Marylanders Concerned About Sequester Effects on State, National Economy

A new poll released by Goucher College shows that Marylanders see negative effects on local and national economies but not always their own finances.

A majority of Marylanders say they are concerned about the effects of the federal sequester on state and national economies even if they aren't sure it will affect them personally, according a poll released Tuesday afternoon. The poll released by the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College found that 75 percent of those surveyed said the automatic federal spending cuts that went into effect March 1 will negatively impact the state economy while 68 percent said the cuts would hurt the national economy. National Issue, Local Effect Closer to home, only 47 percent of those surveyed said the cuts would negatively impact their own personal finances. Mileah Kromer, director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center, said the …

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Congressman Delaney Opens District Office In Gaithersburg

"It's the first time we've ever had a congressional office within city limits," Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz said.

Maryland's new 6th Congressional District leader will call Gaithersburg home for one of two district offices. Congressman John Delaney's team will work out of 9801 Washingtonian Blvd., Suite 330, in Gaithersburg. He also has offices in Hagerstown and Washington, DC. Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney A. Katz said at Monday evening's City Council meeting it is the first time the city has housed a congressional office within city limits. “We have long enjoyed a close relationship with those who represent us on Capitol Hill,” Katz said. “We’re delighted that Congressman Delaney will have an office in our community, allowing him and his staff to continue to provide the high level of accessibility and responsiveness that Gaithersburg residents have come…

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SPEAK OUT: Will the U.S. Go Over the Fiscal Cliff?

A Dec. 31, 2012, deadline looms for Congress on a number of significant financial issues.

  Now that the election is over, the most prominent problem facing the U.S. government is the “fiscal cliff.” You may have heard or seen the term in recent media coverage, but what, exactly, does “fiscal cliff” mean? If Congress fails to act, on Jan. 1, 2013, a number of financial policies will either expire or initiate, including $7 trillion worth of tax increases and spending cuts over the next 10 years. Some of the agencies and programs affected include: Defense cuts, air travel safety and food inspection cuts, income tax rates, the estate tax, marriage penalty relief, child tax credit, the alternative minimum tax, a drop in Medicare reimbursements, small business tax breaks and more. How do you feel about the country potentially going …

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Corbin Dallas Multipass

4:43 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

"Just like the governor's idiocy. A few commuters got to keep their jobs while many thousands more lost the opportunity. Sheesh. Talk about ingrained stupidity." What? The jobs are moved from LA and weren't available here. How did commuters keep jobs that didn't exist?   more ›

Bartlett Links Student Loans to Holocaust

6th Congressional District candidate Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-Md., has since apologized for the remark.

U.S. Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, the Republican congressman campaigning to keep his District 6 seat, sparked controversy for comments he made to reporters Wednesday, stating that federally funded student loans were unconstitutional and that unconstitutional acts could lead down a "slippery slope" to an event like the Holocaust, several news outlets have reported. Bartlett, a 10-term incumbent from Frederick County, Md., could represent Germantown if he defeats Democratic challenger John Delaney, a financier from Montgomery County, during the Nov. 1 election. The Huffington Post and The Washington Post have posted YouTube clips of Bartlett’s comment. According to the video, Bartlett was asked about his stance on the government issuing student …

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Reports: U.S. Middle Class Shrinks, Recession Looms

Reports say that the middle class' size and income level have diminished significantly over the past decade.

Recent reports show that the middle class is declining, both in size and wealth, while the economy appears to be sliding toward a major recession in 2013.  According to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released Wednesday, the country will enter a recession if Congress allows a series of tax increases and budget cuts to become a reality in January.  The report predicts that the economy will shrink by 2.9 percent in gross domestic product in the first half of 2013, and according to The Washington Post, unemployment could shoot up to 9.1 percent by the end of 2013. As of June 2012, the unemployment rate was at 8.2 percent nationally, 6.9 percent in Maryland and 5.5 percent in the D.C. Metropolitan suburbs, according to data…

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Parsons on Politics

Who Is More Popular Than This Congress?

As it turns out, just about everybody.

According to a recent Gallup poll, public approval ratings for the U.S. Congress have plummeted to an all-time record low of 11 percent. The Washington Post did a fascinating — but somewhat scary — compilation this week of some of the other people and things Americans have found to be at least as popular as the U.S. Congress.  It's a bit alarming to see so many things that most people find downright repugnant now surpass Congress in popularity, but given its performance of late, it comes as no surprise. Here’s a short synopsis:   The one bright spot: Congress is more popular among Americans than one prominent world leader: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The South American dictator had only a 9 percent approval rating in 2007, two points…

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Richard Parsons

10:23 am on Thursday, February 23, 2012

Quick note: None of these were web surveys, which I agree, have absolutely no validity whatsoever. All were actual polls using random sampling, etc. Glad you enjoyed it!   more ›

O'Malley Blasts GOP As Government Shutdown Nears

Lost wages for federal workers living in Maryland would hurt state tax revenues, the governor said.

Gov. Martin O’Malley lashed out at Congressional Republicans using strong, partisan words in a statement issued Friday about the prospect of a federal government shutdown. “Congressional Republicans are allowing their hate of government to hurt the hardworking families of our country," O'Malley (D) said in the statement, released just before 4 p.m. "It appears they care more about hurting our government than they do about helping our recovery.  “Maryland is home to thousands of federal civil servants—moms and dads who will go without pay because Speaker Boehner and the Republicans have chosen to wage an ideological war instead of putting the interests of their nation first.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada said Friday that …

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