Councilmember Hans Riemer on Pepco

Dear Friend:

Recently, I wrote to you about the large profits Pepco was earning as its outage performance was declining. With million of dollars per year in after-tax profit, Pepco does not need a rate increase to pay for system improvements.

Many of you asked: “What can be done to improve Pepco?” Pepco is regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) and Pepco’s status as a private company and its regulation by an appointed commission establish one central fact: no single elected official on the state or county level has the power to control its operations. But if we all work together, we can make a difference.

Here’s what you can do.

1. Contact the Maryland Public Service Commission
The PSC will be considering a set of rule changes to strengthen the company’s accountability and a rate hike requested by Pepco to cover the cost of its improvement program. Since the PSC is Pepco’s direct regulator, please call them at 1-800-492-0474 today to let them know what you think.

2. Contact the Governor and your State Legislators
Pepco is subject to state law. Governor O’Malley and Delegate Brian Feldman are working on legislation to impose reliability standards on Pepco and fine the company for non-compliance. It is vitally important that this legislation pass with real teeth. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to co-sponsor and vote for the bill. To get contact info for your legislator, go to www.mdelect.net.

3. Sign our Petition
Sign our petition stating that Pepco’s reliability and service are intolerable, urging the establishment of standards and fines, advocating that the company not receive any rates increases until it improves service and asking that executive pay be tied to power reliability.

4. Spread the Word!
Pepco will not change its ways easily. We will need a LOT of signatures on this petition to show the company, the PSC and the state government that we are serious about demanding improvement. So please forward our petition to your friends, neighbors, Facebook and Twitter followers, listservs and any other contact media to which you have access.

No one person, including me, can tame Pepco alone. But we can work together to get the power service we all deserve.

Join us.

Hans Riemer

Montgomery County Councilmember

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How Legislators Would Make Pepco Better

See the ideas of a number of legislators including Del. Brian Feldman, Del. Derrick Davis, Del. Bill Frick, Sen. Brian Frosh, Del. Tom Hucker, Sen. Jamie Raskin, and Del. Sam Arora.

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U.S. Colonel James Madsen for Marriage Equality

Dr. James Madsen, from Harford County, testified on Feb. 25th before the Maryland House Judiciary Committee for marriage equality. Dr. Madsen is a board-certified physician, an associate professor, a full Colonel in the U.S. Army, an Iraq-combat veteran, and will be deploying to Afghanistan this fall. He has been married for 35-years, has three children, and was raised as an active member in the LDS church.

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Press Conference for the MD DREAM Act

I was proud to see District 18 Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez and Sen. Rich Madaleno joining lead sponsor Sen. Victor Ramirez to speak out for this important legislation.

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Sen. Nancy King on Marriage Equality

The Maryland Senate passed legislation last night which legalizes same sex marriage in Maryland. Many of you have contacted me to ask for my support of this bill and many of you have asked that I oppose it. The issue of marriage equality has been before the legislature for many years, and it is an issue that I have put much thought into with each year.

This year I have signed on as a co-sponsor of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act and last night I voted in favor of this bill. This decision did not come lightly, but this is why I support the legislation: As parents, the thing we hope most for our children is that they are healthy and happy. And when our children are grown, as mine are, we hope that if they choose to share their lives with another, that they choose someone who will love them, share the ups and downs with them, protect them and care for them when we are no longer here.

These are the hopes and dreams I have for my children. These are the hopes and dreams all parents have for their children. I believe as a representative of all Maryland citizens, I cannot deny another parent the same hopes and dreams that I have for my children. And that is why I voted for this legislation.

The civil institution of marriage bestows on couples rights, benefits and responsibilities. These rights and responsibilities financially, morally and socially protect each person in the union. Those are the protections that my married children have and those are the protections I want for all who choose to share their adult lives with another.

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Del. Mary Washington on Marriage Equality

Like all of you, I ran for Delegate because I wanted to make a difference, to make life better for the people in our state. And we find ourselves in a historic moment, hopefully poised to do just that, make life better for all Marylanders by recognizing everyone’s long-term commitments with the legal freedom to marry.

While we’re all here for the same thing, I also stand before you today with a very particular perspective on equality. As an African-American, same gender-loving, woman, I live in myriad systems of inequity. Yet I prefer to consider my particular viewpoint as an opportunity; an opportunity to see how people like me are disadvantaged by systems, yes, but also how people like me work so hard to create communities of love and support in spite of those systems. People like me who create loving families. People like me who create long and loving partnerships. People like me who yearn for the state to recognize those families, those partnerships, with the same love we feel for each other.

We all have heard stories from our LGBT constituents about the injustices, humiliation, and pain they have suffered because they could not legally marry. Partners tossed out of hospital rooms and refused visitation, partners losing homes and children upon their partners’ deaths, partners who have difficulty in both parents having legal relationships to their own children. Unfortunately, those stories are endless. Currently, instead of our state protecting these relationships, loving and committed couples are treated by our state as if they never met each other, as if the decades they spent honoring and loving each other never happened. These people are my people, my friends, my community. Their pain is real, colleagues, and we have the power to end it.

I was a fortunate person when I came out as a lesbian to my parents, in that they, along with my five brothers and sisters, have all been supportive and loving. We were raised Catholic and all now have a relationship with a spiritual path, and see that relationship as one of love and of appreciating brave souls who work hard for freedom. You all sit in an amazing moment in history now, where your bravery will be remembered and honored. Your courageousness in continuing Maryland’s tradition of righting social injustices is before you now and I urge you to consider the opportunity you now have; an opportunity to honor our families, our loving partnerships; the opportunity to embrace us with the loving arms of the state rather than letting us dangle out of its grasp any longer.

I’d like to conclude with a quote from Howard Thurman, black activist, ordained Baptist minister, and religious studies professor at Spelman and Morehouse Colleges in the 1920s: “The movement of the Spirit of God in the hearts of men and women often calls them to act against the spirit of their times or causes them to anticipate a spirit which is yet in the making. In a moment of dedication they are given wisdom and courage to dare a deed that challenges and to kindle a hope that inspires.”

Let us all enact that courage together and vote for marriage equality. Thank you.

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Councilmember Will Campos on Marriage

For the record, Will Campos, Prince George’s County Council Member 2nd District, and although I am not here officially on behalf of Prince George’s County Government I am here as a representative with a large gay constituency in his district as well as in the County. For the sake of brevity because you do have a full day here ahead of you, I will read my testimony and not elaborate outside of what I have written.

I am here in support of HB 55 and 175, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, for two very simple but yet powerful reasons. You very well may have heard this argument before, but the fact is that this argument is made because it is one of the core fundamental values that sent us on the way to becoming the United States of America: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal…” The very words of our Declaration of Independence that our forefathers wrote in the preamble to later emphasize the inequality that they were experiencing at that time. The very document that set this country on it’s way to becoming a great independent nation in this world states, that because we are in fact created equal, then equal treatment is due.

Now, our forefathers certainly got the wording right, but I ask you, do you think the laws of the land then went on to exercise what they claimed was an evident truth? If your answer is “yes,” then there should not have been a need for the 15th and 19th amendments in regard to suffrage. If your answer is “yes,” then the decades leading up to the Civil Rights movement should only be remembered by the styles, the wars, and the music that impacted those generations. But if your answer is “no, our country, our governments did not exercise this fundamental value of equality,” why are we so sure that more than 200 years later since the writing of this document that “marriage” and government’s say on it are correct?

The fact is that we have not gotten it right. We have chosen to interpret what we believe is a “marriage” through the institution of faith, and not civil law and civil rights. The beauty of this country is that it has allowed us to implement this union between two loving humans both through the church and through the state all along, we however as a governing body have only chosen to accept one. Well, the second reason I ask you to support this bill is yet another basic fundamental value that makes this country so great, the separation of church and state.

We are seeing states in this Union finally recognizing this separation, allowing a gay couple to achieve that very thing that our nation was established on, equality, and through equal treatment the pursuit of happiness through marriage. Please, as my representatives to the great state of Maryland, I ask you to join the other parts of this country that have finally allowed this civil right to a group of people that have been marginalized unfairly. This has nothing to do with gay rights, this has everything to do with civil rights, and more importantly, human rights that our very makeup of these United States have called out as “self-evident” in attaining. Please pass this bill, thank you for your time.

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Reznik Report Week 7

Del. Kirill Reznik's report on the Legislative Session:

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And on the Other Side. . .

Marriage equality opponents invited Joyce E. Thomann, president of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, to testify. OK, no big surprise there, you say. Except that this woman has compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler:

Joyce E. Thomann, president of the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County, wrote in a letter on the group's Web site that "Obama and Hitler have a great deal in common in my view. Obama and Hitler use the 'blitzkrieg' method to overwhelm their enemies. FAST, CARPET BOMBING intent on destruction. Hitler's blitzkrieg bombing destroyed many European cities - quickly and effectively. Obama is systematically destroying the American economy and with it AMERICA."

Let's hope the General Assembly gives Thomann's current thoughts the same respect that she shows the President of the United States.

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Missed the House Hearing?

Catch the flavor from Patrick Metz's spot-on tweets (is there a world record for stamina in tweeting?) or watch it online.

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Six Delegates Make a Direct Plea for Marriage to their Colleagues

Watch this testimony from Dels. Bonnie Cullison, Maggie McIntosh, Mary Washington, Heather Mizeur, Anne Kaiser, and Luke Clippinger.

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Howard County Exec Ken Ulman on Marriage

All Marylanders deserve the full complement of rights and protections offered by our great state, and that includes the right to marry, with all the benefits conferred by that important institution.


My view is simple and clear: Maryland law should not limit rights and benefits based on sexual orientation.

I have been a longtime champion of equality for all. As a council member, I was proud to help lead Howard County’s effort extending family benefits to county employees in same-sex domestic partnerships. More recently, we’ve worked to encourage the companies we do business with to establish anti-discrimination policies.

I wholeheartedly support the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. I urge the General Assembly to pass the legislation this year, and I urge the governor to sign it.

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Baltimore City Councilman Bill Henry on Marriage Equality

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Bill Henry. I am the councilman for the 4th District of Baltimore City and I bring greetings on behalf of my colleagues on the Baltimore City Council.

Before you today is House Bill 175, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. In the bill file, there should be a copy of Baltimore City Council Resolution 08-0013R, in which we took a position supporting this legislation.

Ladies and gentlemen, supporting this legislation is the right thing to do. To those of you who have already decided to be with us in this fight, I offer my most heartfelt thanks and ask that you share the following with your colleagues not here today. To those of you who are undecided, or have already decided to allow the status quo to continue, I ask you to consider the following:

This bill may not be popular with some of your constituents. You may be personally uncomfortable with the issue itself, much less with the idea of openly and visibly supporting the vocal minority whose rights are restored by this legislation. Regardless, it is the right thing to do and on behalf of the thousands of same-sex couples here in Maryland that are discriminated against every day, I ask you for your support.

If you yourself are not in a same-sex relationship, perhaps it is easy for you to dismiss this issue as somebody else’s problem, but the fact is, even those of us not directly affected have co-workers, friends, and family whose rights are being restricted. And please believe me when I say that if you don’t think you do, it’s only because - evidently - they don’t think that you can handle the truth…

It is not my intention to embarrass any of you, or spot you in front of those constituents of yours that disagree. I am making this particular ask, honestly and candidly, because I do not distinguish between the current law banning same-sex couples from marrying and the laws of previous generations which banned couples of different races – such as my own parents - from marrying.

I acknowledge that there are those who find it “wrong and unnatural” today for same-sex couples to marry. Sadly, they are expressing the same sentiments as those who thought it similarly “wrong and unnatural” for blacks and whites to marry forty years ago. Those sentiments were wrong then and they are still wrong today.

My generation has benefited from an evolution of that thinking; my family in particular, has benefited. My daughters and I, literally, would not be here today if past legislators had not had the courage to ignore the complaints of their more conservative constituents and do what was right. I ask you to honor their memory and support this bill. Thank you.

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Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton on Marriage Equality

I encourage the members of the Maryland House of Delegates to think extensively about supporting the Civil Marriage Protection Act. In my family, my siblings and parents have always made clear to me that there is no way that a union between loving same-sex couples could ever threaten what they have in their own marriages. I urge of you to choose equality and fairness for all Marylanders, and to afford access to the sacred covenant that many of you share with your own spouses. I respectfully ask you to support the bill.

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House Judiciary Committee to Hold Marriage Hearing Today

The hearing starts at 1pm and you can listen or watch the hearing live via the General website.

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Del. Kieffer Mitchell on Marriage Equality

Maryland was founded based on tolerance. This issue helps to continue our tradition of a state that tolerates all of our citizens.

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Del. Ben Barnes on Marriage Equality

There are hundreds of rights with government has given to civil marriage. These rights are by definition civil rights. When government gives rights and responsibility we have a duty to do so without partiality or prejudice. As President Obama indicated just this week, failing to do so would be a clear violation of the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. As such, it is not only our moral duty to ensure same sex families enjoy all the rights as opposite sex families, it is also our constitutional duty.

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Majority Leader Kumar Barve on Marriage Equality

To me, this legislation is all about family, liberty and respect. I respect the civil liberties of same sex couples who wish to solemnize their relations and families in the eyes of the law. I also respect the values of those in our society who are not comfortable with same sex relationships. Surely there is enough space in America for all of us to build our lives and families as we choose and live next to each
other respectfully.

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Marriage Passes Maryland Senate!

A great day to be a Marylander! Vote on Third Reading: 25 Yea, 21 Nay, 1 Absent.

The only change in vote from second reading was Joanne Benson who went from a nay vote to absent.

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Cloture Vote on Marriage Equality

Yea 30, Nay 17. I was surprised to see this vote occur as Minority Leader Nancy Jacobs had stated that no filibuster would occur in the Washington Post. Breakdowns on the vote after the jump.

For Cloture, For Marriage (24)
Brochin
Conway
Ferguson
Forehand
Frosh
Garagiola
Gladden
Jones-Rodwell
Kasemeyer
Kelley
King
Klausmeier
Madaleno
Manno
McFadden
Montgomery
Pinsky
Pugh
Ramirez
Raskin
Robey
Rosapepe
Young
Zirkin

For Cloture, Against Marriage (6)
Astle
Benson
DeGrange
Mathias
Middleton
Miller

Against Cloture, Against Marriage (16)
Brinkley
Colburn
Currie
Dyson
Edwards
Getty
Glassman
Jacobs
Jennings
Muse
Peters
Pipkin
Reilly
Shank
Simonaire
Stone

Against Cloture, For Marriage (1)
Kittleman

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Marc Elrich's Rapid Transit Update

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I wanted you to be aware of progress on my proposal for a countywide Bus Rapid Transit system. I will be part of a Transit Task Force, appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett, tasked with the mission of making a countywide transit system a reality. The Task Force will look at implementation and financing issues for a countywide system.

The significance of this newly-appointed Task Force is that we will go beyond studying traffic and transportation problems in our County. We already know there is a problem. We know that we sit in traffic too long and that we need better transit to travel around the County. This task force is designed to help solve the problem.

As you may know, for the past four years, I have been exploring the idea of a countywide rapid transit system to address our congested roads and reduce pollution. After numerous conversations with transportation and planning experts, visits to similar systems and reviewing countless pages of transportation manuals, I developed a proposal for a 120-mile system that would take people from where they live to where they work, study and play. My proposal is currently being studied by county transportation planners and outside consultants and that report should be due out in the coming months.

The transit vehicles would travel in their own dedicated guideways in existing right-of-way; this means that the transit vehicles will not be stuck in traffic. Transit that uses guideways is relatively inexpensive to build. Additionally, the guideways use minimal paving because the center areas of the guideways can be grass and used to handle stormwater.

This proposal is a win-win-win for residents, environmentalists and developers. It’s the only solution that allows our County to grow in a sustainable way: it provides reliable and efficient public transportation that will convince people to leave their cars at home, thereby reducing air pollution, and it allows reasonable development near established neighborhoods without flooding the surrounding communities in traffic.

This BRT system has been recognized as a critical transit solution by the Montgomery County Planning Board and by the County Council in their recent letters regarding state transportation priorities for our county.

I thank the County Executive for recognizing the need to move this proposal forward via this Task Force. I look forward to working with the members of the Task Force and residents of this County on this important issue. My staff and I are always willing to come to your civic organization or other group to further discuss this proposal with you. Please contact us via e-mail, councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov or phone 240-777-7966, to schedule a time to meet or for additional information. You may also visit my website for more information about this proposal.

Sincerely,

Marc Elrich
Councilmember At-Large

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Sen. Madaleno Now Speaking on Marriage to the Senate

You can listen here. He's begun with a thanks to the late Sen. Gwendolyn Britt who was the lead sponsor of the bill--to absolutely no political benefit to herself but out of a firm belief in civil rights grounded in her own heroic efforts to integrate Maryland. Sen. Madaleno is now talking about his relationship with his husband, Mark, of many years who yet remains a legal stranger to him.

Rough quote: "Every generation of Americans has held out their hand to a new group, saying you are not the other, you are us."

Now, he's talking about his responsibility as a parent and as legislator. "This will be a memorable day that will help thousands of Marylanders. I am so proud that in Maryland, as we have from the beginning, that we look toward toleration and toward a better future of us all."

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Patrick Metz Live Tweeting the MD Senate

Patrick Metz is live tweeting the Maryland Senate's debate on the marriage equality bill. Thanks, Patrick. You can listen to the live audio of the proceedings online.

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Analysis of Marriage Equality Vote

Party
Democrats: 24 Yes, 11 No
Republicans: 1 Yes, 11 No

County (districts straddling boundaries counted just once)
Montgomery: 8 Yes, 0 No
Prince George's: 3 Yes, 5 No (includes Miller)
Baltimore City: 6 Yes, 0 No
Baltimore County: 4 Yes, 2 No (excludes Getty and Kasemeyer)
Anne Arundel: 0 Yes, 4 No (excludes Rosapepe)
Howard: 3 Yes, 0 No (includes Kasemeyer and Kittleman)
Eastern Shore & Harford: 0 Yes, 5 No
Western MD & Carroll: 1 Yes, 4 No (includes Getty, excludes Kittleman)
Southern Maryland: 0 Yes, 2 No (excludes Miller)

Democrats by Race/Ethnicity
Black Democrats: 7 Yes, 3 No
White Democrats: 18 Yes, 8 No
Latino Democrat: 1 Yes, 0 No

Democrats by Race and Geography
African-American Baltimore City and County: 6 Yes, 0 No
African-American Prince George's: 0 Yes, 3 No
White Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Southern MD, and Eastern Shore: 2 Yes, 7 No
White Montgomery, Howard, Frederick, Baltimore City and County: 15 Yes, 1 No

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Marriage Equality Passes First Senate Test

Update: Coverage in the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun.

In its first major test before the Maryland Senate, the bill the pass marriage equality received support from 25 senators and opposition from 22 senators. More information on amendments to the bill at the Washington Post. Voting on adoption of the committee report/second reading:

Brochin
Garagiola
King
McFadden
Raskin
Conway
Gladden
Kittleman
Montgomery
Robey
Ferguson
Jones-Rodwell
Klausmeier
Pinsky
Rosapepe
Forehand
Kasemeyer
Madaleno
Pugh
Young
Frosh
Kelley
Manno
Ramirez
Zirkin

Voting against:

Miller
Currie
Glassman
Muse
Simonaire
Astle
DeGrange
Jacobs
Peters
Stone
Benson
Dyson
Jennings
Pipkin
Brinkley
Edwards
Mathias
Reilly
Colburn
Getty
Middleton
Shank

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Where Have You Gone Robert Broadus?

Anyone else notice that the YouTube of Robert Broadus's moving testimony that same-sex marriage will inevitably lead to human-android marriages is no longer available. And it was so helpful to the promoters of marriage inequality when it made the national news. OK, maybe not so much.

Update: But don't worry, it has been preserved for posterity elsewhere:

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Republican Central Committee Member Names Black Angus Cow after Oprah

Pave Our County! reports that Diana Waterman, the Veep of the MD Republican Party and Chair of the Queen Anne's County Republican Central Committee, has named her cow after Oprah and then touted it on Facebook.

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Majority of Senators Commit to Marriage Equality

Sen. Jim Rosapepe became the latest senator to commit to vote for marriage equality when the issue comes before the Maryland Senate. Counting Sen. Rosapepe, the bill now has 24 or 25 votes in the Senate depending on how one counts Sen. Joan Carter Conway with only one senator not yet publicly committed. In short, it should now have the votes needed to pass the Maryland Senate.

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Senate JPR Votes Favorably on Marriage Equality

The Maryland Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee just voted favorably on the bill to guarantee marriage equality for same sex couples by 7-4. Voting in favor were Sens. Frosh, Gladden, Brochin, Forehand, Ramirez, Raskin, and Zirkin. Voting against were Sens. Getty, Jacobs, Shank, and Stone.

Update: coverage in the Baltimore Sun.

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UMD Student Government Endorses Marriage Equality

From the Diamondback:

About 20 campus community members spoke at yesterday's meeting, including College Park District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn and District 4 Councilman Marcus Afzali. Only one student spoke against the bill.

Several attendees urged the SGA to vote in favor of supporting the state bill — especially since it was nearly struck down before a healthy debate even began. For Wojahn, who is openly gay, the discussion was personal.

"Try being an LGBT student and struggling coming out of the closet," Wojahn said during the meeting, adding he was looking for an accepting school when making his decision to come out. "Do it for not just the students here, but every student who's thinking about coming to Maryland and wants to come to an accepting place."

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Marriage Equality Update

Sen. Ulysses Currie will vote against marriage equality. The Baltimore Sun editorializes in favor of marriage equality:

[I]t is worth noting that Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, an outspoken proponent of legalizing same-sex marriage, has suffered no political consequences for his stance whatsoever. He didn't generate opposition in either the primary or general elections last year. This legislation may look controversial now, as civil rights bills did in the 1960s. Within a few years, it won't.

As the remaining senators decide what to do, they need to take a much longer view than one centered on the next election. During rallies and hearings this year — and in the everyday presence of Sen. Rich Madaleno, his same-sex partner and their children — they have seen that gay families are just as loving, caring and deserving as any other. The question before them is whether the state should recognize that fact or continue to deny it. The undecided senators need to ask themselves: When they look back many years from now, which vote will they regret?

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Shane Robinson on Marriage Equality

A snippet from the piece that Del. Shane Robinson wrote for Montgomery Village Patch:

Last Tuesday, hundreds descended on Annapolis for a hearing on a bill before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee that would extend equal marriage rights to same-sex couples. Amongst those was Chrys Kefalas—former Deputy Legal Counsel to Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich.

Mr. Kefalas spoke bravely about his struggle with his identity, a struggle that almost ended with him taking his own life. He also eloquently urged the committee to consider the following: “…favorable action on this bill (SB-116) will begin to peel away centuries of unjust treatment on the basis of something as essential to our existence as our gender, as our ethnicity, and as our race.”

Indeed, our gay sons and daughters are born into this world without a choice regarding their sexual orientation. They are born gay or straight just like they are born with brown or blond hair, with blue or green eyes, with dark or light skin.

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Patriot Act Musical Chairs

The House of Representatives voted once again on February 14th on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act after it failed on February 9th. While consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, our delegation really outdid themselves this time. As one political maven commented to me: "You can smell the positioning." See who changed their votes and how after the jump.

Vote Switchers
Changed from Yes to Absent: Van Hollen (D).
Changed from No to Yes: Bartlett (R), Cummings (D), Edwards (D).
Changed from Yes to No: Harris (R), Hoyer (D).

Two Consistent Votes
Yes to Reauthorization: Ruppersberger (D).
No to Reauthorization: Sarbanes (D)

Oh, and this time the reauthorization succeeded as it needed just a majority instead of two-thirds as before when it was brought forward by the Republican leadership under rules requiring that level of support.

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Rally for Equality in Annapolis

Montgomery leaders at today's rally for the bills on marriage equality and gender identity anti-discriminationon:

Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola (District 15)
“As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, no one can argue that the capacity and bond of love is any different between heterosexual and same-sex couples. It is time that Maryland not stand in the way of love and commitment, by providing the right of marriage for all couples, regardless of gender and sexuality.

The opposition knows that we are getting closer to achieving this civil right, so their voice is rising. We must continue to be louder, as we demand marriage equality in 2011.”

House Majority Leader Kumar Barve (District 17)
“I think it is absolutely vital for our community that all people be treated equally, the LGBT community in our state is no exception. Gay and lesbian citizens of our state should have all the rights and privileges that everyone else has.

I am very proud to be a sponsor of this legislation and SB 116/HB 175 is a testament to what it means to be an American and what it means to be free and equal in our society. It is important that there be no distinction to the rights, responsibilities, and privileges that we all have. For that reason, I think marriage equality it vital to our state, our country, and to our society.”

Delegate Ariana Kelly (District 16)
“I support this bill (HB235 on gender identity anti-discrimination) because it is a common sense measure that will protect Marylanders from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity just as you cannot discriminate based on religion or race. Montgomery County has had an anti-discrimination law since 2007. It has been implemented successfully, with no problems. It is time for all residents of our state to be treated fairly and equally under the law. I am glad the bill’s supporters will be in Annapolis tonight to speak with their legislators and show how strongly people believe in this measure.”

Attorney General, Doug Gansler
“Our nation began with multiple forms of exclusion and discrimination. Dismantling this final barrier to full citizenship for gays and lesbians is a moral imperative and a logical historical inevitability. This equalization of the marriage right is long overdue.”

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And Klausmeier Joins Kasemeyer . . .

. . . to say that she will vote for marriage equality because "it's about fairness"--a net gain of two votes in the Maryland Senate in just one day.

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Nancy Floreen on Marriage Equality

Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) made these remarks at a press conference held just before the start of the Senate hearings.

I am proud to be here on behalf of the Montgomery County Council as chief sponsor of a resolution urging the General Assembly to enact the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act with unanimous support from colleagues.

Montgomery County has long believed in the core principle of non-discrimination. We are proud of our diverse and ever growing population. We also think it’s unfair to deny the rights of civil marriage to the over 2000 same-sex couples in Montgomery County and over 15,000 couples across the State.

“The Montgomery County Council recognizes that the opportunity to publicly and legally commit to share one’s life with the person of one’s choice is one of the most central aspects of human experience, and denial of marriage to same-sex couples is the denial of a fundamental civil right.” And it’s just not fair.

It’s not fair to couples and it’s not fair to families. Denied the freedom to marry, same-sex couples and their families are deprived of the critical safety-net that comes with marriage especially at times of great vulnerability such as birth, death, illness, disability, and unemployment.

We can no longer stand by and let these families go to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont or DC for the recognition they want, they need, and they deserve.

Maryland is known as the “Free State” for a reason. And together, we can make it free and fair for all Marylanders.

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Sen. Kasemayer to Vote For Marriage Equality

The Baltimore Sun has the news. Nice timing since Equality MD is hosting its annual lobby day today.

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Coverage of 10 Cents Makes Sense Rally

in the Baltimore Sun, including a snapshot of MCDCC Member Aaron Kaufman, and Your4State.

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Town of Chevy Chase Council Meeting

The following is an unofficial summary of the Town Council meeting of February 9th.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the Council held a moment of silence in memory of Arthur Schatzkin and Roy Gordon.

Variance Request

The Council unanimously approved a request by John and Ellen Barnes to permit the replacement of a front-yard fence.

Montgomery County Civic Federation Membership

The Council decided to put off a decision on whether to join the Civic Federation until it can get more answers to some questions about the obligations of membership.

Intersection Changes at East Ave. and the Thornapple Path

The Town Council held a public hearing on proposed changes to the intersection of East Ave. and the Thornapple Path. After receiving much valuable input from residents, the Council agreed unanimously that parking restrictions within 20 feet on the southeast side of the crosswalk are needed to improve visibility but that it would be better to leave the Thornapple Path and the crosswalk at their current locations.

Committee Reports

The Town Council heard committee reports from our Town Committee chairs: The activities of the committees are too numerous to report here so I’ll mention just a few highlights. Chair Judy McGuire explained that the Climate Committee just held a very successful and well-attended Food Fest in conjunction with the Environment Committee. The Committee is also involved in a review of the Town’s effort to reach the goals outlined in the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.

Bridget Hartman reviewed the numerous events hosted by the Community Relations Committee, such as the Town’s Annual Progressive Dinner and the upcoming Chili Dinner on February 27, and has led a number of community service events, such as the holiday gift program and the Manna Food Drive. Chair Sally Kelly outlined that the Environment Committee is in the process of reviewing the Tree Ordinance and working with the Community Relations Committee on the annual Garden Tour to include information on sustainable gardening.

Long-Range Planning Committee Co-Chairs Tina Coplan and Steve Seidel reviewed the numerous forums held in conjunction with last year’s election as well as the Town’s involvement in monitoring developments, such as the Pearl Street project and the review of the Chevy Chase Lake Sector Plan, which impact Town residents. Purple Line Mitigation Committee Chair Maryann Hoffman explained that her committee was monitoring the MTA’s new noise study and continuing to work on the crossing at Lynn Drive.

Chevy Chase Historical Society

New CCHS President Bridget Hartman outlined for the Council the activities of the
Society related to the Town, including the upcoming Chevy Chase history day to be held May 1 in the Town.

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Councilmember Nancy Floreen on Pepco

There's a lot going on when it comes to the efforts to get Pepco to improve its service reliability and communications, and it can be difficult to sort out all the moving pieces and the various players. It is important to understand that Pepco is regulated by the Public Service Commission, which is a State agency. While the County does not have any direct authority over Pepco, we have been strong advocates for reform.

Last year, we asked the PSC to open an investigation into Pepco, and that investigation (Case 9240) is in progress now. But wait, there's more, including a routine investigation of the January 26 snowstorm, pending recommendations from the County's Pepco Work Group and legislation at the State level. Here's what you should know right now:

Montgomery County Special Counsel on Utility Regulation

• Montgomery County hired Stanley Balis, a nationally recognized attorney with more than 30 years specializing in utility regulation and related issues, to represent our interests in a number of cases coming before the Public Service Commission, including those listed here.

Montgomery County Pepco Work Group

• The Pepco Work Group is comprised of community leaders who were appointed to investigate the reliability of Pepco's service in Montgomery County and formulate concrete steps necessary to improve that service. It works in close partnership with Special Counsel Balis. If you wrote to me, I forwarded your comments to the group. The Work Group's final recommendations will be sent to the Maryland Public Service Commission as part of Montgomery County's testimony in Case 9240. To weigh in, e-mail the Office of Consumer Protection or take the online survey.

Public Service Commission Case 9240 (investigation into Pepco reliability)

• The public comment period has been completed and included statements from Montgomery County elected officials in addition to County residents. The County's Pepco Work Group will file its report on behalf of our interests in this case.
• An independent consultant will file a report on March 4.
• Montgomery County will provide direct testimony on the consultant's report on May 6.
• The PSC will hold an evidentiary hearing on June 16, 17, 20 and 21. The hearing is open to the public (although no further testimony will be taken), or you can follow it live online.
• The date for a final ruling has not been determined.

Public Service Commission Case 9256 (investigation into January 26 snowstorm)

• This is a routine investigation required for all power companies after a major storm.
• A legislative hearing will be held on March 3. The hearing is open to the public (although no public testimony will be taken), or you can follow it live online.
• The date for a final ruling has not been determined.

Public Service Commission Administrative Docket (RM 43)

• This is a Rule Making action in which the PSC seeks comments on its proposed changes to the Code of Maryland Regulations to set standards for all electric utilities.
• The County will submit testimony on this case, but no public testimony will be accepted.

Legislation

• State Delegate Brian Feldman introduced legislation that would require the PSC to adopt enhanced reliability standards by July 2012. Under Emergency Bill HB391, utilities could be fined for poor performance. The bill was submitted to the Economic Matters Committee, which will decide when to hold a hearing in Annapolis.

Routine Complaints

• You can always file a general complaint with the Public Service Commission or with the Maryland Office of the People's Counsel.

While we work our way through these issues, remember this: when your power goes out, you must call Pepco every day so that they know the lights are still out. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to keep up the pressure on Pepco and the Public Service Commission, and I continue to welcome your input so let me know your thoughts.

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Comment Policy Reminder

I dinged several good comments because they just had the first names of the writer attached. Just a friendly reminder that MPW asks everyone to attach their name to their comments. Thanks.

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Robert Broadus on Marriage Equality

Marriage equality will lead to android-human marriages. No, really.

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SEIU Local 500 on MCPS Funding and Employee Benefits

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AG Doug Gansler on Marriage Equality

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On Political Pulse

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman will be on the "Political Pulse" TV Show on:
Fri-Sun, February 11th-13th, at 6:00 p.m. Political Pulse is on Montgomery Municipal Cable (Channel 16 TV).

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Maggie Gallagher Testifies Against Marriage Equality

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Sen. Brochin (D-42) on Marriage Equality

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Baltimore County Sen. James Brochin will support legalizing gay marriage if, as expected, his attempt to change the contentious legislation into a civil unions bill fails.

Brochin, a Democrat, said his position changed after listened to a seven hour hearing in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. He said he felt "appalled and disgusted" by the "hate and venom" offered by opponents of the same-sex marriage bill.

"I'm not going to be a part of the vilification of gays on the senate floor," Brochin said. The switch gives supporters 21 votes; the bill needs 24 to pass on the floor. Six senators are either undecided or have not publicly announced their intentions. (See list after the jump.)

Brochin would prefer creating a civil unions statute, but acknowledged he does not have the votes in committee to support that. "I've always thought that everyone should have the same rights," Brochin said.

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Lt. Gov. Brown Supports Marriage Equality

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Ryan Spiegel on Marriage Equality

Gaithersburg City Councilmember Ryan Spiegel testified at the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Hearing on the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protect Act:

Good afternoon. My name is Ryan Spiegel and I am proud to serve as a member of the Gaithersburg City Council, representing 60,000 residents and hundreds of businesses. I am also on the executive board of the Montgomery County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League, though I am testifying as an individual today.

I *support* marriage equality. As an attorney with extensive experience in civil rights law, I strongly endorse the lofty aspirations for justice and equality so eloquently conveyed by other witnesses today, so I won't repeat what they've said.

But as a municipal elected official for one of the largest cities in Maryland, I am here to offer a pragmatic perspective on our efforts to emerge from the global recession. Local leaders throughout the state have been focused like a laser on the economy, stretching the limits of our imagination to explore every possible avenue for creating jobs -- and maintaining and growing opportunity for local businesses large and small -- particularly as the state government has been forced to reduce aid to local jurisdictions.

Right now, because marriage equality is already in effect just down the road in the District of Columbia, countless dollars are being diverted away from Maryland, to Washington D.C.'s hotels, restaurants, ballrooms, flourists, caterers, tailors -- not to mention all the attorneys, accountants, financial planners, and others who provide services to couples after they are married. Right now, many of our businesses are losing a critical sector of clientele, and in the process, we are not preventing anyone who wants to get married from doing so. So many of our businesses are missing out on a tremendous opportunity, because of a legal roadblock that - years from now - will seem like an antiquated notion.

If you believe in giving the best free-market advantage to our state's businesses, then I respectfully urge you to support this bill, and to remove obstacles to our competitiveness -- even if you are not personally comfortable with the notion of LGBT marriage.

To be clear, I believe in my heart that passing this bill is the right thing to do from a moral and legal standpoint. But I am here today to underscore that it is also the right thing to do from an economic standpoint. Of course, this bill won't force any vendors to be available for LGBT weddings if they don't want to be, but we need to level the playing field for those Maryland businesses that do. It's just one more reason to support this bill.

I thank the chair and the committee for your consideration.

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MD #1 in Education. Again.

Update:The Baltimore Sun has more detail on the continuing racial gap in achievement even as Maryland leads in improvement by African Americans on AP exams.

From a press release issued by State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick:

Dear Friend of Maryland Education:

I have more great news to share! The College Board just announced that Maryland public education scored yet another NUMBER ONE National Ranking.

For the third year in a row, Maryland leads the nation in the percentage of seniors who earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more Advanced Placement (AP) exams in 2010. A score of 3 or better is considered “college mastery” level and many colleges and universities award college credit for high school students scoring in that range.

Maryland also ranked first in the nation in the percentage of graduating seniors who had taken AP exams in the mathematics and sciences disciplines. Maryland placed second to Florida in the total percentage of seniors completing an AP exam (43.4 percent to Florida’s 43.5).

In recognizing Maryland’s achievement, College Board President Gaston Caperton said, “Maryland students are rising to the challenge set by educators across the state and, as a result, more students graduate high school armed with the tools to succeed in college and beyond.”

High standards and quality programs drive success in our high schools. By providing our children with a strong classroom experience, such as an AP course, we give them a rocksolid foundation for future learning and growth.

I am so very proud of our local superintendents, educators, and students. Their combined efforts are putting Maryland education at the top of the class and making us the envy of other states. The College Board announcement follows last month’s news that Maryland schools ranked first in the nation for the third straight year by Education Week, the nation’s leading education newspaper.

A strong education system leads to an even stronger State economy. Maryland’s Number One AP ranking for the third straight year solidifies that Maryland is definitely the place to live, work, and receive a high-quality education that prepares our students for the 21st century and the workforce.

Sincerely,

Nancy S. Grasmick
State Superintendent of Schools

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Tony Varona Profiles Four Montgomery Mayors

On Pam's House Blend, American University Law Professor Tony Varona has written about Mayor Bruce Williams of Takoma Park, Mayor David Lublin of Chevy Chase, Mayor Peter Fosselman of Kensington, and Mayor Jeffrey Slavin of Somerset.

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Patriot Act Split

Maryland's delegation completely split on Patriot Act renewal. Voting FOR reauthorization: Chris van Hollen (D), Andy Harris (R),Dutch Ruppersberger (D), and Steny Hoyer (D). Voting AGAINST reauthorization: Jon Sarbanes (D), Donna Edwards (D)
Elijah Cummings (D), Roscoe Bartlett (R).

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Young Dems Meeting Moved

From the Young Dems: Due to a scheduling error after the recent storms, the 2011 MCYD Executive Board Elections have been moved to a new location. We will NOT be meeting at the B-CC Regional Services Center, instead elections have moved to the Wheaton Regional Library, 11701 Georgia Ave, Wheaton MD. They will still be at 7:30 PM tonight.

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Pepco Apologizes

Thank you Councilmember Berliner for pointing out the bankruptcy of Pepco's attacks on the super-dangerous trees of Montgomery County. Oh, and one of my constituents was not happy to be woken up at 1:30AM when Pepco decided to finally trim trees by her home months after she had pointed out the problem. More info at TBD.

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Late Night Shout Out to Pepco

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Patrick Metz's Top Tweet from the Marriage Hearing

Time for pro-#LGBT testimony again! First witness has a purse made of seatbelts. Buckle up! #Marryland

Update: Patrick gets some twitter love.

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Patrick Metz's Twitter Coverage

Patrick has been live-tweeting the Senate hearing on marriage equality.

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My Testimony at the Senate Hearing

MR. CHAIRMAN, SENATORS:

I AM THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF CHEVY CHASE AND PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 116, THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CIVIL MARRIGE PROTECTION ACT.

THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT OF OUR REPUBLIC DECLARES “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”

MUCH OF THE HISTORY OF AMERICA HAS BEEN THE FIGHT TO FULFILL THIS PROMISE.

AMERICA GRANTED WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 1920. IN THE 1930S, A YOUNG MAN WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF LAW BASED ON THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. UNDAUNTED, HE LED THE FIGHT TO BREAK THE LEGAL BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION AND EQUALITY.

NOT FAR FROM THIS BUILDING, THE CENTRAL PLAZA OF OUR STATE CAPITAL HOLDS A STATUE AND THE WORDS OF THIS SAME GREAT MAN IN HOMAGE TO HIS VISION THAT HELPED OUR NATION BECOME A MORE PERFECT UNION.

SO, ALTHOUGH THE TRADITION AT HEARINGS SUCH AS THESE IS THAT ONE COMES TO BEG, TO PLEAD, AND TO ASK POLITELY FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS, I COME NOT TO ASK BUT TO DEMAND MY RIGHTS AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO WORRY THAT WHEN MY PARTNER BROKE HIS WRIST THAT I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HIS BEDSIDE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. OR THAT HE’LL LOSE OUR HOME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE WAY HOME. IT’S WRONG AND IT’S UN-AMERICAN.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY RELATIONSHIP OF TWELVE YEARS SHOULD BE—BY RIGHT AND BY LAW—GRANTED THE SAME DIGNITY AS ANY OTHER MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND.

AND THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT COUPLES BUT ABOUT ALL THE GAY AND LESBIAN KIDS IN OUR STATE. DO YOU WANT THEM—OR THEIR PEERS—TO GROW UP THINKING THAT THEY ARE LESS VALUED THAN OTHER KIDS? DO YOU WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE? THAT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR LOVE ARE LESS WORTHY?

I IMAGINE THAT MUCH WILL BE MADE OF THE CATHOLIC HERITAGE OF OUR STATE. I DON’T FEAR THIS HERITAGE—I EMBRACE IT. BECAUSE I DON’T FORGET THAT MARYLAND WAS FOUNDED AS A HAVEN FOR THOSE PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH. AND AMERICA WAS FOUNDED WITH THE IDEAL THAT ALL RELIGIONS SHALL PROSPER BUT THAT NO RELIGIOUS DOGMA WILL GOVERN.

LET MY FAITH ALLOW ME TO MARRY IF IT SO CHOOSES.

I NEVER COULD HAVE DREAMED WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THAT I COULD GET ELECTED MAYOR AS AN OPENLY-GAY INDIVIDUAL. IN MY FIRST ELECTION AGAINST SEVERAL INCUMBENTS, MANY PEOPLE VOTED FOR ME. AND MANY VOTED AGAINST ME. BUT I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT I DON’T KNOW OF A SINGLE PERSON WHO VOTED FOR ME OR AGAINST ME BECAUSE I LOVE A MAN INSTEAD OF A WOMAN.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHETHER MARYLAND WANTS TO BUILD ANOTHER STATUE IN A FEW DECADES. OR, INSTEAD, THIS TIME TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF CURRENT EFFORTS TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.

IN THAT SPIRIT, I HOPE YOUR VOTE WILL REFLECT THE CONTENT OF WHAT I KNOW TO BE THE STATE OF MARYLAND’S CHARACTER.

THANK YOU.

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Marriage Equality Press Conference and Senate Hearing

The Baltimore Sun has brief coverage of Equality Maryland's press conference (at which I served as the emcee) held just before the start of the hearings on the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. The Sun has also reproduced the passionate testimony offered by Chrysovalantis P. Kefalas, Deputy Legal Counsel to Gov. Bob Ehrlich, at the Senate hearing in favor of marriage equality.

The Washington Post printed a story this morning on why advocates for equality favor marriage over civil unions.

Attendees at the press conference included the bill's lead sponsors in the Senate--Majority Leader Rob Garagiola, Rich Madaleno, and Jamie Raskin--and the House--Majority Leader Kumar Barve, Kieffer Mitchell, and Ben Barnes. Sen. Allen Kittleman spoke and said that this was not a partisan issue--that getting government out of people's lives is consistent with Republican principles, a view that has found some support over at Red Maryland.

Numerous other legislators showed up to lend their support, including Senators Roger Manno, Verna Jones-Rodwell, and Ron Young, Delegates Ariana Kelly, Al Carr, Aruna Miller, Kirill Reznick, Mary Washington, Luke Clippinger, Joseline Pena-Melnyk, and Jim Gilchrist. Montgomery Councilmember Nancy Floreen spoke in support as did Baltimore City Councilmember Bill Henry. Howard County Register of Wills Byron MacFarlane and Gaithersburg City Councilmember Ryan Spiegel also came and then testified at the hearing.

The words of some extraordinary ordinary citizens concluded the press conference. Maya Deane-Polyak, a high school student, talked about why she thinks her two moms should be allowed to get married. Charles Blackburn and Glen Dehn, who have been together for 32 years, and PFLAG member Erma Durkin spoke about their hope that the bill will pass.

Interest in the hearing was so great that the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee piped in audio and video of the hearings into an overflow room.

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Maggie Gallagher is Coming to Town

Out of state advocate against freedom for same-sex couple Maggie Gallagher is coming to testify at the Maryland Senate tomorrow according to her comment posted in the Washington Blade (odd that she's such a fan of gay publications; is it a cry for help?). Always good when the circus comes to town.

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Marc Elrich's Dry Wit Applied to Pepco

From a post by Councilmember Marc on Facebook:

I know my friends will be assured by PEPCO's reassurance that "we're not the worst." Personally, I feel so very reassured by that.

And, as we feared, PEPCO gets an upward rate adjustment to compensate them for the loss of revenue caused by the storm and the cost of future improvements will be ours if the system works (I use that term... loosely) as planned.

State legislators: we're counting on you.

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Out Md. Lawmakers Influence Marriage Debate

From the Advocate. Sign Equality Maryland's pro-marriage petition at: http://equalitymaryland.org/petition.

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Speaking of Family Values

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Christians Lobby for Same-Sex Marriage

WBAL reports:

Baptist leaders joined with Catholic leaders in Annapolis on Thursday in support of the bill before the General Assembly that allows same-sex partners to legally marry in Maryland and receive the same rights as heterosexual couples.

"The Christian church's appreciation of the infallibility of religious freedom, its sexual theology and even the meaning of marriage have all changed over time," said Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Maryland representative of the National Coalition of Nuns.

Conservative state Sen. Allan Kittleman's stance on the issue has also changed. The devout Christian from Howard County announced Wednesday that he'll vote in favor of the bill.

"I really believe, as a legislator, I don't vote on the basis of my faith. I have to vote on what I think is right for the citizens of Maryland," he said.

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Young Dems Reschedule Vote

The elections for MCYD's 2011 Executive Board have been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 9, starting at 7:30 PM at the B-CC Regional Services Center.

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Van Hollen Letter to Pepco

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Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown Backs Marriage Equality

The Washington Blade has the story:

“I have always believed that all Marylanders should have an equality of rights and responsibilities and that includes marriage equality,” he said in an exclusive interview.

“So regardless of gender, we should be able to choose who it is that we are going to marry and hopefully spend the rest of our lives with. And so I’m supportive of that,” he said.

Brown said he has friends and acquaintances who are in same-sex relationships and he has seen first-hand how they are “successfully raising children,” a development that has helped shape his views on the marriage issue.

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CBN Attacks Marriage Equality in MD

Christian Broadcasting Network is already attacking marriage equality in Maryland, focusing on the "threat" that kids might learn about same-sex couples in schools:

But conservatives warn that where homosexuals win marriage, a propaganda war will begin.

"(There will be claims) that those of us who believe that the union of a man and a woman is what a marriage is are the equivalent of racists," Brown explained. "Your children will be taught that you are a bigot. They will be taught about same-sex marriage. This has already happened in every jurisdiction that has passed same-sex marriage."

"Whatever is codified as law in this state, that's what's going to be taught in every school system, every structure," added Derek McCoy of the Maryland Family Council.

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You Can't Make This Up: Surcharges for Losing Power

As reported in the Washington Post

Under a little-noticed decision by Maryland regulators, Pepco for years has been authorized to raise rates temporarily to recover money it loses when electricity use drops. The system was meant to encourage energy conservation.

But as an unintended consequence, customers could help make the company whole for outage-related losses next month by paying Pepco more than they would have otherwise. The higher rates would apply to all Maryland customers, including those who shivered in the dark for days.

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Kittleman Breaks with GOP Caucus

The Maryland Politics Blog at the Washington Post says:

Sen. Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard) parted ways with fellow Senate Republicans on Tuesday as they voted as a caucus to oppose a same-sex marriage bill pending in the Maryland General Assembly this year.

In an interview, Kittleman said he thought the caucus position was wrong and would announce his intentions in coming days.

The Gazette has more on Sen. Kittleman's plans during the session and his decision to step down as Republican Leader.

Update: Sen. Kittleman has said he will support the bill to bring marriage equality to Maryland:

As a strong proponent of personal and economic liberty/freedom, I simply could not, in good conscience, vote against SB 116," Kittleman wrote in a explanation of his decision.

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Pepco's Letter to Officials on Outages

I received a copy of this in my capacity as mayor of the Town of Chevy Chase and thought's I'd share with you.

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GOP: MoCo Should Pay for the Purple Line

The Examiner reports:

Maryland Republican senators say taxpayers in the Washington suburbs should pay for the planned Purple Line instead of sharing the costs with rural counties.

"If people in Montgomery County want a Purple Line, let them pay for it," said state Senate Minority Whip E.J. Pipkin, of the Eastern Shore.

The planned 16-mile light rail, which would connect New Carollton to Bethesda, would cost the state roughly $1.6 billion. A $1.8 billion high-speed rail -- the "Red Line" -- is planned for Baltimore.

Pipkin and Sen. David R. Brinkley, R-Frederick County, are drafting legislation that would create an independent taxing authority to collect revenues for the rails.

The State has yet to specify how it intends to pay for its share of the cost related to either the Purple Line or the Red Line.

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Ike's Poll, Our Poll on Pepco

The Pepco Work Group appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett is conducting an online survey in order to receive the broadest possible range of feedback about their experiences with the electric utility company.

The survey is designed to obtain information on how the public views Pepco's service, the extent to which customers have experienced outages, the economic impact of those outages and some insight as to what additional costs customers would be willing to incur in exchange for improved service.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PEPCORESIDENTIAL

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Riemer: Power Down but Profits Up

from my inbox by At-Large MoCo Councilmember Hans Riemer

The first winter storm of 2011 has revealed once again what Montgomery County residents know too well: Pepco is incapable of restoring power outages in a reasonable period of time.

Surprising, then, that Pepco is as profitable as ever. Just last October -- despite a year of intense criticism about failing service -- Pepco raised its estimated earnings per share for 2010 by up to 38 percent.
The “thundersnow” began on Wednesday afternoon. According to Pepco officials, 127,000 Montgomery residents lost power by the following morning. Forty-eight hours after the storm hit, the Washington Post reported that 64,843 Montgomery residents were still without power – more than the combined total of 42,667 residents without power in all other Washington-area jurisdictions.

As one resident wrote to me bitterly, Montgomery County has become a “laughing stock” in the region. Of course there is nothing amusing about seniors trapped in apartment towers with no lights, heat, or elevator service.

Pepco has offered a variety of excuses for its failure to restore power promptly in the past. The company once blamed its performance on trees, telling regulators that the region has the “fourth most-dense” tree canopy in the nation. But the Washington Post found no support for that claim in a December 15, 2010 article and exposed equipment failures as the real reason for outage problems.

Pepco has also blamed plowing problems for its inability to access neighborhoods. But Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation plowed the vast majority of roads 24 hours after the most recent storm had passed and still more than 100,000 county residents were without power.

The problem is not trees or weather, it is Pepco’s management.

In its December investigative article on Pepco, the Post found that the company’s reliability problems have been steadily growing worse for five years. Its customers have experienced 70% more outages than customers of comparable large utilities and their power has been out more than twice as long. By 2009, Pepco had fallen to the bottom quarter of U.S. utilities in customer satisfaction.

Pepco’s proposed solution to its problems is its six-point “reliability enhancement plan,” in which it intends to spend $51 million annually in Maryland over the next five years, with additional sums for DC.

Where will it get the money? Ratepayers, of course. Pepco wants to increase rates on its customers to pay for its improvements. What the company is not telling the public is that it does not need a rate hike to improve its infrastructure. According to Pepco’s financial disclosure documents filed at the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Pepco’s profits have exceeded $200 million every year since 2004.

In October, 2010, Pepco raised its guidance on full-year earnings from 80-95 cents per share to $1.00 to $1.10 per share, and affirmed 2011 guidance at $1.10-1.30. Pepco’s outage performance has been declining over this same period.

Pepco’s top eight executives, including its retired chairman, collected $12.7 million in compensation in 2009. They have reaped huge gains despite failed service.

Pepco paid out $238 million in dividends last year and could cut that amount to pay for its capital improvement program. But since its board and management collectively own over 750,000 shares of Pepco stock and its executives have been granted over $11 million in stock awards over the last three years, the company would rather stick ratepayers with the tab.

Pepco’s failure to ask for extra crews until Wednesday’s storm was well underway is yet another sign that it is managed badly. It is galling to think that Pepco’s executives rake in the bucks when service declines and will rake in even more when we pay to fix the problems they created.

Pepco must face a financial penalty for providing poor service. The Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) should fine Pepco for every kilowatt hour lost by its customers due to outages. This would set an appropriate performance incentive.

The MPSC should also demand service improvements without the ratepayer increase. Let Pepco’s executives and investors pay to get Washington area customers back to an acceptable level of services. After all these years of increasing profits despite declining services, the balance sheet should not be tipped in their favor yet again.

As a Bethesda resident wrote to me, “When I moved to Montgomery County, I never imagined that I would struggle to keep my baby warm.” I couldn’t agree more.

The time for talking about Pepco’s problems is over. The time to act is now.

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