GUEST POST: Del. Eric Luedtke Defends Veterans Hall Gaming Law // MoCo Lawmaker Responds to PG Del. Doyle Niemann

Delegate Eric Luedtke

BACKGROUND: Yesterday, Maryland Juice published a guest post from Delegate Doyle Niemann. The Prince George's County Democratic lawmaker sought to rebut claims about Maryland's new gambling law that appeared on Maryland Juice. In particular, his piece challenged suggestions made by Del. Eric Luedtke and Fred Nordham, a member of the Prince George's Veterans Commission, that an expansion of gaming machines at veterans halls would have a limited impact on the State.

Delegate Luedtke, a Montgomery County Democrat, now provides Maryland Juice with a response to Doyle Niemann's guest post. Luedtke further explains the rationale for parts of the gambling law below. You can read the provisions of the new gaming law online.

Sensible Gaming Policy in Maryland

by Delegate Eric Luedtke

I think it’s worth responding to Del. Niemann’s point, but in the broader context of where the legislature is driving gaming policy in Maryland.

To Our Vets: Thanks (aka Gracias, Merci, Shokran, Kamsahamnida, A Sheynem Dank, etc) // VIDEO

Maryland Juice apologizes for the belated Veterans Day article. Hat tip to Coffee Party organizer (and MoCo resident) Annabel Park for sending the following Huffington Post/AOL series through the e-grapevine. The video below kicks off a 10-part HuffPo series on Veterans in America:

"Beyond the Battlefield" is a 10-part series exploring the challenges that severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan face after they return home, as well as what those struggles mean for those close to them.

The rest of the series is well-worth reading, so I've posted the links below:

Part 1: How Pride And Love Helped Tyler Southern Overcome The Wounds Of War
Part 2: With Better Technology And Training, Medics Saving More Lives
Part 3: Lack Of Long-Term Care Can Lead To Tragic Ends For Wounded Veterans
Part 4: Military Turning To Wounded Vets' Families As Key Part Of Healing Process
Part 5: As Wounded Veterans Struggle To Recover, Caregivers Share The Pain
Part 6: New Hope, But A Long And Painful Road, For Veterans Pulled From Death's Grasp
Part 7: Back Home, Severely Wounded Veterans Wish More Would Ask, Not Just Stare
Part 8: Unprepared For Wave Of Severely Wounded, Bureaucracy Still Catching Up
Part 9: As Veterans Fight For Needed Care, Long-Term Funding Remains A Question Mark
Part 10: Saved From The Brink Of Death, Veteran Keeps Chasing His Dreams
Part 00: A Reporter's Reflections On The Plight Of Severely Wounded Veterans

I also thought it was worth mentioning that the human cost of these two wars is a shared sacrifice among all Americans (and even among some undocumented residents - surprise, surprise):