WHO: Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-1)
WHAT: For his first bill as a member of Congress, Kratovil signed on to co-sponsor legislation to stop automatic raises for members of Congress. Representatives get an automatic $4,700 raise each year, which translates to a current yearly salary of $167,000.
WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA: Kratovil talked the talk and is now walking the walk of the fiscal conservative he promised us he would be.
WHERE TO SUPPORT: Call Kratovil’s congressional office to tell him you approve at 202-225-5311.
BRIGHT BULB Paperless patient care
Anne Arundel Medical Center is the latest area hospital to go paperless. This spring the medical center will move to an electronic medical records system. Electronic systems reduce errors by automating patient information and physician orders — eliminating problems including illegible doctor handwriting. The only difficulty could arise in transferring records between hospitals, a problem with paper records. Hospitals should work to ensure their systems can talk with other hospital systems so that patients can get optimal treatment wherever they are.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I’m an old person, and I believe we have to respect our old people and not punish them by putting them in jail.” — Ayten Icgoren, 81, who was convicted of 21 animal cruelty charges. A Howard judge sentenced her to six months in jail Thursday for hoarding more than 75 dead and dying cats in her Columbia town house.
What were the bright ideas?
A penny here, a penny there …
Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold found the secret to eliminating deficits: penny-pinching.
The details: Instead of drastic program cuts, (some of which may still be necessary) Leopold is finding little bits of money that don’t need to be spent. He’s reduced the number of take-home vehicles for county employees and made savvy fuel contract deals to the tune of more than $1 million saved.
Getting green gratis
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. is providing powerful incentives for homeowners looking to cut back on their energy consumption.
The details: BGE is offering $40 energy audits to customers — but if you allow the company to install recommended changes, the cost of the audit is waived. No one should pass on this opportunity to save hundreds on each energy bill.
Fair funding
The Maryland Transportation Authority is implementing a one-time $21 fee for E-Z Pass users as well as a $1.50 monthly service fee.
The details: E-Z Pass is not something that could come cheap forever. As far as tolls go, Maryland has one of the lowest commuting prices in the region — and we’re suffering for it. The Transportation Authority needs money, and this is a fair way for it to get some. Instead of placing the burden on all taxpayers, MTA is charging only the people who choose to use toll roads.
Making surgery simple
A Johns Hopkins surgeon is using a robot to perform hysterectomies.
The details: In most hospitals, a hysterectomy will leave a woman with a large scar and a long recovery. In a surgery that already has such debilitating side effects as depression, the added necessity of lying still and healing seems almost cruel. Not at Hopkins. The robot leaves five small mosquito-bite-sized scars and drastically reduces recovery time.
Worst ideas of the week
DNA law out of order
Maryland is now taking DNA samples from criminal suspects before conviction.
The details: We realize that DNA evidence is a powerful tool in criminal investigations, but if Baltimore City is anything to go by, our state DNA labs make mistakes. Big ones. Instead of streamlining the system we have and fixing problems, we’re creating a deluge of material the system will have a difficult time handling.
Shirking parental duties
All over Maryland, hundreds of parents are refusing to pay child support.
The details: Being a parent is a huge responsibility and it is one that should not be taken lightly. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid child support in Baltimore City alone. There is no excuse for leaving your child high and dry. Kudos to area sheriff’s departments for putting their faces on billboards and in advertisements. Deadbeat parents don’t deserve to be anonymous.
Safety concerns
President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden Jr. have decided to embark on a Whistle Stop Tour the Saturday before the inauguration.
The details: Are they nuts? Who would allow the two most important people in the free world to travel together on a train? This sounds like a poor decision if for no other reason than it sounds unsafe and would entice would-be assassins to push their luck.
The Bay’s day in court
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has filed suit in federal court against the Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to force the EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act.
The details: Why should CBF have to spend valuable time and resources to get the EPA to do its job? You won’t hear many complaints from ordinary citizens over the enforcement of the act. We all want a clean Bay. So why doesn’t the EPA want to help us?
Making something of nothing
Baltimore County Councilman Ken Oliver did wrong. He admits it. So why is the state prosecutor rubbing his nose in it?
The details: Oliver lent himself money from campaign funds. He probably knew it was wrong and he did it anyway. But why is the state prosecutor trying to make this the case of the century? Why are we indicting him for felony theft of money he returned? This seems like something he should get a slap on the wrist for, not a 15-year sentence.
