Pr. George’s House Delegation Chair statement on legislative session

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Prince George’s House Delegation Report

Delegate Melony G. Griffith, Chair

 

Members are awaiting word whether the legislature will re-convene in a special session or face a “Doomsday Budget” following last night’s uncertain end to the 90-day 2012 Maryland General Assembly Session, Delegation Chair Delegate Melony G. Griffith said.

 

“We are disappointed that our work requires the possibility of more time to resolve these key pieces of legislation,” Griffith said. “I know we all would have preferred to resolve this by the deadline.”

 

Amid debates over whether to allow casino gaming in Prince George’s County and negotiations over how to fund the state’s budget going down to midnight, the delegation was divided this session. Members met in March to be briefed on one of several late gaming proposals, Senate Bill 892, but no formal position was taken.

 

With the gaming bill stalled, the two chambers passed the state’s budget by midnight. But several key pieces of the budget concerning taxes and other revenues for the state failed to pass, including a proposal that set the amount of teacher pension costs to be shared with counties, along with revenue to local jurisdictions to smooth the transition.

 

It is now up to Gov. Martin O’Malley to decide whether to call a special session before the July 1 start of the fiscal year, or to allow a previous alternative “doomsday budget” with $500 million in cuts to education, colleges, grants and other state funding to take effect.

 

Before Sine Die, Prince George’s County’s 23 delegates passed 17 bills through the House and Senate, including a proposal by County Executive Rushern L. Baker III for tax incentives to lure new companies and growth to the county, a commission to advocate for adults with developmental disabilities and

a requirement for all county public schools to recycle.

 

The bills were among 34 the delegation examined during the 90-day session that ended Monday. In addition to their normal legislative duties, the 23-member delegation also collaborates on state-level laws that regulate County Affairs, Law Enforcement, and its two bi-county agencies, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

 

Other bills debated by the delegation this year included a proposal that would have prohibited home alcohol delivery in the county and a proposal to allow charging a 5-cent tax on plastic bags that passed the delegation but did not get sufficient committee votes to pass on to the full House of Delegates.

 

“I’m pleased with the way our delegation united in a common understanding that we must invest in our future,” Griffith said. “But among our colleagues, our own members and our citizens, there is honest disagreement about whether a casino is a good investment for Prince George’s County.”

 

The 17 delegation bills passed this year included House Bill 898, which authorizes Prince George’s County to implement a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to attract companies and investors. The bill empowers the county to offer reductions in property taxes over the next five years for developments that bring at least 100 jobs to the county in select areas.

 

The legislation was one of the top legislative priorities this year for County Executive Baker, who worked with the delegates to refine the proposal.

 

Other bills passed by both the delegation and legislature include:

 

• House Bill 803: Pre-authorizing the Prince George’s County School Board to test a year-round school program in the county in the future.

 

• House Bill 805: Requiring Prince George’s County Public Schools to implement a recycling program at all facilities.

 

• House Bill 897: Allowing residents over the age of 62 to pay their county property tax bill in up to six installments.

 

• House Bill 903: Creating a citizens advisory committee to study and work with state officials on behalf of adults with developmental disabilities.

 

A complete list of all legislation and its current status is available on the county delegation website at www.princegeorgeshousedelegation.com

 

All bills still require the signature of Gov. Martin O’Malley to become law.

 

 

Contact:

Prince George’s County House Delegation

301-858-3074

Pg2@mlis.state.md.us

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Power Player: Andrea Harrison – The difference a chair makes

County Council Chairwoman Andrea Harrison (D-Springdale)

In 2010 right after news broke that Jake and Leslie Johnson had been arrested and charged with corruption, attention turned to who would lead the Prince George’s Council. With Leslie Johnson refusing to step down, everyone knew the body would spend the year public eye. The battle was between the incumbent Vice-Chair Andrea Harrison, who had called for Leslie Johnson to step aside and not be sworn-in, and Ingrid Turner, who is a member of the same sorority as Johnson, and needed her vote to topple Harrison. In fact Turner, according to Jack Johnson, had promised to name Leslie Johnson to the powerful Economic Development Committee, a post she would be able to use supporting her husband’s corrupt deals. In the end Turner refused to comment on the Johnson situation and won enough votes to take the gavel from Harrison. It wasn’t until after the public pressure became too much that she supported efforts to strip Johnson of any committee assignments.

Fast forward to this year and we see a whole different picture. In 2010 the AKA sorority had to be proud of the three of their members who had been elected to serve on the council. Now Johnson is gone and another one, Karen Toles, is under investigation. Toles if you remember was stopped earlier this week for going over 100mph on a county highway and refusing to stop. After being stopped, police report she identified herself as councilwoman and in the end was given a warning. The traffic incident created a firestorm which led to news that this was not the first time the councilwoman had been in trouble. The difference this time is who is running the council.

Yesterday Councilwoman Toles announced she would voluntarily give up her county issued car until she completed a police course on safe driving. Today Andrea Harrison, who has since been elected chairwoman, announced the council would strip the councilwoman of her car until the investigation into the matter was resolved, not just the safety course Toles promised to take. Her quick leadership compared with Ingrid Turner who proceeded her marked a change in style. It isn’t the first act of bold resolve.

Harrison recently balked at a proposal by County Executive Rushern Baker to build a casino at National Harbor or bring gambling into the county. In November, one month before Harrison took over from Turner, the council voted 5-4 against a resolution to ban slots in the county. Harrison voted in the minority. Compare that to the recent 9-0 vote the council took in February to oppose a bill backed by Rushern Baker to build a casino at National Harbor. Harrison also led the council in amending a state bill that just passed this week by the Prince George’s County Delegation that provides tax breaks to companies who develop in the county. Harrison wanted to ensure none of the breaks went to any potential gambling companies. In the coming year her role in government will only grow. She will also play a key role in deciding if the Executive will get his choice for County Counsel, the county’s attorney, whose nomination he withdrew and resubmitted after some council members said she lacked the independence they desired. She will also wield a lot of influence in the final budget the council approves.

Harrison was elected to the Prince George’s County Council in 2008 during the special election to replace David Harrington who resigned when he was appointed to the Maryland Senate. She was reelected in 2010. Before being elected to chair the council, Harrison served as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Council of Governments (COG).

—FULL STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL CHAIR

The Prince George’s County Council is committed to public safety.  On February 22, 2012, Council Member Toles received a citation for an unsafe lane change and a warning for speeding.    Council Member Toles has stated that she will voluntarily enroll in a driver improvement class and discontinue use of her County assigned vehicle during that time.  The County Council supports her decision, however, until this matter is resolved, we have agreed that Council Member Toles will have no use of or access to a County assigned vehicle for her safety and the safety of others. 

Power Player- Power Player is a new feature for our blog that will highlight individuals whose influence has the potential to make changes in the operation of the Prince George’s County community.

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Baker and team plan Economic Development Fund fourm

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EDI Fund Flyer (Taken from the PGC Government Website)

Do you have questions about the Economic Development Fund the county council passed last year at the urging of Executive Rushern Baker? Do you want to know who should apply for funds, how will funds be dispersed and what will be the process used to determine spending?

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker and many of his top economic development officials are hosting a forum on Wednesday, February 29th at Roosevelt High School from 7PM-9PM.

The meeting is open to the public and free. For more information visit www.pgcedc.com/busDevelopment/EDIF.php.

The EDI Fund, which passed with council approval last fall after it was delayed, has been in the news again lately. The county council put $50 million dollars into the fund from the fund balance in 2011 but were shocked to see that the controversial slots legislation proposed by State Senator Douglas JJ Peters (D-23) would funnel more money to the program, money the council would never have control over. In a vote last week the members of the council voted 9-0 to oppose the legislation.

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GUEST OP-ED From Fmr. Delegate Gerron Levi: Addictive Entertainment…Mother, Father & The Child

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Former Prince George’s County Delegate Gerron Levi (D-23A) has taken it upon herself to lead the charge against a proposal to bring slots to the county. Delegate Levi and other community leaders hope to defeat the proposal in the General Assembly before it is passed and sent to a statewide ballot, or if it does defeat it in Prince George’s County at the polls. Levi and other organizers have been promoting a petition, asking residents to let their legislators know they oppose the bill at www.change.org/petitions/stop-slots-prince-georges.

Below is a guest op-ed we invited Delegate Levi to submit in preparation for a hearing on the bill before the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee tomorrow.

Addictive Entertainment…Mother, Father & The Child

By: Former Delegate Gerron Levi, D-23A (Twitter: @GerronLevi)

Fmr. Delegate Gerron Levi

We hear often that the county’s school system suffers because of a lack of  “parental involvement”. Young men in the county under perform academically, and are too often suspended or truant.  But, we fail to make the connection between these type of outcomes and bad laws and public policy that exacerbate the problem, not lessen it — policies that weaken families and not strengthens them. 

It is no accident that Temple Hills and Capitol Heights lead most negative statistic in the county (e.g. crime and foreclosures), and also spend more millions of household disposable income on lottery tickets than almost anywhere else in Maryland.  That is an investment that yields virtually no gain for the family or the community at-large.

Yes, these are all personal choices, but I simply disagree that it is the role of our policymakers to reinforce bad personal choices, to the detriment of the common good.

Gerron Levi is a former Prince George’s County Delegate who represented district 23A. Levi vacated her seat in 2010 after she decided to forgo reelection and run for County Executive against Rushern Baker.

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MD Attorney General says current PG slots bill is unconstitutional

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Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, and other progressive county officials, who have long opposed bringing slots to Prince George’s County thought they had a way around their former opposition, put the issue to the voters and make the decision on their backs. Problem is that the bill would require a vote of voters across the state, and no one likes the possibility of an amendment that might have broad statewide support, but not much locally bringing slots into the county.  To soften that opposition Senator Douglas JJ Peters of Bowie and Delegate Barbara Frush of Laurel included language in their bills that the constitutional amendment would only pass, if a majority of voters in the county supported it at the ballot box, regardless of the statewide numbers. It seemed to win over a few (very few) people, until Doug Gansler got involved.

In an Attorney General opinion, requested by Delegate Aisha Braveboy (D-25), Assistant Attorney General Bonnie Kirkland wrote “” The portion of the opinion that says constitutionally impermissible is lawyer talk for being unconstitutional or illegal, an opinion County Councilman Eric Olson rendered weeks ago when the matter was before the council.

To read the entire AG Advisory Opinion on Gaming Bill opinion click here.

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Fmr. Delegate Levy leads rally against slots in Prince George’s

RALLY TO STOP SLOTS PRINCE GEORGE’S

The Prince George’s County Council will convene today to vote on CB-49, a bill to ban slot machine gambling in the county.  Because of the extraordinary politics surrounding gaming in Prince George’s County, CB-49 is the county’s best and only real shot to block a slots parlor/casino at Rosecroft Raceway!

 

THE VOTE IS TODAY! 

 

Join us at 9 am at the County Administration Building

14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro

OVER 60 ORGANIZATIONS JOIN FORCES TO OPPOSE A SLOTS PARLOR IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

 

 

 

November 15, 2011

 

 

Dear Elected Officials,

 

We are writing to urge your opposition to a casino at Rosecroft Raceway or any other site in Prince George’s County.   We support CB-49, a bill to prohibit video lottery terminals (“slots”) in the county, and oppose state legislation designed to expand gaming sites to Prince George’s.   A casino is the wrong idea, in the wrong place, and at exactly the wrong time for the county.

 

 

As you know, Prince George’s County has 24.5 % of all homes in Maryland that are at-risk of foreclosure.  Fort Washington, the location of Rosecroft, has been deemed by the state to be a foreclosure “hot spot”.  Surrounding and nearby communities that are known to be rich targets for the gambling industry — Temple Hills and Capitol Heights — are not only foreclosure “hot spots”, but also the highest crime areas in the county.  Research around the country has drawn the connection repeatedly between gambling and both household debt and crime.  State and local government should not vest its fiscal future on how much the gaming industry can push households in Prince George’s County further into debt.

 

In addition, the gaming industry in many states is struggling, and the bogus numbers floated today will not hold up.  The industry repeatedly overstates the benefits and revenues from a casino, and just as often understates the obvious and hidden costs to families, communities, local businesses and taxpayers.  Revenues at the existing Maryland casinos are already 60% below original forecasts, according the Maryland Daily Record.  With three more casinos authorized, but yet to open in the state, what is the rush to add a site in Prince George’s County?

 

We, the undersigned, urge our state and county officials to block any proposed expansion of gaming to Prince George’s County.

 

Sincerely,

 

1.   Coalition of Central Prince George’s County Community Organizations

2.    Indian Head Highway Area Action Coalition (IHHAAC)

3.    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

4.    Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)

5.    Collective Empowerment Group (CEG)

6.    Prince George’s County PTA Council

7.    Progressive Cheverly

8.    Mission of Love

9.    Men Aiming Higher

10.   Kettering Civic Federation

11.   Executive Committee, Hillcrest-Marlow Heights Civic Association

12.   Suitland Action Team

13.   Mission Baptist Ministers Conference

14.   Original Free Will Baptist Conference

15.   Fairfield Knolls Civic Association

16.   Helping Hand Club

17.   Concerned Citizens of Seabrook Park Estates

18.   Forestville Park Homeowners Association

19.   District III Coffee Club

20.   Page After Page

21.   Integrated Processing Labs

22.   Family, Faith, and Future

23.   Veteran’s Advocacy Group

24.   Former Prince George’s County Councilman Thomas Dernoga

25.   Former Maryland State Delegate Gerron S. Levi

26.   Former Prince George’s County School Board Member Patricia Fletcher

27.   Lewisdale Citizens Association

28.   Community of Hope AME Church

29.   First Baptist Church of Highland Park

30.   Jerusalem AM.E. Church

31.   Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church

32.   Bride of Christ Church

33.   New Creation AME Church

34.   Cornerstone AME Church

35.   Mt. Victory Baptist Church

36.   Triumphant Church

37.   New Hope Baptist Church

38.   Christ Kingdom Church

39.   Wayman Memorial AME Church

40.   United By Faith Christian Church

41.   Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church

42.   Marlboro Meadows Baptist Church

43.   Embry AME Church

44.   Antioch Baptist Church – Clinton

45.   Shalom Ministries Christian Center

46.   The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square

47.   Judah Temple AME Zion Church

48.   Higher Place of Praise Ministries

49.   New Community Church of God in Christ

50.   Bethel Deliverance Outreach Church

51.   Christ Missionary Baptist Church

52.   Disciples of Christ Christian Church

53.   Carolina Missionary Baptist Church

54.   Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church

55.   Union Bethel AME Church

56.   Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church

57.   Ebenezer AME Church

58.   New Vision Baptist Church

59.   Gethsemane AME Church

60.    New Liberation AME Church

61.    Millwood-Waterford Citizens Association

62.    Hunter Memorial Church

63.     South Potomac Citizens Association