This is my letter to the Attorney General's Office regarding Open Meetings.  I've reported before that I have experienced blatant attempts to keep me out of meetings, not because I'm CitizensOversight, but because I am not the expected attendee. 

I have sent this to Public Interest Maryland, Maryland Consumers Rights Coalition, Civil Justice Maryland, Common Cause Maryland, and Public Justice Maryland.  this is probably the most critical piece of democratic participation needed and yet it is just words on page in Maryland................SEE WHY MARYLAND GETS THE FAILING GRADE FOR TRANSPARENCY?

Open Meeting-----Attorney General Gansler's Office 

  I have asked several agencies and have queried several government news agencies about how to access a cumulative list of public meetings across Maryland in advance of the meetings.  The public must, as it stands, search each individual agency website and organization regularly to hit upon a scheduled public meeting regarding public policy.  We most often hear of these public meetings on the news after the event, with, of course sparce attendance because nobody knows about them.   Open government would want to get that information out to the public as soon as the public meeting, regardless of agency, scheduled the meeting and then again remind people just before.  I should be able to go to your website and see a running list of government agencies and their public meetings all in one cumulative list. You would expect the main media channels, public and private to provide that public service.  For example, a banner running across the bottom of the evening news broadcast and a section on the media website.   Please let me know why this isn't done, and when we will be able to expect this kind of information.   Thank you,   Cindy Walsh CitizensOversight
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Below is the format for communicating a problem to your School Superintendent, which you should be doing often.  Just change the name to Dr. Alonzo and the address if you are writing from Baltimore City.

How to File a Complaint With the Baltimore County Superintendent of Schools 
by Lane Cummings

  Filing a formal complaint with the Baltimore County Public Schools requires writing a letter. A school superintendent is a high-level executive and administrator with wide-ranging responsibilities. The superintendent oversees the needs of teachers, students and the community. If you live in Baltimore County, Md., and have a complaint about a school, principal, teacher or other area of education, you can file it Joe A. Hairston, superintendent of the county public schools. Other People Are Reading Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Printer

More Instructions

1. • 1 Type your address in three lines at the top left corner of your letter. Skip a line and type the date. Skip another line and type the address of the superintendent's office in three lines:
     
     Baltimore County Public Schools
     
     6901 Charles St.
     
     Towson, MD 21204.
     
     
   • 2 Skip another line and type "RE:" followed by a few words about the nature of the complaint. For example, if the complaint is about the hot lunch program, type "Hot Lunch Program Issues."
     
     
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   • 3 Skip another line and type "Dear Dr. Joe A. Hairston." Skip another line and begin the first paragraph. Provide your name and identify yourself as a parent, teacher or community member, for example. Explain your complaint in a brief sentence. Skip a line.
     
     
   • 4 Explain the complaint in detail, including dates and times. Explain why you consider the problem to be important. For example, you could point to a threat to the community or to the goals of education. Offer examples such as what you consider the inefficiency of the schools' response to gang violence.
     
     
   • 5 Say how and when you would like the problem to be remedied. Include your contact information and invite the superintendent to discuss the matter with you. Close the letter with "Sincerely," followed by your name.
     
     
   • 6 Mail the letter to the address at the top of the letter after making a copy for your records
     
     

Read more: How to File a Complaint With the Baltimore County Superintendent of Schools | eHow.comhttp://www.ehow.com/how_8493515_file-baltimore-county-superintendent-schools.
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Student Loan Borrower Assistance A Resource for Borrowers, their Families and Advocates

On this page: Collection Agencies & Your Rights Both the government and guaranty agencies often hire private collection agencies to collect defaulted student loans. For a list of collection agencies with contracts to collect government student loans, click here. Private lenders frequently hire collection agencies as well.

These agencies may engage in abusive or deceptive behavior that violates state or federal fair debt collection laws.

Some causes of problems with collection agencies working for student lenders include:

• Tactics available to collect on government student loans are often both unique and misunderstood, and collectors often misrepresent the exact nature of these remedies when they send collection letters.
• The complexity of the student loan programs leads to confusion about who is collecting on a debt, and makes it easy for an independent collector to misrepresent itself as the government.
• Private collection agencies are delegated the responsibility for determining the size of a reasonable and affordable payment plan for loan rehabilitation. In addition, these collection agencies help determine if students have defenses to wage garnishments and tax refund intercepts, even though most collection agencies have no financial incentive to offer reasonable and affordable plans or to acknowledge defenses.
• Government oversight of collection agencies is generally weak.

YOUR FAIR DEBT COLLECTION RIGHTS It is against the law for collection agencies to harass you. There is a federal fair debt collection practices law and similar laws in most states. In some cases, state laws are more powerful than the federal law. One of the most important protections in the federal fair debt law is your right to send a letter and request that a collection agency stop contacting you. This sample letter can be used, but you can also create your own. There are no magic words that you must use, but the request must be in writing. It is a good idea to keep a copy for yourself, send it by certified mail, and get a receipt. Once you send the letter, the loan holder can still sue you, but it can no longer send letters or call you. You can also use this self-help packet to find out more about sending a “Cease Communication” letter.

Other important rights in the federal fair debt law include:

1. Privacy Protections

• Collectors are prohibited from communicating with third parties. Your spouse, parent (if you are a minor) guardian, executor or administrator are not considered to be third parties. Third parties include non-immediate family members, coworkers, neighbors, etc.

• No communication is allowed at any unusual time or place. In the absence of other information, the law assumes that after 8:00 a.m. and before 9:00 p.m. is the only admissible time.

• No communication is allowed if the collector knows you are represented by an attorney. The agency must communicate with the attorney.

• No communication is allowed at your place of employment if the collector knows or has reason to know that the employer prohibits such communication.

2. Harassment and Abuse Is Prohibited

The law makes it illegal for debt collectors to harass or abuse you. Some examples include collectors that:

• Use obscene or insulting language,
• Refuse to disclose their identity,
• Threaten violence,
• Call over and over again, or
• Make intimidating statements such as threats to investigate you or telling you that you should not have children if you can’t afford them.

3. False or Misleading Representations Are Prohibited

For example, collectors may not make false representations of the character, amount, or legal status of any debt. They cannot threaten to take any action that cannot legally be taken (e.g. foreclosing on your house, garnishing your bank account, putting your children into foster care, arrest or incarceration, impounding your car).

In addition, the collector must disclose in the initial written communication with you (and in addition, if the initial communication is oral, in that oral communication) that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose, and must disclose in subsequent communications that the communication is from a debt collector. (See sample).

4. Validation of Debts

Within five days after the initial communication, debt collectors must provide information about your right to validate the debt. You have thirty days to dispute validity. (see sample 1 and sample 2). The collector must cease collection if validation is requested until the collector obtains verification of the debts.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRIVATE COLLECTION AGENCIES It is a good idea to let the Department of Education, guaranty agency, or other loan holder know if you are having problems with a collection agency. The agencies all claim that they take complaints seriously. The only way to test this is to try it. You should keep a copy of your written complaint and any responses you get.

The Department of Education doesn’t make it easy for borrowers to file complaints as there is no longer a complaint form on the Department web site.  You can file an on-line complaint with the Office of the Inspector General, but this may actually delay a response from the Department of Education.  It is a good idea to consider filing complaints with the Department, the collection agency, and with the OIG.   To file a written complaint with the Department, you should send a letter and any evidence to:

Chief of Contract Analysis and Compliance

U.S. Department of Education

61 Forsyth St., SW 19T89

Atlanta, GA 30303

We also encourage you to tell us about your experiences with student loan collectors and your efforts to resolve problems.

U.S. Department of Education Collection Agencies

Each of the Department’s contracted collection agencies has set up a “Special Assistance Unit” to address customer concerns. If your account is assigned to one of the contracted collection agencies, and you have concerns about their servicing of your account, the Department of Education requests that you call the Default Resolution Group call center at 1-800-621-3115. They will direct you to the correct Special Assistance Unit personnel.

If the Special Assistance Unit is not able to resolve your concern, you may file a written complaint. The Department of Education says that the Default Resolution Group takes all complaints seriously and takes action as necessary to resolve the issue. To file a written complaint, you should send a letter with any evidence to:

Chief of Contract Analysis and Compliance
US Department of Education
61 Forsyth Street, SW 19T89
Atlanta, GA 30303

Collection agencies should give out this information in their communications with borrowers. You should keep a copy in your records of this letter and any responses you get.

According to the Department’s 2009 Private Collection Agency Manual, each collection agency is required to have  at least two people designated to receive and manage complaints.  If you are having trouble dealing with a collection agency, ask for the designated “complaint” person.  You should let the Department of Education know if their contractors are not complying with these requirements.

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A COMPLAINT TO THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND THE MARYLAND BOARD OF ELECTIONS

RE:  VIOLATIONS OF FAIR AND BALANCED ELECTIONS IN THE BALTIMORE CITY AND SURROUNDING AREAS


Date:     April 10, 2012

 Complaintant:

Cindy A. Walsh


RE:  Violations of Federal Election Campaign Laws in the April 3, 2012 Federal elections in Maryland

 

Political Campaigns involved:    Ben Cardin, Elijah Cummings

Public Communication institutions involved:     All Baltimore area radio, TV, newsprint, and online media.

 

Attachments:  Definition of Election, Election Reform, Fair and Balanced Elections as regards the press,

Maryland Law defining ‘Public Communication’, Description of Candidate Influence on Election

Communication

 

Complaint:

This complaint addresses an ongoing problem with media participation or lack thereof in Maryland elections and in this case, in Baltimore area.  It seeks to show that what is an entrenched approach to election coverage by media has over years come to favor the incumbent, of which Maryland has in abundance.  It is a violation of Fair and Balanced elections in not allowing political challengers the benefit of name recognition and fundraising ability that comes with that recognition, and it burdens the voters who must go to the polls year after year not knowing who their candidates are or what issues these candidates support or what their voting histories reveal.  A lack of political debate in an open forum creates an electorate who is poorly informed.  A lack of freedom of press, lack of objectivity in the press due to state or corporate control, or lack of access to news and political media all limit the viewpoints an electorate receives and upon which they can form an opinion.

The political news in Baltimore was not missing.  There was a truly democratic approach to election coverage of the Republican primaries on National media stations throughout the length of the primary.  We saw every candidate in multiple situations expressing their views and hearing their political stance and records.  So, Baltimore media know Fair and Balanced when they see it.  We also heard or read frequent updates on the race in Montgomery County, the wealthy enclave  outside of Washington DC.  We did not hear or read anything about the candidates in our elections.  I will include the one exception found in the Baltimore Sun that when read, can clearly be seen as a political advertisement rather than a news article.

My complaint involves the power of the incumbent to affect political coverage and it affects what could be construed as demographic bias.  These are the two sources of my complaint.  Just to emphasize the totality of the media blackout over the election coverage, I attended a national conference of academics handling politics and at lunch, while sitting at a table of Baltimore area activists, the first thing that came forward from everyone-----‘is there an election? And do you know the candidates?’  We were all lifelong political activists and we hadn’t gotten the information we needed…..the general public is uninformed.
 
Ben Cardin and Elijah Cummings both voted in 2011 on the funding of NPR.  I love NPR, but I could not get their local affiliate to mention my elections despite repeated contacts asking for coverage.  One would expect a public media outlet to be the first line of information for public  elections, so I came down hard on them over this.  Plenty of Montgomery County election…..absolutely no Baltimore area election.  They said that the other races were not competitive, but as I said, polls taken at the time that my candidate, Anthony Muse, announced showed Cardin at 51% and Muse as a strong candidate.  That was the last media we saw of Muse.  The only media on the candidates were of the incumbent Cardin doing all kinds of good things for his constituents in well-placed primary time electioneering.  It may be fair play for an incumbent in a healthy election environment, but with a blackout of coverage otherwise, you see the bias amplified.

The demographic bias is seen in the power structure of the State of Maryland.  The Washington suburbs are the richest in the nation and as such, they exude an  influence on all areas of the state in everyday politics.  If someone were to follow politics, they could see that Ben Cardin voted in ways that benefits these wealthy residents to the detriment of those less wealthy.  This is subjective so I won’t go into providing proof from voting records, but, coming from Baltimore, the poor step-child of the wealthy suburbs, and given that the candidate Anthony Muse is African-American, you easily see sign s of bias in race and class from this complete media blackout of the election.  This demographic bias is less a factor than the incumbency bias, but not by much.

I will conclude by saying that I feel that there was a clear case of election fraud in this 2012 primary election.  The evidence is complete.  At a time in American history when the American people feel there is  deep and open corruption in government, at every level, the public must stand up and shout loudly and strongly against all election irregularities that work against our ability to make a change in government.  If you cannot find a way to vote your incumbent out…..then the corruption remains entrenched.  I will say that Maryland was ranked ‘D-‘ on the Center for Public Integrity State Corruption study and I dare say, that if our elections  fail to be a representative  election (20% turnout is the normal) we may as well be honest and say ‘the US is no longer a representative democracy’  .  I want a determination that this election was not Fair and Balanced and I want election reform to be part of the solution brought by the Office of General Council.

 

Thank you,

 
Cindy A. Walsh

citizensoversight@ymail.com


Election Complaint with FEC  Instructions

 

The Federal Election Commission frequently receives questions about how to file a complaint concerning possible violations of federal election campaign laws.1  This brochure explains how to file a complaint with the Commission and describes how complaints are processed.2

I. Filing a Complaint

Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Laws or Commission regulations has occurred or is about to occur.  The complaint must be made in writing and sent to the Office of General Counsel, Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20463.  The original must be submitted along with three copies, if possible. Facsimile or e-mail transmissions are not acceptable.  A complaint must comply with certain requirements.  It must:

• Provide the full name and address of the person filing the complaint (called the complainant); and
• Be signed, sworn to and notarized. This means that the notary public's certificate must say "...signed and sworn to before me...," or words that connote the complaint was affirmed by the complainant, (such as “under penalty of perjury”).

Furthermore, in order for a complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should:

• Clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission's jurisdiction (citations to the law and regulations are not necessary);
• Clearly identify each person, committee or group that is alleged to have committed a violation (called the respondent);
• Include any documentation supporting the allegations, if available; and
• Differentiate between statements based on the complainant's (the person who files the complaint) personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information.

For self-reported complaints (called "sua sponte" submissions), the submission should include an admission of the violation(s), a complete recitation of the facts along with all relevant documentation that explains how the violation was discovered, the internal actions that were taken in response to the violation and what other agencies, if any, are investigating the violation (or facts surrounding the violation).

The Commission seeks to increase the number of self-reported submissions in order to expedite enforcement of the law.  To encourage self-reporting, the Commission will generally negotiate penalties between 25 and 75 percent lower than those for matters arising by other means, such as through complaints or the Commission’s own review of reports.  In certain circumstances, the Commission may allow committees who voluntarily report their violations and make a complete report of their internal investigation to proceed directly into conciliation before the Commission makes a finding as to whether there is reason to believe the committee violated campaign finance laws or Commission regulations

 
IDENTIFYING THE VIOLATION

Election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office

Electoral reform describes the process of introducing fair electoral systems where they are not in place, or improving the fairness or effectiveness of existing systems

Lack of open political debate or an informed electorate

The electorate may be poorly informed about issues or candidates due to lack of freedom of the press, lack of objectivity in the press due to state or corporate control, or lack of access to news and political media. Freedom of speech may be curtailed by the state, favoring certain viewpoints or state propaganda

 

Maryland State Election Law

13-306-5(i):  ‘Public Communication’ means a communication by means of any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication, newspaper, magazine, outdoor advertising facility, mass mailing, or telephone bank to the general public, or any other form of general public political advertizing’.

If a federal candidate asks a newspaper editorial board or broadcast station to “endorse my candidacy” and the media corporation thereafter does exactly that, under existing FEC regulations, the subsequent expenditure does not constitute a ‘coordinated public communication’ because of the ‘media exemption’ under the Commission’s regulations.

If, however, a federal candidate asks a grassroots organization or, alternatively, a local business corporation to endorse his/her candidacy and that corporate entity thereafter publicly communicates its support for the candidate, such expenditures by the corporation very well might be deemed a ‘coordinated public communication’.

Drawing on judicial guidance in Christian Coalition, the Commission defined a new term, "coordinated general public political communication" ("GPPC"), to address communications paid for by unauthorized committees, advocacy groups, and individuals that were coordinated with candidates or party committees. A GPPC that "included" a clearly identified candidate was coordinated if a third party paid for it and if it was created, produced, or distributed (1) at the candidate's or party committee's request or suggestion; (2) after the candidate or party committee exercised control or decision-making authority over certain factors; or
(3) after "substantial discussion or negotiation" with the candidate or party committee regarding certain factors. 11 CFR 100.23(b), (c) (2001). The regulations explained that "substantial discussion or negotiation may be evidenced by one or more meetings, conversations or conferences regarding the value or importance of the communication for a particular election." 11 CFR 100.23(c)(2)(iii) (2001). 

 


Muse flyer questioned over religious message

By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun

5:18 p.m. EDT, March 28, 2012

Updated with additional response from Muse campaign. 

The head of the Baltimore Jewish Council raised questions Wednesday about a campaign flyer from Democratic Senate candidate C. Anthony Muse that notes that there are no African-Americans serving in the U.S. Senate but that there are 12 Jews.

Muse, a state senator from Prince George's Countyis black. He is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, who is Jewish. The primary takes place Tuesday.

The flyer, which carries an authority line from Muse's campaign and is being distributed at early voting centers, has a picture of President Barack Obama and Muse with the words "making history together."

Obama has actually endorsed Cardin in the race and recently campaigned with the senator in Prince George's County.

The back of the flyer includes a list of the racial composition of the Senate and notes that there are no black members. Then, it lists the number of Jewish members as 12.

It's a contrast the campaign has drawn previously. Earlier this year Muse used his Twitter account to highlight a link to an article that discussed the number of Jews in the Senate. The campaign later deleted the tweet after it was noted by reporters.

Asked about the flyer, Muse campaign spokeswoman Brandi Calhoun said in an e-mail that it is "misleading and inaccurate, therefore we will have a response to that at the appropriate time."

The campaign did not respond when asked to clarify whether the Muse campaign had actually distributed the flyer or whether a third party was involved.

Muse's campaign, meanwhile, has never filed a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission as other candidates did last week. Calhoun said that Muse was not required to do so because he established his candidacy in February, late in the cycle.  

It's not clear why Muse's February entrance would exempt him from filing the pre-primary report, which was due March 22. The campaign did not respond to a follow up question seeking clarification. 

Update: In an e-mail Thursday, the Muse campaign said Calhoun's comments were directed at the line of questioning from The Sun -- not the flyer itself. The campaign also released the following statement, which was not attributed to any one individual.    

"The purpose of our campaign has been to give voice to those who HAVE no voice in our community and within the U.S. Senate.

"And what we have attempted to do in all of our campaign materials and messages is highlight that there are segments of our community that have no representation in the Senate.

"This has nothing to do with who IS in the U.S. Senate.

"It's about who isn't.

"It's just unfortunate that anyone would take any of this message out of context."

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John Bolton says Md. is "winnable" for GOP

By John Fritze, The Baltimore Sun

8:26 p.m. EST, March 6, 2012

John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under George W. Bush, appeared at a fundraiser in Washington on Tuesday for Republican Senate candidate Richard J. Douglas, telling about two dozen supporters that Maryland "is a winnable state" for the GOP with the right candidate.

Bolton, a Baltimore native who lives in Montgomery County, acknowledged that Maryland is "a tough state for a Republican" -- Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, for instance, won reelection with 62 percent of the vote in 2010 -- but suggested that this year "a lot of incumbent Democrats are going to be overly confident" because "they haven't faced effective challenges in the past."

Douglas is seeking the seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.

In addition to Bolton's endorsement, Douglas, 55, brings a hefty resume to the Republican primary, including a stint as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense under Bush and five years on Capitol Hill as a senior attorney to two high-profile Senate committees. He's an Iraq veteran, served on fast attack submarines in the Navy in the 1970s and appears to be plugged in to defense and diplomatic circles in Washington.     

The College Park resident said he is running for the seat because of what he views as a lack of leadership in Washington. Douglas has promised to force uncomfortable votes in the Senate, even if that means alienating fellow Republicans. He also has vowed to serve a maximum of two terms.

"My assessment today of the U.S. Congress is that Maryland has one senator -- her name is Barbara Mikulski," Douglas told supporters Tuesday. "Nevada has three…Looking at Mr. Cardin's record, it appears to be skewed towards the majority leader’s priorities," he said, referring to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, who represents the Silver State.

But Douglas is unquestionably an underdog in the race. First, he is one in a crowded, 10-candidate field in the GOP primary that includes Dan Bongino, a Severna Park man who has effectively used his background as a former Secret Service agent to bring national attention to his campaign. Bongino got into the race early and has been campaigning aggressively. 

Campaign finance reports show that, at the end of 2011, Bongino had raised about $130,000 compared with about $17,000 for Douglas.

Though he shuns characterizations, Douglas appears to be aligned more closely with the centrist wing of the party. Several supporters at the fundraiser Tuesday are also close to former Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., for instance.  Bongino has courted conservatives, has appeared on Glenn Beck's program and chose Brian Murphy as a campaign chair. Murphy ran to the right of Ehrlich in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary.  

Even if Douglas manages to win the nomination, he would be running in an overwhelmingly blue state and would likely face a popular and experienced incumbent who has made few if any missteps. Cardin, who has a primary challenge of his own from state Sen. C. Anthony Muse, had a 51 percent approval rating in a January poll by Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies.

Cardin’s fundraising has eclipsed all other candidates. He has more than $2.6 million on hand

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THE ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP GIVING FULL-THROATED ENDORSEMENT OF A CANDIDATE BEFORE THE ELECTION EVEN STARTS?  WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF CRONYISM?

Government

Discord rings out at Dems luncheon

Published 01/11/12

ANNAPOLIS — The Democrats’ yearly pre-session luncheon at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis turned ugly Tuesday when a challenger for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin climbed onto the stage and blasted some of the party’s most prominent leaders for using the occasion to endorse Cardin.

Laura-Chase McGehee — The Capital U.S. Senator Ben Cardin applauds a joke made by Governor Martin O'Malley about the Ravens during the Democratic Legislative Lunch on Tuesday at The Westin Annapolis, the day before session  

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