20060817 KDDC Re Elect District 5 Senator Larry Haines

Re-Elect District 5 Senator Larry Haines
August 17, 2006
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Pasted below, please review Senator Larry Haines'

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The citizens and voters of Maryland’s Legislative District Five have graciously bestowed upon me the honor and privilege to represent them in the State Senate and Maryland General Assembly for sixteen years.

I take the responsibility of public servant very seriously and am seeking re-election to the State Senate. As the ranking Republican member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Senate Executive Nominations Committee.

I have had the privilege of providing leadership in many very important public policy issues including the Senate Special Commissions on Medical Malpractice Liability Insurance, Legislative Sportsman Caucus, Maryland Rural Caucus, and Taxpayers’ Protection Caucus.

The Senate President has given me the responsibility of serving on the Rules Committee, the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, the Special Committee on Substance Abuse, the Congressional Redistricting Committee and the Transportation Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The past twelve years, I have served as Chairman of the Carroll County Delegation to Annapolis.

In 1990, I campaigned for a new and expanded State Police Barrack and a full service MVA Center for Carroll County and followed through on these promises. I have been instrumental and provided leadership in securing state funds for the Carroll County Hospital expansions, Hospice, the Carroll Community College Campus, the Agricultural Center, the Historical Society, the Carroll County Arts Council and other projects, including planning and development of the new courthouse.

I have sponsored a number of legislative initiatives of which 38 bills have become law including several major drug crime bills and increased funding for Maryland farmland preservation – now signed into law. I am recognized as the leader of the conservative block in the Senate for family and fiscal issues. I co-sponsored State Bill 4 known as Jessica’s Law, which mandates a 25 year mandatory sentence for a convicted sexual child molester. This bill was signed into law by Gov. Ehrlich in June.

Creating jobs at home, reducing taxes on families, and reducing the regulatory burden of local and state government will continue to be one of my top priorities.

The past Glendening/Towsend administration derailed and delayed our most significant transportation needs. During the 2003 legislative session I introduced a Joint Senate Resolution to fund and start construction of the Hampstead by-pass. With Gov. Ehrlich, myself, Del. Stocksdale and Del. Shewell we broke ground on June 30, 2006 - construction will be completed in 2 years.

We desperately need an inpatient drug treatment facility, and I have worked with the task force in helping this become a reality at The Springfield Hospital Center Prevention and Treatment Programs will be expanding as I serve on the Special Substance Abuse Committee.

I will continue to find sources to increase farmland preservation funding without increasing taxes.

I believe in small government, and that government should have a balanced budget just like our families, and that taxes must be cut to help families.

This is my twelfth year as Chairman of the Carroll County Delegation. As a Maryland State Legislator I have the responsibility to provide leadership that is in the best interest of my local constituency. I have a proven record of initiating and following through with local state projects.

I sponsored legislation to allow local governments to collect their own recordation taxes saving Carroll approximately $1 million annually based on recent collections. As Senator my role is to introduce local legislation initiatives. However, the Annapolis delegation has the final authority over local bills of which are subject to a public hearing prior to approval.

The current Board of Commissioners supported a 1% real estate transfer tax, the only bill the delegation rejected. This tax increase would have generated over $22 million in new annual revenue based on last year’s collections. This was an unnecessary increase, based on the surplus funds from other increased revenues. Direct aid from the state to Carroll County increased from $109,859 in FY 2004 to $155,228 in FY 2007 for a 41.3% increase.

My past initiatives to reduce government spending, reduce the property tax on owner occupied homes and the personal income tax will continue to be my program for tax reform.

My record is clear on gun control, gambling, abortion and capital punishment.

I oppose gun control, I support the second amendment, the citizens right to “keep and bear arms.”

Any type of legalized gambling is poor public policy. I have sponsored legislation to ban partial-birth abortion, which passed the Senate, and I have been the leader on pro-life issues.

Your support and vote is greatly appreciated.

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