local on in 'cupcake wars' - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Calvert Gazette Thursday, January 5, 2012 2 Also Inside 3 County News 5 Business 6 Community 7 Education 8 Feature Story 9 Letters 10 Obits 12 Games 13 Newsmakers 13 Health 14 Entertainment 15 Sports education Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Rick Cox takes Mount Harmony Elementary School students into the SWAT vehicle during the school’s career day. entertainment They may not be starving artists, but the Twin Beach Players troupe is homeless, a fact the group is working to remedy by raising money for a Twin Beach Arts Center. On T he Cover Cindy Selby, owner of Blondie’s Baking Company in North Beach, appeared on the Food Network TV show “Cupcake Wars” on New Year’s Day. out & about FOR EVENTS HAPPENING IN YOUR AREA, CHECK PAGE 14 IN OUT AND ABOUT
3 Thursday, January 5, 2012 The Calvert Gazette Gay Marriage, Tax Hikes to Dominate Legislative Session By Sarah Miller Staff Writer The fast approaching 2012 legislative session in Annapolis should prove fraught with social issues to be debated. “There’s a renewed push to legalize same sex marriage,” according to Todd Eberly, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Eberly said Governor Martin O’Malley wants to be U.S. president someday, and he anticipates the governor will follow trends set in New York, and push to legalize same sex marriage. Tax hikes might also be on the horizon. In St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, Eberly said bills involving same sex marriage and tax increases are likely to see opposition from <strong>local</strong> representatives Sen. Roy Dyson and delegates John Bohanan, John Wood and Tony O’Donnell. Along with the hot button issues, Eberly said there is a “wild card” coming up during the legislative and election season – a citizens’ petition to vote on the Maryland Dream Act. By Sarah Miller Staff Writer Calvert County Board of Education recently came out with its stance on issues for the 2012 legislative session, with the district opposed to using daily attendance instead of enrollment in state formulas; including home-schooled children in extracurricular activities; and, moving the burden of funding teacher pensions to the <strong>local</strong> level. Calvert County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent Jack Smith said the board based its stance on past legislation, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE)’s legislative positions and the known needs of the school system. During the session, Smith said he and members of the board go to Annapolis and testify before the legislature on behalf of the school district. Smith said the same issues typically come up year after year, and he doesn’t expect any brand new issues to pop out of the woodwork this session. The push to shift teacher pension costs should be a big issue during the session, Smith said. The CCPS legislative position states the shift could lead to further budgetary problems for the districts. As a whole, the district opposes anything that would be a “one size fits all” change or that compromises the autonomy of the individual school districts, Smith said. Such overarching changes include school discipline. CCPS opposes the state adopting a state-wide code of discipline; mandated penalties for certain infractions; and, what disciplinary actions need to be recorded on a student’s permanent record. Issues like the inclusion of home schooled children in extracurricular activities is something Smith has seen become mandatory in other states, and the district opposes it because of the insurance issues it would create. The school doesn’t have access to the records of home-schooled students, and therefore the school doesn’t know if there are existing health concerns that should be documented, he said. The full legislative document can be found at www.calvertnet.k12.md.us. sarahmiller@ocountytimes.net The Dream Act gave illegal immigrants a shot at a college education for the lowest possible tuition. Eberly said citizens have petitioned to put it on the ballot to vote on, and that could lead to the act’s reversal. Maryland Senate President Mike Miller echoed Eberly’s belief that same sex marriage will be an issue during the session. Miller also added capitol punishment to the hot button list. Miller said he intends to take a stand against same sex marriage. The last time same sex marriage was brought up, it passed in the senate in a vote of 25-22, then died in the house, where all Southern Maryland delegates voted against it. He said he anticipates the vote being just as close this session. Delegate O’Donnell (R-29C) said he sees the same sex marriage issue being bigger this year than it was last year, especially with O’Malley intending to take a stronger stand to promote the issue rather than stay on the sidelines as he did last year. He also said Republicans will “never forgive” a tax increase; even if it is used for much needed projects, such as a replacement for the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge. Board of Ed Takes Stance on Legislative Issues April Hancock PO Box 407 Bryans Road, MD 20616 301-743-9000 Delegate Wood (D-29A) said increasing taxes, while occasionally necessary, should not be the answer every year. Part of the problem comes when the state uses monies that were earmarked for other purposes to balance the budget. In the case of the transportation funds being funneled to the general fund, this has led to roads being in disrepair, and other potential safety hazards, Wood said. “That’s wrong and we’re paying for it,” Wood said. Aside from social issues that come up during the legislative session, passing the budget is always the top priority. Balancing the budget is “one of the few things that we have to do,” Wood said. The budget takes precedent over the 2,500 to 2,800 bills that come before the legislators. O’Donnell sees balancing the budget being a big challenge, especially in the face of a Free InItIal ConsultatIon The law offices of P.a. Hotchkiss & associates Accepting: Providing Excellent Service For Over 20 Years Auto Accidents Workers’ comp • Divorce/Separation • Support/Custody • Domestic Violence • Criminal/Traffic • DWI/MVA Hearings Power of Attorney • Name Change • Adoption • Wills • Guardianship Scan this “Times Code” with your smart phone 99 Smallwood Dr. Waldorf, MD • 206 Washignton Ave. LaPlata, MD SERVING CHARLES • ST. MARY’S • PG • CALVERT Gary Simpson Matt Laidley Katie Facchina 7480 Crain Highway La Plata, MD 20646 301-934-8437 (301) 932-7700 (301) 870-7111 Do You Feel Crabby When You Get Your Insurance Bill in the Mail? Give Us A Call. You’ll Be Glad You Did. Burris’ Olde Towne Insurance Auto - Home - Business - Life Leonardtown, MD • Bus: (301) 475-3151 www.danburris.com COUNTY NEWS billion-dollar deficit. Like Wood, he said increasing taxes is not the only answer. As important as having the money is, decreasing state spending is also necessary. Sen. Dyson (D-29) said tax increases would hurt rural areas more than urban, a fact he said will “see tension grow between rural and urban legislation.” He said he is opposed to the tax increases like the flush tax or gas tax. With 87 percent of the budget dedicated to education, law enforcement and health care, there is only 13 percent to be divvied amongst the rest of the groups vying for finding. Wood said it is important to make sure the funding gets distributed fairly and evenly. There is no one sector that should be cut balance the budget. Instead, everyone should be taking a little bit of a hit to spread the impact. “There can’t be a sacred cow,” Wood said. sarahmiller@countytimes.net An Independent Agent Representing: ERIE INSURANCE GROUP Standing: Dan Burris, Jake Kuntz, Seated: Lisa Squires, Susan Ennis, Donna Burris
Page 1: January 5, 2012 Priceless Gazette C
Page 5 and 6: 5 Thursday, January 5, 2012 The Cal
Page 11 and 12: 11 Thursday, January 5, 2012 The Ca

local on in 'cupcake wars' - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?