Immigration Laws

Deniers of evolution are just like Charlie Brown To the editor: G.F. Miller’s letter to the editor (June 3) was rather insightful — much more so than he probably intended. Yes, of course we remember Charlie Brown’s teacher: “Wah, wa-wa-wah.” How could we not? What we have to understand, though, about those old Charlie Brown episodes is that the teacher never actually said, “Wah, wa-wa-wah.” No, the teacher most definitely said something intelligent and meaningful.

Sen. Christopher B. Shank wants to keep the federal government from abusing its constitutional powers. Del. Neil C. Parrott is calling for Maryland to enforce federal immigration laws. Sen. George C. Edwards is hoping to get Garrett County, Md., access to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., television stations. All three Republicans have proposed state resolutions promoting their causes. Mixed in with 2,500 or so bills in Annapolis each year are a handful of proposed resolutions, which usually are nonbinding statements voicing a position.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Farmers had more on their minds than the current dry spell when members of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster's Ag Advisory Committee met with him over lunch Monday. Immigration policy, energy costs, international trade, biofuels, crop insurance and the American Horse Slaughter Protection Act were among the issues about a dozen members of the committee raised with Shuster, R-Pa. The congressman said he wanted to meet with the group to discuss farming issues as Congress prepares to draft a new Farm Bill in 2007.

As part of this month's coverage of the Nov. 4 election for Maryland's 6th District seat in Congress, The Herald-Mail asked the three candidates to respond in up to 100 words to a few questions about issues. Last week, the candidates talked about health care. This week's question is: How should the U.S. handle illegal immigration? U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, Republican One of America's greatest strengths is that it is the most welcoming nation on Earth to immigrants.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is unopposed in Tuesday's Pennsylvania Republican primary, but with one poll showing his probable November opponent maintaining a double-digit lead, the two-term incumbent was in Chambersburg on Friday encouraging supporters for a showdown that is nearly six months away. "We're in a tough race. We're in a race that's attracted a lot of national attention," Santorum told a group of about 35 supporters at Franklin County Republican Committee Headquarters.

Frederick County (Md.) Sheriff Charles A. "Chuck" Jenkins said Tuesday that his department's enforcement of illegal immigration doesn't involve racial profiling. Speaking at a forum in Washington County, Jenkins said his deputies stop people who commit crimes or traffic offenses. Later, offenders are asked where they were born and in which country they're a citizen. "What is so offensive about those two questions?" Jenkins asked. Jenkins was one of two speakers at a forum held Tuesday at Dimensions, south of Funkstown.

In his first run for public office, Congress candidate Dennis Janda said, "I want to bring representation back to the district. I feel alienated and everyone else feels alienated. " Janda, 61, of Frederick, is one of five Republicans running for Maryland's 6th District seat in Congress. The incumbent, Roscoe G. Bartlett, is seeking a 10th two-year term. The primary is Tuesday. The winner will face one of two Democrats -- Andrew Duck or J. Casey Clark -- in the Nov. 2 general election.

Commentary It was interesting to hear Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez go full-Khrushchev on President Bush last week, ranting and raving away in front of a United Nations audience. He howled that Bush was "the devil himself" and a "world dictator," and said the room "still smells of sulfur" from a Bush appearance earlier that day. But the more he postured, the more florid his hyperbole, the more partisan his speech, the more disjointed his logic, I couldn't help thinking: What a perfect member of Congress he'd make.

Hagerstown resident David Beckner has mixed views of Arizona's tough immigration law, neither supporting the law nor the federal government's argument against it. “I don't think the states should have the power to just ask random people if they're illegal,” he said. “It gives them more reason to segregate people out.” However, Beckner said that each state should have the right to handle issues of immigration, even though he opposes Arizona's law. “It's a localized issue,” he said.

The group that successfully petitioned for a state referendum on tuition breaks for illegal immigrants spent about $9,500 on its effort, according to finance reports. The group - known as MdPetitions.com, which is the URL for its website - took in about $16,200 and ended up with a surplus of about $11,600. Under state law, the group was required to file the campaign finance reports - one for each round of signatures it submitted. A new law in Maryland, granting in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants, was scheduled to go into effect July 1. However, the successful petition drive put the law on hold until voters decide on the issue in the 2012 general election.

Voters in 2012 will decide whether a new law benefiting illegal immigrants attending Maryland colleges will stand, after elections officials ruled that a petition drive had nearly twice as many valid signatures as needed to put the question on the ballot. The Maryland State Board of Elections told petition drive organizer Del. Neil Parrott in a letter on Friday that 108,923 signatures were accepted, well over the 55,736 that were required. Another 23,148 signatures were rejected, for an approval rate of about 82 percent.

Deniers of evolution are just like Charlie Brown To the editor: G.F. Miller’s letter to the editor (June 3) was rather insightful — much more so than he probably intended. Yes, of course we remember Charlie Brown’s teacher: “Wah, wa-wa-wah.” How could we not? What we have to understand, though, about those old Charlie Brown episodes is that the teacher never actually said, “Wah, wa-wa-wah.” No, the teacher most definitely said something intelligent and meaningful.

“I find it interesting that all of a sudden school boards can cut costs instead of raising taxes, like they have done for many years, after telling us how more money is the answer to better education. It hasn’t worked. Now maybe the taxpayer can get some relief. A new approach to schooling is badly needed.” — Waynesboro, Pa. “I want to say way to go, Steve Wilson, for writing a letter to the editor about the sidewalks. I feel the same way. When I get mine fixed I think I will put up a fence around it so no one can walk on my sidewalk, being it is my property.

Sen. Christopher B. Shank wants to keep the federal government from abusing its constitutional powers. Del. Neil C. Parrott is calling for Maryland to enforce federal immigration laws. Sen. George C. Edwards is hoping to get Garrett County, Md., access to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., television stations. All three Republicans have proposed state resolutions promoting their causes. Mixed in with 2,500 or so bills in Annapolis each year are a handful of proposed resolutions, which usually are nonbinding statements voicing a position.

In his first run for public office, Congress candidate Dennis Janda said, "I want to bring representation back to the district. I feel alienated and everyone else feels alienated. " Janda, 61, of Frederick, is one of five Republicans running for Maryland's 6th District seat in Congress. The incumbent, Roscoe G. Bartlett, is seeking a 10th two-year term. The primary is Tuesday. The winner will face one of two Democrats -- Andrew Duck or J. Casey Clark -- in the Nov. 2 general election.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- Three Republican elected officials from Frederick County are seeking an Arizona-style immigration law for Maryland. The measure proposed Thursday by County Commissioner John Thompson, state Delegate Charles Jenkins and Sheriff Chuck Jenkins would make it a state offense to be in the country illegally. It also would require local police to question people about their immigration status if the officer has reason to suspect they are illegal. And it would prohibit hiring illegal immigrants for day labor.

Against the stimulus, for the C&O U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., has voted and spoken against federal stimulus spending measures. Yet, his chief of staff, Bud Otis, standing in for him, was among the dignitaries and speakers at the Aug. 7 celebration of the start of repairs to the Big Slackwater section of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Stimulus money is covering about 75 percent of the $17.2 million project. Andrew Duck, who attended the event and is one of two Democrats running for Bartlett's seat, criticized Bartlett in a news release two days later.