http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/index/ en rick@rickmartel.org Copyright 2010 2010-06-29T18:23:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/pick_rick_2010/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/pick_rick_2010/#When:17:23:00Z My name is Rick Martel and I am running as the Republican candidate for the Maryland Senate, District 12.  I am a resident of Catonsville, an attorney in Catonsville and a parishioner at St. Agnes Church.  I have been married to Kim Martel for thirty years.  We have five wonderful children and two precious grandchildren.  As a lawyer for the past twenty-seven years, my professional interests have revolved around representing private citizens. During the past four years, the Democrat monopoly power in Annapolis has acted with outrageous and unprecedented fiscal irresponsibility.  In the face of a terrible recession, they have continued to spend money which we do not have and have overtaxed us in every way, disregarding what hard-working Marylanders really want for ourselves and our children.  Just as individuals and families have to cut expenses and do without when times are tough, so too must responsible State government.  Senator Ed Kasemeyer has been in public office for well over twenty years.  He is a liberal supporter of Governor O’Malley and votes for State Senate President Mike Miller lock, stock and barrel.  Are you really better off now than you were four years ago?  It is time to send a clear message to Annapolis that enough is enough!  It is time to send home career politicians like Senator Kasemeyer, who have lost touch with the real people in the real communities in which we live.  Tell them we want representatives who know what it’s like to live, work or run a business in Maryland. If what has occurred in the last four years in Annapolis concerns you, then it should not be difficult to contribute to this important campaign.  We anticipate that since this will be a grassroots campaign, we will need to raise $50,000 for this effort.  And the giving of your time and skills would make a huge difference.  Please complete the commitment card enclosed herein, make checks payable to ‘Friends of Rick Martel’ and send to me as soon as possible so we can make a real difference restoring fiscal responsibility in Annapolis.  Visit my website, http://www.rickmartel.org, to read more about the serious issues facing us and what I plan to do in going to work for you.  You can also make a contribution through PayPal on the website. Let us catch the wave that is sweeping our country and send the entrenched, out-of-touch incumbents home.  I look forward to hearing from you and I look forward to an exciting and successful campaign.  Very truly yours, Rick Martel 2010-06-24T17:23:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/donation_information/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/donation_information/#When:18:23:00Z Donate online now by clicking the “Donate” button: Or mail a check payable to “Friends of Rick Martel” to: Friends of Rick Martel 603 Hilton Ave. Catonsville, MD 21228 Please include your phone number and e-mail address with all correspondence. Keep in Mind: Campaign contributions limits do exist … donations are not tax deductible. Individuals cannot donate more than $4000 to any single candidate. Individuals cannot donate more than $10,000 to all candidates in a 4-year election cycle. Please review the state contribution and transfer limits if you’re considering a sizeable donation. Attention Lobbyists and persons doing business with County and State governments: be sure to consider and comply with state laws before donating. 2010-06-29T18:23:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/md_needs_change/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/md_needs_change/#When:17:20:00Z Elementary principles of economics: Time and time again the politicians in power have demonstrated that they do not understand (or choose to ignore) elementary principles of economics.  They raised the sales tax twenty percent to 6¢/dollar, which disproportionately hurts the poor and lower middle classes – to whom they continue to give mere lip service.  After doing so, despite the fact that we have proximate neighboring states with no sales tax, they expressed surprise when State revenues declined. They attempted to pass an ill-advised computer tax, only to retract it in the face of hurried 11th-hour overwhelming opposition.  They botched the BG&E sale and the slots issue, costing us millions of dollars of lost revenue – to this date we have received no slots revenue, and they used, in my opinion, an illegal Constitutional Amendment tactic to boot. More Taxes: After immediately wasting the $1billion surplus left by Governor Ehrlich, the current Governor called a Special Session which was supposed to solve our anticipated tax shortage.  Of course it did not, but left us with numerous higher taxes.  They passed a “millionaire’s” tax, and then, when many successful Marylanders, some with businesses employing many employees, moved to neighboring states, they were shocked to find a diminution of an estimated ONE BILLION DOLLARS to our tax base.  Now Governor O’Malley faces an estimated $389 million deficit this summer because Federal bailout money, which was unwisely counted on, is not coming in. Fiscal Responsibility: We need to re-elect Governor Ehrlich, who has demonstrated fiscal responsibility in the past, and will do so again if given the chance.  He has promised to require all State agencies to audit themselves and reasonably and responsibly reduce their budgets so we can weather this economic storm and he has promised to cut taxes or provide incentives to stimulate economic growth and add jobs that will benefit us all.  If elected, I would voluntarily forfeit the same percentage of my State Senator salary as hard-working State workers are asked to sacrifice.  We really don’t have a revenue problem, we have spending and priority problems.  We need to foster a more business-friendly state so businesses will come, stay and expand. I am well beyond saying “I told you so”.  I am worried that we are being permanently damaged by poor fiscal policies and management.  Too many Maryland businesses are closing or relocating out of state, too many Marylanders are unemployed or under-employed.  We need sound, conservative fiscal policies, especially in these trying economic times.  We need to be helping businesses survive, flourish and grow in a more business-friendly environment, so more can be employed to stimulate the economy, and grow the pie so that everyone, and I mean everyone, can benefit. Fresh Faces and Ideas: Trust me, if we re-elect these incumbents again, then the other shoe will surely fall on us. They will raise taxes still higher.  We are already over-taxed.  We need relief.  We need real change in Annapolis.  We need fresh faces, fresh and innovative ideas, sound fiscal policy, and new blood in Annapolis.  We need to consider term limits.  We need to make sure that there is fairer representation for those who feel ignored and neglected.  We need a fair balance of power so that conservatives, independents and moderates ‘have a place at the table’.  We need to elect one of us, a real person, not a career politician, to speak and vote for us.  I am willing to be that person. If you feel the same way as me, if you want a fresh voice to speak for the 12th District, then I ask you to help me.  Representative government is about serving the citizenry; it is not about serving the political aspirations of those who wish to stay in office. You need to know the numbers are there to achieve success, but it will take a committed effort on the part of many.  If the same number of people vote, I need to pick up 5,100 votes over the votes I received in the last election to beat Senator Kasemeyer.  Remember - he beat me by less than two thousand votes in Baltimore County in 2006.  The need to restore at least balance, if not outright order, to an Assembly run amuck with usurping power and ignoring our needs compels me to make this effort.  To restore a balance of power in Annapolis and to be in position to assist Governor Ehrlich when he is reelected to implement his policies to restore fiscal sanity to the state, we need to pick up at least 5 Senate seats and 14 Delegate seats.  For this reason, this Senate campaign in District 12 is important for all like-minded citizens in the state of Maryland. Pick Rick: If you care about fiscal responsibility, more jobs and a better business environment, if you are concerned about the manipulation of our election and immigration laws, ignoring of our Constitution, and disrespect for laws, if you care about those who cannot care for themselves or speak for their own basic human rights and creating a culture of life; if the changing description of marriage and family and further moral erosion disturbs you, if having a legislator who listens to his constituency and represents the people is important to you, then I am ready to work for you. I need your vote, I need your financial support, I need your prayer support, I need you to host neighborhood information parties, I need you to walk your neighborhoods with me so I can introduce myself to your neighbors, I need you to put up signs in your yard and stickers on your cars, I need you to buy and wear our campaign t-shirts, and I need you to get involved as much as you can! 2010-06-24T17:20:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/upcoming_events/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/upcoming_events/#When:17:07:00Z July 3, 2010, 12:30 PM: Arbutus Fourth of July Parade July 3, 2010, 3:00 PM: Catonsville Fourth of July Parade July 3, 2010, 7:00 PM: “The Black Island of Abulia” CD release party @ 2640 Space, 2640 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD, 21218 July 7, 2010, 7:00 PM: Baltimore County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Dinner at Martin’s West July 9, 2010: Knights of Columbus Golf Tournament, Stewartstown, PA July 18, 2010: Fish Head Cantina - Night at Margaritaville, from 5-8 pm. Join us for a more than awesome fundraiser for Steve Whisler.  Tickets are just $15, and will not only get you in the door, but will also get your appetizers, live music and more. August 24, 2010: Deadline to register to vote before the Primary Election September 14, 2010: Maryland Primary Election October 12, 2010: Deadline to register to vote before the General Election November 2, 2010: Maryland General Election Recurring Events: Every Second Thursday of the Month 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Patapsco Valley Republican Club meeting at Bloomsbury Community Center room 103.  Visit their website for more information. Every Second and Fourth Wednesday of the Month 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Patapsco Council Knights of Columbus meeting.  Fourth Wednesday is Speaker’s Night and is open to the public. News 2010-06-24T17:07:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/contact_info/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/contact_info/#When:17:04:00Z For questions about Rick or to volunteer, send an e-mail to Rick@RickMartel.org . For questions about or issues with the website, send an e-mail to Joe@RickMartel.org . Send written inquiries and donations to: Friends of Rick Martel 603 Hilton Ave. Catonsville, MD 21228 Contact 2010-06-24T17:04:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/rick_announces_senate_candidacy/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/rick_announces_senate_candidacy/#When:17:00:00Z Contact:  Kim Martel Phone:  410-788-9667 Email:  rickjrkim@netscape.net Rick Martel Announces Senate Candidacy District 12 Republican Rick Martel has announced his candidacy as Republican candidate for Maryland State Senate, District 12. Rick desires to restore fiscal responsibility to help make Maryland more business-friendly, reduce taxes, create more jobs and restore responsible government in Maryland.  For more information and to donate and/or volunteer for this important and exciting campaign, visit http://www.rickmartel.org. Rick is an attorney in Catonsville with a law office on Edmondson Avenue.  He was educated in Baltimore County public schools, at UMBC (B.A. Economics and Political Science, 1980) and The University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., 1983). Rick has been a member of the Maryland Bar for 27 years and is a member of the Maryland Bar Association and the Knights of Columbus.  Rick serves on the Board of Directors of Catonsville Emergency Food Ministry. Rick lives in Catonsville with Kim, his wife of 30 years.  They have five children and two grandchildren.  He attends St. Agnes Church and volunteers at Fredrick Villa Nursing Home. 2010-06-24T17:00:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/why_i_am_proud_to_be_american/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/why_i_am_proud_to_be_american/#When:22:04:00Z I am proud to be ‘American’ because my forefathers were provided a land where there was religious and economic freedom in which to live, have a family, flourish, and enjoy a hard fought peace. I am grateful for these freedoms and realize that I am responsible to work to preserve the religious, economic freedoms and American way of life for the benefit of my children and all my descendants. As an American I revere the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law that flows from vigilant adherence to it, and expect all immigrants, just like my ancestors, who come to this great Country to enter legally, to identify themselves to appropriate authorities and, with all our assistance, take the necessary steps to learn the common English language, assimilate into our culture, and become law abiding citizens.  I continue to honor and enjoy my French-Canadian-American heritage, celebrate Martin Luther King’s Birthday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Columbus day, and many other ethnic festivals, but always remember that the most important holiday for a true American is the 4th of July! As an American I do not forget our collective past, with all its sorrows, shortcomings, setbacks, and victories, but move forward with a resolve not to repeat past errors in the future. As an American I do not forget the blessings of the Almighty Creator for this land, and the unprecedented bounty from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in the four hundred and one years since the English landed in Jamestown, Virginia.  I am proud to say the Pledge of Allegiance, with my hand over my heart, to “one nation under God with liberty and justice for all.” I love to sing “God bless America” and remember the pioneers, pilgrims, and veterans who toiled, fought, bled, and died, that I might live free.  We guard the right of citizens to be silent, to dissent, and to be free to worship or not, in any way he or she chooses.  But those who choose to fight to undermine or destroy our nation, then they bear our collective wrath. I cherish the Preamble to our Declaration of Independence that acknowledges our natural rights as human beings given to us by “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” and not from any government of man, and states : “[w]e hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” So I fight with all my strength to protect the rights of all from the unborn, throughout all stages of life, and to natural death.  We are pro-human being and speak out for the small, the weak, the powerless, the broken and beaten down.  We are an underdog Nation and we support the oppressed who are denied or deprived basic human rights in all the world, while we stand ever vigilant to protect our borders form hostile invasion from without or from within. We value honesty, integrity and a hard day’s work ethic that believes in a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work.  We disdain arrogance and sloth and do not reward the lazy, the coward, the liar or the thief.  We strive to live the virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.  I was always taught that the best codes of life were the Ten Commandments and the “Golden Rule” - “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Until recently those codes were always respected in our land.  We are grateful for all we have, and are willing to share, with those, wherever we find them, who are less fortunate. I think we are now at a cross roads, and need to re-affirm and celebrate what it means to be ‘American’ to be proud of our Nation once again, and not be “like the man who looks in a mirror, walks away, and forgets what he looks like.” It’s good to be ‘American’ and to admit we are not perfect.’ But we are proud of who we are, warts and all, and we believe, ever believe, in the best in and for ourselves, and in our future.  So our motto is, and must always remain, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” 2010-05-26T22:04:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/wednesday_january_27_2010/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/wednesday_january_27_2010/#When:18:11:01Z It is amazing how much has changed in one year, and yet how much has still remained the same. The message that our elected officials in Washington and Annapolis should be hearing is that the American people do not appreciate being told by elected politicians that THEY know what’s better for us than WE know ourselves. It strikes me as the arrogance of power that President Obama, Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi continue to ignore one public opinion poll after another advising that the vast majority of the American people do not want the mammoth, unreadable, non-understandable and ill-conceived Health Care Reform laws currently in the US House and Senate.  We know stink when we smell it and don’t want to be told to trust them, they know what’s best for us, and we’ll come around to love it later.  The special deals cut for Nebraska and Louisiana are shameful, unfair, and illegal. The number one issue on every working or producing citizen’s mind is how to get our economy turned around, create jobs and get people working again.  The true American knows we need to roll up our sleeves together, get back to true American virtues and principles, tighten our belts, make do with less, and work harder to make more for a better tomorrow.  It is time for sound conservative fiscal policies. When you don’t have the money for something and it’s not a necessity, you do without, and don’t go into unpayable debt to just get over. However, it appears to me that Governor O’Malley is making that same mistake over and over again.  We were told that the unprecedented tax increases of the special session three years ago would solve our State’s budget shortage.  Not only is that obviously not the case, they feigned incredulousness when higher taxes resulted in lower revenues, and blatant anti-business laws, regulations, and atmosphere caused Maryland businesses to move to other States or retract, causing a loss of jobs.  It is basic Economics 101 but is apparently foreign to the majority of Maryland elected officials. Governor O’Malley and Democrat leaders completely botched the BG&E sale and the implementation of slots as State revenue generators.  Not only was the Slots Constitutional amendment illegal and ill-advised, it was way too little too late.  We the people of Maryland have lost untold millions, if not billions, in aid to our State economy.  Revenues that could have been directed to education and transportation, and we probably would not have another estimated two (2) billion dollar deficit. As it is now, Governor O’Malley is too dependent on Federal Stimulus or bailout money to balance the budget.  Tough decisions need to be made in running our government to bring our spending in line with our revenues so we can have, as required by law, a balanced budget.  Being dependent on hand-outs, or on monies that have onerous strings attached, are no wiser for our State government than they are for our individual households. The elections of Republicans to governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, and Senator Scott Brown’s election in Massachusetts, should send a clear message to elected Democrats, or Monopoly Powercrats, in Washington and Annapolis that we the people have awakened and we will not allow them to take us any further on the course they have set.  The Tea Parties are not a movement of any particular party; they have consisted of Republicans, Independents, and Moderate Democrats who are stepping up from the sidelines to say, in the true American patriotic spirit, “ENOUGH,” “You are not listening to us,” “We do not agree with what you are doing,” “We do not appreciate when you ignore us,” and “We are going to take back the power we entrusted to you.” I believe what we are seeing is a true grass-roots Populist movement that is prepared to send non-responsive incumbents home in November 2010. Let me know what you think about it, and what you think we, together, with God’s help, should do about it. God bless, protect, and guide us. Rick Martel 2010-01-29T18:11:01-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/message_for_monday_january_19_2009/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/message_for_monday_january_19_2009/#When:20:38:00Z It’s a new year and as I reflect on all that transpired last year in the historic presidential election between Sen. McCain - Gov. Palin and Sen Obama - Sen. Biden, and as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 80th birthday, and prepare to swear in President Barack Obama as our 44th President, I’d like to share a few observations. First of all, we as a Nation should be thankful for the great service that President Bush has given our country these past eight years.  History, I predict, will be fairer on his record than the partisan media have been.  No review of his Presidency can fail to note that 09/11/01 forever changed and marked his legacy.  While he had to make difficult decisions involving the sacrifice of precious American servicemen and women’s lives, no one can deny that, while under his watch and determined vigilism, no second 09/11 occurred during the balance of his Presidency. Senator John McCain waged a very respectable campaign.  Though written off many times, and running in an off presidential year for Republicans, he showed his true heroic character.  If you have never read his autobiography, Faith of My Fathers, I heartily recommend it.  Candid, self-effacing and interesting best describe, in my opinion, his reflection on his life, his grandfather and father - both four-star Admirals in the U.S. Navy - and his P.O.W. experience written in conjunction with his first run for the presidency in 2000. One cannot but conclude that Senator John McCain is a true American hero who genuinely puts his country first.  It is not hard to imagine his being elected President at a prior time in our history, but for different events and/or circumstances. His selection of Governor Sarah Palin as a running mate was a complete surprise and, I think, a stroke of “maverick genius,” and many conservatives, including myself and my wife, were immediately impressed by her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.  Everything that later occurred, including her and her family’s tremendously unfair, and even disrespectful, treatment by the media, only galvanized our respect and admiration for this great and accomplished American woman. Isn’t it sad when traditional American values, such as marriage, family, womanhood, citizenship, honest hard work, achievement, and virtue are held up to ridicule by the national media? It is somewhat funny to remember back when I decided to run for the Maryland Senate for District 12 in 2006 that my friend and campaign manager Larry Litt suggested that my wife Kim should run against Senator Ed Kasemeyer - because she “would kick his butt.” With all that my wife Kim does, and she does it all so well - what with raising our five children, driving car pool for school, ice-hockey and gymnastics practices, cooking, cleaning house, doing laundry, helping with homework, involvement with Church and Right to Life Committees, working at various times as a secretary, waitress, licensed Realtor and legal secretary/paralegal, she certainly could serve as State Senator.  But not so much for what she does so well - but rather because of who she is - her character.  These character traits were also present - and obviously as one of fifty Governors even more successfully so - by Governor Palin. Yet the national media ripped into her to discredit or lessen her - instead of celebrating her achievement, even her decision to bring a disabled baby into the world.  After all that, I’m glad my wife Kim has no desire to hold public office or subject herself to such unfair scrutiny - much to the relief of the whole Martel household. However, I think it is very sad, and shows where our media is now, that a Governor of the State of Alaska would be referred to over and over again as Ms. Palin, or just Sarah Palin and not Governor Palin or praised for her character as well as her accomplishments.  Where were the “feminists’” hue and cry at that slight? For that matter, think of how many times the national media referred to President Bush as Mr. Bush, in comparison to Senator Obama.  I for my part urge all Americans to always refer to President Obama as President Obama, as the office far transcends any party affiliation.  We should all, and especially all in the right-to-life movement, pray for President Obama that he have and be granted courage, wisdom, and fortitude to act rightly and justly in leading our country. Turning now to the state of our great State of Maryland.  Now, as our Legislature is in session, we find ourselves staring at a projected two billion dollar deficit.  Clearly, last year’s ill-advised Special Session fixed nothing.  Senator Alan Kittleman and Delegate Tony O’Donnell, and others in Republican leadership, have said, we do not have a State revenue problem, we have a spending problem.  We need our elected representatives to do what we working citizens have to do in a difficult economy, and that is to live within our means.  If that means approving a flat line budget, or even doing the unthinkable - approve a budget that is less than the current fiscal year, then we must be prepared to do so. We should be, but apparently are not, past the time when a candidate who has real substance and concrete solutions continually gets defeated by candidates who promise “ice cream” to everyone but doesn’t tell where, when, or how it will be delivered. We should also not elect representatives who do not represent our core values.  Too many elected Maryland officials are simply interested in getting elected over and over again and they do so in spite of the fact that they just fall in lock step with the Democrat leadership in the Senate and House. Just today C4 featured on his daily WBAL radio show Delegate Jill Carter from Baltimore City who, along with Delegate Michael Smigiel, were advised on their return to the House this session by House Speaker Michael Bush that they were no longer members of the House Judiciary Committee - in obvious retribution for their taking positions, e.g. on slots or the Special Session, contrary to House Democrat leadership.  We as citizens should be outraged that our elected officials who have the courage to stand up and voice a contrary position - while trying to represent their consciences and districts, are being effectively “silenced” for doing so.  Is that democracy?  Delegate Michael Smigiel successfully challenged the constitutionality of the special session last year and three judges on the Court of Special Appeals so ruled, but disagreed with the remedy he sought as too stringent, i.e. the nullification of the bills of the special session.  And for that he is being removed from the House Judiciary Committee? Is that what we want going into a session that will likely deal with the handling of illegal aliens in Maryland, or the many other important bills that will come out of the House Judiciary Committee? As busy as citizens are in working or running our businesses, we have to remain vigilant and active in watching what goes on in Annapolis.  We must make our voices heard, that just because they were elected, again, does not mean that they were given a mandate, that the rule of law, traditional American values, honesty, virtue, and real democracy are not expected of our elected representatives, and particularly our legislative leadership and our Governor as well! We should not give up or move away.  These are the times that try and reveal people of real character.  I, for my part, have been asked by many whether I plan on running again for the Maryland Senate or any other elected office.  I can honestly say that I have no current plans to do so.  I, like so many other people who reside in District 12, am so busy trying to run my business, pay for my daughter’s college tuition, etc., that I cannot see how I could rightfully ask my wife, my children, my friends to support me in such an endeavor again.  However, in a very real way I think that because Kim and I are so busy struggling to keep our small businesses running in such a difficult economic climate, the challenges and struggles we face in our personal lives are so much like everyone else’s struggles that I really do know what real people, the workers, the business owners, and families are facing in the real world.  Still, I have said to all who have asked me about my future intentions that I would make a decision by the end of 2009. In the meantime, I am fully engaged in the day-to-day struggle to survive as a solo-practitioner in a world teeming with lawyers.  I do, however, enjoy being a neighborhood lawyer and invite any in District 12 to come see me in my new law office at 606 Edmonson Avenue, Suite 100, Catonsville, Maryland 21228.  My phone number is 410-788-7071, fax is 410-788-7075, and e-mail remains rick@rickmartel.org . In closing, I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  We are all in this together.  We need to come together in our neighborhoods and communities as Americans, as Marylanders, and help each other the best we can.  And not to worry.  Anxiety solves no problems.  As Dr. Ben Carson says in his excellent recent book “Take the Risk,” we need to use our God-given brains to think to analysis the serious risks we all face, and make reflective, rational decisions.  Lastly, in the words from St. Matthew 6:34: “Enough then of worrying about tomorrow.  Let tomorrow take care of itself.  Today has enough troubles of its own.” Let us work, pray, and trust in God. God bless, Rick Martel 2009-01-21T20:38:00-05:00 http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/a_message_of_hope_for_2008/ http://rickmartel.org/index.php/site/a_message_of_hope_for_2008/#When:14:29:00Z Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2008 is a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for all of us in Maryland, especially in District 12. However, we start this new year and a new legislative assembly having just come off an ill-advised Special Session. While we await final Court ruling on the constitutional challenge to the Special Assembly, even the liberal media is admitting that the addition of computer services industry to the tax base was completely ill-advised, not adequately debated or well thought out.  Let me go on record as saying that I do not think that violations of the Constitution are mere technicalities.  We should not allow Governor O’Malley a free pass here as he has been given in the past (e.g. BGE rate hikes, etc.) – as his allies would like –that he never proposed to extend the tax hike to the computer services industry – we must remember that he was the one who called the unnecessary Special Assembly in the first place, created the atmosphere of fear over a projected budget deficit, and thinks all of us should be “comforted” to know that we are paying more taxes! First of all, everyone should be clear on the facts.  We do not have a deficit.  Our budget is balanced through June 30, 2008. If we would require our government leaders to be fiscally responsible, to seek cuts in the areas of bloated and wasteful government and unessential services, and limit the increase of spending for our next fiscal year, 2008-2009, to 3.5 to 5%, instead of proposing an 8 to 9.5% increase, then there would be no such projected $1.7 billion deficit. Also, everyone in District 12 should be aware that Senator Kasemeyer put forward on the Senate floor every single Senate motion to close debate on the issue at the Special Session.  However, we needed to have more debate on the proposed tax hikes and those it would cover – and if they had done so, at least the Computer Services Industry could have been afforded proper notice and mounted an appropriate lobbying effort.  However, it was the hushed, hurried, late night, almost clandestine actions of the legislation that has put us in this worrisome situation. It is undemocratic and even un-American to curtain debate prematurely and act in an evasive, non-transparent manner.  Marylanders, and particularly residents in District 12, deserve better. As it is, the regressive 20% sales tax, the $1.00 per pack tobacco tax, the additional corporate taxes, and other tax hikes enacted are causing Marylanders to leave their beloved state, relocating their business operations to other States.  An ever-increasing number of Marylanders are now doing their consumer shopping in very proximate neighbor states.  Any law that causes citizens to leave or do business and consumer purchasing elsewhere is bad law. Also, our local elected officials should not be allowed (without consequences at the ballot box) to vote against favorable amendments or vote for bad legislation in committee only and then vote against bad legislation when on the floor knowing full well that enough liberal votes exist to pass the desired tax hikes. We now stand at the start of a new legislative session and need to be active.  We must contact our elected officials.  They were amazed at how many negative e-mails they received during the Special Session!  Let them know we do care what they do in Annapolis, we are watching, we will be down there at some point to see them or take part in government as is our precious Constitutional right, and we will hold them accountable for passing bad laws. It is high time for our government to take notice that it is the law-abiding, working people of Maryland who own property, pay more than our fair share of taxes, are educating our children and building better lives for ourselves and our neighbors, who need to be fairly treated by our elected officials. We need to get involved in our communities, continue educating ourselves about the many serious issues that face us, listen to open talk radio, and send letters and e-mails to the editors in our local papers or to talk radio to express our views.  Our State and our freedoms are worth fighting for. May God bless us, protect us, provide for us, and reinvigorate us in our private and public lives in the New Year, 2008. Rick Martel Catonsville 01/10/08 News 2008-01-18T14:29:00-05:00