2014 RUMBLE: Anthony Brown Attacks Doug Gansler on Death Penalty // PLUS: HoCo Candidate Highlights Incumbents' Votes

The 2014 campaign season is just beginning to develop, right as the current Maryland legislative session is beginning to wind down. But already we are seeing signs of the battle royale ahead. In the last few hours, Maryland Juice has received two interesting email blasts from candidates in the upcoming Democratic primaries. Both candidates are contrasting themselves with their opponents by highlighting their own opposition to the death penalty:

EMAIL BLAST #1: ANTHONY BROWN ATTACKS DOUG GANSLER FOR SUPPORTING DEATH PENALTY - This morning Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown launched an email blast highlighting an an op. ed. he recently published in support of death penalty repeal in Maryland. But Brown's message also slammed rival gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Doug Gansler for his continued support of taxpayer funded executions (excerpt below):

ANTHONY BROWN: Last week the Maryland Legislature passed legislation abolishing the death penalty. I believe the time has come to repeal the death penalty because it is racially biased, demonstrably unreliable, and not an effective deterrent....

Supporters of the death penalty often rely on false or incomplete information to make their case. Attorney General Doug Gansler is a supporter of the death penalty and he recently attempted to argue that the death penalty was administered in a "fair" and "race neutral" manner. Regrettably, the facts show that the death penalty is anything but fair and race neutral...

Attorney General Gansler suggests that the death penalty is race neutral by stating that in the majority African American jurisdictions of Prince George's County and Baltimore City, the State's Attorneys haven't "traditionally" sought the death penalty. That is simply wrong. In Prince George's County alone, they have sought the death penalty at least 11 times over the last 20 years....

Attorney General Gansler describes the threat of the death penalty as a "wonderful tool for prosecutors" to get a confession and perhaps an eventual plea bargain from a defendant. However, the reality is when presented with the choice of confessing or being sentenced to death, even an innocent person may rationally choose to "confess." The 2008 Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment – led by former U.S. Attorney General Civiletti – found that confessions alone can be unreliable....

EMAIL BLAST #2: HOCO DELEGATE CANDIDATE CLARENCE LAM HIGHLIGHTS D12 INCUMBENTS' SUPPORT FOR DEATH PENALTY - This morning, Maryland Juice also received an email blast from Howard County Democrat Clarence Lam, a candidate for District 12 House of Delegates. Notably, D12 is currently represented by retiring Delegate Liz Bobo (a progressive) and her more conservative colleagues: pro-death penalty Democratic Delegates Steve Deboy and Jim Malone.

In addition to voting against death penalty repeal, Delegate Steve Deboy also voted against the Dream Act and marriage equality, while Delegate Jim Malone also voted against the Dream Act. But D12 has been recently redistricted to increase the influence of the liberal voters in Columbia, Maryland. Clarence Lam has apparently taken note of this fact, judging by his latest email blast (excerpt below):

CLARENCE LAM: Last week, the Maryland General Assembly voted to end the use of the death penalty as a form of punishment against criminals in our state.  As a strong proponent of the repeal of the death penalty, I applaud the delegates and senators who voted to abolish this inhumane practice.  (Click here to see how your state delegate or senator voted.)  My reasons for supporting the repeal are clear and straightforward. 

As a physician, I swore an oath to “do no harm” and committed to saving the life of everyone under my care, regardless of whether the patient was a convicted felon or accused of a heinous crime.  The death penalty is fundamentally at odds with my duty to provide life-saving care to all individuals unequivocally....  For these reasons, many advocacy groups in Maryland such as the ACLU, League of Women Voters, and the NAACP have all expressed support for the repeal of the death penalty.... I’m proud to live in a state where our progressive values continue to be enacted and urge you to support our elected officials who voted in favor of repealing Maryland’s death penalty.... 

Seeing as how neither of the Delegates seeking re-election in Clarence Lam's district supported death penalty repeal, I think his message is loud and clear.


More on the battle for 2014 soon!

HELP: Transportation Funding Facing "Do or Die" Moment in Maryland House // PLUS: O'Malley & Robin Ficker Ready to Duel

CRITICAL MOMENT TO HELP FUND THE PURPLE LINE, RED LINE & MORE!

HELP: MARYLAND HOUSE ON THE VERGE OF APPROVING CRITICAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING, BUT SOME LAWMAKERS WAVERING - Last night, the Maryland House of Delegates moved forward with a much-needed plan to raise transportation funds for the state's numerous stalled projects (think everything from highway maintenance to new transit lines like the Purple Line & Red Line). Even our neighbors in anti-tax Virginia have approved tax increases to pay for their transportation improvements & transit (details below).

But it appears that some Maryland Democrats are wavering and may need some encouragement.  Nobody wants to increase the cost of prices at the pump, but this is the only legislative vehicle we have to finally get transportation funds flowing in Maryland -- a prerequisite to boosting economic development in the places that drive Maryland's economy (like say Montgomery County).

The Maryland House could take a final vote on the transportation funding plan as early as tomorrow, and every vote will be needed. A knowledgeable source has indicated that the following Montgomery County lawmakers may need some encouragement. Please tap these folks on the shoulder and encourage them to support the Governor's transportation funding plan:

• Del. Al Carr - alfred.carr@house.state.md.us
• Del. Ben Kramer - benjamin.kramer@house.state.md.us
• Del. Luiz Simmons - luiz.simmons@house.state.md.us
• Del. Jeff Waldstreicher - jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us

LINES BEING DRAWN OVER GAS TAX ISSUE - Yesterday The Washington Post reported that supporters of Gov. Martin O'Malley's transportation funding package are getting ready to go to battle to defend the plan. O'Malley's allies are apparently raising money for a voter engagement effort (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: A group led by some allies of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has been raising money and trying to mobilize public support for legislation to increase transportation funding.

The group, known as Broad Stripes/Bright Stars, has helped pay for ads on the Web sites of both The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun. And it has coordinated phone calls to lawmakers weighing a bill sponsored by O’Malley to boost funding for road and mass transit projects, according to organizers.... O’Malley’s plan, which was tweaked this week by a House committee, relies heavily on a new sales tax on gasoline. It is projected to yield $3.4 billion over five years....

A recent fundraising solicitation sent out by the group, obtained by The Post, says that “all monies will be directed into voter engagement about the once-in-a-generation opportunity to get Maryland moving again....”

ROBIN FICKER DEPLOYS ROBOCALLS AND LAWNSIGNS AGAINST GAS TAX - Maryland transportation boosters are likely wise to be preparing for political battle over the gas tax. After all, Montgomery County's persistent anti-tax activist Robin Ficker is already making noise over the issue. I spied the lawnsign below in Montgomery County recently, and several sources recently reported receiving robocalls about the gas tax, purportedly from Ficker:

• REPORT #1: Talked with someone just now who got a robocall asking them to oppose "Governor O'Malley's 18-cent gas tax."  Unfortunately, they hung up before the end and didn't hear whether it gave any sponsoring name.

• REPORT #2: Yes, my Aunt here in Potomac must have received that same phone call. She only heard the message once, but she's pretty sure the message said it was from Robin Ficker.

It does appear that Robin Ficker is behind the robocalls, as he posted the following Facebook message right around the time the reports started coming in:

TRANSIT PROJECTS ARE TOP PRIORITIES FOR DEMOCRATS - Robin Ficker notwithstanding, transportation projects (and transit lines in particular) are becoming top priorities for ambitious Democrats. A Maryland Juice source noted, for example, that Howard County Executive Ken Ulman recently spoke to members of the Action Committee for Transit and pledged support for the Prince George's & Montgomery County Purple Line (a light rail line that would run East-West from New Carrollton to Bethesda). Notably, Ulman's visit comes after fellow gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and Del. Heather Mizeur also met with the group and pledged similar support for the Purple Line.

Indeed, a large community of advocates is quickly emerging to try and bolster chances that Maryland will raise a significant amount of funds for transportation this year. Many of these advocates are specifically hoping to see a surge in funding for Maryland's stalled transit projects. To be sure, Maryland has been underfunding transportation for years, but the state's transit projects have been disproportionately affected. Meanwhile, voters around the state seem unaware that taxpayers and transit-riders have been subsidizing auto use for decades (and continue to do so). But times are changing....


THE FUTURE IS HERE: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PREFER TRANSIT-ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES - Just Up the Pike blogger Dan Reed recently reported on how the younger demographics that communities need to attract to survive are increasingly seeking transit-accessible housing. Reed notes that Montgomery County's metro stations attract young professionals, but that more priority needs to be given to these issues:

JUST UP THE PIKE: Trends show that Millennials want an urban lifestyle, but are often stymied by limited funds and a dearth of affordable housing.... The county's largest concentrations of Millennials are along the Red Line in places like White Flint, downtown Bethesda and downtown Silver Spring, where young adults are a slim majority. Notably, these are also the places where walking, biking and taking transit to work are most common....

These maps have implications not just for Montgomery County, but the whole region. They show that the District and Arlington aren't the only places that can attract Millennials, so long as they can be near neighborhoods near transit, shopping and jobs. While many young families are choosing to live further out, they're still seeking a semi-urban experience.

They also show that one of Montgomery's greatest strengths remains its diversity of neighborhoods, allowing it to attract both singles and families. However, two distinct challenges lie ahead. One is to preserve a supply of affordably-priced housing in the county's urban areas, both established places like Bethesda or emerging ones like White Flint. The other is to create more walkable neighborhoods and improve access to jobs, shopping and transit in the Upcounty and East County, where young families continue to settle.

Of course, Millennials aren't the only ones who want an urban or semi-urban lifestyle. But if Montgomery County wants to attract a new generation of residents, it needs to start listening to young adults. Without us, the county doesn't have much of a future.

THE REAL THREAT FROM VIRGINIA IS NOT TAX RATES // THEY'RE CREATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF TRANSIT-ACCESSIBLE HOUSING IN QUALITY NEIGHBORHOODS - Maryland lawmakers have been complaining for years about how the state is becoming less competitive with neighboring Virginia for jobs, investment and residents. Time and again, politicians have pointed to Virginia's lower tax rates as evidence that Maryland is doing something wrong. They have used the threat of an aggressive and hostile neighbor on our border as reason to justify all manner of anti-tax hysteria in Maryland, including allowing our "millionaires tax" to expire.

But Northern Virginia residents and lawmakers have for years been plagued by problems relating to the state's rabid anti-tax political base, and policymakers have been exasperated by their inability to fund the state's growing transportation priorities..... until recently.

First, Virginia made a huge leap forward by finding funding to build a new Metro "Silver Line" to Dulles Airport. And now Virginia is raising billions of dollars for additional transportation improvements and transit funding. The reality is that the bread and butter for Maryland's revenues is our high quality of life and solid neighborhoods, which are obviously all aided by our proximity to the Federal government.
 
But now Virginia is moving forward with their own transportation improvements, and they are threatening to put Maryland to shame. The Richmond-Times Dispatch today explained what Virginia's transportation funding plan would mean for the state (excerpt below):

RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: For the first time in four years, Virginia’s six-year plan for road construction will mean something. The state would receive an additional $4 billion for its six-year plan ... under legislation awaiting the signature of Gov. Bob McDonnell that would raise state tax revenues for transportation for the first time in 27 years....

The complex funding package would result in almost $3 billion for highway construction projects.... McDonnell has not said whether he will propose any changes in the legislation ... but his administration is moving ahead swiftly in planning for the new funding, which also would add about $1 billion for mass transit.... Cities and counties, for example, would receive an estimated $125.6 million in 2017-2019 for their priorities.

“The revenues generated by (the legislation) will breathe new life into Virginia’s transportation program,” [John W. Lawson, chief financial officer of the Virginia Department of Transportation] concluded.

Will Maryland politicians find the courage to fund our future?

P.S. LOCKHEED TAX CUT VS. GAS TAX INCREASE? - For those of you following the debate over the Lockheed Martin corporate welfare bill in Maryland, it should be noted that some politicos (and Robin Ficker) are already comparing the gas tax increase to the proposed Lockheed handout. Indeed, it would seem absurd for lawmakers to raise the gas tax on ordinary Marylanders at the same time they give Lockheed Martin millions of dollars in tax cuts. Thousands of Marylanders are watching Del. Sheila Hixson's handling of the Lockheed bill in the House Ways & Means committee - live on Facebook:

JuiceBlender: Tea Partier Don Dwyer Considers Joining Dems, Gansler Attacks Iran, Cardin Staffs Up for AG, Tom Perez Rises

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Congressman John Delaney denies that his boss has reversed course on previous promises not to cut social security. Maryland Juice readers had pointed out that Delaney pledged not to cut social security while on the campaign trail, but that he is now seeking to raise the age for social security eligibility (along with other changes). Delaney's camp is arguing that he has always been publicly in favor of such alterations to social security.

It seems the confusion may be because Delaney doesn't consider changes like increasing the retirement age to be a "cut" to social security. Fair enough, I guess. But even taking this argument at face value, a visitor to Delaney's website would likely not catch this sort of nuance without also reading the fine print (aka additional newspaper coverage of his campaign statements). In any case, you can see Congressman John Delaney's response below:

SPOKESMAN FOR JOHN DELANEY: Saw your post. I would disagree with your characterization that Congressman Delaney is “reversing a campaign promise.” From the very beginning he’s been a strong supporter of Simpson-Bowles, which includes entitlement reforms and cost of living adjustments. This was literally in the very first stories about John as an official candidate (see John Fritze’s story in the Baltimore Sun, 1/4/12) and was discussed frequently during the primary and the general election. John’s specific support for entitlement reform, was covered in the Washington Post’s (3/10/12) primary endorsement as well, which was something we distributed widely during the campaign.

Congressman Delaney does not want to cut Social Security. Like President Obama and Leader Pelosi have also stated, as part of a grand bargain he does believe changing the cost of living adjustment should be on the table and the fact is changing the cost of living adjustment isn’t a cut, it remains a net increase. We’re in an environment with folks who want to privatize, voucherize, and truly cut our safety net. John is against this and he wants to make sure these programs can be sustained and that we can continue to make other needed investments in education, infrastructure, etc.

Below Maryland Juice highlights several brief tidbits that may be of interest to Free State politicos:

JUICE #1: TEA PARTY DELEGATE DON DWYER CONSIDERS SWITCHING TO DEMOCRATS - Eye on Annapolis is reporting on the astonishing news that Tea Party Delegate Don Dwyer is considering switching parties! The embattled Republican lawmaker is facing criminal charges due to his involvement in a drunk boating accident that injured children. Now it seems he is considering running for re-election as a Democrat (excerpt below):

EYE ON ANNAPOLIS: Conservative Republican Don Dwyer is considering switching parties in a move he has dubbed “Operation DINO–Democrats In Name Only.  Citing frustrations, Dwyer asked his Facebook audience if they would still support him and his conservative values if he switched parties.  The thought process was to upset the status-quo in the primary elections which tend to determine the make up of the General Assembly for Democrats....

Here is a screencap from Del. Don Dwyer's Facebook page confirming the news:

STRING OF PROBLEMS FACING MARYLAND REPUBLICANS - Dwyer's attempted rebirth as a Democrat is the latest sign that the Maryland Republican Party may be in severe turmoil. Earlier this month, the conservative bloggers at Red Maryland reported that MD GOP Party Chair Alex Mooney left the state to seek public office in West Virginia (excerpt below):

RED MARYLAND: Sources in West Virginia have confirmed to me that Alex Mooney, who until February 21st was the Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, has moved to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

He intends to run for Congress there in the 2nd district seat being vacated by Representative Shelley Moore Capito, who is running for the U.S. Senate...

TEA PARTY CALLS FOR A THIRD PARTY IN MARYLAND - A final piece of evidence that the Maryland GOP may be in serious trouble is that Tea Party members are now calling for a third party alternative to the Republican Party. Potomac Tea Party Report blogger Ann Corcoran drafted a call to action last month, titled, "It's time for a new political party, let's try it in Maryland." The Maryland Tea Party writer noted, "Democrat and Republican leaders are too busy wheeling and dealing in their crony capitalism cabal to care about us." Check out an excerpt from her post below:

POTOMAC TEA PARTY REPORT: It’s time for a new political party, let’s try it in Maryland. Come on!  What have we got to lose in this state! I can just hear the wailing and the gnashing of teeth out there from all of you who find the concept anathema.  But, our situation is dire, perhaps as dire as when the founders signed the Declaration of Independence....

...there is no hope for our situation short of a new political party that welcomes all those who no longer feel represented, who feel that the special interests joined with the political class in Washington and in state capitals (Annapolis!) do not have the best interests at heart of the country class person who is completely disrespected by most of our representatives in government.... Democrat and Republican leaders are too busy wheeling and dealing in their crony capitalism cabal to care about us.

Frankly, I’ve listened for the last four years about how the country class needs to take over the Republican Party from within and I don’t see it happening (admittedly I have no stomach for it myself!).   It’s time to try something else.  And, I don’t mind being the whipping boy for suggesting it because I have nothing to personally gain or lose by doing so. I don’t need to be popular. Scream and shout!  Hate me all you want—it’s time to give the Republican Party some “brutal image”—a revolution! .... Now!  Who would like to step up and lead us?

JUICE #2: ATTORNEY GENERAL DOUG GANSLER CAMPAIGNS FOR 2014 GOVERNOR BY INVOKING IRANIAN THREAT - Maryland Juice recently stumbled upon a peculiar op. ed. by Attorney General Doug Gansler that appeared in the Wall Street Journal earlier this month. The 2014 Democratic Primary candidate appears to be campaigning for Maryland Governor by invoking threats from the Iranian government (excerpt below):

DOUG GANSLER (VIA WALL STREET JOURNAL): Despite partisan divides, Americans consistently unite to defend against threats to national security. Chief among those threats is Iran, which has ignored repeated international calls for peace and instead pursued its nuclear-weapons capability and sponsored terrorist plots against the United States and its allies.

At the federal level, the threat of a nuclear-armed state sponsor of terror has brought nearly every member of Congress together to take action. In 2010, by a vote of 408-8 in the House and 99-0 in the Senate, Congress passed the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, which allows the U.S. to apply greater economic pressure on the Iranian regime. Cisada, as it is called, has been a powerful federal tool, but still more must be done....

As the lawyers for state pension funds and the defenders of state consumer pocketbooks, states' attorneys general should be doing all we can to protect state citizens from unnecessary financial risk. As the states' chief law-enforcement officers, we should be fighting lawlessness whenever it ensnares our states.

Coordinated state-level sanctions against Iran will disentangle state economies from Iran's harmful regime and increase pressure on companies to stop operating in Iran until its government changes its ways....

JUICE #3: DELEGATE JON CARDIN BEGINS STAFFING UP FOR 2014 ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE - Maryland Juice recently stumbled a job announcement from Delegate Jon Cardin indicating he is now staffing up for the 2014 Attorney General Race:

JON CARDIN JOB POSTING: Maryland State Delegate Jon Cardin Hiring Full-Time Campaign / Finance Staff Persons For 2014 Campaign For Attorney General of Maryland - Maryland and Washington DC

Responsibilities include:

• Traveling and working directly with the Candidate
• Organizing and coordinating events
• Compiling and analyzing data, research
• Developing and implementing strategic plans

Applicants for this position must:

• Have excellent communication skills
• Be able to write clearly and concisely
• Be able to balance and prioritize multiple projects
• Have proven organizational skills
• Be personable and enjoy working with others
• Be comfortable communicating on the telephone
• Ideally, have database experience

JUICE #4: OBAMA APPOINTS FORMER MOCO COUNCILMEMBER TOM PEREZ TO SERVE AS LABOR SECRETARY // WATCH VIDEO - A few days ago, President Obama appointed Tom Perez to serve on his cabinet as Labor Secretary. Perez is a former Montgomery County Councilmember who later served as head of Maryland's Department of Labor. Below you can watch President Obama's announcement of his selection of Tom Perez:



JUICE #5: CONGRESSMAN JOHN DELANEY CHANGES POSITION ON SOCIAL SECURITY CUTS - Two Maryland Juice readers have pointed out that newly elected Congressman John Delaney appears to be reversing a campaign promise not to reduce funding for social security. During his 2012 campaign, Delaney stated he was opposed to any cuts to the program:

JOHN DELANEY 2012 - Social Security is a promise, and as your Congressman it’s one I intend to keep.  For more than 75 years, Social Security has remained one of our most important and successful government programs.  Today this program keeps more than 13 million Americans out of poverty. For countless more it makes a middle class retirement possible.  The last thing we need to do is cut a program that has been so successful.

We must preserve this crucial program for future generations without cutting benefits or making radical and irresponsible changes. In Congress, I will defend Social Security and fight any attempts to privatize it.

Only one year later, Congressman John Delaney appears to be going back on his promise to not cut social security. Earlier this month, Delaney wrote an op. ed. in The Huffington Post indicating he's now seeking to cut social security benefits for people like me (excerpt below):

JOHN DELANEY 2013 - In 2010, 13 percent of the population was over 65. By 2030, it will reach nearly 20 percent. This singular fact puts enormous pressure on the federal budget. Left alone, this trend will cause entitlement spending to consume 70 percent of our budget by 2024 and crowd out all of our other priorities. While we debate our fiscal trajectory for the next ten years, we should remember that years 11-20 are even more concerning; this problem gets materially worse after ten years, when entitlement costs increase dramatically....

As Democrats we need to step forward and lead on comprehensive reform of entitlement programs to make them sustainable and affordable across the long term and allow us to invest in our future.... The Simpson Bowles commission proposed specifics -- including raising the cap on taxable income for Social Security, adjustments to retirement age, additional revenue, and a revised cost of living adjustment methodology -- to accomplish this goal....

Regardless of where you fall on the social security debate, it is impossible to ignore that Delaney is now calling for cuts to social security. He calls this proposal "comprehensive reform" that is needed to make the program "sustainable," but either way, that's not what he promised on the campaign trail.


JUICE #6: FOOD SAFETY ADVOCATES CALL ON SENATOR MIKULSKI TO DROP MONSANTO CORPORATE WELFARE - Montgomery County food safety advocates have contacted Maryland Juice to complain about fast-moving legislation in the U.S. Senate that would provide corporate welfare for factory farms using genetically engineered crops. A Maryland Juice reader pointed us in the direction of an action alert from the Center for Food Safety calling on Senator Barbara Mikulski to reject legislative favors for Monsanto, a giant in the factory farming industry:

CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY: Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, this corporate welfare earmark is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant [genetically engineered] crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally....

This would negate any meaningful judicial review of USDA’s decisions to allow commercialization of [genetically engineered] crops.... Call Senator Mikulski and demand that she pull this dangerous and unconstitutional rider! Call her office at (202) 224-4654 today!

UGH: MD Senate Approves Lockheed Handout // MEANWHILE: Key House Committee Quietly Cancels Steak Dinner w/ Lockheed

MARYLAND DEMOCRATS ARE BRUSHING ASIDE VOTERS TO APPROVE THE LOCKHEED MARTIN WELFARE PLAN - Maryland Juice has been tracking the scandalous efforts by our politicians to give Pentagon contractor Lockheed Martin millions of dollars of corporate welfare -- in exchange for nothing at all. Over the objections of the Montgomery County Council, state lawmakers are trying to force MoCo to exempt Lockheed (and Lockheed alone) from having to pay millions in lodging taxes. No other person or business in Maryland gets to avoid this tax -- but then again no other company has the chutzpah of Lockheed Martin (consistently rated tops in the nation for government contract abuse). Even worse, Lockheed is admitting that the Federal government already reimburses them for most or all of the lodging tax that they are now trying to avoid paying!

In these challenging budgetary times, the Lockheed handout would net the wildly profitable company $4.5 million from our taxpayers every ten years in perpetuity. This is the same Lockheed that a few months ago used 3.5 million taxpayer dollars to give their CEO a golden parachute after he was caught having an affair with a subordinate (excerpt via AmericaBlog):

AMERICA BLOG: A man who was being groomed to take over as CEO of Lockheed, the nation’s largest defense contractor, has been forced to resign shortly before taking office. The reason — he was having a long-term extramarital affair with a “subordinate employee." But that’s not the scandal — the scandal is that you, the taxpayer, will pony up $3.5 million as a parting gift (or maybe a “partying gift”) even though he resigned in disgrace....

Dozens of groups have called on Democratic lawmakers to shut down Lockheed Martin's corporate welfare plan, but it looks like the politicians still aren't getting the message.

ROLL CALL // LOCKHEED CORPORATE WELFARE PLAN PASSES STATE SENATE 37 TO 9 - Late Monday night, the State Senate finally held a long-delayed vote on the Lockheed Martin welfare plan, and our elected officials demonstrated a rare moment of bipartisanship to pass this massive corporate hackery by the overwhelming margin of 37 to 9. Here are the only nine State Senators who rejected this inherently ridiculous welfare handout:

1. Jim Brochin (Democrat)
2. Brian Frosh (Democrat)
3. Delores Kelley (Democrat)
4. Karen Montgomery (Democrat)
5. Anthony Muse (Democrat)
6. Paul Pinsky (Democrat)
7. Jamie Raskin (Democrat)
8. Bryan Simonaire (Republican)
9. Bobby Zirkin (Democrat)

A RARE MOMENT OF "BIPARTISANSHIP" FOR THE LOCKHEED HANDOUT - Amazingly, bipartisanship appears to be alive and well when it comes to corporate welfare. A bipartisan supermajority made up of 37 Senators voted to support this blind handout for Lockheed Martin (see their names here). The list includes all but one GOP member of the Senate, and 5 of the 8 State Senators from liberal Montgomery County. Maryland Juice has heard reports of intense lobbying from leadership figures and Lockheed Martin lobbyists in Annapolis, but I am disappointed that this sort of pro-forma pressure and institutional inertia actually works on our mostly able-minded Senators. Oy vey! 


BATTLE TO STOP LOCKHEED MARTIN HANDOUT MOVES TO HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE - Even though the Maryland Senate approved the Lockheed Martin welfare plan, voters still have several more opportunities to kill this proposal. The Lockheed bill (HB815) will now be debated in the House of Delegates Ways & Means Committee, where Montgomery County's Sheila Hixson serves as Committee Chair.  But the launch of the Lockheed effort in Hixson's committee was met with some early controversy....

HOUSE WAYS & MEANS MEMBERS QUIETLY CANCEL PRIVATE DINNER WITH LOCKHEED MARTIN LOBBYISTS AT RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE - Amazingly, Lockheed Martin had planned a private dinner with the members of the House of Delegates Ways & Means Committee members only one day after the State Senate voted to send the Lockheed bill to the Ways & Means Committee. Indeed, Lockheed lobbyists had planned to ply the members of Sheila Hixson's committee with a lovely meal at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Annapolis. But someone apparently sensed that the public would go nuts about such shameless crony capitalism tactics, and the event was quickly and quietly canceled yesterday afternoon -- only 4.5 hours before the dinner was due to begin! Look at the leaked email below:

From: West, Nikki <Nikki.West@mlis.state.md.us>
Date: Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Subject: Protocol Calendar Cancelation
To: Senate of Maryland <Senators@mlis.state.md.us>, MD House of Delegates <Delegates@mlis.state.md.us>

Good Afternoon,

Please note the following Cancelation in the Protocol Calendar.

TUESDAY, March 19, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.
Lockheed Martin and Ways & Means Committee Dinner
Ruth's Chris
(House W&M Committee)
Susan Bernard - (410) 974-9000
BY INVITATION ONLY

STOP THE LOCKHEED WELFARE BILL IN THE HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE - I know I can't be the only one who is sick and tired of this type of cynical corporate politics. Maryland Juice encourages readers to contact Delegate Hixson ASAP, along with the other members of the Ways & Means Committee. Notably, Delegate Hixson has the power as a committee Chair to simply kill this bill by herself:

Photo Source: Edward Kimmel

ACT NOW

[ TELL WAYS & MEANS CHAIR SHEILA HIXSON TO KILL THE LOCKHEED BILL ]

Below I've listed the email addresses for the 23 Delegates on Ways & Means. I've also flagged their political parties and highlighted in red the 7 committee members who are sponsoring the Lockheed welfare bill (see below):

MARYLAND HOUSE WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE

1. Sheila Hixson (D Chair) - sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us
2. Frank Turner (D Vice-Chair) - frank.turner@house.state.md.us
3. Kathy Afzali (R) - kathy.afzali@house.state.md.us
4. Kumar Barve (D) - kumar.barve@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
5. Joseph Boteler (R) - joseph.boteler@house.state.md.us
6. Talmadge Branch (D) - talmadge.branch@house.state.md.us
7. Jon Cardin (D) - jon.cardin@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
8. Don Dwyer (R) - don.dwyer@house.state.md.us
9. Mark Fisher (R) - mark.fisher@house.state.md.us
10. Bill Frick (D) - bill.frick@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
11. Ronald George (R) - ron.george@house.state.md.us
12. Nina Harper (D) - nina.harper@house.state.md.us
13. Carolyn Howard (D) - carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us
14. Jolene Ivey (D) - jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
15. Anne Kaiser (D) - anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
16. Eric Luedtke (D) - eric.luedtke@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
17. Aruna Miller (D) - aruna.miller@house.state.md.us - LOCKHEED WELFARE SPONSOR
18. LeRoy Myers (R) - leroy.myers@house.state.md.us
19. Andrew Serafini (R) - andrew.serafini@house.state.md.us
20. Melvin Stukes (D) - melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us
21. Michael Summers (D) - michael.summers@house.state.md.us
22. Jay Walker (D) - jay.walker@house.state.md.us
23. Alonzo Washington (D) - alonzo.washington@house.state.md.us

CONTINGENCIES - If Sheila Hixson is unwilling to kill the Lockheed Welfare bill in the Ways & Means Committee, advocates will have to fight this unjust corporate handout on the House Floor. And if that fails, it is time to ask Governor O'Malley to break out his VETO sword!


MORE ON THE LOCKHEED MARTIN WELFARE SCANDAL SOON!


P.S. MARYLAND TAXPAYERS FUND A CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR LOBBYISTS & LAWMAKERS?  - The email copied above, which announced the cancellation of the Lockheed dinner, mentioned that the event was listed in a "protocol calendar." But as Maryland Juice has discovered, a "protocol calendar" is in reality a "lobbyist event calendar," plain and simple.

It turns out that our state tax dollars are spent on staff time for government employees to build and maintain this calendar of lobbyist events. Amazingly, the "protocol calendar" was apparently intended to bring transparency to the fact that these lobbyist-lawmaker mixers even occur. Fair enough, but it seems more and more like the calendar is actually facilitating the lobbyist contacts with legislators. Maybe lawmakers need to rename the "protocol calendar" with a less deceptive name (like "lobbyist event calendar") and proactively make sure they are actually seen by the public. If you're curious to see which industry lobbyists have been wining and dining your lawmakers, you can see two copies of protocol calendars from 2013. It looks like lawmakers have multiple options for lobbyist-paid meals practically every day of the legislative session!

Maryland Lobbyist Events - March 2013

Maryland Lobbyist Events - January 2013

JuiceBlender: Luedtke Attacked, Westboro Baptist in Maryland, Brochin Kills Non-Discrimination Bill, Leggett's Harlem Shake

UPDATE: At the request of the Suitland High School principal, the Prince George's Young Democrats are cancelling their counter-protest of the Westboro Baptist actions.

Below Maryland Juice highlights several items that may be of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: DEL. ERIC LUEDTKE ATTACKED BY DIRECT MAIL - Several Maryland Juice readers have received direct mail attacking Democratic Del. Eric Luedtke of Montgomery County. The mailer appears to take issue with the fact that Luedtke is sponsoring legislation to make it more difficult to petition bills to referendum (a legislative response to the prospect of referenda battles emerging in every election cycle) . See snapshots of the mailer below:

TREASURER FOR ANTI-LUEDTKE PIECE IS A LEADER IN NATIONAL LIBERTARIAN PARTY - Notably, the authority line for the mailer states it is from: "Citizens in Charge, William Redpath, Treasurer." The website for Citizens in Charge states its mission as follows (excerpt below):

Citizens in Charge is a 501 (c) (4) citizen-powered advocacy organization that serves as a partner to Citizens in Charge Foundation in protecting and expanding the initiative and referendum process.

The organization works with activists, legislators, media, opinion leaders and voters to protect the initiative and referendum process where it exists in 26 states and to expand the process to the 26 states where voters currently lack that right.

There never has been a more important time to defend the initiative process. Voters increasingly turn to initiatives to make needed reforms, while legislators increasingly seek to impose limitations on this process.

File this under the "small world," category, but Maryland Juice actually knows William Redpath personally, and is aware that he is one of the leaders of the national Liberatarian Party. Interesting!


JUICE #2: ANTI-GAY WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH PROTESTS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S - Remember that church whose members like to protest about gay rights at the funerals of dead soldiers? Well they are now coming to Suitland High School in Prince George's County. The principal of Suitland High sent a notice to parents last week (excerpt below):

SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL: Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas have informed both the School District and the Prince George’s Police Department of their plans to send ten (10) of their members to protest at Suitland High School on Tuesday, March 26 from 3:00-3:30 p.m.

The members of the Westboro Baptist Church are an anti-gay group that regularly stage protests around the country. Many of you have probably seen the memorandum that they have been distributing. It is a standard memorandum that they use when protesting at schools.

A Twitter user elaborated on Westboro Baptists venomous statements:

The Prince George's County Young Democrats were helping to organize a counter-protest to the Westboro shenanigans. See their announcement below, but note the event has now been cancelled at the request of the Suitland High School principal:

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS - Westboro Baptist Church has chosen their next target.  Usually we are insulated from the hatred by distance or a television screen.  But not this time.  This time, Westboro Baptist Church descends upon an institution in our own backyards, in our own community, Suitland High School.  A school that produces great leaders and creative minds who go on to achieve and inspire others to do the same.  On Tuesday, March 26th at 3pm, the Westboro picket signs will go up and they will spew their hate speech at our children, our neighbors, and our family members.  In the wake of the violence that has recently plagued this area, let's show Westboro Baptist Church that they have come to the wrong place and such hatred will not be tolerated here in Prince George's County.

Click here give a donation to support the families of the fallen victims.

As we attempt to calm the waves of violence, let's meet them with a force of peace.  We must demonstrate to not only support and anchor our children, but to infuse our communities with the love needed to continue the healing and promote unity.  As they stand at the pulpit of ignorance, let us gather as one congregation and remind ourselves, and the country, that Prince George's County is a place of not just tolerance, but acceptance.  We embrace the color, creed, religion, orientation and ethnicity of all. 

Click here to let us know you'll be there.

This is not only a call to action, but a challenge for you to act.  We must counter this descent of hatred by Westboro Baptist Church.  Let this adversity bind us even tighter as a community and let's show them they came to the wrong county.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
    -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

See you in Suitland,

Maurielle
http://www.pgcyd.com/

JUICE #3: STATE SENATORS BROCHIN, MUSE & STONE KILL NON-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION - Yesterday, members of the Maryland Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee surprised observers by killing a transgender non-discrimination legislation in a 5-6 vote. Democratic Senators Jim Brochin, Anthony Muse and Norm Stone joined with the Republicans to kill this common-sense protection for our fellow Maryland residents. Equality Maryland published the committee roll call, along with some commentary on the issue (excerpt below):

EQUALITY MARYLAND: In a 5-6 vote this afternoon, the Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee failed to pass SB 449,The Fairness for All Marylanders Act of 2013. Voting infavor of the bill were, Senators Raskin, Forehand, Frosh, Gladden and Zirkin. Voting against the bill were Senators Stone, Muse, Jacobs, Brochin, Shank and Getty.

Equality Maryland’s Executive Director commented on this vote, “It is terribly disappointing the committee failed to stand up for fairness and protect transgender Marylanders.We are particularly incensed with Senator Jim Brochin’s vote. He had at least 1,000 constituents contact him asking him to support this bill. Despite this, he turned his back on these voters. It ironic that transgender people in his own district [Baltimore County] have protections yet he wouldn’t cast a vote to extend these protections to transgender individuals in the 20 counties that aren’t  so fortunate.”

Several Maryland Juice readers are pointing the finger for the loss at State Senator Jim Brochin, who they say backstabbed supporters of the non-discrimination bill. But Brochin was joined by Democratic Senators Anthony Muse and Norm Stone in fighting the Fairness for All Marylanders Act. Notably, Stone also voted against interracial marriage when he first arrived in Annapolis. It appears that he hasn't changed much since then. Check out the following report from The Washington Blade (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON BLADE: A Maryland state Senate committee on Thursday struck down a bill that would have banned anti-transgender discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation....

“Despite months of hard work by our broad coalition of supporters, key committee members were unwilling to advance the promise of equality under the law to the transgender community,” Madaleno said in an e-mail he sent to his constituents after the vote. “A majority of committee members were unwilling to pass a bill that prohibited discrimination by restaurants, theaters, hotels, shopping centers and other places of public accommodations. Their lack of understanding and empathy for their fellow Marylanders is appalling.”

Baltimore County, of which Brochin represents portions in Annapolis, along with Montgomery and Howard Counties and Baltimore City have already adopted trans-inclusive non-discrimination laws....

Sixteen states and D.C. currently ban discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

JUICE #4: IKE LEGGETT DOES HARLEM SHAKE // SIGN OF RE-ELECTION ACTIVITY?  - For those of you that follow online viral sensations, you may have seen videos of the "Harlem Shake." Wikipedia describes the meme as follows:

WIKIPEDIA: The Harlem Shake is an Internet meme in the form of a video in which a group of people performs a comedy sketch accompanied by a short excerpt from the song "Harlem Shake". As a meme, the video was replicated by many people, using the same concept, and this rapidly led to it becoming viral in early February 2013, with thousands of "Harlem Shake" videos being made and uploaded to YouTube every day at the height of its popularity.

The form of the meme was established in a video uploaded on February 2 by five teenagers from Queensland, Australia known on YouTube as The Sunny Coast Skate. The video started a viral trend of people uploading their own "Harlem Shake" videos to YouTube. The teenagers' video was, in its turn, a follow-up to a video by a YouTube comedy vlogger named Filthy Frank which featured a section where several costumed people danced to the song "Harlem Shake" by Baauer.

Now Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett has produced his own "Harlem Shake" video, and it is a hoot. Could the video below be the clearest sign that Leggett might be trying to run for re-election?

Maryland Finally Abolishes the Death Penalty & Joins Civilized World // Here are the Democrats Who Voted Against Repeal

Today Maryland joined the civilized world and finally abolished its use of the death penalty. Last week the State Senate voted to repeal the death penalty (roll call here), and today the House of Delegates followed suit with a 82-56 vote in support of abolition.

It's about freaking time, people.

ON LIFE VS. DEATH, A SAD PARTY LINE VOTE - The death penalty repeal vote was (sadly) a mostly party line affair, with all but two Republican House members voting against the "pro-life" position. Only two Republican Delegates maintained consistency in their "pro-life" beliefs and joined Democrats in repealing executions: Susan Aumann and Bill Frank (both Catholic Republicans). In contrast, most Democrats voted to end state murder. But 18 Democrats joined the GOP (including one Charles Barkley from MoCo) and voted to continue using taxpayer dollars to pay state employees to kill people. You can see the Democratic Hall of Shame below. I also flagged the pro-death penalty Democrats who voted against marriage equality and the Dream Act. Interesting patterns:

GOP HOUSE MEMBERS WHO VOTED PRO-LIFE:

1. Aumann, Susan - Baltimore Co.
2. Frank, William - Baltimore Co.

DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS WHO EMBRACE VIOLENCE:

1. Barkley, Charles - Montgomery
2. Beidle, Pamela - Anne Arundel - ( also voted against Dream Act )
3. Bohanan, John - St. Mary's - ( also voted against Dream Act )
4. Bromwell, Eric - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
5. Conway, Norm - Wicomico - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
6. DeBoy, Steve - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
7. Donoghue, John - Washington - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
8. James, Mary-Dulany - Harford - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
9. Jameson, Sally - Charles - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
10. Kelly, Kevin - Allegany - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
11. Malone, Jim - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
12. Minnick, Joseph - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
13. Olszewski, John - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act )
14. Rudolph, David - Cecil - ( also voted against Dream Act )
15. Sophocleus, Theodore - Anne Arundel - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
16. Weir, Michael - Baltimore Co. - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )
17. Wilson, C. T. - Charles - ( also voted against Marriage Equality )
18. Wood, John - St. Mary's - ( also voted against Dream Act & Marriage Equality )

Erin Cox from The Baltimore Sun Tweeted the unofficial roll call (see full vote below):

GOP NOT PLANNING ON PETITIONING EXECUTION BAN TO REFERENDUM - Now the death penalty repeal measure heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley's desk to be signed into law -- and believe it or not, The Washington Times reported this week that Republicans appear unlikely to petition the ban on executions to referendum (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON TIMES: Maryland Republicans might concede the fight over the state’s death penalty, saying that they are unlikely to mount a referendum effort as the House prepares to grant final passage to a repeal....

In recent years, outnumbered Republicans in Maryland have used online petitions to send several controversial Democratic proposals to referendum, but the lawmaker who helped lead those efforts says he doesn’t see it happening for the death penalty....

Delegate Neil C. Parrott said he hasn’t completely ruled out leading a petition drive, but that a campaign would face long odds and might not do much to affect policy in a state where recent laws have already made it extremely difficult for prosecutors to pursue executions.

Maryland Juice hopes that Parrott and his crew of petitioners hold to these statements, because right now the only other person who desires a death penalty referendum is Senate President Mike Miller.

WE MUST PRESERVE THIS SHAMEFUL HISTORY - Maryland Juice thinks that we need to preserve the evidence of our state's shameful past and make a museum out of our soon-to-be-defunct execution chambers:

Support for Lockheed Martin Corporate Welfare Sinking // They're Trying to Hoodwink Taxpayers Into Paying Them Twice

BACKGROUND: Earlier this week Maryland Juice cried foul over attempts by some lawmakers in Annapolis to give Pentagon weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin millions of dollars in corporate welfare. Lockheed has been claiming that a $100 million private hotel and conference center they built should be exempt from Montgomery County's lodging and hotel tax, even though every other visitor and conference attendee in MoCo must pay this lodging tax. Lockheed is headquartered in Montgomery County, but ironically so are the Marriott and Choice Hotels corporations. Over the objections of County Executive Ike Leggett, the County Council twice rejected this proposal, and did so again for a third time on Monday:



Below Maryland Juice provides several updates on the quickly exploding story, followed by a deconstruction of Lockheed's B.S. arguments:


LAWMAKERS RETREATING FROM LOCKHEED PROPOSAL (KIND OF) - The proposal to give Lockheed a handout has sparked outrage across Maryland and is now making national news. Meanwhile, some lawmakers are quietly tiptoeing away from the Lockheed handout.  Our sources in Annapolis indicate that though the bill was on the verge of passage in the State Senate earlier this week, Senators have delayed a final floor vote and are trying to pass a half-assed "compromise" with Lockheed Martin. Instead of giving Lockheed $1.8 million in handouts, plus $450,000 a year, Maryland lawmakers are now proposing to eliminate the $1.8 million cash payment and "only" give Lockheed $450,000 a year. This "compromise" is unacceptable, as it still amounts to Montgomery County paying Lockheed Martin $4.5 million every ten years. Aren't we struggling to find funding for the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway and other transportation projects?


LOCKHEED MARTIN TRYING TO GET HOTEL TAXES REFUNDED TWICE - Notably, 82% of Lockheed's revenue already comes from taxpayer funding, and company lobbyists have admitted that they are already being reimbursed by the Feds for a very large percentage of the MoCo hotel tax! A May 4th County Council analyst memo includes an admission from Lockheed that they already get 50%-75% (or more?) of their hotel taxes reimbursed by the Feds (aka taxpayers):

LOCKHEED MARTIN: The CLE lodging tax is rolled into our overall corporate overhead costs and those costs are allocated to different businesses and to different contracts based on what the contracts are and what form they take -e.g., fixed-price, cost-plus, etc. In addition, different contracts have different cost reimbursement rates.... There is a range of reimbursement for contract costs, depending on the contract vehicle and what the Federal Government has agreed to reimburse. That range can vary greatly - for some contracts its 50%, for others it might be 75% -- it depends. The significant point is that we build corporate overhead costs into our contracts in advance when we seek to do business with our customers....

Lockheed Martin wants taxpayers to pay them THREE TIMES for this hotel tax. First, Lockheed's "customers" are government agencies funded by taxpayers. The Huffington Post noted last November that 82% of Lockheed's funding comes from taxpayers (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: [The] U.S. government is essentially Lockheed's only customer. Last year, a full 82 percent of their sales came from Uncle Sam directly while a good portion of the remaining 17 percent was funded by the federal government through our support for foreign military sales and local and state government security contracts. Put another way, nearly every penny that Lockheed earns comes directly from you and me.

Second, Lockheed (by their own admission) is already getting reimbursed by the Feds (aka taxpayers) for most of the MoCo hotel tax -- an outrage in itself. But it is simply incomprehensible that after all this free taxpayer money, Lockheed also wants Montgomery County to give them the same amount of money they've already been refunded by the Feds. In short, Lockheed Martin's lobbyists are trying to pull a fast one on Maryland lawmakers and clearly cannot be trusted.

Bethesda Now's poll on the Lockheed welfare plan

SENATORS PLANNING ON VOTING AGAINST LOCKHEED WELFARE PLAN - A bipartisan group of State Senators is planning on voting against the entire Lockheed Martin welfare proposal, including Jamie Raskin, Brian Frosh, Karen Montgomery, Paul Pinsky, Bobby Zirkin, Jim Brochin, Bryan Simonaire and more. But there are potentially more "no" votes for the Lockheed welfare plan in the Senate, given that in a vote last Friday, the group of Lockheed opponents listed above was joined by Senators Lisa Gladden, Barry Glassman, Nancy Jacobs, Allan Kittleman, Anthony Muse, E.J. Pipkin, Ed Reilly, Jim Rosapepe, and Norm Stone in trying to slow down the attempted shotgunning of the Lockheed bill through the legislative process.

Notably, State Senator Brian Frosh is running for Attorney General in 2014, and two of his Democratic Primary opponents (Del. Jon Cardin & Bill Frick) are sponsoring the Lockheed Welfare bill in the House. It seems clear that passage of the Lockheed Martin handout could become a serious political liability for candidates running for office in 2014. Notably, Lockheed's private hotel is located in Bethesda, Maryland, but the Bethesda Now website is running a poll on the topic, and it appears that the vast majority of readers view the welfare proposal negatively (see screenshot at right).


FOUR STEPS TO DEFEAT LOCKHEED'S CORPORATE WELFARE PLAN - If activists want to kill this bill for good, now is the time to act. The State Senate is due to vote on the measure again tomorrow (Wednesday), and if the bill is not killed, it will next head to the House of Delegates Ways & Means Committee. Advocates are planning a four-step process to kill this legislation:

• STEP 1:  Fight Lockheed on the Senate Floor [Contact Your Senators]
• STEP 2:  Fight Lockheed in House Ways & Means [Contact Committee Chair Sheila Hixson]
• STEP 3:  Fight Lockheed on the House Floor [Contact Your Delegates]
• STEP 4:  Urge Gov. Martin O'Malley to VETO Lockheed Welfare [Contact Gov. O'Malley]

NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS COVERING THE LOCKHEED WELFARE SCANDAL - Interest in Lockheed Martin's corporate welfare proposal has attracted interest from the national news media, including a pair of articles in The Huffington Post. The outlet's corporate welfare reporter Paul Blumenthal provided a quick snapshot of the rapidly escalating opposition to the Lockheed bill (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: In an age of budget cuts and hard choices, state lawmakers in Annapolis, Md., are pushing a benefit for the world's largest defense manufacturer that would lead to lower funding for other programs in one Maryland county....

On Monday, the Montgomery County Council voted to oppose the legislation. Lockheed Martin had previously tried and failed to push the tax exemption through the council: Once it was included in County Executive Ike Leggett's budget, and another time Leggett (D) attempted to use state grant money to reimburse the company for past paid taxes....

"There's simply no reason why everybody else who comes to Montgomery County for a conference or a training and stays overnight should pay the lodging tax, but not people who are staying at their conference and training center," state Sen. Jamie Raskin (D), who represents parts of Montgomery County, told HuffPost.

If the legislation is enacted, the county will need to find savings in its budget immediately, according to [Montgomery County Councilmember George] Leventhal. "It would be $1.8 or $1.4 million [in a onetime payment] and $450,000 every year that would not go to fund Head Start, day care, police, fire and all the other functions of government," Leventhal said....

Over the past year, Lockheed Martin has doled out $30,000 in campaign contributions to Maryland state political candidates and entities, including $1,000 to state Sen. Mike Miller and $500 each to state Sen. Robert Garagiola and Del. Bill Frick, all Democratic sponsors of the legislation. The largest contribution was a $25,000 donation to the Democratic State Central Committee of Maryland....

Huffington Post columnist Lawrence Wittner provided additional details on the Lockheed corporate welfare proposal (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: At this time of severe cutbacks in government funding for food stamps, early childhood education, and meals on wheels, some Maryland legislators are hard at work looking out for the welfare of one of the world's wealthiest corporations....

It should be noted that, when Lockheed Martin's employees stay at the hotel, the company can usually pass on the costs to the appropriate federal contract. Thus, in most cases, the federal government already compensates Lockheed Martin for any hotel tax it pays.

In 2012, Ike Leggett, the County Executive, spearheaded a new effort to subsidize Lockheed Martin by proposing that the corporation be given a no-strings "grant" of $900,000 to compensate it for the hotel taxes it paid in 2011 and 2012.... Ultimately, the County Council refused to allocate the grant to Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin maintains that its conference hotel is a "private" facility, solely devoted to training its employees, and for this reason its guests should not have to pay the tax. And it is true that Lockheed Martin decides who can reside there.

But the 183-room hotel is not, in fact, limited to Lockheed Martin employees. It is available for contractors, vendors, and anyone else the company welcomes. For example, the business school of the University of Southern California held a conference there in October 2012, with attendees offered the option of staying at the hotel for $225 per night or finding their own accommodations. Benchmark Hospitality International, which manages the facility, advertises it online as "a private, full-service business-class lodging and conference center," with a sports bar, fitness facility, lounge, and other amenities....

LARGE COALITION OF ACTIVISTS MOBILIZING AGAINST LOCKHEED WELFARE PROPOSAL - Maryland's progressive activist community has sprung into action to try and stamp out the Lockheed Martin corporate welfare proposal. Last night, advocates fanned out and met with Maryland lawmakers urging them to kill the Lockheed handout, including members of Common Cause, Peace Action, SEIU, Progressive Maryland, Progressive Neighbors, the firefighters, teachers, police and more. Below you can see the flyer they were distributing in Annapolis:

FLYER: Coalition Forms to Oppose Lockheed Martin Corporate Welfare Plan

National activist groups are also beginning to weigh in on the Lockheed plan. The online civil liberties group RootsAction published an alert about the Maryland corporate welfare bill, noting Lockheed's recent and high-profile acts of corporate malfeasance (excerpt below):

ROOTSACTION: What's the world's biggest war profiteer to do if it already owns the federal government but is having trouble kicking around the local government of Montgomery County, Maryland, where it's headquartered?  Why, hire the state of Maryland to step in, of course....

The list of abuses by Lockheed Martin includes contract fraud, unfair business practices, kickbacks, mischarges, inflated costs, defective pricing, improper pricing, unlicensed exporting to foreign nations (Lockheed Martin sells weapons to governments of all sorts around the world), air and water pollution, fraud, bribery, federal election law violations, overbilling, radiation exposure, age discrimination, illegal transfer of information to China, falsification of testing records, embezzlement, racial discrimination, retaliation against whistleblowers, bid-rigging, and much more....

Lockheed not only funds Republicans and Democrats alike with over $3 million per election cycle, lobbies officials for another $30 million, hires former officials, and shapes corporate news, but Lockheed Martin also creates local panics by threatening to notify every one of its employees that they might be fired if U.S. war preparations spending doesn't continue to grow....

Lockheed Martin is based in suburban Washington, D.C., in Montgomery County, Md.  For years, Lockheed Martin and its friends at the Washington Post have been trying to get the local government to excuse the patrons of Lockheed Martin's luxury hotel from paying taxes.  Montgomery County is home to terrific peace activists who can, of course, get virtually nowhere with Congress, but who can make their voices heard locally.  This has frustrated Lockheed Martin no end.....

YOUR TAX DOLLARS USED TO BAIL OUT LOCKHEED MARTIN'S PENSION FUND - It is not surprising to Maryland Juice to see so many public employee unions opposing the Lockheed welfare plan. After all, many government employees have been facing pension cuts, stagnant pay and more, and lawmakers have been arguing this has been necessary to stave off budget problems. But Mother Jones noted that while public employees are losing their pensions, taxpayers continue to fund Lockheed Martin's pension shortfalls (excerpt below):

MOTHER JONES: Government contracts with megafirms like ... Lockheed Martin ... require Uncle Sam to reimburse the companies when their workers' pension funds take a hit in the market. Over the past five years, Lockheed has secured $3.1 billion in taxpayer dollars for pension reimbursements; that's a significant chunk of the $21.8 billion in operating profits they reported over that period.

These payments are all the more troubling since politicians from the left and the right (including President Obama) have targeted military veterans' retirement benefits in their cost-cutting zeal. But vets make a whole lot less than contractors.... Morgenson reports that the current value of the top five Lockheed Martin executives' benefits is around $40 million....

But federal pension payments to contractors are increasing at a furious clip. The reason: These companies made some really bad recession-era investments with their workers' retirement dollars, and a margin call is coming. The Times reports that Raytheon's pension fund was underfunded by $4 billion at the end of 2010. That's nothing compared with Lockheed, whose pension is a whopping $10.4 billion in the red, and "[a]s Lockheed contributes money to make up for this shortfall, the government will reimburse it..."

LOCKHEED'S PRIVATE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER IS OBVIOUSLY A "LODGING" FACILITY - So after all of the aforementioned arguments, the only claim that Lockheed has left in its arsenal is a very legalistic definition of whether their $100 million private hotel and conference center (built off the profits gleaned from taxpayers) qualifies as a hotel or lodging facility. The company claims that their Bethesda facility is not a hotel or lodging facility, but this argument doesn't pass the straight face test. Below, Maryland Juice provides a very humorous example of evidence that Hotel Lockheed is indeed a lodging facility in the plain English meaning of the term. Travel review website Tripadvisor.com rates the Lockheed hotel #11 out of 12 hotels in Bethesda, and former guests at Hotel Lockheed indicate that they have been forced to book their lodgings there, even when cheaper and more convenient hotels are available:

“Not bad for a prison.”

Reviewed December 18, 2010

24

people found this review helpful

Restricted web access, no facilities on the weekend (e.g. food, exercise, etc.). It's the greatest white-elephant Lockheed has thought up yet. Lucky LM employees who are forced to stay there even if other hotels are closer to their business needs, better, and a lot cheaper.

“Indoctrination into the cult of Lockheed Martin”

Reviewed May 8, 2011

28

people found this review helpful

I literally spit Coke on my keyboard when I read the "minimum security prison" review, and had to add my own thoughts. I was stuck at the CLE for 6 days of "indoctrination" and felt like I had just checked into a cult! If the prominent "architectural water feature" didn't give it away, the fact that you couldn't go 10 feet without seeing pictures of prisms and rainbows made it clear what I had gotten myself into.

The CLE is probably the most expensive hotel in the area. The food and staff are great, but I was itching to leave after 1 night. The internet is restricted so you can't upload iTunes or watch any type of streaming videos; the cable TV is company propaganda; hallways are video monitored for security (but don't even think about leaving your room unless you're in a collared shirt); the jogging trails close at 5pm and security will escort you back inside the building if you're out after dark; and there's absolutely no signs if civilization within this office park wasteland.

My advice: If you're stuck at the CLE, get takeout meals from the cafeteria and eat them in your room so you don't get sucked into socializing with the corporate drones. Use the quiet time after classes to update your resume so you can make your escape!

Room Tip: Do not show up unshaven!

These humorous entries are just the tip-of-the-iceberg when it comes to evidence that Lockheed's building in Bethesda is a "lodging" facility. Maryland Juice will be happy to debate Lockheed on this point anytime, anywhere.


MORE ON THE LOCKHEED WELFARE SCANDAL SOON!