Maryland Business

According to the Associated Press, U.S. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) has dropped his opposition to oil and natural gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Representative Bartlett says high oil prices have prompted his change of heart, and that revenue from drilling leases would generate “badly needed funds for alternative and renewable energy programs.”

If a congressperson is looking for some “badly needed” revenue, it seems to me the answer is right under their nose.

Maybe they should examine the spending on wasteful pet projects known as earmarks, or pork, that many members attach to bills to appease their local voters? Or the ongoing joke, and an expensive one at that, that the Capitol Visitor Center has been? Or the billions of dollars under the direction of the Coalition Provisional Authority in the first years of the Iraq war that simply vanished? Or how about the over half a billion dollars that’s been spent broadcasting TV Marti to Cuba despite a miniscule audience?

When it comes to government accounting, and a representative on the Hill talking about “money in the bank,” the taxpayer in me cringes. There is a major disconnect between accountability and Congress’ fuzzy math.

Is this the best idea our government representatives can come up with when it comes to generating revenue for energy programs?

Francis Smith, Special Publications Assistant Editor

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Is a firefighter bachelor auction held at a bar an appropriate fundraiser for the Red Cross?

This seems to be the question that’s led to a purge of employees from the Frederick County Red Cross – both resignations and terminations.

The group’s executive director was fired March 19 after objecting to the plans, according to a story in the Frederick News-Post. Two more longtime employees resigned this week.

Here’s the crux of the “inappropriate” argument: The Red Cross organization advises its workers and volunteers to avoid bars and taverns while representing the Red Cross.

However, there is no such language in the organization’s written code of conduct.

In this situation, once the Frederick chapter was told there were no legal concerns over the event, it was up to the board members to make the final decision.

And on Wednesday, the bachelor auction was held at the Greene Turtle Sports Bar and Grille. The event raised more than $4,000.

Do you think a bachelor auction is appropriate for an esteemed NPO? Or should nonprofits steer away from mixing business and pleasure?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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I’ve tried not to casually throw around the word “recession” on this blog, but it’s time we discussed the possibility.

Obviously, there’s been a rising number of home foreclosures nationwide, and yes, gas is up to almost $4 per gallon (it’s there already in Hawaii and parts of Calif.). Never mind the cost of food.

Well, this report hits close to home.

A group of churches in Frederick says there’s been a 30 percent jump in the number of people who’ve asked for help to make ends meet this year.

The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs says more than 500 people asked for emergency aid in each of the first two months of this year. The group’s director says some of the requests are coming from people strapped by foreclosures on their homes, the high prices of home heating oil and gas.

Is this just the beginning of a recession’s impact on Maryland?

Or can the state get away relatively unscathed, thanks to our stable industries?

JACKIE SAUTER, Web Editor

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