Krebs, Kittleman talk state issues at FACC meeting

05/24/06 By Heidi Schroeder Even with the General Assembly out of session, Delegate Susan Krebs and Senator Allan Kittleman are busy. "The interim is busy because our district has a lot going on," Krebs said at the Freedom Area Citizen's Council last Thursday. She and Kittleman were the featured speakers at the group's monthly meeting. Addressing a group of about 40 people, the two provided a wrap-up of this year's legislative session and a preview of upcoming issues. Kittleman said that one of his major frustrations with the past session was passage of bills to allow for early voting. He said the new bills provide too many opportunities for voter fraud. "I can live with all these things if they require ID," Kittleman said. "I want people to vote, I just don't want people to vote more than once." He said he was also disappointed by the assembly's failure to address eminent domain and stiffer penalties for sexual predators. Krebs cited the assembly's lack of action on Baltimore city schools. She said the city's per-pupil funding is the highest in the state, but achievement in those schools is well below expectations. Krebs explained the city schools situation affects Carroll County because state tax dollars fund some 81 percent of the city school budget. Carroll County Public Schools pulls less than half of its budget from the state. Residents spoke their frustrations about energy costs and the ongoing districting debate. Under questioning from local residents about his motives for voting for the Option 1 district map, Kittleman reaffirmed his opinion that he voted for the Option 1 map because he believes communities of interest should be kept together, especially after witnessing the effect of communities that were split when he was on the Howard County Council. Local resident Ellen Dix asked Kittleman who he had talked to in South Carroll that supported Option 1, noting that many of the people she encounters are Option 2 supporters. However, several residents in attendance at the meeting expressed support for Option 1. Krebs noted how the districting debate is evidence of the need for Carroll County to consider Code Home Rule. "I just would like to get the dialogue started," Krebs said. She said she has always been a supporter of charter government, but given the county's move to five commissioners, she does not see another change in government on the horizon. Kittleman said he has not taken a position on Home Rule in Carroll, but that his experience in Howard County has been with charter government and that he believes the commissioners should be able to handle districting in the future.