The Uncomfortable Truth About Deregulation
The fact of the matter is that the current rate hikes and the current deregulation scheme was foisted upon Marylanders by Democrats. There is no other way to articulate it.
It was in 1999 that HB 703 and SB 300 were passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Paris Glendening. Democratic leadershp shepherded the bill through the process. The Senate bill had two sponsors; the primary sponsor, Senate President Mike Miller. His effort was joined by Sen. Thomas Bromwell. The bill was passed, and put into effect during the time Max Curran served as Chairman of the Public Service Commission. The bill itself was barely deregulation; it is hard to promote competition among energy companies when prices are capped.
Fast-foward seven years. Democratic leadership is blaming the Ehrlich Administration for the impending rate hike. Miller is calling for the head of the Bromwell, himself now Chairman of the Public Service Commission, for not doing enough to stop this. Mayor O'Malley is criticizing the administration for decisions made when his brother-in-law chaired the PSC.
Do legislative Democratics think the public is buying this stuff? The facts are the facts; the same Democrats criticizing the Ehrlich Administration for their handling of the situation were the same Democrats who created the situation in 1999. This is their baby. This is their fault. Their reaction, quite frankly, has been no better. First came the blame game. Next came a "legislative remedy,' in the form of a serious of reactionary bills that do not seem as if they were written understanding the full implacations. While they were at it, Democratic leadership decided to take a few more swipes at the power enjoyed by Governors in this state by attempting to reform the appontment process of the PSC.
I understand the fact that something needs to be done concerning the rate hikes; the percentage of the hikes proposed by BGE are obscene. But did anybody stop to ask how many employees Constellation Energy has in Maryland?
The truth about this deregulation mess is uncomfortable to everybody. But the Democrats have made a brazen attempt to absolve themselves of any responsibility for the rate hikes, and that is just plain dishonest.
It was in 1999 that HB 703 and SB 300 were passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Paris Glendening. Democratic leadershp shepherded the bill through the process. The Senate bill had two sponsors; the primary sponsor, Senate President Mike Miller. His effort was joined by Sen. Thomas Bromwell. The bill was passed, and put into effect during the time Max Curran served as Chairman of the Public Service Commission. The bill itself was barely deregulation; it is hard to promote competition among energy companies when prices are capped.
Fast-foward seven years. Democratic leadership is blaming the Ehrlich Administration for the impending rate hike. Miller is calling for the head of the Bromwell, himself now Chairman of the Public Service Commission, for not doing enough to stop this. Mayor O'Malley is criticizing the administration for decisions made when his brother-in-law chaired the PSC.
Do legislative Democratics think the public is buying this stuff? The facts are the facts; the same Democrats criticizing the Ehrlich Administration for their handling of the situation were the same Democrats who created the situation in 1999. This is their baby. This is their fault. Their reaction, quite frankly, has been no better. First came the blame game. Next came a "legislative remedy,' in the form of a serious of reactionary bills that do not seem as if they were written understanding the full implacations. While they were at it, Democratic leadership decided to take a few more swipes at the power enjoyed by Governors in this state by attempting to reform the appontment process of the PSC.
I understand the fact that something needs to be done concerning the rate hikes; the percentage of the hikes proposed by BGE are obscene. But did anybody stop to ask how many employees Constellation Energy has in Maryland?
The truth about this deregulation mess is uncomfortable to everybody. But the Democrats have made a brazen attempt to absolve themselves of any responsibility for the rate hikes, and that is just plain dishonest.
posted by Brian Griffiths at 12:15 AM
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