Plastic bag tax is killed for the final time

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Prince George's County Councilwoman Mary Lehman

Remember the state law County Executive Rushern Baker was pushing that would give the county authority to implement a bag tax? Well it is now dead for the final time.

Yesterday the House of Delegates Environmental Matters Committee, killed the bill by failing to approve it with a majority vote.

The bill faced an uphill battle all session as members of the Prince George’s delegation faced intense lobbying from the plastic bag industry, the US Black Chamber of Commerce, and citizens who say they are tired of being nickel and dime to death. That however didn’t stop county leaders like Baker, Councilwoman Mary Lehman and leaders from the Anacostia Watershed from fighting hard for passage.

The legislation itself would not had put a plastic bag fee in place in the county, but instead allow the Prince George’s County Council to make the final decision. Under current law the council, unlike the Montgomery County Council, lacks the power to pass such a law. That argument however didn’t sway many citizens who all are still worried about other potential tax increases the legislature is considering.

When the idea for Prince George’s to join with Montgomery County and the District of Columbia with the bag tax was introduced the selling point was it would benefit environmental efforts for the Anacostia river. The tax would drive down the number of people using the bags that clutter the river and any money raised would be used only for environmental projects. That idea hit the fan when members of the DC Council raised the idea last year of raiding their fund to help balance the budget. Leaders in many poor communities said the law would disproportionately impact minority and poor communities the hardest.

After defeat of the bill was announced yesterday, advocates in support of a tax vowed to renew efforts again during next years session.

*- This story has been updated to correct a previous version that incorrectly stated Delegate Davis was chair of the Environmental Matters Committee.

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Donna Edwards breaks with labor, endorses Delaney and labor responds

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Earlier today Maryland Juice reported that Rep. Donna Edwards and Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin had endorsed businessman John Delaney over State Senator Rob Garagiola in the Democratic Primary for the 6th Congressional District. Problem is the AFL-CIO, huge supporters of Donna Edwards, aren’t too happy about it.

Here is an emailed statement from State President Fred G. Mason.

 

MEMO

TO:                  ALL AFFILIATES

FROM:            Fred D. Mason, Jr.

SUBJECT:      CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS

 

LEADERS:

We are greatly disappointed to learn that Congresswoman Donna Edwards came out this morning and endorsed a candidate in Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District Democratic Primary.

She was well aware of who the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO’s endorsed candidate is, Rob Garagiola.  She had been asked to endorse Rob Garagiola, and barring that to endorse no one. 

Yet, she chose to endorse someone other than our candidate.  What makes her endorsement so perplexing is that she knows the importance of labors endorsement.  She certainly ‘appeared’ to understand the importance in November of 2011 when we endorsed her re-election at our Convention.  It is widely believed that that endorsement helped stave off a contested primary for her.

By endorsing John Delaney, Congresswoman Donna Edwards has chosen to oppose the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO in its efforts to elect Rob Garagiola to the United States Congress representing Maryland’s 6^th Congressional District.  This action on her part will certainly be considered in our future relationships.

While we are disappointed in Congresswoman Edwards’ actions, we will not be dismayed.  We will use her actions as fuel to fire up even greater action and enthusiasm, and increase our efforts to insure victory for Rob Garagiola on April 3, 2012.

For Progress

Fred D. Mason, Jr.
President, MD/DC AFL-CIO
Office
Mobile

Rep. Edwards puts herself also at odds, again, with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-5) who has endorsed Garagiola and been rumored to be pressing representatives Van Hollen and Sarbanes to do the same. Edwards and Hoyer have bunted heads with each other a few other times over the last two years on strategy dealing with the debt negotiations, redistricting, and almost came to a head when after the party lost the majority, Edwards refused to endorse Hoyer’s bid to keep his leadership post against fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Jim Clyburn.

It should come as no surprise that Edwards is not supporting Senator Garagiola since as majority leader in the State Senate he supported a redistricting map she fought hard to oppose.

This is getting interesting…

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Is Muse preparing to go on the air?

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We all by now have seen Sen. Ben Cardin’s creepy and almost offensive commercial playing on the Donte Driver death to win a second term from black voters, but could State Senator C. Anthony Muse be preparing to go on the air as well?

Muse has been trying for weeks to gain the traction that will help him unseat the junior senator but with leading black leaders using the contest to get what they want from the senator while hitting Muse by endorsing Cardin that has been impossible. Today his campaign sent out a fundraising email asking for help getting on the air before the April 3rd Primary. We are not sure what his ad will be but the campaign did link to the video below created by a supporter.

Ben Cardin and Anthony Muse have been locked in a primary for the Democratic nomination on April 3rd.

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Council Chair Harrison announces 2012 College and Vocational Career Preparatory Conference

As the end of the school year approaches, Prince George’s County middle and high school students will begin considering college and career options. I would like to invite District 5 residents to participate in my 2012 College and Vocational Career Preparatory Conference scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2012, at Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale, MD.

The 2012 College and Vocational Career Preparatory Conference offers students and their parents a great opportunity for assistance with educational; and/or, career choice decision-making after high school graduation, by providing helpful college and vocational information and resources.

 

For more information please visit Council District 5 website or click here to register a student/participant. I have also attached a copy of the flyer, an agenda, and workshop description.

If there any additional question please do not hesitate to contact my office  Council District 5 at (301)952-3864 or e-mail councildistrict5@co.pg.md.us.

I hope to see you there!

Respectfully,

Prince George’s County Council Chair Andrea Harrison

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From the Editor-in-Chief: Peggy Higgins comes out against Burroughs, plays age card against Murray and Ahmed

They did it two years ago and with Ms. Higgins they are planning to do it again.

In today’s Gazette Peggy Higgins, who owes her Vice-Chairmanship to the vote of Edward Burroughs, today endorsed the anyone but Edward proposition. Why? Well it is not because he has not represented the voices of the 8th district well, it is not that he hasn’t been an advocate for teachers and students, it is also not that he has not been able to understand the information presented to the board, her sole reason for being against Board Member Burroughs is he is too young.

Remember when Steve Morris played this card in 2010 against Edward Burroughs? The voters in the 8th district showed their contempt for that type of dismissal of a young man who has been on the board twice as long as Higgins by electing him with over 58% of the vote or 3,710 votes more than the older, more mature, Morris. Actually if you look at the numbers the only candidates who won their seats with more votes were Higgins, Jacobs, Boston, and Beck. Burroughs did better than Johnson, Waller, Armwood, and Eubanks. We say this to say, the people in his district have examined his age and ruled it doesn’t matter. He has the experience and judgement they wanted.

The craziest thing the Vice-Chair says in this attack on Burroughs as well as candidates David Murray (District 1) and Ahmed (District 2) is that;

Board members who have not had self-supporting jobs and have not paid taxes and mortgages are not able to bring knowledgeable perspective when taking action on taxpayer dollars.

Want to know why this is crazy? The board has nine elected members, only three of them have jobs and only four own homes. Is she saying that the other members who are retired or on unemployment should be booted from the board? How about the one that rents a home or rents a trailer?

Last December when Ms. Higgins took her seat as Vice-Chair some in the county said for a community overwhelmingly black, it was wrong to have a white person in the vice-chair seat. When she was elected in 2010 some said in a deeply social conservative county like Prince George’s her being gay should deprive her the right to serve on the board. The people who said both of those things were wrong. Had they decided to vote against her because she would become a rubber stamp for the superintendent, they might have a point. Had they said she would lack the backbone to stand up for teachers and students who weren’t being served well in schools in her own district, that might be a valid point. Since they only opposed her election to these offices because of her race and sexual orientation they were wrong. She is wrong for opposing these fine upstanding citizens, not because of their positions on the issues, but solely on their age.

Peggy Higgins should be a more thoughtful leader for the county, that she is not makes one question her readiness to lead. You really have to question how she will be able to “form consensus” with Burroughs and Murray should they both be elected in November. God bless her should Ahmed be successful at knocking off Jacobs and joining them.

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GUEST OP-ED From Chesapeake Climate Action Network MD Field Director, Prince George’s Businesses Support Offshore Wind

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that could increase taxpayers monthly electricity bills anywhere from $2.00 (as the governor says) to as high as $9.00 a month (critics say) in order to require power companies to rely more on wind power for their customers. Keith Harrington is the Field Director of the grassroots organization Chesapeake Climate Action Network is leading an organizing effort to build community support for the bill here in Prince George’s County. One of their key targets is State Senator C. Anthony Muse (D-26).

A similar bill proposed by the governor was killed last year in the legislative session.

Prince George’s Businesses Support Offshore Wind

In the debate whirling around Governor O’Malley’s offshore wind energy legislation, one of the top questions in the mix concerns whether the plan to build a 310 MW wind farm off Maryland’s coast would be good for the state’s small businesses. The good news is that several studies contend that the answer is “yes.” A report recently released by the Maryland Energy Administration found that the state could become a manufacturing hub for offshore wind development and the Department of Business and Economic Development has found that this one offshore wind project could bring over two billion dollars in net economic benefits to the state during construction.

Of course, it’s all well and good for the government to make projections. But what do the people on the ground, the small business owners who really know the pulse of the local economy think about offshore wind?

To get a good read on the situation, advocates for Marylanders for Offshore Wind have hit the streets to talk to small business owners and managers, and after a few weeks of door-to-door outreach the answer is in: small businesses from Seat Pleasant, to District Heights, to Fort Washington strongly support the wind initiative. Indeed, no less than 60 local small businesses have recently signed on to a letter endorsing offshore wind as a good investment for economic development, longer term energy-price stability, and healthier air, among other benefits. (Click here to read the letter and see a list of signatories)
.
Among the signatories is Greg Hall owner of Go Enterprises in Seat Pleasant. Like the other signatories on the letter, Hall dismissed concerns that offshore wind power will result in a small bump in energy costs when the wind turbines come on line in 2017. “I think common sense just tells you that our energy prices are going to keep rising if we stay hooked on oil and gas and other fuels like that,” Hall said. “If we’re going to keep our bills down we’ve got to start investing in green energy like offshore wind. Clean energy is our future.”

Hall’s sentiment was echoed by Vicki Roy, manager of Top Line Pools in Fort Washington. “Anyone who works in small business can tell you that to keep your doors open you’ve got to make smart decisions that focus not just on the here and now but on the longer term. That’s why we support this wind energy bill, because it does that.”

Support isn’t limited to local businesses. Over 200 additional small businesses statewide have signed on to letters of support for offshore wind since 2011, and a recent hearing for the wind bill saw local chambers of commerce, business consortia, and entrepreneurs all testifying in favor of the bill.

The Prince George’s business community has voted yes for offshore wind. Now it’s time for our local lawmakers to do the same and pass the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012.

Keith Harrington is the Maryland Field Director for the the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and other online publications.

Follow Keith Harrington on Twitter: @kharring
Follow Marylanders for Offshore Wind on Twitter: @MDoffshoreWind

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Our Endorsements

For the Prince George’s County Board of Education

District 1

David Murray is clearly the most experienced and connected candidate for the vacant seat being left by Rosalind Johnson. Two years ago Murray came close to defeating Johnson in her reelection bid and since that time has remained connected and in touch with the community he wants to represent. His drive and vision for a system that aggressively pursues innovation as a way to improve student achievement is what the Board of Education needs. Additionally he will join a board that has failed to hold senior administrators accountable and deliver on a real reform package everyone says they want. Prince George’s needs new energy as well as new ideas and David Murray is the best chance we have to do that in the 1^st District.

District 4

None of the candidates in the race for this seat currently held by Patricia Eubanks brings the experience or vision we believe is necessary to improve Prince George’s County Public Schools. However, one of them is at least more prepared than the others, Micah Watson. As the former Vice Mayor of Cheverly and member of the Democratic Central Committee, Watson does come with a wealth of budget experience unmatched by the other contenders. While Dennis Smith also served as a member of the Glenarden City Council in the past, during his time as a leader in the city he never distinguished himself in fiscal or program matters. Watson played instrumental roles in developing and passing the Cheverly budget as Vice Mayor and a councilman. What concerns us is a disturbingly detached community outreach strategy and real educational experience.

District 5

For the last five years Verjeana Jacobs has been the chair of the Board of Education and should be reelected. None of the candidates running against her have been able to layout a clear vision of why she should be replaced or what they would do better. Jacobs has made a lot of mistakes in her two terms on the school board, but as chair she has been able to bring a diverse group of people together that has done a lot of good. Jacobs has not been as tough on Dr. Hite as she could have been but she has been effective.

District 7

No Endorsement

District 8

Edward Burroughs has been the most outspoken and passionate member of the school board on issues of community involvement, transparency, and most importantly accountability. He has been criticized for not voting the party line and often being the lone voice of dissent but we recommend is reelection. The problem has not been that Burroughs votes no on things like changes to the popular Reading Recovery Program, a budget that grows class sizes, or retaining a lawyer making millions of dollars who donated to the reelection of another board member, the problem is that not enough of his colleagues are joining him. That will change when he is joined by people like his best friend David Murray.

United States House of Representatives

District 4

We support Rep. Donna Edwards for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

No Endorsement in the Republican nomination race.

District 5

We support Rep. Steny Hoyer for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

We believe Delegate Tony O’Donnell has the best chance to give Rep. Hoyer a run for his money. We therefore support his nomination in the Republican Primary.

United States Senate

State Senator C. Anthony Muse (Democrat)

Ben Cardin has been in Washington for over two decades. In that time the support this county has received from the federal government, including the six years he’s been in the Senate has been poor. His casework for the county has been almost as equal to his presence in the county, non-existent. About six years ago Cardin was handed his hat by fmr. Representative Kwesi Mfume by voters in Prince George’s County, but after beating Mfume statewide the best any county resident has seen of their junior senator was likely in their church this year now that he is up for reelection. Senator Muse is not an excellent candidate but he is a better candidate more in touch with the needs of county residents. A strong vote for Muse, even if he does lose to Cardin, will send the message that we as a county are dissatisfied with our representation and we demand more.

Republican Primary (No Endorsement)

For President of the United States of America

Democratic Primary

We support the re-nomination of President Barack Obama

Republican Primary

We support fmr. Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination

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County Young Democrats finally announce opposition to PGCPS administrators silencing student dissent

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Larry Stafford, President of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, is the latest to respond to allegations of administrators suppressing student dissent at Northwestern High School— This statement has been published unedited.

Prince George’s County Young Democrats, and I as President, stand in full support of freedom of speech and the right to peacefully assemble for all people, especially the students of Northwestern High School. I find the administration’s response disappointing, and we, the Young Democrats, condemn this action. Young people in this county have the right to voice their opinions and demand a redress of grievances. Yet, all too often their voices are ignored, or in this case, actively suppressed. I have personally experienced this in my days as a high school activist and it is sad to see it continue.
Many young people today are frustrated. This is often because they feel a sense of hopelessness and futility within a system that consistently fails to provide adequate access to something as fundamental as a quality education. Their sentiments may be, at times, manifested through nonconstructive means but this particular show of civil disobedience is well within their rights as students and citizens.

Instead of vilifying our student leaders, we should encourage them to remain engaged and invite them to address their concerns in a way that creates hope and power for change.

The administration’s response was counterproductive. If the goal is for student leaders to lead, the Administration must give them meaningful channels of communication and listen to their concerns.

We need change in Prince George’s County schools and more students willing to stand up to fight for that change.
PGCYD applauds their efforts.

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District 5 candidate Taylor is latest to respond to allegations against PGCPS administrators

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Sherine Taylor, a candidate for the PGCPS School Board in the 5th District, is the latest to respond to allegations of administrators suppressing student dissent at Northwestern High School—

Good evening

Sherine Taylor, candidate for School Board in 5^th District.  Really, I mean come on now police, locking down the school, using police to block exits and holding student’s leaders in custody. 

What is going on within the school system that we feel that police force was needed when students are only exercising freedom of speech?  These students were standing up for what they believe was right, they wanted a better school and better education.  These are the type of things we should all stand for and demand for all our students in Prince George’s County.  What happened to Freedom of speech, Civil Rights?  I DO NOT support the acts of the administration and the force used while students were attempting to have a peaceful demonstration.  Administration could fo handled this totally different and had a better outcome. 

Our goal within Prince George’s County should all be the same, which is to make sure our students have a safe school, environment  that will encourage learning and provide them with the best education possible. 

My goal as candidate for School Board 5^th District will be to continue to support our students and see to it that they have the means, and tools needed to get the best education humanly possible.

Thank you
Sherine Taylor, District 5 Candidate

www.electtaylor.com

–
Sherine Taylor
People for Taylor
Candidate for School Board 5

Micah Watson, latest candidate for School Board to voice concerns over student voice suppression at Northwestern

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Micah Watson, a candidate for the PGCPS School Board in the 4th District, is the latest to respond to allegations of administrators suppressing student dissent at Northwestern High School— This statement has been published unedited.

Thank you for letting me know about this incident.  I was not aware of it, and have not heard from any other sources about it.  It speaks to my greatest frustration with PGCPS, and one of my main reasons for running: lack of communication with the stakeholders of our public school system. That means families, parents, teachers and students.  I would not support the administration reviewing students’ tweets without probable cause, and would not support taking any action against anyone based on a tweet except to prevent harm or potential harm to a person or property, bullying, or some other serious consequence.  I will read the petition before deciding whether to sign it, and I want to know more about this.

Best regards,
Micah Watson, District 4 Candidate, cell 240-603-9366.

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