LETTER: Councilman Guthrie Scolds State Del. Impallaria

Harford County says Del. Rick Impallaria deliberately let a bill that would have benefitted residents in Edgewood and Joppatowne die during the Maryland General Assembly.

Gurhtie said Impallaria should be embarrassed for having "got even" with Sen. Nancy Jacobs.

Here is the letter unedited and printed in full.

Letter to the Editor –

It was with great disappointment that I read the article in the Aegis, dated April 21, 2011, on page A11 titled “Incinerator credit on taxes is denied”.  The lame excuses used by Delegate Rick Impallaria as to why this Senate Bill 395, introduced by Senators Jacobs and Glassman, dated  February 4, 2011, “died”, just goes to show why we get so little back from our delegation over the years and continue to get so very little.  This was an opportunity to actually “do something” for the citizens of our County and not sit on your hands, in a time of need.  The constant “in–fighting” among our delegation is why this bill “died”.  We have been working for three years on this legislation; legislation that “All” agree is needed and everyone supports this legislation.  Delegate Impallaria knew this bill was coming, fully supported by Senator Glassman and Senator Jacobs, and I thank them for their support, however because Delegate Impallaria was upset with Senator Jacobs over another “bill” that did not pass that he liked, he got even.  However who did he punish?  He punished about 30 families in the Edgewood/Joppatown area who live on and around the Fort Hoyle Road, who have for years put up with an aging incinerator plant, hundreds of trips a day of trucks going in and out of that plant, hundreds of trips a day of trucks going in and out of the sand and gravel pit on Fort Hoyle Road, and hundreds of school buses coming in and out of Magnolia Elementary School and Magnolia Middle School on a daily basis, leaving all their fumes for everyone to breath.

These people have been breathing all this polluted air for years.  Many, who are still alive, and have not yet died of cancer, have breathing problems, cancer, emphysema, respiratory conditions and when I have meetings with these individuals in the area, they arrive carrying their own oxygen tanks.  Delegate Impallaria should be ashamed of himself to hide behind those lame excuses he used to “ignore” this legislation.  I have been doing this kind of “stuff” for a long time and if he wants to try to “pull the wool” over everyone else’s eyes as to why this bill died, he can’t get this “stuff” by this learned colleague.  I know how the system is “supposed” to work.

The Senate Bill 395 was introduced by Senators Jacobs and Glassman on February 4, 2011 more than enough time to get passed by both Houses.  Plenty of Bills that were introduced after this date were passed by both houses and are waiting for the Governor’s signature.  In a recent article to the Aegis written by Senator Jacobs titled “Budget called debt-laden”, she stated “Locally, I am proud to report that Senate Bill 395, “Harford County Property Tax Credit-Homes Near a Refuse System-Extension to Additionally Properties” has passed the State Senate and is awaiting action in the House of Delegates.”

And in a recent article to the Aegis written by Delegate Rick Impallaria titled “No rosy pictures from here”, he stated, “Over my past nine years in office I have always told by constituents the truth about legislation…”  He further stated, “The Harford County Delegation has worked very well together, Democrats and Republicans and have seen eye-to-eye on the majority of issues facing Harford County. Many of the bills put in by the Delegation will not gain final passage until the last day of session April 11, so I cannot yet report the final outcome.”

He could not “report the final outcome” because he “held” the bill.  This bill S-395 passed the “Ways and Means” Committee by a unanimous vote and passed the Senate by a unanimous vote.  SB395 was then “held” by Delegate Impallaria on the last night of the session of the “House” at 6:37 p.m., we have a copy of the exact information off of the House Proceedings page of the last night of the session.  He let it die! 

Delegate Impallaria should practice what he preaches (or writes).  He clearly let the “ball drop” on this “Bill”, deliberately, maybe when the re-districting lines are drawn, all of his district can be in Baltimore County, where he lives, as he has done nothing for Harford County.

Dion F. Guthrie
Harford County Councilman, District A