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Published Material from Baltimore County Members

These views are not necessarily the views of the organization as a whole.

Democrats put their own interests ahead of Maryland's

On the opening day of this year's session of the Maryland Legislature, House Speaker Michael Busch issued a call for unity.

I rarely agree with the speaker, but in this case I wholeheartedly agree.

The time has come for the members of the legislature to show unity, uniting behind Governor Ehrlich in renouncing the fiscally irresponsible, anti-business, anti-taxpayer, tax-and-spend policies which have been fostered by generations of one-party rule in this state.

It is high time that our alleged representatives in Annapolis begin to put the interests of the taxpayers of Maryland ahead of the interests of the Democratic Party.

Gary A. Smith
Catonsville

Session should have served voters, not special interests

Despite what Democrats want you to think, this special session of Maryland's General Assembly was not supposed to be about them or their taxes, or their political vendetta against Gov. Ehrlich. It was supposed to be about quality healthcare and saving doctors from shuttering their practices.

The liberal leadership of Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch pulled a $423 million HMO tax out of their hat, stabbing the governor in the back after they promised him they wouldn't use a tax increase to fund the bill and sitting there like some kind of feigned saviors.

Del. Eric Bromwell helped Miller and Busch every step of the way, ignoring what his constituents would have preferred and abandoning his job as a representative.

It was a typical, predictable response to a problem by the Democratic General Assembly: Pretend to deal with the problem and then throw money at it.

And Del. Bromwell should be on notice: Now that your constituents know your loyalties lie with Mike Miller and Michael Busch, your constituents are up for grabs!

Dennis Robinson, Jr.
Perry Hall

Democrats' malpractice bill caves in to trial lawyers

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that constituents elected legislators to represent them. This concept has fallen to the wayside in the Maryland General Assembly, where this week Del. Steven DeBoy scoffed at his constituents in favor of his liberal Democratic leader, Michael Busch.

Gov. Ehrlich called a special session a couple of weeks ago after reaching an agreement with the legislature to enact smart medical malpractice reform without raising taxes.

Instead of honoring their agreement, our liberal Democratic leaders succumbed to trial lawyers - one of whom is senate president, Democrat Mike Miller himself - and they weakened the reform by adding a $423 million HMO tax on more than one million Marylanders.

Ehrlich originally promoted this bill to help the doctors and patients; by adding this tax to the bill the legislators hurt those people who have difficulties already paying their insurance premiums.

Passing medical malpractice reform should not have been an issue. Yet, ignoring the views of their constituents, Steven DeBoy and other legislators made it one bogged down with taxes.

Such blatant disregard for their constituency, and for doctors and patients, is outrageous. Steven DeBoy and his buddies better bet we won't forget their vote against the taxpayer.

Albert Nalley
Catonsville

Doctors should be held accountable

I would offer a different solution to the problem of the medical malpractice issue, one that addresses the problem at the source.

What if punishment where given to those responsible for the problem in the first place? Strict and irreversible punishment for any and all physicians who violate the standard of care or who perform unacceptable errors in their surgeries which result in the insurance companies having to pay millions of dollars in damages to the victims. Those physicians should not be allowed to continue to practice medicine in this or any other state.

Rather than pay more victims for injuries received from any physicians having been found negligent of violating the standard of care, just prohibit the offenders from practicing medicine. And, any physician who has had a medical malpractice suit placed against him/her and has lost in court should have to display that information in his/her office for all unsuspecting and trusting individuals to see, so everyone could make an informed decision prior to allowing that physician to perform surgery upon them, just as all physicians need to display their license as being qualified to practice medicine they would need to display their failure to meet that standard as well.

Because, it appears that the state Board of Physicians does nothing to correct the current situation, now may be the time to bar from practice the physicians who have violated the standard of care and have been found to be negligent in a court of law on two different occasions. Those individuals should have their license permanently removed.

This would address the major part of the problem and would save lives as well as being cost effective, and it would allow only the best and most well trained to remain in the medical industry. It's been said, physicians can bury their mistakes.

Betty L. Wagner
Reisterstown

Gov. Ehrlich correct in veto of medical malpractice bill

It is fairly easy to understand why MedChi (the state medical society) and the Maryland Hospital Association would call for Gov. Ehrlich not to veto the medical malpractice insurance reform bill. It is simply because the bill serves their interests, i.e., it lowers malpractice insurance premiums in the short run, and it would be idiotic to turn away any measure of relief from an enormous 33 percent increase.

Gov. Ehrlich was right, however, to veto the ill-conceived legislation ("Malpractice bill leads to veto, which could lead to override," The effersonian, Jan. 11). It did not do enough to protect the largest group of stakeholders, the consumers of health care services.

It is fine to give doctors and hospitals the relief they need, but the consumers of health care need relief as well. As of the new year, my employer was forced to raise employee contributions toward medical premiums a whopping 25 percent. This follows a 15.2 percent increase just eight months ago and a 15 percent increase a year before that.

I am now paying a staggering 65 percent more than I did three years ago. But the state legislature's only solution seems to be to impose a 2 percent tax on HMOs, which all parties agree will eventually be passed along to the consumer, and to call for minimal tort reform.

While I acknowledge that malpractice premiums are far more expensive than my premiums, I am quite sure my income does not stack up against a doctor's, either.

What is really needed is a meaningful reform bill that does more to protect the consumers of health care from such exorbitant cost increases.

Senate President Thomas "Mike" Miller has made it clear, however, that if the legislature overrides the veto, the state Senate would not likely consider any additional tort reform measures in the near future. That bodes poorly for all Maryland citizens.

Scott Appelbaum
Catonsville

Stone votes for the interests of trial lawyers

I was disappointed but not surprised to see the vote tally "for" column on HB2 include none other than our own trial lawyer senator, Norman Stone.

This bill was stripped of any meaningful tort (lawsuit) reform by the trial lawyer lobby and the trial lawyer senators themselves. It was then put up for vote. How nice it must be to be a trial lawyer and work for one of the most powerful trial lawyers in America and go to Annapolis and cast the deciding vote in favor of you and your boss.

Oh, and by the way, the reason you're in Annapolis: to represent the citizens of the 6th Legislative District, who would get a big fat tax raise.

Gov. Ehrlich submitted a bill that would have restricted frivolous lawsuits and sky-high contingency fees that the fat-cat lawyers swim in. It was rejected. The governor recognizes that our lawsuit-crazy culture has virtually ruined our health care system.

So who is it that promotes this culture? You guessed it, our own trial lawyer representatives who pass law after law enabling them to sue for anything and everything. All under the big lie of looking after the little guy.

There is absolutely no reason to raise taxes on HMOs, which will immediately pass the cost onto you, the customer. It is a regressive tax that will address the issue in the short term while the trial lawyers fashion another bill to fatten their wallets.

In 2002 Marylanders experienced a 15 percent increase in out-of-pocket expenditures for health care.

Employer health care costs have also grown by double-digit rates annually, and this 2 percent increase will only make it worse.

In 2002 Marylanders voted for a change in how we do business in this state. As if in contempt of our vote, the Democratic legislature, funded by the trial lawyer lobby, continues to propose new tax after new tax.

The tax-and-spend days are over. These obstructionists will be held accountable as they write their own epitaphs. This includes you, Sen. Stone.

Timothy J. Caldwell
Whiteway Road

Democrats' malpractice insurance fix: more taxes

There has been a lot of talk about medical malpractice. The governor called a special session of the legislature to address the problem.

As usual, the only way the Democrat-dominated legislature can deal with a problem is to raise taxes. The tax on HMOs, as we all know, will be passed on to consumers (you and me).

Fortunately, the governor said he will veto the bill. But, with the majority that the Democrats hold in the Senate and House, there is a good chance his veto will be overturned.

But, there is another part of the bill you have not been made aware of. It is called the People's Insurance Council (PIC). The PIC will be funded by an annual assessment (fancy word for tax) on each medical malpractice and homeowner's insurance.

How did homeowner's insurance get tied in with medical malpractice? Another pass-through fee (tax) that you and I have to pay.

Albert Nalley
Catonsville

Gardina too busy hobnobbing to bother with constituents

In response to 5th District Councilman Vince Gardina's concern for taxpayer's dollars ("Gardina disagrees with Ehrlich on need for special session," The Jeffersonian, Jan. 6), I would suggest he look into his own closet. The citizens of the 5th District, which includes Perry Hall, Loch Raven, Parkville, White Marsh and Carney, have been paying his $45,000 part-time salary for the past seven years while he spent his time boating, lunching and dining with Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger and County Executive James Smith.

The citizens of this district have been begging for a new school while their children are forced into overcrowded classrooms. Gardina can't be bothered by these minor problems, he is more interested in driving his Baltimore County car to Annapolis to lobby against our governor.

Calls to Gardina's office, which is also financed with taxpayer dollars, about congested roadways and unsafe driving conditions go unanswered.

Why? Because Gardina's office staff, which is also financed with taxpayer dollars, are busy campaigning for Sen. John Kerry, Ruppersberger and Mayor Martin O'Malley.

Gardina's complaint about his insurance costs are also a bunch of bunk. Why? You probably guessed it, they're also paid for by taxpayer dollars.

So, citizens of the 5th District, do you think it's worth $45,000 plus lavish benefits in excess of $100,000 to have a councilman who parties with James Smith and his fat-cat developer friends while turning a blind eye to the needs of his own district?

The citizens of the 5th District need a bailout, all right. They need Vince Gardina off the dole.

Tim Caldwell
Sparrows Point

It appears there may be some confusion on this medical malpractice reform/rate stabilization bill HB2 that the Governor has vetoed. He has vetoed the bailout of a tax on HMO's, the most affordable medical insurance policies that the most needy citizens of Maryland can purchase; making them more expensive to the people who can least afford an increase. Then, after paying the tax on their own HMO insurance, these same folks will have to pay higher state taxes to help pay for the increase in the State's HMO insurance for state employees. I thought Democrats professed to be the champions of the people who are the most vulnerable.

Why then, are you berating Governor Ehrlich for looking out for the little guy?

Herman Wood

Times letters page is vital forum for democracy

I think that the editorial board of the Catonsville Times deserves high praise for its courage in publishing the strong opinions of many.

Particularly during this year of a presidential election, active debate of important issues is vital to the democratic process. Where else but in its local paper can the citizenry of an area find voice?

I have long wished that Catonsville had a forum for the airing of concerns regarding the proper behavior of local, state and national government. The Catonsville Times has afforded us such a forum, to its credit and our enormous benefit.

Praise is also due to the increasing number of those with courage and conviction who are willing to sign their names to letters and offer their opinions.

The editorial board of the Catonsville Times has become a valuable resource of democracy and, in my opinion, greatly increased its stature.

Now I actually look forward to receiving my copy.

Harry J.F. Korrell Jr.
Catonsville

Party Line (R)
Ehrlich spoke clearly on bill
Compromise is truly a matter of perspective.

During the special session of the Maryland General Assembly, the press and the Democratic leadership cried the blues.

Gov. Robert Ehrlich and his Republican foot soldiers "won't compromise" to find a solution for the medical malpractice issue, they said. Oh, how soon they have forgotten their own wicked ways.

Let's place this in proper perspective. When the Democrats controlled both chambers and the executive office, I don't remember any articles or news stories about Democrats compromising with Republicans. I don't remember Republican bills wholesale being signed into law, with or without compromise.

I know of a few bills with Republican sponsors being killed, then being revived in a slightly different format with a Democratic sponsor. I even know of one Republican-sponsored bill that passed through both chambers easily and was vetoed by the last Democrat governor ... for three consecutive years.

The real problem is that Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch do not want to compromise. They want the governor to make all of the concessions.

The governor said he would not sign a medical-malpractice bill with a tax on health-maintenance organizations. I thought that was really clear.

Perhaps the Democrats needed an interpreter.

The governor brokered an agreement with the Democratic leadership prior to the special session only to see it shattered.

The governor wanted tort reform. Doctors wanted tort reform. They know getting sued is what raises their premiums, not just claims pay-outs. Insurance policies include cost of defense, which are basically 100 percent attorney fees. They also know that in a claim settlements up tot 70 percent of payouts go to attorneys, not to the injured parties.

Perhaps this is where the legislature should have looked to find a revenue source. But, with attorneys in the legislative leadership, the income of trial lawyers remained off limits.

The Democrat leadership then cried, "Where is the funding source?"

Again, they were not paying attention. The governor had a plan, just not their plan, which called for a regressive tax on already sky-high HMO premiums.

Gov. Ehrlich has been successful in funding his promises, while making state government more efficient and accountable. He has put more money into education than any other governor and has closed the deficit that was left to him two years ago by the runaway spending of Democrats.

Now these Democrat leaders ask the funding question. Get real! Why didn't they ask this question when they had a Democratic governor demanding unfunded mandates?

When the voters of Maryland, who are registered 2-to-1 as Democrats, chose a Republican governor, that was a mandate. I think the obstructionists are leading the legislature, not living in the governor's mansion.

The 2005 session of the Maryland General Assembly is about to begin. I think it will be comparable to political gang warfare. Our governor's resolve may be Maryland's only hope of not returning, once again, to a thugocracy.

Chris Cavey is chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Party.

This page last updated January 27, 2005