THE CREDIT BELONGS TO ALL THOSE WHO WERE ACTUALLY IN THE ARENA.
A conscious decision to work in a bipartisan manner was made by the republican Delegation at the beginning of our efforts to try to save the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center.
Throughout this struggle, there were those persons who I will never forget because they constantly surprised me with the level of their determination and abilities. I will remember Mr. Walt Palmer’s quiet professionalism and leadership on the Board, the employees who constantly were working to address ever changing issues which arose on a daily basis. I have developed a friendship with many of the workers through phone conversations which took place at all hours of the day or night.
I remember the former patients who I met in the community who touched my heart with their stories of over coming mental health problems and their daily efforts just to survive . I will remember the union members and community supporters who came out, on a rainy night, to visit with Senator Pipkin, Mayor Jacobs and I during our all night vigil. I will also remember how this was one of those rare instances when, for the most part, elected officials actually came together in a bipartisan effort to work on a common goal.
Yet, there were also those who stood on the sidelines and took pot shots at the State Delegation, most of which, were unfair and untrue. Rather than be drawn off message, the Delegation we continued to ignore the bait and stick to our mission of trying to save the USCMHC.
Though our efforts are not over, I think it is an appropriate time to answer one of the most commonly uttered mis-characterizations regarding the decision to close the USCMHC.
Some of those looking to capitalize politically on this tragedy have argued that because the delegation voted against Governor O’Malley’s budget that the delegation is hypocritical in now arguing against the closure of the mental health facility. This is simply politically motivated, rhetorical nonsense.
This argument is lacking merit for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that, Senator Pipkin voted for 5 of the last 7 budgets. Some of those writing letters or blogs about our voting records have just got their facts wrong.
Senator Pipkin argued for close to a billion dollars in cuts to the budget to prevent the State from being in the very situation we are now in.
He and I have argued against and voted against budgets that we believe were increasing the size of government in the face of an impending recession. We argued and voted against the idea of using federal stimulus dollars to enlarge the size of Maryland’s government. We argued that the stimulus dollars should have been spent on shovel ready projects that would have put people back to work locally where they would then pay mortgages, buy cars, groceries, etc. and thus help stimulate the economy. When the money ran out there would be an improved infrastructure project which would itself be a benefit to society. Instead, the size of Maryland’s government was enlarged leaving us an additional billion dollar’s worth of structural deficit after the stimulus dollars run out.
I not only voted against the budget, I sued the Executive Branch twice over budget matters. I believed the tax increases were illegal and part of the budget was based upon misleading the public with the proposed Slots language going on the ballot, the courts agreed and ordered a change.
Quite frankly though, the budget vote argument is a big red herring because the simple facts are that a budget was passed with a fully funded USCMHC in the budget. No Republican had anything to do with the decision to close the USCMHC.
It was three democrats on the Board of Public Works that voted to close the USCMHC after a democratic Secretary of Health, requested the closure. It was a Democratic Comptroller who admitted a mistake had been made and eventually made a motion to fund the USCMHC, for that, we have praised him and we are thankful. Unfortunately, it was two Democrats on the Board of Public Works who refused to second the motion to leave the facility operating.
It was a Democratic mayor of Chestertown who did not have enough clout, with her friend the Governor, to save the 10th largest employer in the County.
It was a Democratic Congressman, who tells us he is intensely looking at the health care issues related to his constituents but has failed to be able to convince the Governor or Board of Public Works to keep this award winning facility open.
This battle is not over, I know that there are many dedicated to continuing to fight to save the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center and we will continue the fight this legislative session. The prospects for reversing the decision of the Board of Public Works are not good but we have not lost until we quit trying.
For now let’s not dwell on what we have lost but let’s try to make the most of what we have won. When this started we were told the facility was being closed. Due to the efforts of so many dedicated workers, we were able to expand the Whitsitt Center by transferring some of the duties of the Red Unit to the Whitsitt Center. We were also able to get at least three million dollars to go to the community network providers to help provide community services to those who will no longer be able to get services from the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center. There is much work still to be done and it will be more successful if we continue to set aside our party labels and focus on the community needs. The vast majority of Democrat have been working side by side with the Republican delegation without ever mentioning party.
So, for those democrats who keep trying to turn this matter into some kind of failure for the Republican Delegation, put down your rocks, step out of your glass houses and join the Republican delegation, Democratic and independent community members in the fight to save mental health care on the Eastern Shore.
The delegation has worked hand in hand with the Union, the employees, the Board of Directors, the Commissioner’s, the Comptroller and numerous citizens from a broad spectrum of political back rounds. I have been proud of the bipartisanship with which we have proceeded throughout this process and think that it exemplifies the best of what can be done by a community when they are united behind a purpose.
Teddy Roosevelt, had the most appropriate response for those critics who sit on the sidelines and make snide little remarks about the job others do: Roosevelt said:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
So, to all those who stood beside the delegation as we struggled together, in this most worthy cause, I thank you.
