Posts Tagged ‘Gov. Martin O’Malley’

O’Malley Helps Democratic Governors’ Group Raise $670K

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

ANNAPOLIS — In roughly one month as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Martin O’Malley helped it raise more than $670,000, according to an IRS filing.

In all, the DGA raised $670,916 between Nov. 23 and Dec. 31, the organization reported in its year-end financial disclosure filing. Only about $425 was donated before Dec. 1, the day O’Malley was elected chairman. He served as vice chairman the previous two years.

The DGA is the arm of the party that helps raise money to elect Democratic governors. O’Malley, who has shrugged off assertions that he’ll run for higher office, will reach a national audience and attain a higher profile with his chairmanship.

The year-end report shows O’Malley and the DGA relied heavily on contributions from big corporations. Among them is a $100,000 contribution from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which donated $400,089 to the DGA in 2010. O’Malley drew $100,000 contributions from BNSF Railway Co. and Duke Energy Corp. and a $50,000 check from San Francisco-based biotech firm Genentech.

Maryland-based companies kicked in a total of $55,000 during the roughly five-week reporting period, including $10,000 checks from Salisbury-based Perdue Farms and Annapolis-based lobbying firm Capitol Strategies.

There were only a few individual contributors to the DGA during the period. The biggest individual donor was former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, the founder of Austin-based lobbying firm Ben Barnes Group LP. Barnes gave $10,000 during the period for a total of $20,000 during the year.

Democrats hold governorships in 20 states across the country. Money pumped into the DGA will help fund upcoming gubernatorial elections in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

The Republican Governor’s Association reported raising $1.5 million during the period, according to this filing.

O’Malley was scheduled to appear in Washington today to present the state’s legislative wish list to the Maryland delegation, but the event was canceled because lawmakers are working to pass funding legislation.

– By Capital News Service’s David Saleh Rauf

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O’Malley Says Tough Decisions Make Better Future

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley addresses a governing conference

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley addresses states' immediate economic future. Capital News Service photo by Laura E. Lee

State governments have to make “tough choices” that include spending cuts and balancing budgets, said Gov. Martin O’Malley at the National Press Club on Tuesday as keynote speaker for the Outlook in the States and Localities conference hosted by Governing magazine.

“Constant streamlining, constant closings, constant consolidations have become the new normal of governing and I am sure that is true in all of your states,” he told the crowd of about 200 people.

The difficult decisions are necessary, he said, to improve the future for the next generation.

“No generation of Americans ever built monuments to their own comfort,” he said. The tough decisions are made because “we want our children to be winners in this change to a new economy.”

At several points in the speech, O’Malley echoed President Obama’s words from last week’s State of the Union about “winning the future.”

With 87 cents of every general fund dollar spent on public education, public safety and public health, there are limited resources for other areas of government like the judicial system, environmental protection and economic development, he said.

Part of the current economic struggle is the result of increased health care costs, O’Malley said. “I think one of the biggest drains on the innovative capacity of our economy in recent years has been the rapidly escalating, out of control cost of health care.” Businesses have difficulty investing in new hiring, marketing, expansion and skills development when health care costs are so high, he explained.

O’Malley warned that states that do not embrace health care reform risk losses in the long-term. “We believe that states that are slow to adapt and slow to embrace this will lose out in this new competitive, this innovation edge, that will come to those states that figure out how to control those costs,” he said.

All the economic news is not bleak. The state gained 26,000 net new jobs in the innovation economy last year– the best year of new job creation since the recession began, he said.

O’Malley praised the education system, noting that, unlike any other state, Maryland’s university system has avoided any tuition increase in the last four years.

He explained that Maryland governmental units track and monitor data to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Governing magazine named O’Malley a 2009 Public Official of the Year for his “data-driven approach to policy and administration.”

The speech comes in advance of the governor’s fifth State of the State address scheduled for Thursday at noon.

-By Capital News Service’s Laura E. Lee

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Voices from Md. on Election Day: Who’d You Vote for?

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

ANNAPOLIS – At the Eastport Volunteer Fire Hall, John Hartnett, 75, said he waited 45 minutes to cast his vote. Because of the long lines, many people left without voting.

“I’ve never seen so many people arrive and leave without voting, and that’s a shame,” Hartnett said.

Hartnett said he couldn’t decide who to vote for in the gubernatorial race because neither candidate was appealing to him.

“I can tell ya, it was darn close,” Hartnett said. “I didn’t think either candidate communicated that well on the issues I thought were important.”

He said he did end up voting for former governor Bob Ehrlich.

“Let’s hope (Ehrlich) does a better job,” Hartnett said. “His history is what turned (my vote).”

Bob Gionis, 44, an insurance company investigator from Anne Arundel, voted for former Gov. Bob Ehrlich.

“I just like what he’s proposed as far as reducing the state tax and some of his education proposals,” he said.

“I think he’s kept down the cost of tuition at schools,” said Susan Eisen, 64, a retired Montgomery County resident who voted for Gov. Martin O’Malley at Chevy Chase Elementary School.

Thom Turner, 45, a vice president for an energy services company who voted at Chevy Chase Elementary School, picked Ehrlich. The issues he thought were important: “Jobs, jobs and jobs.”

A slow trickle of people voted at Bel Pre Elementary School in Silver Spring Tuesday morning.

“I didn’t like the way (Ehrlich) was always pushing for gambling in the state,” said Arthur Meister, 52, an architect and Montgomery County resident who voted for O’Malley. Meister also voted against fees for ambulance services

“I just don’t want to go back to where we were four years ago,” said William Watson, 68, a veterinarian and Montgomery County resident who voted for O’Malley at Cloverly Elementary School in Silver Spring.

Also at Cloverly, Don Calvetti, 69, a retired Montgomery County resident, voted for Ehrlich.

“This governor (O’Malley) didn’t give any state employees any raises,” Calvetti said.

“O’Malley’s managed to ruin the city of Baltimore,” said Mary Jane MacArthur, 62, who works for an international labor union, from Annapolis, about the school system. “He governed as a Democrat, not a governor.”

Bernie Parkinson, 62, a retired firefighter from Annapolis and a registered Democrat, said he voted for Ehrlich, Republican Eric Wargotz and Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Andy Harris: “It’s time to take the trash out.”

Betsy Tropp, of Greenbelt, said she voted for O’Malley: “I trust him, he’s a good Irishman.”

“I think that the country was led in the wrong direction for many years. Now we’ve forgotten who got us here,” said Gregory Gertner, an ophthalmologist, from Bethesda who said he voted Democratic.

Mark Anderson, 61, a retired union official from Bethesda, said he voted for Democrats, including O’Malley: “He’s got my vote.”

The chances of a Republican takeover in Maryland, he said, are remote: “I don’t think that’s going to happen in Maryland,” but if the Republicans take Congress, “I fear for my country,” he said.

John Pedersoli, 50, of Greenbelt, voted for Republicans for the top offices, including tea partier Charles Lollar for Congressional District 5, and Ehrlich. Pedersoli said he’s “against any incumbents” because “incumbency breeds corruption and laziness.”

As for most voters, he said, “They are uninformed.  … Programs like “American Idol” and “Jon & Kate Plus 8″ is what they’re focused on, and that’s exactly the way incumbents want it.”

“I think he’s doing a good job, and I want to give him another chance,” said Mary Lou Reidy, 54, a data analyst from Frederick County who voted for O’Malley. “It’s not his fault we lost jobs and the economy’s in the tank.”

Colleen McKnight, 32, a librarian from Frederick County, also voted for O’Malley.

“(Former Gov. Bob Ehrlich) did not do a good job with the money we did have when he was in office,” McKnight said. “I think Martin O’Malley is doing a good job with what we have now.”

Jay DeWire, 33, a pianist from Frederick County, voted for O’Malley.

“I think we have to be patient,” said DeWire about the financial crisis. “It could be much worse.”

“Getting out of it in four years would be super human,” said DeWire, who said he is disappointed by people who expect the governor to be able to make change happen instantly.

“I think he is somebody I feel comfortable with. Trust is something I have issues with especially in government, and he’s someone I can trust,” said Emilia Riccio, 47, a Frederick County resident and international network liaison for a ground transportation company who voted for O’Malley.

“I sneezed this morning and the guy next to me told me it was because I haven’t voted. I think it was the cold air, but I’m here now and hope everyone votes,” said Carolyn Crosby, 47, and a Prince George’s County bus operator who voted for O’Malley.

“I love him. I like what he stands for. He stepped up education. A lot of people didn’t care about the kids, but he does,” she said.

“A lot of people can vote, don’t, and still complain about results. Someone never taught them the importance – it all goes back to education,” said Martina Lutz, 27, a Beacon Heights Elementary School teacher who voted for O’Malley.

“In P.G. County, education is a big issue,” she said. “Teachers are getting furloughed and with salary cuts, I can’t put more money into the economy.”

“It’s been slow, not been big crowds. Even at 7 a.m., there were maybe eight people in line. There wasn’t a crowd at all at lunchtime, just a sprinkling of people,” said Mike McPherson, 68, a retired Navy Engineer from Prince George’s County who said he supported the entire Democratic Party ticket.

“The Democratic Party got out of touch with me,” said Tom Stickles, 72, a retired school teacher from University Park who said he voted for Ehrlich. “I am totally frustrated with both parties, but more frustrated with the Democrats for a liberal agenda. Both parties are unable to have a civil conversation about anything and the country suffers.”

Billy Nesmith, 68, a retired federal employee from Prince George’s County, said he thinks O’Malley has done a pretty good job.

“The things he’s done have been beneficial to the county. I was in Ehrlich’s corner when he was there, but I think O’Malley has done a better job,” Nesmith said.

Peter Davy, a 26-year-old mechanic from Prince George’s County, said he wasn’t really following politics this year but wanted to vote to show his support for Democrats.

“I voted for Gov. Martin O’Malley to help Obama,” he said. “I’m concerned because a lot of his policies are getting turned down, and his approval rating is low.”

Brandon Settle, 25, of Prince George’s County, said he was in and out of James R. Bates Hall at Ascension Church in Bowie in about 20 minutes. “I’m voting all Democrat, because I’m trying to keep them in office,” Settle, a contractor, said.

Tara Gray, 42, director of operation at a health care company, said she voted for  O’Malley because she’s pleased with what he’s done so far.

“I’m not pleased with Ehrlich,” she said. “I like O’Malley’s stance on education and that he hasn’t raised tuition for the past four years.”

Post office employee Pamela Brooks, 50, of Prince George’s County, voted for  O’Malley and said she wants to see Democrats do well in this election for  Obama’s sake.

“I think they need to give the president more strength,” she said. “If he had more people working with him, he could get his job done.”

Anita Matthews, 46, of Prince George’s County, works for the U.S. Department of Defense.

“I voted for Gov. Martin O’Malley because he’s a Democrat. I believe the Democrats have the interest of the people at hand,” she said. “They represent what I represent.”

Her husband, Rich Matthews, 48, said he’s an intelligence officer.

“I voted for O’Malley because I liked his platform and I don’t think he ever gave Bob Ehrlich a chance, so I decided to stick with him,” Matthews said. “I don’t pride myself on being a Democrat or a Republican. I’m an American, and I’ll support whomever I think will do the most for the country.”

Martha Ajiwe, 47, a psychologist from Prince George’s County, said she voted for O’Malley.

“I’m a little concerned about Bob Ehrlich’s policies,” she said. “So I don’t think there’s any need for a change.”

Ajiwe said she didn’t study up on the other ballot questions, several of which concerned bonds, so she didn’t cast a vote for or against them.

Caitlin Bacha, 28, an aerospace engineer for NASA, declined to say whom she voted for in the governor’s race.

“I was surprised how high money was for the various bonds,” Bacha said. “It seemed like more than usual.”

Darlene Fitts, 50, an occupational therapist from Prince George’s County, said she voted for O’Malley.

“I like what he stands for in terms of education, and what he’s done for the state so far,” she said.

--By Capital News Service’s Nicole Dao, Alexis Gutter, Stacy Jones and Lindsay Powers.

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GOP Rival Hits Ehrlich on Credibility

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Brian Murphy was one Maryland Republican who said he didn’t pay much attention to former Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s official gubernatorial campaign announcement Wednesday in Rockville.

Murphy was busy doing campaigning of his own, because he’s hoping to beat Ehrlich in the Republican primary for the chance to take on Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley in the general election.

Murphy described himself as a “finance guy” Thursday at a Maryland GOP town hall meeting at the Leisure World retirement community in Silver Spring.

“Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat, we all know this. I was once a Democrat. I was a blue-dog, fiscal conservative Democrat. But the modern Democrat Party are people who are big-hearted and generous with other people’s money and, frankly, bad at math,” said Murphy.

He positioned himself as a moderate, dollars-and-cents type of Republican as he spoke to the group of about 50 senior citizens, but in an interview after his speech, Murphy turned his fire on Ehrlich.

“The numbers tell the truth. Ehrlich grew the government more than O’Malley did. And that’s not what Maryland blue-dog Democrats cross for,” Murphy said.

Murphy said Maryland needs a fiscal conservative to restore balance to Annapolis, and Ehrlich has already proven that he doesn’t fit the bill.

“If he did it when he was the governor, frankly, he might still be governor,” said Murphy. “He was a better governor than O’Malley, but that’s a pretty low bar.”

Murphy said he has a better chance than Ehrlich of getting moderate Democrats and independents to swing Republican, which is always important in a heavily Democratic state like Maryland.

A resident of Chevy Chase who grew up on the Eastern Shore, Murphy has an MBA in finance from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and is the founder of the Plimhimmon Group investment firm.

The day before Ehrlich’s long-awaited announcement, Murphy made some noise by winning the endorsement of former state GOP chairman Jim Pelura, who resigned the post in November after a rash of party infighting.

This year’s primary election is scheduled for Sept. 14.

–By Capital News Service’s Graham Moomaw

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O’Malley: Health Care Reform Necessary to Fix State Budget

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

The state’s ailing budget cannot be cured without first gaining control of rising health care costs, said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley during a phone conference Thursday morning organized by the Democratic National Committee.

“[Health care costs are] the single largest part of our budget,” O’Malley said, and one that could “crowd everything else out of the picture.”

Maryland  has made $735 million in cuts to this year’s state budget and is searching for an additional $300 million to cut in order to balance the budget when the fiscal year ends in June.

O’Malley cited education and public safety as services that may be at risk if health care costs are not put in check soon.

Speaking Thursday in support of President Obama’s goals for health reform, O’Malley said the state’s health care costs grow at a rate of 7 or 8 percent every year and promise to continue to do so if no changes are made.

“If we do nothing it’s going to be nearly impossible for us to be able to keep up with those escalating costs,” he said.

Maryland Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Dorchester, agreed that health care might play a role in fixing Maryland’s budget, but said it shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all.

“There is a possibility that the health care plan will help Maryland’s budget, but our problems are deep and we’re going to have  to face some tough cuts in an election year 2010 session,” Colburn said. “We have to move ahead no matter what they do in Washington.”

O’Malley praised the federal government for stepping in to help the state at a time when it needs it, comparing the challenge Maryland faces with those of small business owners who also  must scramble to find a way to provide affordable health care to their employees.

“I think the key, the real key, is making sure everyone is covered,” O’Malley said.

- By Capital News Service’s Karen Anderson.

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Business As Usual on Drug Control

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Radical proposals for fighting the spread of illegal drugs were few and far between at Gov. Martin O’Malley’s roundtable discussion Friday on drug control strategy. But, it was clear the emphasis is shifting toward drug treatment and prevention.

O’Malley met with President Obama’s “Drug Czar” Gil Kerlikowske, House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, law enforcement officials, and community leaders at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to discuss the subject.

Kerlikowske, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said he had ended the “war on drugs” four months ago and was helping the president develop a new drug strategy. But, by and large, Busch, Kerlikowske, and O’Malley stuck to well-worn talking points in a question and answer session with reporters following the meeting.

“We know [successfully fighting drugs is] a combination of three things,” said O’Malley. “It’s not only better and more effective law enforcement, it’s better and more effective interventions in the lives of our most at-risk young people and it’s better and more effective drug treatment and drug prevention.”

When asked whether there was any discussion of legalizing drugs, Kerlikowske said, “The president has a very clear statement about that, and it’s that legalization is not in his vocabulary, and it’s certainly not in mine.”

“And it didn’t come up here,” O’Malley added quickly.

The most novel idea that seemed to come up in the meeting involved the use of alternative medicine.

“[There was some talk about], within the context of wellness, about the effectiveness of acupuncture,” said O’Malley. “I think the director of [Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems] said that ‘I can’t tell you the ins and outs and science of acupuncture, but I can tell you I have numbers that show, where it’s been employed, it’s proven that it’s a big help.’”

- By Capital News Service’s Christopher M. Matthews.

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O’Malley Wants Broader DNA Collection Standard

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Gov. Martin O’Malley indicated Wednesday that he wished the standard for Maryland’s controversial DNA sample collecting was more expansive than it is in its current form.

“I’d like a procedure [for DNA sample collection] akin to what we have for fingerprinting,” O’Malley said, in a lecture to law students at the University of Baltimore.

Last year, O’Malley successfully pushed through legislation expanding law enforcement officials’ ability to collect DNA samples.

Previously, DNA samples could only be collected from criminals convicted of violent crimes. Under the new law, which took effect Jan. 1, law enforcement can collect DNA samples from those who are charged with committing or attempting to commit certain violent crimes.

The Maryland State Police uses a broader standard when it comes to fingerprinting. Deputy Director of Communications Elena Russo said the agency fingerprints anyone who is arrested on any criminal charges.

When asked whether the governor wanted legislation with broader collection standards, Deputy Press Secretary Christine Hansen cited O’Malley’s original legislative proposal, which called for DNA collection for individuals arrested for specific violent crimes. Hansen did not respond to questions about whether or not the governor will try to amend the current legislation during next year’s legislative session.

As O’Malley pushed for the law last year, groups like the Legislative Black Caucus and the American Civil Liberties Union sharply criticized the legislation. They said the new standards for DNA collection violated the presumption of innocence established by the Fourth Amendment.

The Black Caucus and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People also expressed fears that the law would have a discriminatory effect because minorities are more likely to be arrested for violent crimes.

If O’Malley attempts to expand the law next year, he will likely face renewed opposition.

–By Capital News Service’s Christopher M. Matthews

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Cutting Back

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Families and businesses have been tightening their belts in the aftermath of the economic crisis on Wall Street. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley recently announced that Maryland will be cutting back, too.

What more (or less) should the state be doing to address the crisis?

How have the changes in the economy affected your spending habits? Where have you had to cut back?

–From Maryland Newsline’s Avital Medoff

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Advocates: Spare Services for Disabled

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Advocates for people with developmental disabilities rally to ask the Board of Public Works to spare the Developmental Disabilities Administration from budget cuts. (CNS Photo by Jessica Groover)

On his way into Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting where he and the other members approved more than $345 million in cuts to the current state budget, Gov. Martin O’Malley walked through the middle of a rally of advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The group was trying to change the governor’s mind about cutting funds from the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s budget that would reduce money for community-based programs.

Armed with colorful signs, the group shouted, “Cut DDA, no way!” and “Save DDA!”

The governor told some of the rally participants that he and the Board of Public Works were going to do the best they could, and asked for their patience and prayers.

“Bear with us, we’re going to try and get through this with as little pain as possible,” O’Malley said.

Their request was not answered. The Board of Public Works passed the cut, from a 2.7 percent increase in rates for community providers, to a 2 percent increase.

Laura Howell, executive director for the Maryland Association of Community Services for Persons with Disabilities Inc., said the cut may not seem like much, but that it would greatly affect people with developmental disabilities and those who serve them every day.

She said the increase in provider rates is needed because of the higher prices for food, utilities and gas that are required for community-based services, like driving people with developmental disabilities to day programs.

Because of the cuts passed Wednesday, community-based providers will now have to make cuts of their own, which will be difficult since they have been underfunded in the past, Howell said.

“I think we did a lot of the work today trying to raise awareness,” Howell said. “We’ll have to see how everything plays out.”

As O’Malley left to attend the meeting, the group thanked him for a decision he made in January.

They shouted, “Thank you for closing Rosewood,” referring to the center for people with developmental disabilities the governor ordered closed by July 2009.

Seconds later, they resumed their shouts again with, “Cut DDA, no way!”

–By Capital News Service’s Jessica Groover

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