, Small majorities of those voting on the question supported the convention. Nevertheless, The General Assembly declined to call the conventions because, although a slim majority of those who actually voted on the issue supported calling a convention. the legislature reasoned that the constitution required not mearly a majority of the votes on the question itself, but that the phrase “majority of voters as such election” requires that the supporters of a convention must form a  majority of all people who voted at the general election on any issue for any candidate.”

“There was also a challenge to the constitutionality of the 1967-1968 constitution convention “because the sense of the people” was taken in 1966, four years too early. The court of appeals of Maryland made clear that the people of Maryland “retain the right to alter, reform or abolish their form of government in such a manner as they deem expedient” and thus may call for a convention whenever we choose.”

“It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to provide by Law for taking, at the general election to be held in the year nineteen hundred and seventy, and every twenty years thereafter, the sense of the People in regard to calling a Convention for altering this Constitution; and if a majority of voters at such election or elections shall vote for a Convention, the General Assembly, at its next session, shall provide by Law for the assembling of such convention, and for the election of Delegates thereto. Each County, and Legislative District of the City of Baltimore, shall have in such Convention a number of Delegates equal to its representation in both Houses at the time at which the Convention is called. But any Constitution, or change, or amendment of the existing Constitution, which may be adopted by such Convention, shall be submitted to the voters of this State, and shall have no effect unless the same shall have been adopted by a majority of the voters voting thereon.”

Link

Back when Bob Ehrlich was Governor he tried to increase tourism and interest in Maryland’s vacation destinations by co-starring in a series of commercials to promote the state. Many thought this was a great idea. The democrat controlled Maryland General Assembly felt otherwise; they felt that Bob was co-starring in the commercials for political gain. Even though then Comptroller William Donald Schaefer, a democrat, also starred in the commercials. I also need to point out that these commercials were targeted at other states. The Democrats introduced a law preventing Bob from spending state money to promote himself. OK fair enough. Push the clock forward to present time and guess who is now spending $400,000 in state money to promote himself? Martin O’Malley. Funny how a few years and different party affiliation can change the moral value of an idea. O’Malley is not even trying to promote the State; he is putting his face up on multimedia smorgasbord to promote his plan to solve the mortgage crisis. Unlike Ehrlich’s commercials, these ads are targeted within Maryland and as far as I’m concerned this constitutes campaigning with state money. Now the question of the day, will the General Assembly have the same moral clarity when it comes to O’Malley? The fact is they don’t have to worry about it because the law that they passed barring Bob Ehrlich from such activity was set to expire on the day Martin O’Malley was inaugurated. Funny how those things work out.

There was a very revealing story in the Washington Post today. 

washingtonpost.com

OMalleywatch reported this story back in April so I’ve posted those links as well.

Response to Washington Post article on omalleywatch.com

Original Post on omalleywatch.com

In a 6-3 ruling the Supreme Court has upheld Indiana’s law that requires voters to show a Government issued ID in order to vote. I have listened to the news and scoured the blogs and I’m sorry to say I fail to understand why people have such a problem with this ruling. Now how will this effect things here in Maryland? Many Maryland Democrats feel that this ruling will undermine the voting process and cause them to loose votes. My question is, whose votes would they be loosing? Those in power have done everything in their power to almost guarantee their reelection and continuation in power. In the past they have rezoned areas to disenfranchise voters and make election results more favorable to their party. Last year they gave convicted felons the right to vote. Now I’m hearing that because of low approval ratings and a possible net loss in the upcoming 2010 elections that they are trying to pull the same redistricting crap again. We will see if that idea is made public or if it gains any traction. I digress, back to my point, by making people prove they are who they claim, whose votes are they loosing? In 2010 Maryland will be forced to comply with the “Real ID Act” which will prevent some illegal voting. It seems they are worried about loosing votes of people who shouldn’t be voting anyway. If you need to lie, cheat, and manipulate the system to remain in office then maybe you shouldn’t be there in the first place. It’s just sad that we need another state to get a victory in Court and a Federal Law to force our state to do what’s right.

There is an addition to the links section. Check them out.

http://www.mdconvention.org

Maryland’s Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill last session that would have reclassified some drinks like wine coolers and malt beverages as beer so that they could be sold at locations like convenience stores. This bill would have also lowered the tax rate on these types of beverages from the $1.50 per gallon liquor tax to the 9 cents per gallon beer tax. Of course to mask the fact that O’Malley blatantly wants to keep them classified as liquor to continue to collect the higher tax rate he is hiding behind the old, “it’s for the children” BS. It gets better, this is all based on the opinion and recommendation of O’Malley’s crony Attorney General Doug Gansler.

“What they failed to account for the amount of funerals that will result from this becoming law,” he said.

O’Malley was also quoted saying, “we should be taking extra care to restrict their sale or push them away from the reach of underage drinkers.”

Give me a freaking break. This bill had nothing to do with underage drinking and the last time I checked you still need to be 21 to purchase alcohol. At any rate the bill was pulled from the list of bills to be signed and if O’malley veto’s the bill I hope the House and Senate have the fortitude to override it. 

 washingtonpost.com

Contrary to popular belief Barbara Mikulski says shes not going to retire after 2010.

Submitted by Anonymous:
 
I am a moderate democrat from Baltimore and I have had personal dealings with Barbara Mikulski. I think she needs to retire! Her partisanship has damaged this state for far too long. Like O’Malley she is incapable of understanding the needs of the people of Maryland. She has proven time and time again that she would rather play politics then actually help her constituents.

politickermd.com

From the NRA:

 The Maryland State Police have quietly drafted new regulations on the state’s ballistic imaging program, the Maryland Integrated Ballistics Identification System (MD-IBIS). 

 Current regulations require that “The pertinent data base be searchable for comparison purposes to shell casings from crime scenes for the purpose of identifying the source of these casings.” If the new regulations are adopted the language concerning crime scenes will be removedand require that “The pertinent data base shall be searchable for comparison purposes to shell casings that originate from handguns specified in Public Safety Article § 5-101(n), Annotated Code of Maryland.”

 By eliminating the crime scene references, the database may “be searchable for comparison purposes to shell casings that are NOT from crime scenes.” Why does the Maryland State Police want to eliminate the crime scene language?

 In 2005, the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division called for the scraping of the program after it stated it found the program to be an ineffective tool for law enforcement and “has not met the expectations and does not aid in the Mission statement of the Department of State Police” and costing the taxpayers of Maryland over $2.5 million dollars. Now, the Maryland State Police are looking to expand this program with no cause and clarification for the changes.

 These changes are of serious concern due to the lack of any scheduled public hearings and input from the Maryland General Assembly. The public may comment on these changes until Monday, April 28.  Please contact Jay Tobin, Director of Forensic Sciences Division, IMMEDIATELY and respectfully voice your concern and disapproval of these new regulations.  Contact information can be found below.

Jay Tobin, Director of Forensic Sciences Division,

Department of State Police

221 Milford Mill Road,
Pikesville, MD 21208

Phone: (443) 357-1301
Fax: (443) 357-1310
Email: jtobin@mdsp.org

This is bad news for Maryland. The session is over and it looks like O’Malley is back to his normal routine of subverting the legal process with back room deals and executive orders.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. I had to take care of some issues that required my attention but I should be back in the posting business within the next few days.

Submitted by Garry

This is an actual add for Absolute Vodka. I know it’s not Maryland news but it still made me pretty mad. I think It sums up how Illegal Immigrants feel about the United States and why they refuse to assimilate to our language and culture.

FoxNews