Dear Friends:
It seems that everything is picking up: the summer heat, electioneering, and controversy on Capitol Hill. While I do have clear ideas on climate change, I'm not a meteorologist, so I won't comment on the heat. I do, however, want to share some thoughts on local politics and what's happening on the Hill. Stay cool and as we move closer to Election Day, please consider not only voting, but participating in the campaigns of the candidates you choose to support.
Be well,
Reelection Bid Announced
On a warm late May evening in Riverdale Park, at the historic Riversdale Mansion, I kicked off my reelection campaign before a crowd of over 200 supporters; last week I made it official by filing paperwork with the Board of Elections: I am running for reelection to the Maryland State Senate. My reasons? There is still work to be done, because you continue to tell me you want me to continue serving, and because I want to give voice to your ideas, vision and individual activism.
Thanks for your support and encouragement and, in advance, hopefully, your vote.
Endorsements Start Picking Up
Last week, the League of Conservation Voters announced their endorsements for my reelection. They noted that I was the only Senator to achieve a perfect score in the last legislative session. (See article and picture in the Gazette.) I also received the highest score in the state from Progressive Maryland this year and overall for the last four years. I am also proud of endorsements from Equality Maryland, the Prince George's County Educators' Association, and the Service Employees International Union.
State and County Politics
Governor's Race Heats Up
It seems that Bob Ehrlich didn't do enough damage during his four years; he's back trying to do more. He was unwilling to help stabilize our state's budget situation while he was in office and simply handed off a terrible fiscal problem to his successor, Martin O'Malley. Gov. O'Malley did what Ehrlich was unwilling to do, raise some much needed taxes (raising income tax on millionaires, etc.) and then the state was hit with the next whammy, George Bush's (Bob Ehrlich's good buddy) recession.
Martin O'Malley has done a good job in terrible circumstances. He should be reelected in November. Ehrlich has no vision and no plan -- but he is a good golfer. I can tell you that last time he served in office, he surrounded himself, by-and-large, with poor to mediocre staff. They were in over their heads. And that, I think, characterizes Bob Ehrlich.
The race for county executive is heating up along with the summer temperature. Rushern Baker offers the vision and leadership the county needs to move forward. He is far superior to the other candidates in his thoughtfulness as well. He will be a welcome change from the last eight years of Jack Johnson.
There are a number of ways you can help the campaign. Each is easy and other volunteers are around to help. Take the first step and get involved: make some phone calls or knock on some doors or offer other skills. If these don't work for you, but you still want to help, you can email me.
You can:
March
Join 'Team Baker (including Rushern)' which will be walking in the Laurel 4th of July Parade this Saturday, July 3rd. The campaign will be meeting between 9:30 - 10:00 am at 6th Street and Montgomery Street in Laurel.
Canvass
Team Baker will be canvassing this Saturday (7/3) and Monday (7/5) in Beltsville.
Saturday: 2 pm - 5 pm (Shift 1)
Monday: 11am - 2 pm (Shift 2), 2 pm - 5 pm (Shift 3)
Team Baker will be canvassing the following Saturday (7/10) and Sunday (7/11) in Laurel.
Canvass Shifts:
Saturday: 11 am - 2 pm (Shift 1), 2 pm - 5 pm (Shift 2)
Sunday: 12 pm - 3 pm (Shift 3)
If you would like to sign up to canvass, please contact Ryan Duffy at 240-770-7362 or rduffy@rushernbaker.com.
Phone Bank
Team Baker will be phone banking in Hyattsville every Tuesday and Thursday in July from 6 pm - 8:00 pm.
2970 Belcrest Center Drive, 4th Floor
Hyattsville, MD 20782
(located on the 4th Floor of the parking garage above the Bally's and Staples on East West Highway- next to the PG Plaza metro station)
Can't make the canvassing or phone banking? Contact Ryan Duffy for information on other volunteer opportunities or to put up yard signs. 240-770-7362 or rduffy@rushernbaker.com
University Park Solar Project Moves Forward
A group of residents in University Park have embarked on a community effort to generate solar power right within their neighborhood. On June 12th, University Park Community Solar, held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the installation of solar panels on the roof of the Church of the Brethren in University Park. The church will purchase the power generated by the solar panels from the solar co-op while reducing it's greenhouse gas emissions.
Last session, I introduced legislation to update the net metering law, which passed this year, to provide monetary credit for those customers generating excess electricity that is fed back into the electric grid. This change in the net metering law will ensure that the co-op will be paid for the excess electricity these solar panels generate and encourage similar efforts across the state.
Stimulus Funds at Work on District Roadways
For information on these or other projects in our area, click here.
Route 410 in Riverdale and Hyattsville
The State Highway Administration (SHA) is currently paving a stretch of Riverdale Road between Kenilworth Ave and 67th Place (near BW Parkway) in Riverdale. This road is a mess with small potholes every few feet. There will be some disruptions until the project is completed. You may encounter single lane closures on Riverdale except during rush hour. Over 38,000 vehicles travel this stretch of road every day. The estimated completion date for this project is September 2010.
SHA has also begun work on a capacity improvement project on MD 410 (East West Highway) at Queen's Chapel Road in Hyattsville. The intersection improvements will increase safety by providing longer turning lanes and reducing the current congestion caused by left turning traffic. The work includes a single lane closure in each direction during part of the day. The construction should be completed sometime this fall.
Route 1 Sidewalks and Road Resurfacing in University Park
In the next few days SHA will begin a safety and resurfacing project along US 1 (Baltimore Avenue) between MD 410 (East West Highway) and Albion Road in University Park. During construction, motorists can expect single-lane closures along US 1. Estimated completion date for this project is early summer 2011.
Berwyn Road Bridge
SHA has also begun work on the replacement and rehabilitation project on the Berwyn Road Bridge over the Indian Creek in Berwyn Heights. Berwyn Road Bridge is closed until the project is complete. Closing the bridge will allow the project to be completed in the shortest time period and in a safe manner. The deck replacement will extend the life of the bridge an additional 30 - 50 years. Weather permitting, construction will be completed in late September 2010.
Drivers wishing to travel from the east side of the bridge to the west side will be directed to travel east on Berwyn Road, turn left on 58th Avenue, continue across MD 193 (Greenbelt Road) onto Branchville Road; Branchville Road becomes 55th Avenue/Ballew Avenue, follow 55th Avenue/Ballew Avenue to Berwyn Road.
Drivers wishing to travel from the west side of the bridge to the east side will be directed to travel north on 55th Avenue/Ballew Avenue, continue under MD 193 where 55th Avenue/Ballew Avenue becomes Branchville Road, continue on Branchville Road, cross MD 193; Branchville Road becomes 58th Avenue. Continue south on 58th Avenue to Berwyn Road.
As schools across the state have gone on summer vacation, efforts to reform education have heated up. Part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (popularly known as the stimulus bill) included funds to create a competitive grant program (known as Race to the Top) to encourage states to improve education. In an effort to receive up to $250 million from Race to the Top, the Governor and State Superintendent introduced legislation to reform some elements of Maryland's existing education law. Ultimately the General Assembly lengthened the time it takes teachers to achieve tenure, sought to make teacher and principal performance evaluations more rigorous, including the use of student growth data, and proposed incentives to attract outstanding educators to work in high poverty, low functioning schools.
While I supported many of the goals of the legislation, I had serious concerns about the initial approach proposed by the state superintendent. She wanted to base evaluations on student performance which, in her model, would have required creating more tests simply to evaluate teachers. Our students are already tested enough and are losing too much time to test preparation. There are plenty of evaluation models that are effective and result in both offering remedial support to teachers in need and removal, if there is no substantive gain. Additionally, local school systems should be able to work out with stakeholders what is the best way to turn around schools in need, rather than being given a formulaic solution by the state, which she proposed. To date, the state has taken over zero failing schools so their actual expertise has proven to be limited. There are, however, 'best practices' around the country which could be replicated in local schools.
As Chair of the Senate Education Subcommittee, I played a leading role in amending the bill and removing the most poorly formed elements, ultimately shepherding the bill through the legislature.
The Nation Magazine, recently published an issue with a number of thoughtful articles on education reform, debunking some of the 'flavor-of-the-month' solutions being bandied about. These articles can be accessed here.
Even with the new legislation, the State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Nancy Grasmick has been unduly rigid trying to implement the new law. She is actually trying to reinterpret state law to justify her approach -- which was rejected by the legislature. So, 'education reform' remains a work in progress in our state. There is more to come, so stay tuned.
Climate Change Bill Bogs Down in Senate
In the wake of perhaps the greatest environmental disaster in at least our lifetimes, with thousands of gallons of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico every day and washing up on beaches throughout the Gulf, efforts to pass meaningful climate change legislation have stalled. Last December, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would for the first time put a price on carbon and enact cap and trade. Efforts to pass the bill in the Senate have failed even in the wake of the Gulf Oil spill. Republicans long ago made the decision to oppose the President's entire legislative agenda, from health care reform to Elena Kagan to financial reform to climate change. Instead of harnessing this disaster to pass a real climate change bill that caps carbon emissions, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, and creates green jobs at home, Republicans and some Democrats instead want to create a few new tax incentives for energy efficiency and solar and wind projects and underwrite the expansion of nuclear power. These efforts will not be enough to combat climate change and spur the creation of green jobs.
Maryland has taken substantial steps to lead the federal government. In 2006, I sponsored the Healthy Air Act which required dramatic reductions in air pollution and required our state to join a regional carbon trading consortium (RGGI) which has reduced our air pollution and committed Maryland to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. In 2007, the General Assembly passed a bill, to reduce emissions from cars sold in the state. In 2009, I sponsored the successful Greenhouse Gas Reductions Act which, for the first time, requires the state to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than wait for the federal government, we moved ahead. We hoped that Congress would follow suit and either eclipse Maryland's effort or adopt our efforts and make it national policy. That hasn't happened and it seems that our visionary action was more prescient than we ever thought. We were right and simply have to keep up the pressure on the U.S. Senate.
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