State Capital

tammyb@herald-mail.com ANNAPOLIS - Doug Wright traveled to the state capital Thursday seeking a solution for Holly Place and Holly Place North, assisted living facilities that serve low-income senior citizens with medical issues. But he heard little in the way of a long-term answer for the homes' financial difficulties, and was advised to reconsider their mission. Wright, president of Senior Living Alternatives Inc., which runs Holly Place, told a group of state officials that the agency had followed the state's advice several years ago to seek aid through the Medicaid Waiver for Older Adults program, a state-administered program that provides subsidies for seniors who qualify to live in community housing rather than going to nursing homes.

 “About Gov. Perry and those fires that are outside his state capital, about, maybe, to enter the state capital, I really think it behooves Gov. Perry to be down in the state of Texas leading his prayer sessions, instead of running all over the nation, from California to Maine, doing his prayer sessions, which are most inappropriate in a straight-up-and-down democracy. In any case, Gov. Perry doesn't seem to get it, that his people are in trouble.” - Hagerstown “I also agree and think it's contradictory to use bonanzas and wine benefits and things like that, for nonprofit groups such as Girls Inc. and CASA.

Delegation endorses unfair competition To the editor: Washington County's state lawmakers love to brand themselves as "political outsiders" who abstain from the power- and money-games of the state capital. But a small item in Thursday's (Feb. 6) Herald-Mail shows that these lawmakers are quickly learning the ways of Annapolis. According to the county delegation briefs, local lawmakers will push legislation to ban out-of-state liquor store chains from doing business in Washington County.

The race for mayor: Why it does matter By Bob Maginnis Is the race for the Hagerstown mayor's office really worth worrying about? Someone asks me that question every four years, pointing out that Hagerstown's city charter gives the city a "weak mayor" form of government, and that with a paid administrator, the mayor's $28,000 salary is a lot of money for what is really a part-time job. Critrics say the only reason it became a full-time job under Steve Sager and Don Frush before him is because those guys decided to make a meal out what really should be a quick snack, politically speaking.

"I wonder if anyone else feels as demeaned as I do by this incessant natter over the paucity of the teachers' proposed 8.5 percent salary increase. It's obvious that the 'new Sunday op-ed columnist' has moved the educated noneducators of Washington County to the rear of the bus. It appears that we are, as the Catskills comedians used to say, 'chopped liver.' Well, at least we still have the privilege of paying taxes, and taxes and more taxes. You may sign me, voting with my feet, out of Washington County.

· To see more photos of Thursday's 'Capital for a Day' activities, click here As Capital for a Day, Hagerstown rolled out the red carpet for Gov. Martin O'Malley - and had his attention - on Thursday during a day filled with meetings, events, lobbying and hoopla. After a morning meeting downtown with O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, about two dozen cabinet members spread through the city and county for tours and talks with local officials. O'Malley, a Democrat, chatted with veterans at a downtown VFW post, shook hands with Maymart craft vendors in Public Square and visited a state job center.

On Feb. 6, the 11th- and 12th-grade government students from Grace Academy made a visit to the Maryland state capital in Annapolis. The students sat in the gallery of the delegate chamber during the legislative session, toured the governor's mansion, toured the state Capitol building, and met with Del. LeRoy Myers and Del. Andrew Serafini. They also toured the U.S. Naval Academy.

ANNAPOLIS - House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell, R-Calvert/St. Mary's, offered an amendment Wednesday that would strip $200,000 allocated to Casa de Maryland Inc. from the state's capital budget. The amendment failed, 47-89. Del. Christopher B. Shank, R-Washington, spoke in support of the amendment. All five of Washington County's delegates voted in favor of the amendment. Del. Doyle L. Niemann, D-Prince George's, said the multicultural center the funding is directed to is a worthwhile project that will offer health programs, English as a second language classes and citizenship programs.

HAGERSTOWN - Before Washington County Public Schools can move forward with several new building projects, it must acquire land. Assistant Superintendent for School Operations Boyd Michael said officials need to know now where a potential new high school in the eastern part Hagerstown would be built. According to a draft of the state capital improvement plan discussed Tuesday, that high school would open in 2012. Local planning funds have been requested for fiscal year 2009, but Michael said a site still needs to be determined.