COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES ALL APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR OR MAYOR CONTROL ALL PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY----WHERE ARE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEES THAT DIRECT ELECTED POLS?
NEO-LIBERALS AND NEO-CONS LISTEN TO CORPORATIONS-----NOT PEOPLE!
As everyone knows, the Chesapeake Bay is in worse shape now than it was before the committees and commission below were formed. The Federal government last year had to set requirements for each of these states to meet to push action. Billions of taxpayer money has been spent through these commissions and committees. If you look at all the policy that these groups presented to the public and the results----you know nothing happened. Look as well at the 3 CITIZENS---GIVING A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW. We know Maryland legislators are all neo-liberals and neo-cons----working for corporate interests---VA and PA are just as corporate----so we see why the Chesapeake Bay is dying.
Now, who is at the head of this commission? A gentleman from PA. O'Malley placed himself head of the Chesapeake Bay Council for two reasons----to protect corporations from any real environmental policy changes and to use this commission in his national run for President pretending to be green.
Remember, Pennsylvania State House is bought and paid for by the fracking industry and its environment/ground water has been devastated by the fracking industry and look at how many from PA are on this commission. Maggie McIntosh is Johns Hopkins and we know the Port of Baltimore and public policy has the Baltimore Harbor failing 'F' in environmental health. Baltimore could care less about environmentalism with neo-conservative Hopkins. O'Malley protects Perdue Chicken----one of the largest polluters. I spoke of Gill yesterday. So, O'Malley would make this the perfect commission to see no adverse policies would cut into corporate profit. This is why for 30 years the health of the Chesapeake Bay is worse------after billions of dollars spent.....and current policy like making Baltimore Port an international port will kill the Bay with invasive species.
Below you see Johns Hopkins teaming with UMCES to provide data analysis of the Bay. The Upper Bay----the Maryland coast gets a 'C'......while every other measure gives the Bay an 'F'.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a policy leader in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. As a tri-state legislative assembly representing Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Commission's leadership covers a full spectrum of Bay issues: from managing living resources and conserving land, to protecting water quality. By combining its unique access to both the legislative and executive branches of each Bay state with well-honed skills in research, policy-development and consensus building, the Commission has achieved consistently strong and effective results in pursuit of Bay restoration goals.
Twenty-one members from three states define the Commission's identity and its workload. Fifteen are legislators, five each from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, who are responsible for identifying the needs of the Bay, hearing the wishes of their constituents and determining actions that make better stewards of all of us. Completing their ranks are the governors of each state, represented by cabinet members who are directly responsible for managing their states' natural resources, as well as three citizen representatives who bring with them a unique perspective and expertise.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission was created in 1980 to coordinate Bay-related policy across state lines and to develop shared solutions. The catalyst for our creation was the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) landmark seven-year study (1976-1983) on the decline of the Chesapeake Bay. With over a quarter-century of work behind it, the Commission has earned its reputation as a regional, bi-partisan leader. It has made remarkable strides in learning the complex workings of an enormous estuary, determining the federal and state actions that are needed to sustain its living resources, and persuading its colleagues in the general assemblies and executive branches to take action.
Today, despite over two decades of effort, restoration continues to face daunting challenges. Having piloted Chesapeake 2000 (C2K) to its successful adoption during more financially solvent times, the Chesapeake Bay Commission must now help to stay the course by ensuring that sufficient resources are committed and equitable policies are adopted that will keep the restoration effort on track.
Members of the Commission
Chairman
The Honorable Ronald E. Miller
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
115 Ryan Office Building, POB 202093
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-783-8389
rmiller@pahousegop.com
www.repmiller.com
Vice-Chair
The Honorable L. Scott Lingamfelter
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1031 Fax: 804-786-6310
DelSLingamfelter@house.virginia.gov
Vice-Chair
The Honorable Thomas McLain (Mac) Middleton
Senate of Maryland
3E Miller Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3616 Fax: 410-841-3682
thomas.mcclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us
The Honorable E. Christopher Abruzzo
Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept.of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 2063
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone: 717-787-2814 Fax: 717-783-8926
The Honorable Richard L. Alloway, II
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senate Box 203033
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone: 717-787-4651 Fax: 717-772-2753
ralloway@pasen.gov
The Honorable Michael W. Brubaker
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senate Box 203036
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-4420 Fax: 717-783-3156
mbrubaker@pasen.gov
The Honorable David L. Bulova
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1037 Fax: 703-816-2660
DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
davidbulova.com
The Honorable G. Warren Elliott
Pennsylvania Citizen Representative
822 Shatzer Orchard Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Phone: 717-263-9573
wdelliott@comcast.net
The Honorable Garth D. Everett
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
430 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202084
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5270
geverett@pahousegop.com
www.repeverett.com
The Honorable Bernie Fowler
Maryland Citizen Representative
P.O. Box 459
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: 410-535-1467
riverman@chesapeake.net
The Honorable Brian E. Frosh
Maryland State Senate
2E Miller Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3124 Fax: 410-841-3102
brianfrosh@senate.state.md.us
www.brianfrosh.com
The Honorable Joseph P. Gill
Secretary, Maryland Natural Resources
580 Taylor Avenue, C-4
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-260-8101 Fax: 410-260-8111
jgill@dnr.state.md.us
The Honorable Emmett W. Hanger, Jr.
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-7524 Fax: 804-698-7651
district24@senate.virginia.gov
The Honorable James W. Hubbard
Maryland House of Delegates
208 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3103 Fax: 410-841-3234
james.hubbard@house.state.md.us
The Honorable Maggie McIntosh
Maryland House of Delegates
251 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3990 Fax: 410-841-3509
maggie.mcintosh@house.state.md.us
The Honorable Margaret B. Ransone
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1099 Fax: 804-493-8481
DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov
The Honorable John J. Reynolds
Virginia Citizen Representative
5059 Brook View Road
Crozet, VA 22932
Phone: 434-205-4037
jreynoldsparks@comcast.net
The Honorable P. Michael Sturla
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Box 202096
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2096
Phone: 717-787-3555
Fax: 717-705-1923
msturla@pahouse.net
The Honorable Frank W. Wagner
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-7507 Fax: 804-698-7651
district07@senate.virginia.gov
www.wagnervasenate.com
The Honorable Molly Ward
Secretary, VA Natural Resources
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-786-0044 Fax: 804-381-1214
natural.resources@governor.virginia.gov
The Honorable John F. Wood, Jr.
Maryland House of Delegates
422 House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3170 Fax: 410-841-3252
john.wood@house.state.md.us
_____________________________________
O'Malley won't stand up against big business or factory farms
By Matt Ohloff and Adam Mason 11:50 a.m. CDT June 26, 2014
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is delivering a keynote address at the 2014 Iowa Democratic Party's state convention today as part of his national tour as he tests the presidential waters. "Better choices. Better results" is his slogan.
But those of us who have followed O'Malley's record know that it's really "same choices, same results" from a man who consistently placed the interests of big corporations over Maryland citizens during his two terms.
O'Malley styles himself as a progressive and an environmental advocate for a healthy Chesapeake Bay. But he has spent his political career refusing to hold big agribusiness accountable while kicking the can on big-decision issues like fracking.
O'Malley has failed to save the Chesapeake Bay from the factory farm poultry industry, the largest source of nutrient pollution in the state.
In 2011, the governor publicly denounced a lawsuit brought by the University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic for pollution pouring off one of Perdue Farms' contract operations. He called on clinic students to represent polluters instead of nonprofit defenders of the Bay.
It was a move longtime Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat, called "ill-advised."
In 2012, Food & Water Watch obtained emails showing a close, personal relationship between O'Malley and Perdue lobbyist and former law school classmate Herb Frerichs.
On the day O'Malley attacked the law clinic, Frerichs sent a note to O'Malley that simply said, "Very nice." In a later email, after Frerichs complained that Maryland Agriculture Secretary Earl "Buddy" Hance was not being responsive to Perdue's needs, O'Malley responded, "I'm guessing you don't have the personal email of governors of DE or VA, so let me know when Buddy can/should be doing more to help you push stuff. I'm serious. I'll have him call you Monday."
O'Malley also emailed Jim Perdue, promising him that as long as he was governor, he would never hold the company liable for the pollution it caused to the Chesapeake Bay.
It was no surprise that when O'Malley became the head of the Democratic Governors Association, poultry giant Perdue shifted its financial support from the Republican Governors Association to the Democratic Governors Association.
Just this past legislative session in Maryland, O'Malley promised to veto the proposed Poultry Fair Share Act that would have made poultry companies like Perdue pay a nominal amount into the Bay Restoration Fund — something every middle and working class household in the state has to do.
His announcement days after the bill was introduced quashed any debate. That prompted the Baltimore Sun to lament, "The day lawmakers can't even explore how to help the Chesapeake Bay is the day we know all hope for cleanup efforts is truly lost."
O'Malley has not been any better on fracking. As the oil and gas industry identified shale deposits in Maryland, the governor told Maryland residents that he wouldn't approve fracking in the state until studies proved that it was safe. In reality, he was already laying the groundwork for opening Maryland up to the dangers associated with fracking.
He quickly created the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, appointed its members, including a person who drafted the fracking regulations in Pennsylvania, and asked them to develop a draft report on fracking. O'Malley allowed the drafting of fracking regulations to begin even before reviewing the results of the promised fracking impact studies.
O'Malley's ties to the fracking industry can be traced to his latest "pro-growth progressive" venture, NewDEAL, a "dark money" political organization he co-founded in 2011 to bring corporate money to the Democratic Party. Among NewDEAL's big corporate funders O'Malley has been courting is the American Natural Gas Association.
When he takes to the podium today, it's important for Iowans to know the real Martin O'Malley and decide if he's a better choice and a better result, or simply big business as usual.
THE AUTHORS:
MATT OHLOFF, is the Iowa organizer for the advocacy group Food & Water Watch. Contact: mohloff@fwwatch.org.
_______________________________________
Now, most data from independent environmental groups have placed grades of 'F' but Maryland always comes up with 'C' for its waters......the Bay is now so contaminated that Maryland citizens entering the water in some places are contracting skin disease. So, where has all of that taxpayer money gone to improve the health of the Bay?
Johns Hopkins with IAN within UMCESA major feature of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) is the focus on science integration and application.
Gives Upper Chesapeake Bay a C
Chesapeake Bay Still Failing In Health Reports
By MORGAN GIBSON and JENNIFER HLAD
Wednesday - 4/7/2010, 6:21pm ET
ANNAPOLIS - Despite 25 years of restoration and protection efforts, the Chesapeake Bay's health is still bad and making only slight improvements, according to an assessment released Wednesday.
Below you see yet another committee for the Chesapeake Bay----this one with O'Malley in charge......O'Malley issued a press release when he came on board-----THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED------Oh, Really?????
As you see these committee members are appointees of the governor.
I have not heard one peep from Maryland environmental groups about the Trans Pacific Trade Pact----TPP. I mentioned it to one leader and she ran--- not one mention of the privatized Port of Baltimore killing the Chesapeake Bay with invasive species. Now, I may be wrong and missed some shouts, but certainly not recently. These are the most critical issues for the Bay. The efforts I do see will be fruitless with the explosion of invasive species.
WHEN A GOVERNOR HAS ALL THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT FOR COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS AND THE PUBLIC VOICE IS ONLY LIP SERVICE---YOU HAVE NEO-LIBERALS, NOT DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE.
Please look at the committee members and their associations and think----why do we not hear about what is killing the environment in Maryland from this committee?
I know independent environmental groups in Baltimore are raising cane about Harbor Point, Cove Point, and Port of Baltimore---but they are just the public voice.
The Citizens Advisory Committee
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is charged with responsibility for representing residents and stakeholders of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the restoration effort and advising the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership on all aspects of Chesapeake Bay restoration. In this role, they have been strong, vocal advocates for increased transparency and accountability, citizens engagement and education, and independent evaluation of the restoration work of the Partnership. Members communicate with their constituencies to increase understanding of the Agreement and programs to restore and protect the Bay. The membership is broad-based with representatives from agricultural and homebuilding industries, business, conservation, environmental foundations, law, and civic groups. Since 1984, this group has provided a non-governmental perspective on the Bay cleanup effort and on how Bay Program policies and programs affect citizens who live and work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Citizens Advisory Committee
CAC members constitute 12 gubernatorial appointments from the States of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania; 4 mayoral appointments from the District of Columbia;
Zebra mussels are killing native oysters and clams in ports receiving international cargo ships----as they will in Chesapeake Bay.
Below you see a you tube explanation of what happens at the Port of Baltimore all the time. This will negate in the bay all restoration activities and the money spent. Did you hear an uproar from Chesapeake Bay commission/committee about this privatization and expansion?
IT IS CRITICAL TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT NEO-LIBERALS. ENGAGE IN POLITICS!
How ships carry invasive species with them
Published on May 8, 2012
Invasive species such as the Asian tiger shrimp, which has been sighted 349 times along the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico since first being sighted in 1998, can be introduced to an area when a ship carrying cargo from a foreign port drains ballast as it takes on cargo at a local port. Ships fill ballast tanks with millions of gallons of water, which can contain marine organisms, when a ship's hold is empty for stability.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership
Would Threaten the Environment - Affecting the Water We Drink and the Air We Breathe
The TPP could sharply increase U.S. exports of natural gas - creating incentives for more fracking. The Department of Energy could lose its authority to regulate exports of natural gas to countries that have signed a "free trade" agreement with the U.S. that includes "national treatment for trade in gas." The TPP could eliminate the government's prerogative to determine whether the mass export of natural gas to TPP countries - including Japan, the world's largest natural gas importer - is in the public interest. The resulting surge in natural gas exports would not only raise gas and electricity prices for consumers, but would ramp up the dangerous, chemical-laden practice of fracking.
Through the "investor-state" system, the TPP would allow corporations operating in TPP countries to launch a case against domestic environmental laws that they see as inhibiting "expected future profits."
Governments have paid over $3 billion to foreign corporations in investor-state disputes under existing U.S. trade and investment deals. Over 85% has been handed to corporations attacking oil, mining, gas, and other environmental and natural resource policies. This includes the Mexican government paying the U.S. Metalclad firm over denial of an operating permit for a contaminated toxic waste facility and the Canadian government paying U.S. firms Abitibi-Bowater over water rights, SD Meyers over a ban on trans-boundary trade in hazardous waste implemented under the Basel Convention, and Pope and Talbot over timber policy. Exxon-Mobil just won a case over a Canadian province's offshore oil regulations and a case has been filed against Quebec's moratorium on fracking.
Corporations have also used investor-state cases as pressure tactics to avoid having to pay for environmental damages. After an 18-year struggle to get Chevron to clean up billions of gallons of toxics it released into Amazonian streams and rivers used by local inhabitants for drinking water and into open pools in the jungle, an Ecuadorean court ordered the corporation to pay $18 billion for cleanup. Chevron turned to an "investor-state" tribunal under the U.S.-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty as a last chance to evade justice. In February 2012, that tribunal ordered Ecuador's government to interfere with the country's independent court system to halt enforcement of the ruling. Though an Ecuadorean court rejected the tribunal's order, the tribunal may still prevent the cleanup from starting if its ruling is recognized by other countries whose cooperation is needed to collect the $18 billion from Chevron.
Even the mere threat of an investor-state loss can pressure governments to weaken environmental and health policies. In the 1990s, a U.S. chemical company called Ethyl Corporation challenged a Canadian environmental ban of the gasoline additive MMT, considered a dangerous toxin, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) investor-state provisions. Although many U.S. states ban the substance and the investor-state tribunal made no final ruling, an intermediate loss was enough to push the Canadian government to revoke the ban, settle with the foreign corporation for $13 million in taxpayer compensation and issue a public statement that the chemical was safe.
NEO-LIBERALS AND NEO-CONS LISTEN TO CORPORATIONS-----NOT PEOPLE!
As everyone knows, the Chesapeake Bay is in worse shape now than it was before the committees and commission below were formed. The Federal government last year had to set requirements for each of these states to meet to push action. Billions of taxpayer money has been spent through these commissions and committees. If you look at all the policy that these groups presented to the public and the results----you know nothing happened. Look as well at the 3 CITIZENS---GIVING A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW. We know Maryland legislators are all neo-liberals and neo-cons----working for corporate interests---VA and PA are just as corporate----so we see why the Chesapeake Bay is dying.
Now, who is at the head of this commission? A gentleman from PA. O'Malley placed himself head of the Chesapeake Bay Council for two reasons----to protect corporations from any real environmental policy changes and to use this commission in his national run for President pretending to be green.
Remember, Pennsylvania State House is bought and paid for by the fracking industry and its environment/ground water has been devastated by the fracking industry and look at how many from PA are on this commission. Maggie McIntosh is Johns Hopkins and we know the Port of Baltimore and public policy has the Baltimore Harbor failing 'F' in environmental health. Baltimore could care less about environmentalism with neo-conservative Hopkins. O'Malley protects Perdue Chicken----one of the largest polluters. I spoke of Gill yesterday. So, O'Malley would make this the perfect commission to see no adverse policies would cut into corporate profit. This is why for 30 years the health of the Chesapeake Bay is worse------after billions of dollars spent.....and current policy like making Baltimore Port an international port will kill the Bay with invasive species.
Below you see Johns Hopkins teaming with UMCES to provide data analysis of the Bay. The Upper Bay----the Maryland coast gets a 'C'......while every other measure gives the Bay an 'F'.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a policy leader in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. As a tri-state legislative assembly representing Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, the Commission's leadership covers a full spectrum of Bay issues: from managing living resources and conserving land, to protecting water quality. By combining its unique access to both the legislative and executive branches of each Bay state with well-honed skills in research, policy-development and consensus building, the Commission has achieved consistently strong and effective results in pursuit of Bay restoration goals.
Twenty-one members from three states define the Commission's identity and its workload. Fifteen are legislators, five each from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, who are responsible for identifying the needs of the Bay, hearing the wishes of their constituents and determining actions that make better stewards of all of us. Completing their ranks are the governors of each state, represented by cabinet members who are directly responsible for managing their states' natural resources, as well as three citizen representatives who bring with them a unique perspective and expertise.
The Chesapeake Bay Commission was created in 1980 to coordinate Bay-related policy across state lines and to develop shared solutions. The catalyst for our creation was the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) landmark seven-year study (1976-1983) on the decline of the Chesapeake Bay. With over a quarter-century of work behind it, the Commission has earned its reputation as a regional, bi-partisan leader. It has made remarkable strides in learning the complex workings of an enormous estuary, determining the federal and state actions that are needed to sustain its living resources, and persuading its colleagues in the general assemblies and executive branches to take action.
Today, despite over two decades of effort, restoration continues to face daunting challenges. Having piloted Chesapeake 2000 (C2K) to its successful adoption during more financially solvent times, the Chesapeake Bay Commission must now help to stay the course by ensuring that sufficient resources are committed and equitable policies are adopted that will keep the restoration effort on track.
Members of the Commission
Chairman
The Honorable Ronald E. Miller
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
115 Ryan Office Building, POB 202093
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-783-8389
rmiller@pahousegop.com
www.repmiller.com
Vice-Chair
The Honorable L. Scott Lingamfelter
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1031 Fax: 804-786-6310
DelSLingamfelter@house.virginia.gov
Vice-Chair
The Honorable Thomas McLain (Mac) Middleton
Senate of Maryland
3E Miller Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3616 Fax: 410-841-3682
thomas.mcclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us
The Honorable E. Christopher Abruzzo
Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept.of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 2063
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone: 717-787-2814 Fax: 717-783-8926
The Honorable Richard L. Alloway, II
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senate Box 203033
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Phone: 717-787-4651 Fax: 717-772-2753
ralloway@pasen.gov
The Honorable Michael W. Brubaker
Senate of Pennsylvania
Senate Box 203036
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-4420 Fax: 717-783-3156
mbrubaker@pasen.gov
The Honorable David L. Bulova
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1037 Fax: 703-816-2660
DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
davidbulova.com
The Honorable G. Warren Elliott
Pennsylvania Citizen Representative
822 Shatzer Orchard Road
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Phone: 717-263-9573
wdelliott@comcast.net
The Honorable Garth D. Everett
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
430 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202084
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: 717-787-5270
geverett@pahousegop.com
www.repeverett.com
The Honorable Bernie Fowler
Maryland Citizen Representative
P.O. Box 459
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Phone: 410-535-1467
riverman@chesapeake.net
The Honorable Brian E. Frosh
Maryland State Senate
2E Miller Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3124 Fax: 410-841-3102
brianfrosh@senate.state.md.us
www.brianfrosh.com
The Honorable Joseph P. Gill
Secretary, Maryland Natural Resources
580 Taylor Avenue, C-4
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-260-8101 Fax: 410-260-8111
jgill@dnr.state.md.us
The Honorable Emmett W. Hanger, Jr.
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-7524 Fax: 804-698-7651
district24@senate.virginia.gov
The Honorable James W. Hubbard
Maryland House of Delegates
208 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3103 Fax: 410-841-3234
james.hubbard@house.state.md.us
The Honorable Maggie McIntosh
Maryland House of Delegates
251 Lowe House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3990 Fax: 410-841-3509
maggie.mcintosh@house.state.md.us
The Honorable Margaret B. Ransone
Virginia House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-1099 Fax: 804-493-8481
DelMRansone@house.virginia.gov
The Honorable John J. Reynolds
Virginia Citizen Representative
5059 Brook View Road
Crozet, VA 22932
Phone: 434-205-4037
jreynoldsparks@comcast.net
The Honorable P. Michael Sturla
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Box 202096
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2096
Phone: 717-787-3555
Fax: 717-705-1923
msturla@pahouse.net
The Honorable Frank W. Wagner
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-698-7507 Fax: 804-698-7651
district07@senate.virginia.gov
www.wagnervasenate.com
The Honorable Molly Ward
Secretary, VA Natural Resources
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 804-786-0044 Fax: 804-381-1214
natural.resources@governor.virginia.gov
The Honorable John F. Wood, Jr.
Maryland House of Delegates
422 House Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: 410-841-3170 Fax: 410-841-3252
john.wood@house.state.md.us
_____________________________________
O'Malley won't stand up against big business or factory farms
By Matt Ohloff and Adam Mason 11:50 a.m. CDT June 26, 2014
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is delivering a keynote address at the 2014 Iowa Democratic Party's state convention today as part of his national tour as he tests the presidential waters. "Better choices. Better results" is his slogan.
But those of us who have followed O'Malley's record know that it's really "same choices, same results" from a man who consistently placed the interests of big corporations over Maryland citizens during his two terms.
O'Malley styles himself as a progressive and an environmental advocate for a healthy Chesapeake Bay. But he has spent his political career refusing to hold big agribusiness accountable while kicking the can on big-decision issues like fracking.
O'Malley has failed to save the Chesapeake Bay from the factory farm poultry industry, the largest source of nutrient pollution in the state.
In 2011, the governor publicly denounced a lawsuit brought by the University of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic for pollution pouring off one of Perdue Farms' contract operations. He called on clinic students to represent polluters instead of nonprofit defenders of the Bay.
It was a move longtime Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat, called "ill-advised."
In 2012, Food & Water Watch obtained emails showing a close, personal relationship between O'Malley and Perdue lobbyist and former law school classmate Herb Frerichs.
On the day O'Malley attacked the law clinic, Frerichs sent a note to O'Malley that simply said, "Very nice." In a later email, after Frerichs complained that Maryland Agriculture Secretary Earl "Buddy" Hance was not being responsive to Perdue's needs, O'Malley responded, "I'm guessing you don't have the personal email of governors of DE or VA, so let me know when Buddy can/should be doing more to help you push stuff. I'm serious. I'll have him call you Monday."
O'Malley also emailed Jim Perdue, promising him that as long as he was governor, he would never hold the company liable for the pollution it caused to the Chesapeake Bay.
It was no surprise that when O'Malley became the head of the Democratic Governors Association, poultry giant Perdue shifted its financial support from the Republican Governors Association to the Democratic Governors Association.
Just this past legislative session in Maryland, O'Malley promised to veto the proposed Poultry Fair Share Act that would have made poultry companies like Perdue pay a nominal amount into the Bay Restoration Fund — something every middle and working class household in the state has to do.
His announcement days after the bill was introduced quashed any debate. That prompted the Baltimore Sun to lament, "The day lawmakers can't even explore how to help the Chesapeake Bay is the day we know all hope for cleanup efforts is truly lost."
O'Malley has not been any better on fracking. As the oil and gas industry identified shale deposits in Maryland, the governor told Maryland residents that he wouldn't approve fracking in the state until studies proved that it was safe. In reality, he was already laying the groundwork for opening Maryland up to the dangers associated with fracking.
He quickly created the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, appointed its members, including a person who drafted the fracking regulations in Pennsylvania, and asked them to develop a draft report on fracking. O'Malley allowed the drafting of fracking regulations to begin even before reviewing the results of the promised fracking impact studies.
O'Malley's ties to the fracking industry can be traced to his latest "pro-growth progressive" venture, NewDEAL, a "dark money" political organization he co-founded in 2011 to bring corporate money to the Democratic Party. Among NewDEAL's big corporate funders O'Malley has been courting is the American Natural Gas Association.
When he takes to the podium today, it's important for Iowans to know the real Martin O'Malley and decide if he's a better choice and a better result, or simply big business as usual.
THE AUTHORS:
MATT OHLOFF, is the Iowa organizer for the advocacy group Food & Water Watch. Contact: mohloff@fwwatch.org.
_______________________________________
Now, most data from independent environmental groups have placed grades of 'F' but Maryland always comes up with 'C' for its waters......the Bay is now so contaminated that Maryland citizens entering the water in some places are contracting skin disease. So, where has all of that taxpayer money gone to improve the health of the Bay?
Johns Hopkins with IAN within UMCESA major feature of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) is the focus on science integration and application.
Gives Upper Chesapeake Bay a C
Chesapeake Bay Still Failing In Health Reports
By MORGAN GIBSON and JENNIFER HLAD
Wednesday - 4/7/2010, 6:21pm ET
ANNAPOLIS - Despite 25 years of restoration and protection efforts, the Chesapeake Bay's health is still bad and making only slight improvements, according to an assessment released Wednesday.
Below you see yet another committee for the Chesapeake Bay----this one with O'Malley in charge......O'Malley issued a press release when he came on board-----THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED------Oh, Really?????
As you see these committee members are appointees of the governor.
I have not heard one peep from Maryland environmental groups about the Trans Pacific Trade Pact----TPP. I mentioned it to one leader and she ran--- not one mention of the privatized Port of Baltimore killing the Chesapeake Bay with invasive species. Now, I may be wrong and missed some shouts, but certainly not recently. These are the most critical issues for the Bay. The efforts I do see will be fruitless with the explosion of invasive species.
WHEN A GOVERNOR HAS ALL THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT FOR COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS AND THE PUBLIC VOICE IS ONLY LIP SERVICE---YOU HAVE NEO-LIBERALS, NOT DEMOCRATS IN OFFICE.
Please look at the committee members and their associations and think----why do we not hear about what is killing the environment in Maryland from this committee?
I know independent environmental groups in Baltimore are raising cane about Harbor Point, Cove Point, and Port of Baltimore---but they are just the public voice.
The Citizens Advisory Committee
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is charged with responsibility for representing residents and stakeholders of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the restoration effort and advising the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership on all aspects of Chesapeake Bay restoration. In this role, they have been strong, vocal advocates for increased transparency and accountability, citizens engagement and education, and independent evaluation of the restoration work of the Partnership. Members communicate with their constituencies to increase understanding of the Agreement and programs to restore and protect the Bay. The membership is broad-based with representatives from agricultural and homebuilding industries, business, conservation, environmental foundations, law, and civic groups. Since 1984, this group has provided a non-governmental perspective on the Bay cleanup effort and on how Bay Program policies and programs affect citizens who live and work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Citizens Advisory Committee
CAC members constitute 12 gubernatorial appointments from the States of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania; 4 mayoral appointments from the District of Columbia;
- John Dawes (Chair), Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds
- Charlie Stek (Vice-Chair), No Child Left Inside Coalition Chesapeake Conservancy
- Jessica Blackburn (Coordinator), Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- Amy Robins (Staff), Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- Paul J. Bruder, Rhoads & Sinon LLP
- Andrew Der, Andrew T. Der & Associates, LLC
- Matt Ehrhart, Stroud Water Research Center
- Jim Elliott, Spilman Thomas & Battle
- Gregory Evans, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- Christina Everett, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
- Verna Harrison, Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment
- Jeff Holland, Annapolis Maritime Museum
- Patricia Levin, Franklin & Marshall College
- Joseph Maroon, Virginia Environmental Endowment
- Bill Martin, US Patent Office
- Karen McJunkin, Elm Street Development
- Jennifer Reed-Harry, PennAg Industries Association
- Erica Rosenburg, Independent Consultant
- Charlie Stek, No Child Left Inside Coalition Chesapeake Conservancy
- Nikki Tinsley, NT Inc. Citizens Advisory Committee
- Victor Ukpolo, Montgomery County Environmental Protection
- Robert Wayland, Virginia State Water Control Board
- Neil Wilkie, Davidson Capital Group
Zebra mussels are killing native oysters and clams in ports receiving international cargo ships----as they will in Chesapeake Bay.
Below you see a you tube explanation of what happens at the Port of Baltimore all the time. This will negate in the bay all restoration activities and the money spent. Did you hear an uproar from Chesapeake Bay commission/committee about this privatization and expansion?
IT IS CRITICAL TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND NOT NEO-LIBERALS. ENGAGE IN POLITICS!
How ships carry invasive species with them
Published on May 8, 2012
Invasive species such as the Asian tiger shrimp, which has been sighted 349 times along the US East Coast and Gulf of Mexico since first being sighted in 1998, can be introduced to an area when a ship carrying cargo from a foreign port drains ballast as it takes on cargo at a local port. Ships fill ballast tanks with millions of gallons of water, which can contain marine organisms, when a ship's hold is empty for stability.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership
Would Threaten the Environment - Affecting the Water We Drink and the Air We Breathe
The TPP could sharply increase U.S. exports of natural gas - creating incentives for more fracking. The Department of Energy could lose its authority to regulate exports of natural gas to countries that have signed a "free trade" agreement with the U.S. that includes "national treatment for trade in gas." The TPP could eliminate the government's prerogative to determine whether the mass export of natural gas to TPP countries - including Japan, the world's largest natural gas importer - is in the public interest. The resulting surge in natural gas exports would not only raise gas and electricity prices for consumers, but would ramp up the dangerous, chemical-laden practice of fracking.
Through the "investor-state" system, the TPP would allow corporations operating in TPP countries to launch a case against domestic environmental laws that they see as inhibiting "expected future profits."
Governments have paid over $3 billion to foreign corporations in investor-state disputes under existing U.S. trade and investment deals. Over 85% has been handed to corporations attacking oil, mining, gas, and other environmental and natural resource policies. This includes the Mexican government paying the U.S. Metalclad firm over denial of an operating permit for a contaminated toxic waste facility and the Canadian government paying U.S. firms Abitibi-Bowater over water rights, SD Meyers over a ban on trans-boundary trade in hazardous waste implemented under the Basel Convention, and Pope and Talbot over timber policy. Exxon-Mobil just won a case over a Canadian province's offshore oil regulations and a case has been filed against Quebec's moratorium on fracking.
Corporations have also used investor-state cases as pressure tactics to avoid having to pay for environmental damages. After an 18-year struggle to get Chevron to clean up billions of gallons of toxics it released into Amazonian streams and rivers used by local inhabitants for drinking water and into open pools in the jungle, an Ecuadorean court ordered the corporation to pay $18 billion for cleanup. Chevron turned to an "investor-state" tribunal under the U.S.-Ecuador Bilateral Investment Treaty as a last chance to evade justice. In February 2012, that tribunal ordered Ecuador's government to interfere with the country's independent court system to halt enforcement of the ruling. Though an Ecuadorean court rejected the tribunal's order, the tribunal may still prevent the cleanup from starting if its ruling is recognized by other countries whose cooperation is needed to collect the $18 billion from Chevron.
Even the mere threat of an investor-state loss can pressure governments to weaken environmental and health policies. In the 1990s, a U.S. chemical company called Ethyl Corporation challenged a Canadian environmental ban of the gasoline additive MMT, considered a dangerous toxin, under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) investor-state provisions. Although many U.S. states ban the substance and the investor-state tribunal made no final ruling, an intermediate loss was enough to push the Canadian government to revoke the ban, settle with the foreign corporation for $13 million in taxpayer compensation and issue a public statement that the chemical was safe.
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