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Your conclusions presented in the recent editorial, “No Surprise: Here’s why lawmakers voted for census change” (April 1), are based on an (unfortunately) commonly-held but false assumption.
The bill currently pending in the Maryland Legislature that would change the way prisoners are counted in the state for redistricting purposes would have no impact on federal funding.
The census is still going to count prisoners at the prison, the bill simply changes the way that census data would be used when drawing district lines within Maryland. The federal government does not distribute funds based on state redistricting data.
Aleks Kajstura, legal director
Prison Policy Initiative
Northampton, Mass.
Opinion
April 20, 2010
Prison population has no effect on census-related funding
- Opinion
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Get tough
Based on the number of drivers we see who are still talking on handheld cell phones, Maryland lawmakers are justified in making the state’s cell phone law tougher.
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Argument for same-sex marriage is superficial
I am writing in response to a letter by Ian Stafford entitled, “Equal standards on marriage should be applied to everyone” (Feb. 3 Times-News).
The first thing I noticed about the article is the title. It appeared to be a Gov. O’Malley talking point repeated by his supporter to reframe the issue and promote his radical agenda. -
Some of city’s rail crossings in need of repair or replacement
As I was crossing the rail crossing today at Valley Street and Henderson Avenue, I felt like I was riding a horse-drawn buckboard.
It took several minutes for my kidneys and stomach to right themselves back into a normal position. -
WMHS Home Hospice seeks to increase outreach to veterans
The Western Maryland Health System Home Hospice Services is seeking to increase the outreach to local veterans as part of the “We Honor Veterans” campaign.
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Other reports say to beware of fracking
Scott Cline writes that fears being voiced in the Times-News about hydraulic fracturing are long on fiction and short on facts, then proceeds to explain why fracking is so safe (“Unfounded fears about shale gas obscure facts,” Jan. 25 Times-News.
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You’ll have to be rich to breathe Md. air if they begin taxing it
Let me see Marylanders, can you think of any more ways our elected officials can raise taxes in Maryland?First there was the flush tax to save the Chesapeake. Then there was sales tax raised from 5 cents to 6 cents on the dollar. Then we had toll fees at the Bay Bridge go up. Then we had car registration fees increase, along with vehicle tag prices increase.
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Spending on non-academic projects causing the problem
Mr. Long’s poignant comments regarding school closings were good (“Is not a school more than just a school?,” Feb. 1 Times-News), however, he missed the sole reason for the closings — that the Garrett county Commissioners and their leader are too committed to adventure sports and relative extravagant non-academic ventures.
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No to repeal
Just as he did last year, Gov. Martin O’Malley is attempting to end a tax credit that benefits the local coal industry. If he succeeds, the incentive to purchase Maryland coal will be substantially diminished.
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Garrett has better uses for taxpayers’ money
At a time when Garrett County schools are threatened with closure, the Adventure Sports Center International’s (ASCI) executive director mounts a public relations campaign requesting $3 million more from the commissioners. (“On eliminating ASCI’s $3M debt: Exec. speaks out,” Jan. 20 times-News, Page 1A)
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Here’s what befell those who could have solved the problems
Something to consider:
Why are schools being closed?
Why has the housing market become so volatile?
Who is the person destined to cure cancer?
Why is Social Security on the brink of disaster?
Where is your doctor from? Don’t we have enough doctors graduating stateside?
And where is the cure for the common cold? Not enough tax revenue for fed and state and local governments is a real problem.
One very good answer is that these students, house buyers, medical researchers and inventors were never born. - More Opinion Headlines
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