CCW Newsletter
 

March 8, 2005

Food Prep Tip

I know a news letter one can subscribe to for quick inspirational kid friendly dinners... www.thescramble.com   6 p.m. scramble for quick dinner recipes written by a Chevy Chase MOM!
Thanks Ari!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

SPRING FLING-- Softball Game

The Chevy Chase West Neighborhood Association will hold its first "Spring Fling Softball Game" in Norwood Park. This will be an adult event, but kids are welcome to come and cheer their parents on. Team Offutt East (all homes east of Offutt and including Hunt Avenue and Drummond Avenue section of CCW) will compete again Team Offutt West (all homes west of Offutt and including Norwood Drive, Nottingham Drive, and Davidson Drive). If you live on Offutt Circle or where Offutt ends, simply consider on which side of Offutt you sit (e.g., Van Yeutter would play for Offutt East but Mark Roth would play for Offutt West).

Big thanks to Vince Bartozzi who has volunteered to be the Team Captain for Offutt East and Seth Goldman who has volunteered to be the Team Captain for Offutt West.

The game will be held sometime in May. Teams are co-ed (we're hoping for a minimum of 4 female players per team so please sign up!). The teams might even have a practice or two depending on participants'  interest (i.e., competitiveness). If you are interested in playing, please contact Marie Park at doublepark@verizon.net or 301-657-3170 and identify which team you are on. Team Captains will then contact you if they are going to hold a practice.

Marie Park

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

On teen driving...Go to www.drive2survive.org There are

Free Drive2Survive(R)Teen Driver Training Seminars provided by grants from our community partners.  
-Neil Kopit

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Redskins '05 Season Tickets For Sale


Redskins Tickets - CCW Neighbor is interested in selling 2 seats plus stadium parking for the 2005 season - face value. Includes all home games. Lower upper deck on the Redskins side. First come first serve. Contact for additional information.


Ed Rosen
301.580.8600
erosen@comcast.net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
www.montgomerycivic.org
 
The MCCF March newsletter is at the link above. Note that it urges you to write or email your delegates and senators on three bills. The Sentinel article for last week was the same as the president's report in the newsletter.
 
I also included the email that follows urging you to write or email the Maryland House Appropriation Committee concerning the use of the state credit card, called GARVEE bonds, to pay for the ICC. If the state proceeds this direction, I expect Montgomery County will receive few if any funds for other transportation projects over a 15 year period. We have many other projects for which we need state/federal funding. I have testified before the senate and will testify on Tuesday. I also urge you to voice opposition to the use of GARVEE bonds.
 
Dan Wilhelm
MCCF President
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Smith
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 7:00 PM
Subject: Urgent ICC Action: Stop the Governor Ehrlich's Massive ICC Debt Scheme - Please Write and Call Key House Committee

 
Urgent  ICC  Action Alert  --  Issued March 6

From the Campaign to Stop the ICC

Please Write and Call Members of the Maryland House Appropriations Committee As Soon As Possible !
Help Stop the Governor's Massive Debt Scheme for the Inter-County Connector !

Please forward this alert statewide to family and friends who oppose the ICC, cherish the environment, and value fiscal sanity.

This Tuesday, March 8th, the Maryland House of Delegates Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on House Bill 1352.  This is the House companion to Senate Bill 75, the subject of an earlier ICC action alert.

HB 1352 and SB 75 are essential to Governor Ehrlich's risky and irresponsible proposal to issue massive public debt to build the ICC.  Killing these bills would strike an important blow against the ICC.

Hearing Time:   3:00pm*

Place:          Room 130
                        Lowe House Office Building
                        84 College Avenue
                        Annapolis


In This Alert:

1.      Recommended Actions
2.      How to Contact House Appropriations Committee Members, plus how to contact your delegates and senators.
3.      A Sample Letter
4.      Background Information on House Bill 1352, Senate Bill 75, and Governor Ehrlich's Risky Scheme to Borrow Billions for the ICC.  


*Important Note:        Because hearing schedules can be so unpredictable, it would be wise to call ahead and to arrive by 2:00pm.
                                A car pool will leave the Audubon Naturalist Society's Woodend Sanctuary Tuesday afternoon.

 
Recommended Actions -- Four Good Ways to Help Kill House Bill 1352

1.      Please write and call members of the House Appropriations Committee as soon as possible -- by 1:00pm Tuesday if you can.
        Urge them to oppose Governor Ehrlich's irresponsible debt-financing scheme for the ICC.

        The committee members' contact information and a sample letter are below.  So is a list of additional talking points.

        For greater impact, please call then fax them a letter if you can.  Otherwise, call then e-mail them a letter.

        If your time is tight, please focus on the Committee Chair Norman Conway, Vice-Chair Talmadge Branch, and on four key subcommittee leaders -- Delegates Franchot,       Griffith, James and Jones.

2.      Please call and write your senators and delegates, too.  To find out who they are, visit:  http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

3.      Please urge your family and friends to call and write their representatives and the committee, too.

        It is especially important that committee members hear from constituents in their counties!  If you have friends or family in those counties, please contact them!
        We list each committee member's home county below.

4.      Please attend the hearing if you can.  A strong showing of community interest and concern can make a difference!

 

How to Contact House Appropriations Committee Members

The phone numbers below are local for calls from the Washington, DC area
For calls from the Baltimore area, dial 410-841- then the four-digit extension given below.

For calls from elsewhere in Maryland, dial 1-800-492-7122 then the extension below.

If you wish to mail a copy of your letter, use the office number below, then 84 College Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401-1991

Chair
Delegate Norman H. Conway
(D - District 38B - Wicomico & Worcester)
131 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3425
Fax:  (301) 858-3489  or  (410) 841-3489
Email:  <mail to: norman_conway@house.state.md.us>

Vice-Chair
Delegate Talmadge  Branch
(D - District 45 - Baltimore City)
131 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3257
Fax:  (301) 858-3550  or  (410) 841-3550
Email:  <mail to: talmadge_branch@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Susan L.M. Aumann
(R - District 42 - Baltimore)
303 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3258
Fax:  (301) 858-3163  or  (410) 841-3163
Email:  <mail to: susan_aumann@house.state.md.us>
<mail to: susan_aumann@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Charles E. Barkley
(D - District 39 - Montgomery)
222 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3001
Fax:  (301) 858-3009  or  (410) 841-3009
Email:  <mail to: charles_barkley@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Gail H. Bates
(R - District 9A - Howard)
306 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3556
Fax:  (301) 858-3571  or  (410) 841-3571
Email:  <mail to: gail_bates@house.state.md.us>

Delegate John I. Bohanan, Jr.
(D - District 29B - St. Mary's)
212 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3327
Fax:  (301) 858-3386  or  (410) 841-3386
Email:  <mail to: john_bohanan@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Joan  Cadden
(D - District 31 - Anne Arundel)
213 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3217
Fax:  (301) 858-3553  or  (410) 841-3553
Email:  <mail to: joan_cadden@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Galen R. Clagett
(D - District 3A - Frederick)
324 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3240
Fax:  (301) 858-3412  or  (410) 841-3412
Email:  <mail to: galen_clagett@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Steven J. DeBoy, Sr.
(D - District 12A - Baltimore & Howard)
305 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3328
Fax:  (301) 858-3550  or  (410) 841-3550
Email:  <mail to: steven_deboy@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Adelaide C. Eckardt
(R - District 37B - Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot, & Wicomico)
308 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3343
Fax:  (301) 858-3299  or  (410) 841-3299
Email:  <mail to: adelaide_eckardt@house.state.md.us>

Delegate George C. Edwards
(R - District 01A - Garrett & Allegany)
320 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3435
Fax:  (301) 858-3040  or  (410) 841-3040
Email:  <mail to: george_edwards@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Peter  Franchot
Chair - Transportation and Environment Subcommittee
(D - District 20 - Montgomery)
424 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3460
Fax:  (301) 858-3532  or  (410) 841-3532
Email:  <mail to: peter_franchot@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Tawanna P. Gaines
(D - District 22 - Prince George's)
207 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3058
Fax:  (301) 858-3197  or  (410) 841-3197
Email:  <mail to: tawanna_gaines@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Melony G. Griffith
Vice-Chair - Capital Budget Subcommittee
(D - District 25 - Prince George's)
207 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3557
Fax:  (301) 858-3498  or  (410) 841-3498
<mail to: melony_griffith@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Keith E. Haynes
(D - District 44 - Baltimore City)
315 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3263
Fax:  (301) 858-3537  or  (410) 841-3537
Email:  <mail to: keith_haynes@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Mary-Dulany  James
Vice-Chair - Transortation and Environment Subcommittee
(D - District 34A - Cecil & Harford)
326 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3289
Fax:  (301) 858-3294  or  (410) 841-3294
Email:  <mail to: mary_dulany_james@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Adrienne A. Jones
Chair - Capital Budget Subcommittee
(D - District 10 - Baltimore)
312 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3391
Fax:  (301) 858-3157  or  (410) 841-3157
Email:  <mail to: adrienne_jones@house.state.md.us>

Delegate John R. Leopold
(R - District 31 - Anne Arundel)
213 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3206
Fax:  (301) 858-3764  or  (410) 841-3764
Email:  <mail to: john_leopold@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Murray  Levy
(D - District 28 - Charles)
216 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3325
Fax:  (301) 858-3256  or  (410) 841-3256
Email:  <mail to: murray_levy@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Richard S. Madaleno, Jr.
(D - District 18 - Montgomery)
223 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3028
Fax:  (301) 858-3053  or  (410) 841-3053
Email:  <mail to: richard_madaleno@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Doyle L. Niemann
(D - District 47 - Prince George's)
203 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3326
Fax:  (301) 858-3403  or  (410) 841-3403
Email:  <mail to: doyle_niemann@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Anthony J. O'Donnell
(R - District 29C - Calvert & St. Mary's)
319 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3314
Fax:  (301) 858-3040  or  (410) 841-3040
Email:  <mail to: anthony_odonnell@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Jeffrey A. Paige
(D - District 44 - Baltimore City)
315 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3263
Fax:  (301) 858-3537  or  (410) 841-3537
Email:  <mail to: jeffrey_paige@house.state.md.us>

Delegate James E. Proctor, Jr.
(D - District 27A - Calvert & Prince George's)
411 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3083
Fax:  (301) 858-3459  or  (410) 841-3459
Email:  <mail to: james_proctor@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Nancy R. Stocksdale
(R - District 05A - Carroll)
322 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3371
Fax:  (301) 858-3241  or  (410) 841-3241
Email:  <mail to: nancy_stockdale@house.state.md.us>

Delegate Frank S. Turner
(D - District 13 - Howard)
206 Lowe House Office Building
Phone:  (301) 858-3246
Fax:  (301) 858-3986  or  (410) 841-3986
Email:  <mail to: frank_turner@house.state.md.us>





Sample Letter



Dear Delegate,

I respectfully urge you to oppose House Bill 1352.

Governor Ehrlich proposes to issue GARVEE bonds to borrow $1 billion from Maryland's future federal transportation dollars for a single project.  This would severely limit federal funds for important transit projects, road and bridge maintenance, and other projects and programs across the state for decades. 

Paying off these bonds would consume $100 million in federal transportation funding each year, one of every five dollars that Maryland receives in federal transportation aid.  We need this money for a wide range of transit and road improvements.  If the General Assembly passes Governor Ehrlich’s plan, you would be mortgaging our transportation future.  I urge you to oppose House Bill 1352, Governor Ehrlich's GARVEE Credit Card Funding Scheme.

 

Sincerely,

[[Name, Address]]


 


Background -- Don't let Governor Ehrlich mortgage Maryland's transportation future!

House Bill 1352 and Senate Bill 75 would increase by more than half the current limit on how much the State could borrowed from future federal transportation funds to pay for the ICC.

Both bills are entitled Transportation Infrastructure Financing Policy -- Limitation on GARVEE Bond.  "GARVEE" stands for "Grant Anticipated Revenue Vehicle".

Last year, the General Assembly capped the ICC GARVEE debt limit at 13 percent of anticipated federal funds.  That translates to more than $600 million.

Now Governor Ehrlich and Maryland Secretary of Transportation Robert Flanagan want to borrow even more through GARVEE bonds -- $1 billion -- to build the ICC.  So they're asking the General Assembly to raise the GARVEE debt limit to 20 percent so they can start building the ICC in 2006 -- if federal agencies grant the required permits and if ICC opponents don't take the State to court.  Smell like election year pork to you?

According to the Maryland Office of Legislative Information Services, paying off this massive debt could consume nearly one in four (24 percent) of all federal transportation dollars that might come to Maryland over the next 15 years.  That's roughly $100 million per year.

Funding to pay off the GARVEE debt would be skimmed off the top of Maryland's federal funding each year -- before the rest of Maryland's federal transportation dollars come to the state.  So every other federally funded transportation project or program in the state -- including badly needed transit programs and badly needed road and bridge maintenance -- would take a back seat behind the ICC.

Governor Ehrlich's GARVEE bond proposal is risky and irresponsible.  GARVEE bonds have a mixed track record across the country, and the Governor's proposal would load Maryland with more GARVEE debt than many other states have taken on. 

After researching GARVEE bonds in other states, the General Assembly's Department Of Legislative Services has consistently recommended that the Assembly not allow GARVEE bond borrowing to reach 20 percent, asking:

        "Does the legislature want to commit 20-24% of its future federal aid highway cash flow to the ICC? Such a commitment of funding would leave    less funding for other major capital projects and could exacerbates pressure for State tax and fee revenue increases to address other unmet     transportation needs"

If Maryland does not receive the anticipated federal funds, Maryland tax payers could be forced to make up the difference.  In fact, just this year the Federal Highway Administration rescinded $22 million that it had committed to Maryland.  The State could wind up raiding the state Transportation Trust Fund, raiding toll revenues from other facilities such as the Bay Bridge, or even raiding the state General Fund.

And these GARVEEs are just the beginning of the risky debt that Governor Ehrlich would like pile up for the ICC.  In all, he wants to finance more than 90 percent -- more than $2 billion -- of the ICC's construction cost through debt.

In addition to the GARVEE bonds, Governor Ehrlich wants to borrow another $1.2 billion, supposedly to be paid off through tolls on the ICC and probably through tolls on other facilities.  What happens if the State's traffic and toll revenue projections for the ICC prove to be too rosy?  According to Standard & Poor's credit rating, the average new toll facility generates 20 percent less revenue than anticipated in the first year.

Debt-financing the ICC could easily run the cost of this destructive, 18-mile boondoggle to more than $3 billion.  So Governor Ehrlich wants to rack up billions in potentially risky debt and possibly imperil the State's bond rating and ability to pay for other programs. 

All for a highway that three agency studies in eight years have shown would provide scant transportation benefits.  The 1997 Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the 2001 Montgomery County Transportation Policy Report, and the current Draft Environmental Impact Statement all have shown that the ICC would do little to relieve traffic congestion or to shorten commutes, would be used by relatively few commuters, and would actually worsen congestion for many commuters.