County work sessions should be open to public
To the editor:
Citizens For Protection of Washington County (CPWC) supports the suggestion of Washington County Commissioners President Terry Baker that work sessions be held in conjunction with or in addition to the regular commissioners meetings.
The work sessions should be held to discuss complicated issues that come before the commissioners on a regular basis. Work sessions would provide valuable information not just to the commissioners, but to the public as well. The discussions would illuminate the more illusive provisions of the issues as well as the possible outcomes, or consequences of various actions.
If work sessions could be held in late afternoon, it would be more convenient for the public to attend and participate in the discussions. The sessions could be alternated with regular voting sessions of the commissioners, or possibly scheduled as one work session per month. These work sessions could result in more comprehensive, knowledgeable voting from better informed members of the board and a more extensive understanding for the public. If testimony from the staff is required, that time could be scheduled in advance and if a strict time table is adhered to, it would result in little time lost for staff members.
As our world and county government become more complex, we strongly support any effort for better information on and understanding of the issues. Please take action to facilitate this endeavor as soon as possible.
CPWC Steering Committee
Henrietta Livelsberger, Barbara Hovermill, Jim Laird, Allen Swope, Kourtney Lowery, Joe Lane
GOP's first order of business: Repeal Obamacare
To the editor:
Now that the GOP is in firm control of the House of Representatives, the most important and first order of business is to repeal Obama-care.
The Republican efforts to repeal President Obama's massive health care law will ultimately succeed on the way to taking our country back.
It's the beginning of a yearlong process, and the Republicans will win that battle.
First comes the House vote. If the Senate should also move to repeal, Obama would then veto the measure. Regardless of any Senate or White House move, the next step would be defunding the measure, which would also bring a veto.
The final step would be to attach the defunding to measures Obama cannot veto such as an extension of the debt limit or the budget
Eventually, this should and will wind up in the Supreme Court, hopefully in time while the court is still dominated by conservatives.
Al Eisner
Silver Spring, Md.
