Cardinals

January 28, 2013 The Honorable Eric K. Shinseki Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20420-0001 Dear Secretary Shinseki: We are writing to express our continued frustration about the on-going and unresolved backlog of disability claims at the Veteran's Benefits Administration's Baltimore Regional Office. We request that you promptly provide us with an action plan to address this serious issue and assign a senior level official at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin told members of the House of Delegates Friday that he doubts whether the Congress will meet a March 1 deadline for avoiding automatic federal budget cuts. Cardin, who was in Annapolis to meet with the Baltimore city and Prince George's County delegations, said disagreements between the Democratic-led Senate and Republican-dominated House could prevent lawmakers from agreeing on a deficit reduction plan before that time. The automatic cuts, which would take place under a process known as sequestration would affect both military and domestic programs.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Ben Cardin met with Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel on Wednesday in an effort to smooth concerns the Maryland Democrat has raised about the controversial appointment. Usually a reliable supporter of the Obama administration, Cardin issued a statement days after Hagel's nomination noting "concerns based on positions he has taken and statements he has made on a variety of topics. " Cardin later reiterated those concerns on several national television networks.

Two months after American voters made it clear they want effective government - and two years before the U.S. Senate's next opportunity to reform its broken rules - that "do nothing" chamber appears poised to fix its filibuster. In its present warped form, it permits a single, unaccountable member, without even taking the floor or speaking, to obstruct both debate and voting on critical legislation affecting 315 million Americans. That's why it's essential for Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin to join with as many of their colleagues as possible in support of Senate Resolution 4, which would authorize the following reforms: •require senators who filibuster to actually keep the floor and talk; •prevent filibustering a motion to proceed; •limit the number of motions needed to go to conference with the House; •cap post-cloture debate time on nominations at two hours.

Neil Simon's commentary, "Cardin stands for rights" (Dec. 13), correctly depicts U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin's steadfast pursuit to hold accountable violators of human rights in Russia with the killing of attorney Sergei Magnitsky. Our concern is that the U.S. Department of State will find excuses to avoid imposing sanctions or simply not acknowledge or respond to violations in Russia or elsewhere. This they have done often. For example, the British have just released a report admitting their security forces murdered attorney Patrick Finucane in Northern Ireland.

Neil Simon's column on the new U.S.-Russia trade law could not be further from the truth when it states that Sen. Benjamin Cardin has "catapulted human rights atop the international agenda ("Cardin stands up for rights," Dec. 12). Senator Cardin talks about freedom and democracy for everyone except the Palestinians, who have been suffering under a brutal Israeli occupation for 45 years. They have been victims of land and water theft, home demolitions, targeted assassinations, mass arrests, torture and a blockade of Gaza that is strangling the civilian population.

This month's passage of a new U.S.-Russia trade law has done more than showcase Senator Ben Cardin's dedication to international human rights. By sending the shock to the Kremlin - that the U.S. values prosecuting rights abusers as much as it values profits for businesses - the Maryland Democrat has catapulted human rights atop the international agenda and brought new attention to the U.S. Helsinki Commission that he chairs. The Helsinki Commission - founded amid the Cold War, just like the legislation the new trade bill replaces - once helped secure freedom for Soviet refuseniks unable to emigrate from under the thumb of Communism.

Sen. Ben Cardin is Maryland's joke on the USA. Instead of working for the interests of his state he finds it necessary to meddle into the internal affairs of Russia, which I certain is quaking in its boots over Mr. Cardin's human rights measure ("Senate approves Cardin human rights bill," Dec. 6). Get serious, Mr. Cardin, and put some effort into the huge problems facing the country. F. Cordell, Lutherville Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

Speed camera companies and local governments would be penalized $1,000 for each "bogus" citation issued to motorists under proposed legislation announced Monday by state Del. Jon Cardin. The Baltimore County Democrat also wants to require governments in Maryland to submit regular speed camera audits to the General Assembly. And he wants to help ensure the accuracy of tickets by mandating precise time stamps on the two photos mailed to drivers as evidence of their speeding. His proposal comes after The Baltimore Sun found inaccuracies with five of the city's 83 automated speed cameras and showed that there's no way to verify the alleged speeds printed on tickets issued by Baltimore County, Howard County and the State Highway Administration.

WASHINGTON -- Human rights legislation crafted by Sen. Ben Cardin and targeted at abuses in Russia sailed through the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote Thursday and will now be signed by President Obama. The provision requires the State Department to maintain a list of human rights abusers in Russia, freeze their assets and deny them U.S. visas. The language was attached to a broader bill that lifts Cold War-era trade restrictions on Russia. The Senate passed the measure 92-4. The bill is a significant legislative victory for Cardin, a Maryland Democrat who has promoted the measure for years and who managed to steer it through an otherwise gridlocked Congress.