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Editor
Ethan
If you think following politics is boring, think again. Politicians try to give voice to the people they represent. How would you like to represent thousands or millions of people with a gazillion different ideas? Look here each month to find out about our elected leaders and what they are doing. Go the the Letters to the Editor page, write to "Dear Ethan" and let us know what you think.
Okay, we all know there was an election last Tuesday, because we got a day off school so our parents and other members of our community could use our school as a place to vote.
Our parents voted for a lot of people. If we told you about everyone who ran for office and who won you would soon be catching up on your sleep! So we picked out three of our elected leaders, all whom won re-election.
We did phone interviews with our State Representative (Liz Bobo) and our State Senator (Ed Kasemeyer), and did an email interview with our Governor (Martin O’Malley). Read below to see what they say they want to do during their next term, and what they want you to know about them. Governor O’Malley used a lot of big words to describe how he wants to make our economy stronger. You might want to show it to your parents and talk about what he meant.
Beth, Ethan and Avery also did a video interview a few months ago with Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, who also just got re-elected. Go to the ‘Take Me to your Leader” page to watch their interview.
Q:What is the most important issue you will be working on this next session?
What is the most important issue you will be working on this next session?A:I think it will be how to balance our budget and make sure we have enough money to pay all our bills. That is the most important issue facing us.
I think it will be how to balance our budget and make sure we have enough money to pay all our bills. That is the most important issue facing us. 
Q:How are you going to do this?
How are you going to do this?A:We are probably going to have to do it by spending less money than we have previously by making cuts. It’s just like if your parents gave you an allowance and gave you $5 a week and things cost you $5.50 – you would have to stop spending 50 cents to have enough money. So we are going to have to stop spending as much money to make sure we have enough.
We are probably going to have to do it by spending less money than we have previously by making cuts. It’s just like if your parents gave you an allowance and gave you $5 a week and things cost you $5.50 – you would have to stop spending 50 cents to have enough money. So we are going to have to stop spending as much money to make sure we have enough.
Q:How does this issue affect kids?
How does this issue affect kids?A:A lot of things we do and money we spend affects kids, primarily education. We spend almost 6 billion dollars a year for K through 12 school and 1 billion or so for colleges in Maryland, so a lot of money goes for schools in the state. A lot goes to pay for health care. Many kids’ families aren’t able to take care of their medical bills and they have to have the state help them when they need to go to the doctor or the hospital.
A lot of things we do and money we spend affects kids, primarily education. We spend almost 6 billion dollars a year for K through 12 school and 1 billion or so for colleges in Maryland, so a lot of money goes for schools in the state. A lot goes to pay for health care. Many kids’ families aren’t able to take care of their medical bills and they have to have the state help them when they need to go to the doctor or the hospital. 
Q:Do you think you will cut money for education?
Do you think you will cut money for education?A:I don’t think so. I really don’t. And if we did I think it would just be a really tiny amount. Maybe for colleges and universities, but not K through 12.
I don’t think so. I really don’t. And if we did I think it would just be a really tiny amount. Maybe for colleges and universities, but not K through 12.
Q:What is something you want kids to know about you?
What is something you want kids to know about you?A:I would like kids to know they could always talk to me if they had any suggestions or thoughts they want to pass on. Kids can make a big difference and they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up and talk to the people they have elected.
I would like kids to know they could always talk to me if they had any suggestions or thoughts they want to pass on. Kids can make a big difference and they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up and talk to the people they have elected.
Q: What would be the best way for kids to contact you?
What would be the best way for kids to contact you? 
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Q:What is the most important issue that you will be working on during this next session?
What is the most important issue that you will be working on during this next session?A:During the next Legislative Session, one of the things that we will be focusing on will be the creation of our InvestMaryland initiative. This proposal is designed to support the growth of our state’s Innovation Economy, like our bio-science and life sciences companies, by stimulating investment in the Maryland Venture Fund. This program will help to make available the critical capital that our businesses need to create jobs and advance innovation.
During the next Legislative Session, one of the things that we will be focusing on will be the creation of our InvestMaryland initiative. This proposal is designed to support the growth of our state’s Innovation Economy, like our bio-science and life sciences companies, by stimulating investment in the Maryland Venture Fund. This program will help to make available the critical capital that our businesses need to create jobs and advance innovation. 
Q:What do you hope to see accomplished?
What do you hope to see accomplished?A:We believe this initiative can spur the creation of thousands of jobs and secure $100 million in venture capital to unlock hundreds of millions and perhaps billions in economic activity.
We believe this initiative can spur the creation of thousands of jobs and secure $100 million in venture capital to unlock hundreds of millions and perhaps billions in economic activity. 
Q:How does this issue affect kids?
How does this issue affect kids?A:Today’s children are the future of our state. By supporting Maryland’s Innovation Economy, we are helping to ensure that parents today have the resources they need to build a stronger, brighter future for their children. At the same time, we are supporting an economy that today’s youth will continue to advance and succeed in once they enter the workforce.
Today’s children are the future of our state. By supporting Maryland’s Innovation Economy, we are helping to ensure that parents today have the resources they need to build a stronger, brighter future for their children. At the same time, we are supporting an economy that today’s youth will continue to advance and succeed in once they enter the workforce. 
Q:What is something you would like kids to know about you?
What is something you would like kids to know about you?A:I love to spend time with my four children – Grace, Tara, William and Jack. I especially like to spend time outdoors with my two boys, fishing in the mountains of Western Maryland or on the beaches of the Eastern Shore.
I love to spend time with my four children – Grace, Tara, William and Jack. I especially like to spend time outdoors with my two boys, fishing in the mountains of Western Maryland or on the beaches of the Eastern Shore. 
Interviews by
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Ethan
Avery
Q:What is the most important issue you will be working on during this next session?
What is the most important issue you will be working on during this next session?A:There are so many issues I care about – environmental, human rights, campaign finance reform, but I guess if I have to pick one I would choose the environment.
There are so many issues I care about – environmental, human rights, campaign finance reform, but I guess if I have to pick one I would choose the environment. 
Q:What do you hope to see accomplished?
What do you hope to see accomplished?A:I want to pass legislation that would require us to clean up the streams in our neighborhoods. The new rules would require any new development (offices, businesses, houses) to pay a fee that would require the new development to not only not hurt our streams, but also help clean them up. The Patuxent River and all the little streams leading into it are not doing well.
I want to pass legislation that would require us to clean up the streams in our neighborhoods. The new rules would require any new development (offices, businesses, houses) to pay a fee that would require the new development to not only not hurt our streams, but also help clean them up. The Patuxent River and all the little streams leading into it are not doing well.
Q:How does this issue affect kids?
How does this issue affect kids?A:This is important to kids because kids like to play in streams and the water is not clean, which makes streams unhealthy to play in. Also clean streams help us have a good supply of clean water to drink.
This is important to kids because kids like to play in streams and the water is not clean, which makes streams unhealthy to play in. Also clean streams help us have a good supply of clean water to drink. 
Q:What is something you would like kids to know about you?
What is something you would like kids to know about you?A:I love life and I love people and the reason I do the work I do is to help as many people as possible live a good life. Kids are at the top of that list! I am also a Grandmother with 8 grandchildren.
I love life and I love people and the reason I do the work I do is to help as many people as possible live a good life. Kids are at the top of that list! I am also a Grandmother with 8 grandchildren.
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