Governor

Gov. Martin O'Malley contends that his recent Asian trip netted $85 million in deals ("O'Malley planning India trip," Aug. 24). My question for the governor is, "how much of the $85 million is the state of Maryland lending the Asian countries to invest here, and how much net revenue does the $85 million investment bring to Maryland?" If the state of Maryland was a good place for business, then foreign countries would find us. It appears the state is paying for Mr. O'Malley to became an expert in international affairs so he can run for federal office.

Our biggest concerns about the push to expand gambling at the end of this spring's regular session of the General Assembly were that there had been insufficient public debate about all of the changes slots boosters wanted to institute and that there was too little reliable information about the performance of Maryland's existing gambling program. Gov.Martin O'Malley's announcement Monday of a work group to expanded gambling in time for a possible special session of the legislature July 9 does nothing to erase those qualms.

What a wonderful piece of news the citizens of Maryland received when the Ravens announced they will not be increasing their tickets prices ("No rise in ticket price for Ravens," Feb. 4). This is the third straight season they have done so. Dick Cass and the Ravens management understand what Gov.Martin O'Malleychooses to ignore, namely that most Marylanders are struggling in these tough economic times: "We know that fans are stretching financially to buy our season tickets. " Though we came up short of the big prize, you made our city and state proud.

Gov. Martin O'Malley scored the behind-the-scene tour most Preakness fans wish for: an up-close look at the 11 horses in the Stakes Stables. Tom Chuckas, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, walked the governor around the barns, packed high with hay and lined with flower baskets, that house the Preakness racers. O'Malley shook hands with the chiropractor and trainer for I'll Have Another. "He's ready to go," Larry "Thumper" Jones, the chiropractor, said of the Kentucky Derby winner.

I find it absolutely incredible that any politician in a sound state of mind would consider implementing new taxes and/or raising existing taxes. The governor of this state hinted last week that additional taxes would be considered in 2012 ("O'Malley puts tax increases on the table for 2012 legislature," Aug. 20). With unemployment hovering around 10 percent and much higher in urban areas, record high food prices, high gasoline prices, high electric rates, and high natural gas and fuel oil prices, most families and small businesses are just making ends meet.

After seeing that former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s tax return reported his earnings at about $2.5 million and with Gov. Martin O'Malley's probably in the same range, I suggest that the post of governor and the cabinet should be volunteer positions, with no pay and no benefits, especially retirement. I estimate that state would be able to remove the furlough policy on state employees. It would strength the idea that the governor and his cabinet are truly public servants . Barbara Kupec-Brown

After reading The Sun's account of the budgetary chaos in Annapolis ("After breakdown, what? April 11"), I was left with some questions. As an ordinary citizen of Maryland, I thought that the first priority of a session of the General Assembly, especially in challenging economic times, was to pass a balanced budget. It seems to me that the early days of the session were focused on a same-sex marriage bill. Gov.Martin O'Malleythrew his full weight behind it. The Democratic establishment pulled out all the stops.

Gov. Martin O'Malley said Tuesday that it would be "ludicrous" for Towson University to cut funding for its highly successful debate program because of overall cuts to the state university system. Suspension of the team's season seemed a possibility after Towson trimmed its travel budget in response to several rounds of state-ordered cuts last year. But the university has since come up with $25,000 that will allow the top debate pairs to travel this spring. University officials said they hope to carve out a more permanent annual budget for the program.

I agree with Dan Rodricks ("O'Malley shows more ambition than leadership," March 15) and this does not happen often. Our alabaster nanny Martin O'Malley or "MOM," is very ambitious, and he is also a good politician, but he is very weak in management and is a poor leader. By the way, these are all traits he shares with President Obama. Lyle Rescott, Marriottsville

Dan Rodricks is right on the money ("O'Malley shows more ambition than leadership," March 15). It seems our governor's ambition is matched only by his ego. He effectively stopped being mayor of Baltimore when he decided to run for governor. As a result, he resigned early from that office, leaving the mayor's job he begged city voters to give him in the first place. Can I get my campaign donation back since he didn't stay for the term he promised? I firmly believe he will leave the State House early as well, again not fulfilling his term, either seeking an appointment from the White House (the continual accolades he heaps on President Obama support this)

Our governor and the legislative leadership have given new meaning to the word "dysfunctional" as a description of the state's legislative process. The ineptitude that was exhibited during the 90-day legislative session and the dishonest dialogue coming from our state leaders in the special session is astounding. The governor proposed $1.2 billion in increased spending, then called it a "doomsday budget" when that amount was reduced by $500 million. The result - $700 million in new, increased spending and a tax increase to pay for it. How in the devil is this a cut in spending?

The General Assembly's speedy embrace of Gov. Martin O'Malley's income tax increases this week cleaned up a political mess in Annapolis, but the rate hikes could come back to haunt the Democrat if he seeks national office when his time in the governor's mansion is up. O'Malley's tax package, which won final approval from the Democratic legislature on Wednesday, will give Maryland's top earners the seventh-highest income tax rate in the country....

A series of emails between Gov. Martin O'Malley and Perdue's corporate lawyer shows what an environmental group calls a "cozy relationship" between the two law school classmates as Maryland's chief executive weighs farm pollution regulations of concern to the Salisbury-based poultry producer. Food & Water Watch, a Washington-based environmental group, used Maryland's Public Information Act to obtain 70 pages of emails between O'Malley and Herbert D. Frerichs Jr., a partner with the Venable law firm in Baltimore who is general counsel for the Perdue family holding company that owns and operates Perdue Food Products, Perdue AgriBusiness and other entities.

A series of emails between Gov. Martin O'Malley  and Purdue Industry's top lawyer have drawn criticism from an environmental group for showing undue "coziness" between the two. O'Malley's office denies that conclusion -- but the exchanges do provide political-types a peek into how the state's governor manages key relationships (and some insight as to what exactly he's doing with his Blackberry all the time.) The emails , obtained by public interest organization Food and Water Watch, cover three main topics: O'Malley's attempts to bring Perdue on board with a legislative priority; the governor smoothing ruffled feelings from the poultry giant after a news story the company didn't like; and requests by the lawyer the company for help securing federal funds for a project he supports.

Kristen M. Mahoney, one of the longest-serving aides to Gov. Martin O'Malley, is leaving her job as head of the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention to take a position with the U.S. Department of Justice. Mahoney, 44, said Friday that the move has nothing to do with a series of recent departures announced by other officials in high-profile crime-fighting roles in Maryland. "It was a very difficult decision, but it was an opportunity to work on national criminal justice policy," she said.

SpeakerMichael E. Buschand key members of his House Democratic leadership team met with Gov.Martin O'MalleyThursday morning, and Busch reported that additional progress had been made toward laying the groundwork for a special session to raise taxes and avert more than $500 million in cuts in the so-called Doomsday Budget adopted by the General Assembly in the recent regular session. However, Busch has not yet agreed to the target date of May 14 set by both O'Malley and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

Gov,Martin O'Malley welcomes the state's participation in a nationwide  settlement that is expected to bring almost $1 billion to Maryland  victims of mortgage abuses but doesn't have much to say about the role played by Attorney General Douglas L. Gansler. In an artfully worded statement released Thursday, O'Malley praises Commissioner of Financial Regulation Mark Kaufman, an appointeee of his who took part in  the talks. But nowhere is mentioned the attorney general, who actually signed off on the deal on Maryland's behalf.

One can only hope the Baltimore Ravens do a better job of clock management than the Maryland Democratic Party did during its annual pre-session legislative lunch gathering Tuesday. Gov. Martin O'Malley, the party's leader and the subject of fulsome praise from state legislative leaders and congressional representatives alike, had to sit through extended remarks by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, House Speaker Michael E. Busch, five of Maryland's six Democratic U.S. representatives and U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin before getting the chance to speak.

With the Supreme Court reviewing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there is no shortage of legal analysis to handicap the decision. But unfortunately, not enough attention has been paid to the real value this law provides to millions of American families and businesses. As governor, I have heard from families unable to purchase coverage at any price because of pre-existing illness, from seniors forced to choose between medications and energy bills and from businesses required to drop employee coverage to stay afloat.