March 12, 2001
 
 Where is the Cas Taylor depicted in the Sunday Baltimore Sun piece posted above? Where is the consensus builder, the man willing to allow the voice of the people to override his own personal views on issues of importance to the state? Where is the diplomat, the creator of dialogue, the man who so ably has molded the office of Speaker in the Maryland General Assembly into the most powerful such office in the United States?
 
 The Cas Taylor depicted in such detail in the Baltimore Sun is a stranger to the people of Western Maryland. The people of Allegany County do not question Mr. Taylor’s actions, or his motivations, for fear of losing their jobs. They have no voice in the legislation that affects them. They speak in whispers of his pet projects that do nothing for our community - like his 8$ million amphitheater at Rocky Gap - but say little out loud.
 
 In Annapolis, Mr. Taylor is a consensus builder. In Allegany County, he is a dictator.
 
 Our County Commissioners make no move without Mr. Taylor’s approval. When the question of taxing tip jars arose late last year, Mr. Taylor adamantly opposed a local county tax, even though the money would have done much to assist our financially strapped school system. The County Commissioners refused to even ask the Delegation to file a bill creating a tax, in spite of cries from the public to tap this revenue stream.
 
 Last year, the people of Allegany County were told AFTER the session in Annapolis that a bill had been passed that created a new horse track in the state of Maryland - in Allegany County. Had the people of Allegany County been asked if they wanted a horse track? No. Mr. Taylor wanted a horse track, and he wanted it in Little Orleans. The people were to have no say in the matter.
 
 As Mr. Taylor travels the halls of Annapolis, guiding the unruly House year after year, he works diligently to please the people living elsewhere in the state by forgoing his own stand on issues. To remain Speaker, he must keep a majority of the House membership happy. To do that, he creates and supports legislation that pleases the wealthy, liberal population downstate.
 
 And what do we get? Prisons, horse tracks, and slots.
 
 According to the Sun, Mr. Taylor’s philosophy as Speaker has been “to try to keep everyone in play and keep everybody communicating, and try to do as much of it by your own example as you can.”
 
 When was the last time Mr. Taylor communicated with his constituents at home? He doesn’t. That inability - or unwillingness - to have a dialogue with the people he represents is indicative of where his true interests lie. He can’t be the most powerful Speaker in the country and pay attention to the needs of his constituents at the same time. So what are we getting out of this relationship again? Every county in the state is doing better than we are, and we’re the only county with a Speaker among our Delegation. That fact speaks volumes.
 
 During Mr. Taylor’s tenure, Allegany County has become a county of landfills and prisons. Not many communities really want other people’s garbage or huge prison complexes in their midst, so we get them. Along with $7 per hour jobs that keep families impoverished, as provided for in Mr. Taylor’s One Maryland program.
 
 No one wants $7 per hour jobs, either. People make $9.50 an hour at convenience stores in Washington County.
 
 Mr. Taylor does work hard at something here in Allegany County - he toils to ensure his power here is absolute, because his ability to continue as Speaker - or to move to another position of power - hinges on whether or not he can ignore the needs of his constituents and still stay in office. He has made a commitment in his career, but it is a commitment to his own advancement, not to improving our community. That’s why he must oppress any dialogue here. He doesn’t have time for it, and he doesn’t care. His interests lie elsewhere.
 
 Perhaps the people of Allegany County would be better served by a representative with lesser power, and more interest in meeting the needs of our county. More interest in getting funding for our school system. More interest in investing state money that would foster true economic development with jobs that pay a living wage, as opposed to building amphitheaters and state owned hotels. In other words, a representative committed to creating a thriving, viable community that
 provides a future for our children.
 
 The rest of the state can survive without Mr. Taylor. And Allegany County? Without Mr. Taylor, we could blossom.