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O’Malley to unveil plan that targets Iran pensions
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Gov. Martin O’Malley will give his second State of the State speech to a joint session of the General Assembly today, but few surprises are expected as most of his legislative agenda already has been rolled out over the last two weeks.
“Now that we’ve put the obstacle of the structural deficit behind us, we need to continue to protect our priorities,” including education, public safety and helping working families, said Rick Abbruzzese, acting communications director for the governor. The speech itself, which the governor has been polishing over the past few days, will be “focused on our core mission” of protecting the governor’s top priorities.
O’Malley’s legislative program consists of 18 bills introduced late Monday.
New items on the agenda he hasn’t discussed before include a plan to have the state pension system sell the stock of any company that has investments in Iran. “The administration is concerned that investing in these publicly traded companies doing business in Iran puts the national security of the country, and the retirement and pensions of state employees at substantial risk,” the governor’s office said in statement.
The state passed similar legislation last year against Sudan because of the genocide taking place in Darfur.
The ban on Iranian investments would apply to any company with over $20 million invested in Iran’s petroleum-energy sector. Any divestment would not be allowed if it affected more than 1 percent of the state system’s assets.
California, Florida and Michigan already have taken similar action.
O’Malley had introduced legislation requiring that all new or significantly renovated state buildings over 7,500 square feet and all new public schools meet the lowest level of green building standards. The standards often add slightly to the cost of construction, but the costs are generally recouped in reduced energy use in a few years.
The governor will also be proposing ways to strengthen the Critical Areas law to stop “unrestrained growth” and illegal building along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, his administration said.
llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Look at the three morons what a crock
11 agree | 6 disagree
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Reader said:
The next election is to late. A lot of damage that cannot be undone! It's over.We are screwed!
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What a bunch of losers in this picture. After they stick it to you, they go and have cocktails.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So they arfe giving us a %170 credit. You know what they can do with that. They think we will forget about what they did to our bill and taxes by throwing us a bone. You get what you voted for, hopefully in the next election they will get theres. What a life we could have if we had there salaries and benefits.
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How many birds can you kill with one stone? A lot of learning to do.
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Reader said:
See the cute smile on his face as if he thinks everything is just great.
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Reader said:
These theives make all the past outlaws of the wild west such as Jesse James look like a saint!
4 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Whats so sad is that the county schools will get the same treatment as the city schools. It just seem like their main goal is to dummy up the kids to get more funding. Or is it to dummy up the kids get more workers in the prison systems?
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Good for you!!! Who cares? Prove it.
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Former City Dweller said:
Replace the PSC – Broken Build the ICC — Broken Fully Fund Thorton– Broken Not Raise Taxes for the First Year — Broken Protect State Works from Political Firing — Broken Transparent Government – Broken Build the Puple Line — Broken Build the Red Line — Broken Stand Up for Hardworking Families — Broken Not Raise Driver’s License Fees – Broken – KEPT! Protect Existing Manufacturing Jobs — Broken Hire Qualified People – Broken Move the Office of Homeland Security to Prince George’s County — Broken GPS Tracking for Sex Offenders — KEPT!
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You get what you pay for. You paid nothing. You did nothing. You ruin your own life along with others. We all go down. No system, no honesty, no gifts to the real hard worker, no deal. No re-election.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The picture with this article makes me sick.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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richard f said:
Yuk,Yuk,Yuk.The 3 stooges at work
6 agree | 7 disagree
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fed up said:
There all theives out for themselves they don't care about us. Wake up everyone.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Like a gang of theives splitting the loot after a successful heist, it's all grins in Annapolis. Thanks MD voters! Dopes.
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Waht happened to recinding the Homestead Application requirement? Was it too much to expect that someone would have to prove citizenship to get a driver's license? Can we really brag about a session that reflected no desire to control spending just after the largest tax increase in our history? Maryland is headed for a major slide into recession thanks to incompetent leadership by Miller, Busch, O'Malley and their group of arrogant followers.
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Congratulations to those Marylanders who voted this gang of Demogods into power again. Too stupid to recognize that O'Malley, Miller, Busch and company are sticking it to every citizen who pays taxes. Gave us the largest tax increase in our history and give it away to illiegal immigrants, Baltimore City, PG, Montgomery counties. Tax and spend democrats do it again and we keep them in office. To add insult they pretend a deal with BG&E had been struck. Yea, right! 4:40 is right, O'Malley is frightening and too slick for Maryland voters. We probably have that same slickness being jammed down our throats by the media with Obama; the same media that endorsed O'Malley.
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is hard to decide who is more frightening O'Malley or Jimmy Carter in charge of a nuclear sub.
8 agree | 8 disagree
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Reader said:
If anybody has any trusts with this gang of outlaws ,you are onr them!
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
We have not rights anymore, Maryland is a corrupt Democrated run state.Until the people of Maryland band together and clean house this kind of stuff will continue. O'Malley even put 1 million in his budget for Casa to keep up the good work on helping illegals continue to come into our country and bleed it dry. Vote you views in 2010. Time to clean house
9 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It is not a question of remedy but a question of the law.
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Disgusted Examiner Reader said:
I am appalled at Judge Bells' comment, "So what". So what? If the constitution was violated, through out the legislation and make them do it again, only do it lawfully this time. The attitude seems to be since it is done and the law (tax) is in place, there is nothing that can be done. So do we now accept an ongoing pattern of illegal behaviour by lawmakers because it is after the fact? If a criminal is uncostitutionally convicted of a crime do we just shrug our shoulders, leave them in jail, and say it's too late to correct the wrong doing? No, we make the state release them or do it over. That's what should happen in this case too, do it over or throw out the law. This attitude should come as no surprise in a state where even the highest level of the Judiciary is beholding to one political party.
6 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Things were fine before Smith came into power. Now we have a gang problem and an executive that won't admit to it. In addition, our infrastructure is crumbling and God help you if you drive south on York Road in Lutherville.
County's gone straight to hell. Good job Smitty.
PS. Why don't you enforce county laws stating politicians cannot hold state jobs. Vince "Double Dip" Gardina owes us a couple hundred grand. Enough for another teacher or two.
58 agree | 49 disagreeVote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
If it was not wrong, if the Dems believed what they were dong was on the up and up, then why were the dates of certain actions altered? Because they (i.e.,Miller, Busch, et alia) knew that they were operating outside of constitutional mandates. So, now the question is why there is a constitution if violating its provisions means no consequence.
58 agree | 58 disagree
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BC said:
Everyday it's something else! This is just another slap in the face of every Marylander. It is a fact that they violated the principles of our state. Granted it was a minor infraction but it’s the point, they lied then tried to cover it up. We have rules and laws to guide us for a reason. If the legislators can disregard the constitution, what is the point of having one? Honestly, who really cares about the d@mn freedom of speech anyway? I wonder how much more people will take before it's gone to far? I think it's time for a REVELOTION!
64 agree | 62 disagree
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Wake Up said:
This judge disgusts me, clearly cheating the citizens of Maryland of the constitution and acknowledging this. Yet does not enforce the law only brushes it to the side so he can further his career with the help of omalley in due time.
59 agree | 55 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let me get this right. Only Maryland's criminals are freed on legal and procedural mistakes. The taxpayers can go to hell. This is what passes for justice in Maryland? We need to revolt.
69 agree | 61 disagree
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Joy in Baltimore! said:
Anthony Jones....affects?.....no it's effects.....student....focus man, focus!
59 agree | 54 disagree
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Anthony Jones said:
As a student in the state of MD, Im glad the state system has brought Mr. Clark on. It is about time that state government recognize the importance of its college students as citizens, if the state of MD expects to a have a thriving state and want to retain out of state students upon graduation they should work to create a culture that protects students right. In the after affects of Obama in IA - I am sure elected officials will begin to see the value in the student vote!!
81 agree | 67 disagree
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