Delegate Al Carr's blog

Join your neighbors in voting for Al Carr

2010-09-12T17:36:00.000-07:00

In my campaign for a second term in the Maryland House of Delegates, I am proud of the endorsements and organizational support I have received from the Sierra Club, Montgomery County Teachers and retirees, Equality Maryland, NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, Police, Firefighters, Organized Labor and more. But the most important endorsement I can earn is that of people like you.

From the start of my career in public service, my support has always come from the community rather than from special interests or personal wealth. I am proud to publish this list of supporters from District 18 neighborhoods throughout Kensington, Wheaton, Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Bethesda and Rockville.

Please vote for Al Carr on Tuesday, September 14th.
Click here to find your polling place.

Citizens Endorsing Al Carr's candidacy:
Abigail Adelman, Kensington
Al Geske, Kensington
Alan Banov, Kensington
Alexa Freeman, Kensington
Alison Tallarico, Silver Spring
Am Palacios, Bethesda
Amy and Steven Kostant, Chevy Chase
Amy Lewin, Kensington
Andrea Cimino, North Bethesda
Andrea Marra, Silver Spring
Andrew Afflerbach, Bethesda
Andrew Morris, Silver Spring
Andy Hill, Chevy Chase
Angie & Dennis Kilcullen, Kensington
Ann McLaughlin, Chevy Chase
Ann Wild, Chevy Chase
Anne Ambler, Silver Spring
Anne Perry, Kensington
Barbara Brocker, Chevy Chase
Barbara Shepp, Chevy Chase
Barbara Yoffee, Silver Spring
Ben Moscowitz, Kensington
Beth Barnett, Chevy Chase
Beth Forbes, Bethesda
Beth Kevles, Chevy Chase
Betsy Johnson, Chevy Chase
Bette Petrides, Bethesda
Bill Schulz, Chevy Chase
Bill Sher, Silver Spring
Blair Diggs, Silver Spring
Bob Friedman, Bethesda
Bonnie Naradzay, Silver Spring
Bren Lizzio, Chevy Chase
Brenda and Tom Corbin, Chevy Chase
Bruce Parce, Kensington
Bruce Russell, Chevy Chase
Carol Petrash, Kensington
Carol Roberts, Chevy Chase
Carole Brand, Chevy Chase
Carolyn Shawaker, Garrett Park
Catherine Bocskor, Silver Spring
Channing Strother, Potomac
Charles Beard, Kensington
Charles Crawford, Silver Spring
Charles Farmer, Chevy Chase
Charlotte Jones Carroll, Chevy Chase
Cheryl Geske, Kensington
Chris Mueller, Chevy Chase
Chris Trimble, Kensington
Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Kensington
Christine Real de Azua, Chevy Chase
Col. Arion and Maria Pattakos, Kensington
Cornelius Davies, Bethesda
Cris and Jon Fleming, Chevy Chase
Cyndy Bragg, Kensington
Cynthia Esty, Chevy Chase
Dan Leggett, Chevy Chase
Dan Mick and Maureen Jais-Mick, Bethesda
Danuta Wilson, Bethesda
David and Parviz Steeds, Chevy Chase
David Baker, Chevy Chase
David Salzman, Chevy Chase
Deborah & Harold Feldman, Chevy Chase
Deborah Eckert, Kensington
Deborah Vollmer, Chevy Chase
Debra Bean, Silver Spring
Dedun Ingam, Chevy Chase
Deean Rubin, Chevy Chase
Del Peter Murphy, Waldorf
Del Sue Hecht, Frederick
Del. Anne Healey, Hyattsville
Del. Barbara Frush, Calverton
Del. Dan Morhaim, M.D., Baltimore County
Del. Hank Heller, District 19
Del. Kumar Barve, Gaithersburg
Del. Peter Murphy, Charles County
Diane Cameron, Kensington
Diane Mooney, Chevy Chase
Dianne Whitaker, Rockville
Don MacGlashan, Chevy Chase
Dorothy and Fred Solomon, Chevy Chase
Dr. Ken Ingber, Chevy Chase
Ed and Cindy Brandt, Chevy Chase
Elbridge James, Rockville
Eleanor Condliffe, Kensington
Eleanor Duckett, Kensington
Elena Liu and Bruce Hissong, Gaithersburg
Elizabeth Buchanek, Bethesda
Elizabeth Buie, Silver Spring
Eric and Kristin Burka, Chevy Chase
Esther Gelman, Potomac
Firuzeh McLean, Chevy Chase
Flora Hsiu-chen Tsui, Chevy Chase
Francesca Kelly, Bethesda
Frank Shore, Rockville
Franziska Ohnsorge , Chevy Chase
Fritz Hirst, Chevy Chase
Gaby Gandal, Chevy Chase
Gareth Murray, Potomac (former Delegate representing Silver Spring)
Greg Lewis, Chevy Chase
Guy Josey, Silver Spring
Hannah Klein, Wheaton
Hon. Bruce Williams, Takoma Park
Hon. David Lublin, Chevy Chase
Hon. George Leventhal, Takoma Park
Hon. Marc Elrich, Takoma Park
Hon. Pat Burda, Chevy Chase
Hon. Sharon Grosfeld (former state senator), Kensington
Hon. Valerie Ervin, Silver Spring
Howard Kaplan, Chevy Chase
Howard Sachs, Chevy Chase
Jack Petrash, Kensington
Jackie DeCarlo, Kensington
Jami and Jim Riegel, Chevy Chase
Jane Karakashian, Rockville
Janet Byrnes, Silver Spring
Jean Kennedy, Chevy Chase
Jean Noonan, Kensington
Jean Shorett, Chevy Chase
Jennifer Burton, Chevy Chase
Jennifer Crowe, Kensington
Jenny Sue Dunner, Chevy Chase
Jerry Bracken, Chevy Chase
Jim Foy, Kensington
Jim Fremont, Silver Spring
Jim Roy, Chevy Chase
Joan Elliston, Chevy Chase
Joan Moyer, Chevy Chase
Joanne Irving, Potomac
Joanne Rood, Chevy Chase
Joe and Joan Howell, Chevy Chase
John and Carol Anderson, Bethesda
John Barnes, Chevy Chase
John Daniel, Kensington
John Doherty, Kensington
John Hurson, Chevy Chase
John Midlen, Chevy Chase
Jon Hiatt, Chevy Chase
Jon Morrison, Brookville MD
Judith Nash-LeBon, Chevy Chase
Judy Beach-Uhlman, Kensington
Julia Zachary, Chevy Chase
Julie Stanish, Chevy Chase
Karen Jackson-Knight, Kensington
Kate Simonds, Chevy Chase
Kathleen Lawton-Trask, Chevy Chase
Kellie Newton, Bethesda
Kim Kasprzak, Silver Spring
Kira Lueders, Kensington
Kristen Best, Chevy Chase
Lance and Mary Anne Hoffman, Chevy Chase
Larry and Rosemary Engman, Silver Spring
Laura Roberts, Bethesda
Leah and Aaron Frankl, Chevy Chase
Lee, Maribeth, Adrian, and Nicolas Eiden, Bethesda
Leif Neve, Bethesda
Lew Winarsky, Silver Spring
Libby Smiegel, Silver Spring
Linda Silberg, Kensington
Liz Brennan, Kensington
Louis Wilen, Olney
Lucy & Steve Swartz, Kensington
Luke Feldman, Chevy Chase
Lynda Williams, Chevy Chase
Lynn Lichtenstein, Chevy Chase
Marci Levin, Chevy Chase
Margaret Louden, Silver Spring
Maria DaSilva, Silver Spring
Maria Olsen, Chevy Chase
Maria Roginski, Chevy Chase
Marian Fryer, Wheaton
Marilyn Bracken, Chevy Chase
Mark Cymrot, Bethesda
Mark Hodge, Kensington
Mark Rubin, Chevy Chase
Mark Ward, Chevy Chase
Marlene and Victor Cohn, Kensington
Mary Buckingham, Kensington
Mary Knight, Kensington
Mary Reardon, Silver Spring
Mary Rivkin, Bethesda
Mary Shomon, Kensington
Marybelle Feltenstein, Kensington
Mau Van Duren, Chevy Chase
Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, Chevy Chase
Mel Peller, Chevy Chase
Melissa Leebaert, Bethesda
Meredith Larson, Silver Spring
Michael and Tina Coplan, Chevy Chase
Michael Smith, Silver Spring
Mier and Cathy Wolf, Chevy Chase
Mike Uhlman, Kensington
Milagros & Dennis McGuire, Bethesda
Mitsuko R. Herrera, Silver Spring
Molly Hauck, Kensington
Nancy Holmes, Kensington
Nancy Janssen, Silver Spring
Nancy Sullivan, Kensington
Natalie Goldberg, Kensington
Nora and Ami Bawa, Chevy Chase
Pam Browning, Chevy Chase
Pat Baptiste, Chevy Chase
Paul Carroll, Chevy Chase
Paul Feldman, Chevy Chase
Penina Maya, Bethesda
Perry Levin, Rockville
Pete Elms, Chevy Chase
Philip Feldman, Chevy Chase
Rachel Ritvo, Kensington
Randy Teslik, Chevy Chase
Renee Laughlin, Chevy Chase
Rev Roger Fritts, Kensington
Rev. Leslie A. Westbrook, Ph.D., LCPC, Kensington
Rich Mandel, Silver Spring
Richard Yates, Bethesda
Richard Zierdt, Rockville
Robert Curtis, Chevy Chase
Robin Gellman and Simon Marks, Chevy Chase
Robin Siegel, Silver Spring
Rolf Sinclair, Chevy Chase
Sabina and Ted Emerson, Kensington
Sandy and Helen Wilkes, Kensington
Sarah Richards, Chevy Chase
Sarah Seeman, Rockville
Sebastian Wood, Chevy Chase
Shannon Hamm, Kensington
Sharon Scott, Kensington
Shelly Greenberg, Bethesda
Shihadeh and Vara Sayyad, Chevy Chase
Stacey Colino, Chevy Chase
Stephen Godbout, Silver Spring
Stephen Seidel, Chevy Chase
Steve Hollman, Chevy Chase
Steve Lawton, Chevy Chase
Suzie Moss, Chevy Chase
Sylvia Tognetti, Silver Spring
T Reid Lewis, Bethesda
Tamara Stuckey, Bethesda
Terri Lukas, Chevy Chase
Terrill and Bernice North, Takoma Park
Tom Carty, Kensington
Tracy A.Gipson, Silver Spring
Tracy Orndorff, Kensington
William and Helen Mills, Chevy Chase
William Simon, Chevy Chase

District 18 End of Session Summary

2010-04-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2010

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week marked the end of the 427th legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly. As always, it is an honor and privilege to represent the people of District 18 in the State House. The four of us – Senator Rich Madaleno and Delegates Al Carr, Ana Sol Gutiérrez, and Jeff Waldstreicher – work hard as a team to advance your interests. During the past 90 days, we have benefited from your advice and counsel during our deliberations. We appreciate the thousands of emails, postcards, letters, phone calls, and office visits we received.

Creating Jobs and Promoting Fiscal Responsibility

This session, our top priorities were creating jobs and promoting fiscal responsibility. That’s why we were proud to pass the Job Creation and Recovery Tax Credit, which has already been signed by Governor O’Malley. This important legislation created a $5,000 tax credit for businesses that hire an unemployed worker. We also reformed our unemployment benefits to make sure Marylanders have the safety net they need to get through these difficult economic times.

We also worked hard to be fiscally prudent. We passed a balanced budget this year, one that is 2.9% smaller than 2010. In doing so, we fought to protect Maryland's critical commitment to our most vulnerable citizens. We safeguarded funding for the developmentally disabled and for vulnerable children and seniors. Until our state revenues once again reach more sustainable levels, our state budgets continues to benefit from federal recovery dollars, especially in support of Medicaid, job creation, and transportation projects. Two of us -- Sen. Rich Madaleno and Del. Ana Sol Gutiérrez -- serve on the budget committees. We reined in future spending, cutting more than $566 million from the governor’s initial budget while leaving an ample Rainy Day Fund and not raising taxes.

Investing in Education

We secured a record level of state investment for Montgomery County Public Schools ($696 million). Indeed, our proudest achievement this term is our unwavering commitment to public education. Over the past four years, even in the face of severe budget challenges, we increased investment in our schools every year. This funding went to maintaining high-quality educational services, to our more than 142,000 students; constructing new schools, renovating old ones; , and making sure our teachers are paid competitively with other jurisdictions. You can continue to count on us to be vigorous advocates of public education in Annapolis.

Preserving the Environment, Promoting Alternative Energy

Your District 18 Team again championed environmental protection and alternative energy. Del. Al Carr serves as a strong voice on these issues on the Environmental Matters Committee. The District 18 Team fought for bills to dramatically reduce coal by-products, eliminate poisonous chemicals in children’s toys, reduce light pollution, and increase recycling efforts. We also worked hard on a bill that enhances our state’s renewable energy portfolio by encouraging more development of solar energy.

Ensuring Community Safety, Protecting Victims

We also fought hard this year to ensure the safety of our community and protect victims. A member of the Judiciary Committee, Del. Jeff Waldstreicher championed these issues. We successfully passed legislation that provides lifetime monitoring for sex offenders and protects our children. We also championed legislation to crack down on the heinous crime of human trafficking. Finally, we successfully passed a bill that doubles the time duration of a protective order for victims of domestic violence. We will continue to work hard to ensure safety and security for all residents of Montgomery County.

Fighting for Local Priorities

We also passed several pieces of legislation that directly impact our neighborhoods. We secured a capital bond bill for $275,000 for the renovation of Warner Manor in Kensington and were successful in passing legislation that could allow Montgomery County to keep the Sligo Creek Golf Course open. We secured passage of another local bill that will nurture small business growth in older revitalizing commercial areas like Wheaton.

* * *

Over the next few weeks, we will be preparing individual responses to many of the letters and emails we received during the session. We will also be posting items to our blog, Generally Assembled (Maryland18.blogspot.com) as well as our individual websites. In addition, the General Assembly's website (mlis.state.md.us) contains a great deal of information about our work, including the soon-to-be-released 90 Day Report. We hope you will continue to share your thoughts and concerns with us. Our individual contact information is listed below.

Thank you again for your comments and support this year. We are proud to serve as your District 18 representatives in Annapolis.

Senator Rich Madaleno
richard.madaleno@senate.state.md.us
301.858.3137

Delegate Ana Sol Gutiérrez
ana.gutierrez@house.state.md.us
301.858.3181

Delegate Al Carr
alfred.carr@house.state.md.us
301.858.3110

Delegate Jeff Waldstreicher
jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us
301.858.3130

Here Comes the Sun! (updated)

2010-03-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right
-The Beatles

March 14-20, 2010 is Sunshine Week. The week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why.

Here in Maryland, springtime will soon arrive with great anticipation after a season of record snow. The weather forecast is calling for sunshine on Wednesday, March 17th. The legislative forecast here in Annapolis calls for sunshine as well and we will be taking up the topic of Freedom of Information.

In 1966, the United States Congress passed our national sunshine law, called the Freedom of Information Act. The Maryland General Assembly responded in 1970 by enacting our own freedom of information law called the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA).

The Maryland Public Information Act was written at a time when most public records were kept on paper. The Federal Government and many states have since updated their freedom of information statutes to reflect the fact that many government records are now kept electronically.

Under the current MPIA, state and local government agencies in Maryland can legally refuse a request for a public record in its original format.

A 2007 study, Graded state responsiveness to FOI requests, conducted by BGA and the NFOIC, gave Maryland 62 points out of a possible 100, a letter grade of "D", and a ranking of 11 out of the 50 states.

I have introduced HB1301 which will improve public access to government records. This bill will update the Maryland Public Information Act to require access to public documents in their original format. By defining agencies' duties to provide public records in useful electronic formats, the bill will serve the public interest by facilitating public review, analysis, understanding and comment.

The House Health and Government Operations Committee will hear HB1301 at 1pm on Wednesday, March 17th.

Supporting Testimony

Support with Amendment

Informational

Opposing Testimony

The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Consumer Retail Choice Act of 2010

2010-03-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

(Updated 3/15/2010)

On Wednesday, March 10, 2010, members of Maryland General Assembly House and Senate Committees heard testimony on "The Bag Bill" also known as HB351 and SB462.

The legislation focuses on reducing the amount of trash that enters Maryland waterways and will raise money for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund. Delegate Carr (D18) is the lead sponsor in the House and Senator Jamie Raskin (D20) is the lead sponsor in the Maryland Senate.

Washington DC Council Member Tommy Wells successfully championed similar legislation in 2009 that became effective on January 1, 2010 in the District of Columbia. Council Member Wells testified yesterday in Annapolis before the House Environmental Matters Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

"One way we can preserve the environment for our kids is to reduce the trash that clogs our waterways. A bird that is entangled in a plastic bag doesn't care whether it was discarded in Maryland or the District. I am proud to work with Councilmember Wells to make progress on cleaning up our interconnected natural areas" - said Carr

The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Consumer Retail Choice Act of 2010 will place a small 5 cent fee on all single-use plastic and paper carryout bags from retail establishments that provide carryout bags to their customers including grocery stores, food vendors, convenience stores, and drug stores.

The 5 cent fee will be divided between the business and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund. Businesses will retain either 1 or 2 cents of the fee, depending whether they offer customers a carryout bag credit program for reusable bags. The remaining amount of the fee will be deposited into the fund to target environmental cleanup and restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.

Other jurisdictions are moving in this direction. Toronto, Ireland, and many European nations have already required, or plan to require, a small charge for plastic and paper bags. These initiatives have dramatically cut down on these single-use bags--by as much as 90% in some places. Also, many businesses are already taking similar steps on their own in addition to selling low-cost durable, reusable bags. Discount food stores like ALDI and Save-A-Lot, and even IKEA, charge customers a nominal fee for every bag--greatly reducing the number of plastic and paper bags used and encouraging people to bring reusable bags.

Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin introduced similar legislation this year in the Virginia General Assembly and has announced plans to introduce it again in 2011. Other states considering a small charge on plastic and/or paper bags include Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii and Minnesota.

The Maryland General Assembly committee rooms were packed as a large and diverse group of individuals, faith groups, environmentalists, scientists, business owners, students and retirees traveled to Annapolis to voice their support for these bills. The next step is that the bills will be voted on by members of the House Environmental Matters Committee, the House Economic Matters Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affars Committee.

Delegate Carr and Senator Raskin wish to express their thanks to all who have contributed their support and efforts on behalf of this bill.

Pick Up America Video including hearing footage

Newschannel 8 coverage of Annapolis hearing

Supporting Testimony
Delegate Al Carr (slideshow)
DC Council Member Tommy Wells
Sierra Club Maryland Chapter
Neighbors of the Northwest Branch
My Organic Market
Friends of Rock Creek's Environment
Megan Mueller from Maryland Environmental Law Center at UMD
Green Cities California Environmental Assessment on Bags
Little Falls Watershed Alliance
Litter cleanup spending data from Maryland State Highway Administration
Surfriders (Julie Lawson)
Lutheran Office on Public Policy in Maryland
ibuildgreen LLC (Jeffrey Marlowe)
Jim Collier - retired chief of DC Environmental Programs
2008 letter from Ireland's dept of Environment Heritage & Local Govt
Dr. Geoffrey Patton
Student Environmental Team of Carroll County (Elizabeth Wellier)
Episcopal Church Diocese of Maryland
Environment Maryland
Ecocycle times flyer
Pick Up America (Davey Rogner)
Clean Water Action
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Cynthia Collier
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (Brenda Platt)
Anacostia Watershed Society
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (written only)
Eric Siegel (written only)
Kensington MD Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts (written only)
Marilyn Balcombe, PhD (written only)

Informational
ALDI Grocery Store

Opposing Testimony
Maryland Farm Bureau
American Chemistry Council
7-Eleven
Maryland Industrial Technology Alliance
Maryland Department of the Environment (written only)
American Forest and Paper Association (written only)

Get Involved
Click here to use surfriders online advocacy tool to email your legislators
Facebook group Skip the Bag, Save the Bay

Press Coverage, Blogs and additional information:
2009 Washington Post front page article on Carr's and Wells' bills
Greater Greater Washington blog post 2/12/2009
Washington Post graphic on paper vs. plastic
Salon Magazine Article on plastic bags
Feb 24 2009 New York Times Article
Green Cities California Environmental Assessment of single use bags
Baltimore Sun 3/10/2010
Southern Maryland Online
WYPR 3/11/2010 (Baltimore Public Radio)
The Chestertown Spy 3/11/2010
WAMU public radio
Annapolis Capital Newspaper 3/13/2010
Pick Up America blog post 3/13/2010
Kojo Nnamdi show 3/15/2010 (14 minutes into show)
Washington Post editorial 3/16/2010

Other States
Virginia (Washington Post)
Hawaii
Minnesota
California