Cracking Open the Ballot Box

from the Baltimore Sun

A non-partisan, national group that plans to run a third-party presidential candidate nominated by an online convention will submit more than 18,000 signatures to the Maryland State Board of Elections on Wednesday with the hope of gaining a spot on the state’s ballot in November. Americans Elect, a well-funded nonprofit that is working to gain ballot access in all 50 states, aims to change the way presidents are elected, bypassing the primaries and conventions used by Democrats and Republicans and instead allowing voters to pick a candidate via the Internet.

The most high-profile candidate in the running on the Americans Elect line appears to be Buddy Roemer, the former governor of Louisiana who had run for the Republican presidential nomination this year but withdrew in February.

The group is funded in part by wealthy banker Peter Ackerman, though it does not disclose its other donors. Even as it continues to gain ballot access across the country, the group has faced a number of recent setbacks. It postponed online voting this month and also announced it would prioritize its fundraising toward the repayment of investors who contributed more than 20 percent of the group’s budget.

Harford Campaign for Liberty Meeting

From the Dagger and the Harford Campaign for Liberty:

Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, Judges, and Governors, shall all become wolves. – Thomas Jefferson

Harford Campaign for Liberty
April 24, 2012 - 7pm
Bel Air Knights of Columbus Hall
23 Newport Drive
Forest Hill, MD 21050

Featured Speaker – Karen Kiawitkowski – USAF– Ret

Our guest speaker is Dr. Karen Kwiatkowski, a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel with extensive experience at the Pentagon and National Security Agency. She is the author of several books on U.S. policy in Africa and was featured in the 2005 film “Why We Fight.” Since retiring she has been a vocal critic of the corrupting influence of politics on military decisions.

She currently seeks office in Virginia’s 6th district and hopes to bring her seasoned Goldwater Republicanism to constituents now represented by a supporter of the National Defense Authorization Act and The Stop Online Piracy Act. Her genuine conservative principles have earned her the endorsements of Republican Party figures as well as fiscal and constitutional conservatives.

What’s a Party Platform? Betcha Didn’t Know That…

Dave Pridgeon will speak on the construction of party platforms and provide some unique insights that will shock & amaze you.

Keep the Wolves at Bay

- Learn how Harford County Government is keeping you in the dark regarding their association with ICLEI.
- Find out how you can oppose the installation of SmartMeters on your home.
- Don’t forget to bring in articles and reports that highlight the efforts of PLANMD and sustainability initiatives in our state and county.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

Corporate Greed Isn't the ONLY Thing that's Out of Control...

  From Delegate Kathy Szeliga & the Harford County Dagger:

I’m disappointed with the failed leadership in Annapolis that will most likely force the legislature back for a Special Session. The budget that was passed has been labeled a “Doomsday budget.” This budget increases spending by $700 million – not a “Doomsday” for most people!

In Maryland, it’s the governor’s responsibility to shepherd his budget through the General Assembly. The O’Malley-Brown team was too busy working for special interests (like off-shore wind power and same sex marriage) and playing national politics to get the job finished last week.

While the numerous tax proposals, including the gas tax, did not pass, the Maryland State budget still grew by $700 million. The real winners in the 2012 budget proposal are taxpayers because the tax bill or the Governor’s gas tax did not pass.

During the Special Session called in November of 2007, the leadership in Annapolis raised an unprecedented amount of taxes. I am concerned that any Special Session called in the next six weeks could turn into another “Special Taxing Session.” I hope that the leadership in Annapolis will commit to a disciplined course of action that will not last more than one or two days and will not turn into a taxfest.

The budget debacle has left counties wondering what is going on. The teachers’ pension shift that will cost counties millions of dollars is in the BRFA, the bill that never made it through the House. Counties are left wondering how to craft their own budgets with uncertainty from the state.

I know that the leadership in Annapolis will be calling us back for a Special Session because they should not lay off 500 state employees by July 1 that is required without action – especially while increasing spending on other things.  Laying off 500 people is certainly a jobs killer when it’s your job that gets eliminated. We need adult decisions and agreements by the Democrat leadership before we are called back to Annapolis.

I will be in Annapolis whenever they call us back and I will continue to stand up for the 96% of Marylanders that say they pay enough in taxes. Families are struggling today and they simply cannot pay more taxes.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Please keep them coming my way.

Kathy