The Prince George’s Post A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 75, No. 41 October 11 — October 17, 2007 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Republicans Not Warming Stream Health Tested at Watkins Regional Park to Slots Bill, Streams List Special Session The Top 10 Stronghold By KATE PRAHLAD Watersheds in Maryland Capital News Service The following streams are ranked in order of ANNAPOLIS - Maryland biodiversity Senate Republicans said they will not 1. Zekiah Swamp (Charles) support a slot-machines bill if it 2. Casselman River (Garrett) comes up in a special session, saying 3. Deer Creek (Harford and Baltimore) such a session aims to push through 4. Youghiogheny River (Garrett) an “unnecessary” and “massive tax 5. Corsica River (Queen Anne’s) increase” on Marylanders. 6. Upper Chester River (Kent and Queen Lawmakers need time to fully Anne’s) analyze the extent of Gov. Martin 7. Rocky Gorge Dam (Howard and O’Malley’s proposals, said Senate Montgomery) Minority Leader David Brinkley, 8. Western Branch (Prince George’s) something that is not provided in a 9. Potomac River (Montgomery and special session. Frederick) “We want to get the package in 10. Tuckahoe Creek (Talbot, Caroline, front of us and deal with it in a regu- and Queen Anne’s) lar session,” said Brinkley, a Carroll County Republican, standing outside Capital News Service. Source: Maryland Department the State House. “There’s enough of Natural Resources stream surveys taken from 2000 to PHOTO COURTESY JOHN WALD 2004. time to wait.” The surveyors are, left to right, Kerl Hellmann, Andrew Becker, Michael Depow, Jay Gerber, The senators’ announcement Patrick Ciccotto and Michael Kashiwagi. came one day after House Republicans said they would not sup- Each year, the biologists fan out to 250 port a slots bill until O’Malley puts By KENNETH R. FLETCHER floated to the surface and was quickly scooped stream sites around Maryland to count the state spending in check. Capital News Service up in a net and dropped into a bucket, where it aquatic life that indicate stream quality. The The GOP holds only 37 of the UPPER MARLBORO - The line of six would swim around unharmed before being data is used to make recommendations to local 141 seats in the House and 14 of the men swept small metal hoops through the released. governments on watersheds that the biologists 47 Senate seats, but Republicans said murky waters of Western Branch, sending an The brook lamprey is a rare species, pre- say are critical to the well-being of the they were expecting support from electric current from beeping packs on their cisely what the fish-shocking biologists with Chesapeake Bay. conservative Democrats would backs across the stream. the Maryland Department of Natural Resources strengthen their opposition to slots. A twitching, snakelike brook lamprey were looking for in Watkins Regional Park. See STREAM, Page A7 Spokesmen for the governor did See REPUBLICANS, Page A7 Elderly Care Mikulski Takes Stand For First Responders’ in Jeopardy Right To Fair Wages, Working Conditions Maryland Shorted $49 Million COURTESY SEN. ment conflicts to prevent strikes MIKULSKI’S OFFICE “If you are willing to put and lockouts. in Medicaid Reimbursements The bill establishes the same WASHINGTON - Sen. your life on the line every rights to collective bargaining Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) has By MICHAEL WALSH politicians warning of day, you should know the already enjoyed by most private joined other senators in co-spon- Capital News Service Medicaid’s end. “If you don’t government stands behind sector workers and by public soring legislation to guarantee pay for something, it will dis- safety officers in 29 states and the collective-bargaining rights for your rights on the job.” WASHINGTON - appear,” said Rep. Steve District of Columbia. public safety officers. The Public Maryland was shortchanged Kagen, D-Wis., at a press brief- The legislation would only Safety Employer-Employee Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski $49.8 million for nursing home ing. affect the 21 states that don’t Cooperation Act provides basic (D-Md.) care by Medicaid in 2007, David Hebert, vice presi- already provide their public safe- fairness for our first responders, according to a report released dent of government relations ty officers with the right to bar- while at the same time promoting by the American Health Care for AHCA, said Medicaid oper- gain collectively. public safety. stands behind your rights on the right to bargain over wages, hours Association. Actual care in ates at an inherent shortfall, These states can also choose “The federal government has job,” said Mikulski. “This bill and working conditions, and Maryland nursing homes costs which could result in a lack of to establish their own collective a responsibility to protect our pro- stands up for our first respon- would ensure these rights are can on average $8.88 more than care providers. “Long-term tectors. If you are willing to put ders.” be enforced in state court. It also bargaining systems and may ask Medicaid pays per patient, per care operates with a 2.5-nega- your life on the line every day, The act gives first respon- provides a dispute resolution for guidance from the Federal day, resulting in the shortfall in tive margin,” Hebert said. you should know the government ders and public safety officers the mechanism for labor-manage- Labor Relations Authority. 2007. “That could affect the ability to By comparison, Illinois hire quality staff.” loses the most money in nurs- Georgia was the only state ing home care, dropping that profited from Medicaid BRAC Officials Stress Imporance of $526.2 million in 2007, $30.21 reimbursement in 2007, mak- per patient, per day. ing $1.41 per patient per day. Nationally, the nursing Maryland has taken steps Providing House Hunting Assistance home shortages totaled $4.4 to narrow the gap, passing a By DAN LAMOTHE move to the state to work on demand for them increases. year), and we’re looking to do billion in 2007, down from the law designed to tax larger nurs- Capital News Service expanding military installa- Struggles in the sub-prime more in the future,” he said. $4.6 billion states were forced ing homes and help the state ANNAPOLIS - Even with tions, the state’s housing secre- mortgage market prompted “Our task is to get the word out, to make up in 2005. The gap cover the Medicaid money the already-record use of its tary said. homeowners to seek a state- and I think once we do that, between cost and reimburse- shortage. mortgage assistance programs, Raymond A. Skinner, sec- record 3,900 mortgages totaling they’ll come running.” ment in Maryland has dropped The law requires nursing Maryland must continue to pro- retary of housing and communi- $750 million in fiscal 2007, The comments came dur- 4 cents since 2005, according homes with more than 45 beds mote its ability to keep homes ty development, said the pro- more than double any year ing a presentation to to the report. to pay 2 percent of their total affordable as flocks of families grams are vital to insure new- before, he said. The disparity has some See ELDERLY, Page A7 comers can afford homes as “We had a record year (last See BRAC, Page A7 Improved Services for Nearly 70,000 Children Top Goal MD Child Providers Vote To Form Union INSIDE “This is an exciting day for family their families. But the rates at which COMMUNITY Courtesy SEIU child care providers and the kids and par- providers are reimbursed are so low, and Foulois Enhances Learning BALTIMORE - Nearly 6,000 home- ents who depend on us,” said Madie Green, payments so unreliable, that many cannot Morningside elementary school to host Renaissance Program ground- based child care providers across Maryland a provider in District Heights for more than afford to stay in the profession. Since 1994, breaking aimmed at making stu- now have a united voice for their profes- 25 years. “Now we have the strong voice Maryland communities have lost nearly dents well-rounded in many areas of study. sion, after voting in a statewide election to we need to stand up for affordable, quality 3,000 licensed family child care providers. PHOTO FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMEN TRUST A3 form their union with SEIU Kids First. child care in Maryland.” “Parents trust child care providers BUSINESS OUT ON THE TOWN Ballots were last week by the The nearly 6,000 providers receive every day to do what’s right for our kids,” Bowie’s Free State Re-Opens ‘Elah’ Anxiety on Film American Arbitration Association and part of their pay from the state, through the said Donya Paul, a mother from Wheaton Bowie High School Marching Band kicks results announced this morning. Providers Department of Education’s “Purchase of who uses family child care. “With a united off the festivities for the community and Follow actor Tommy Lee Jones as he neighbors. walks through a father’s nightmare. voted to join together in SEIU Kids First by Care” program, which helps parents afford A5 A6 more than 75 percent. child care so they can work and support See KIDS FIRST, Page A7 A2 — October 11 — October 17, 2007 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and NEIGHBORS Clinton Conversations Revival Time Clinton, MD, 20735. Call 301-868-0724 for By NORMA FAZENBAKER For information, call Linda more information. The Rev. Doctor The Ross Family Praise Team, Ms. Blanche 301.579.6116 at 301-372-8755, 816-968-1117, October 27 is the date for Louis Schockey will Hammond, Mrs.