The ongoing debate over the medical malpractice crisis brings home the fact that state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch are more concerned about politics than facing a serious problem in Maryland.

Sen. Miller's comment to Gov. Robert Ehrlich to "take off your Republican hat and remember that you are in a blue state" is outrageous. This shows just how out of touch Sen. Miller is with the citizens of Maryland.

Wasn't Sen. Miller around during the last gubernatorial election? Doesn't he realize that his candidate lost? Doesn't he realize that the people put Robert Ehrlich in the governor's seat because he campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility and no new taxes?

Maryland may have given its electoral votes to John Kerry, but it can hardly be called a blue state. If Sen. Miller would look at the election results he would see that only six jurisdictions out of 24 voted for Sen. Kerry. The rest of Maryland voted for President Bush.

I suggest that Sen. Miller take off his Democrat hat, get together with Del. Busch and face the music. Maryland does not like his tune.

James Pelura, M.D., Davidsonville

Cap would deny rights to victims

Save Our Doctors has become a spearhead for the tort-reform movement, calling for a lower cap on "pain and suffering" awards with the intention of assuring the reduction of medical malpractice insurance rates.

Those doctors should do their homework before buying into this myth that has served insurance companies so well. What happened in three states where tort reformers were duped by insurance companies debunks tort-reform advocates' justification for caps.

Texans amended their state constitution to place a cap on medical malpractice awards for pain and suffering. GE Medical Protective, the nation's largest provider of medical malpractice insurance, has admitted in a filing that a $250,000 cap on damage awards for victims of malpractice will not lower physicians' premiums.

According to the filing, in which the insurer requested a 19 percent hike for doctors' insurance, "Non-economic damages are a small percentage of total losses paid. Capping non-economic damages will show loss savings of 1 percent," which contradicts a March 2004 report in which GE Medical Protective stated that capping non-economic damages is a "critical element (of reform) because in recent years we have seen non-economic damages spiraling out of control."

In 1975, California enacted the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, but only after insurance reform was enacted did medical malpractice insurance rates drop, a drop for which tort reform is erroneously given credit.

In 1986, after insurers and doctors lobbied for and Florida lawmakers enacted a cap on non-economic damages for malpractice claims, insurers Aetna and St. Paul increased doctors' premiums. The companies argued that, despite earlier promises, malpractice caps do not actually lead to savings for doctors.

I hope that Maryland doesn't place a cap on awards for pain and suffering that will benefit no one but insurers and bad doctors and will deny medical malpractice victims a basic constitutional right.

Jane Marshall, Clarksville, Tenn.

The writer's mother lives in a nursing home and she is concerned of the effects tort reform might have on residents if it is enacted. She also believes "If Maryland falls, so may Tennessee."

Prince George's: United and emerging

As the Maryland Democratic Party welcomes its new chairman, Terry Lierman, and prepares for future elections, I think it is important for the party and the state to look back to this past election and the role Prince George's County played.

On Nov. 2, Prince George's County proved beyond question its status as the state's emerging electoral powerhouse. As co-chair with State's Attorney Glenn Ivey for the Kerry campaign in Prince George's, I could not have been more pleased with the participation of our voters. With the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and more than a quarter-million voters -- our most ever -- we defied expectations, set records and energized residents in every neighborhood countywide. The results speak for themselves.

In terms of total Democratic votes cast, Prince George's made a huge gain on Montgomery County, which for years has generated the most votes for Maryland Democrats. If we continue this momentum, in 2008 we will likely overtake Montgomery and become the most powerful county for Democratic votes in the state.

Also, Prince George's won the highest percentage of the county's vote, 82 percent, of any presidential candidate as far back as we could find records for. Likely, it was the best Democratic presidential performance ever in our county's history and only narrowly behind Baltimore city's performance -- an achievement that was unimaginable even 10 years ago.

Perhaps our greatest accomplishment was being a part of the resurgent feeling that "my vote counts." Unlike any previous election, we were faced with reports of possible terror attacks, faulty voting equipment and voter suppression. Also, many expected voter apathy since Maryland is not a battleground state and people were not "warming up" to Kerry. But none of these things bore themselves out, as voters overwhelmed our polling places Election Day.

We came out strong inside and outside the Beltway and in north and south county. Upset about record deficits, job loss, social division and many of our county's young people serving in this protracted Iraq war, we came out and made our mark.

None of this could have been possible without the fantastic Prince George's coordinated campaign volunteer organization that generated 150,000 phone calls, passed out 200,000 pieces of literature at shopping centers and Metro stations, knocked on doors, and posted more than 15,000 yard signs and bumper stickers.

Years ago, I served as a Congressional Black Caucus Fellow for John Kerry in his Senate office. I saw then what people saw when they voted for Kerry: a thoughtful, decent and qualified leader with our best interests at heart.

Although his national victory was not to be, Prince Georgians have much to be proud of. We have stood up together and made our mark. We have shown that this county, in its diversity and uniqueness, is an inclusive, united and emerging force with its best days ahead of us.

Rushern L. Baker III, Cheverly

The writer was co-chairman of Prince George's for Kerry/Edward and a former member of the House of Delegates.

ICC study group, check time

I recently received the Intercounty Connector study, which, on Page 12, lists morning travel times with no-action, corridor 1 and corridor 2.

It lists the no-action travel time from Glenmont to BWI airport as 85 minutes. I was astounded. I have driven that route three to four times this year. My time varies from 36 to 45 minutes. This is driving anywhere from 7:30 on in the morning.

Early in December, I left BWI at 11 a.m. and it took 43 minutes to arrive at the Aspen Hill Shopping Center.

The Olney-BWI time is listed as 94 minutes. I drove that route in November and it took me 50 minutes, including going through a construction area.

I have no idea where the study group came up with these erroneous driving times. I wonder how much else in the study is also erroneous.

Ferd G. Kuyatt, Layhill

Don't blame outsourcing

There was little to quibble about in the well reasoned editorial, "Globalization hits home," (Dec. 17). More people should learn from it that outsourcing has not been a major factor in domestic job losses. Too bad most will not hear about American jobs created by the "dynamic market conditions" referred to.

I would add two things: other countries also outsource production to the USA. Toyota and Honda automobiles are notable examples. Also, American dollars sent overseas must be spent or invested here sooner or later. Otherwise foreigners would get nothing in return from goods we import.

Gerald Schneider, Kensington

Mease, don't run

I was surprised to see Thomas Dennison report that former WUSA-TV sportscaster Ken Mease, a Republican, is considering a run for the state Senate (Reporters Notebook, "If there's a chance to gain ground, take it," Dec. 31).

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Mease at my polling station on Election Day. He was telling people to elect Chuck Floyd to Congress -- the same Chuck Floyd who ran the most undignified campaign I can remember in all my years in Montgomery County.

To think that Mr. Mease would want this man to represent him in Congress really makes me question his judgment. I hope he spares the voters of District 39 and decides not to run.

S. Saqib Ali, North Potomac

Hixon's bill is crucial to efforts to provide medical care to uninsured

It is time to pass a bill that Del. Sheila Ellis Hixson has introduced repeatedly to the state legislature. Del. Hixson's bill encourages health care professionals who volunteer their time and skills for low-income and uninsured people by offering them a limited amount of tax credits.

During the three years that Del. Hixson and 36 of her legislative colleagues have introduced this bill, less funding has been available for fewer services, which means that more people are receiving less health care.

We are anticipating a four-year vacuum of federal funding for human services. If people do not have health insurance and are ineligible for medical assistance (rarely available to anyone other than pregnant women and children), they cannot even make an appointment with a health care professional. Emergency rooms are still the entryway into medical care for most uninsured people in Maryland.

Del. Hixson is not suggesting that health care professionals should compensate for the inequities of the present health care system by giving away their professional skills. This bill simply states that those professionals who choose to donate a few hours monthly to a certified program, health center or clinic should be recognized for their efforts.

The Pro Bono Counseling Project is such a program. During the past 13 years, more than 1,000 licensed and insured mental health professionals have donated in excess of 31,000 hours to more than 3,800 families and individuals, ages 2 to 82 throughout the state. These donated hours are essentially $2.8 million of donated therapy that is supported by a limited amount of private and public funding each year.

Our program thanks them and sends each of them a certificate annually. Their clients express their gratitude at every session by working hard and using their therapy to improve their lives. Wouldn't it support the concept of using the private sector to supplement public services if the legislature will pass an optional tax credit for these clinicians?

The bill clearly outlines a maximum credit of $500 and the health care professional may only ask for a credit toward 25 percent of the total hours donated in any year at a maximum rate of $50 per hour. Agencies and clinics will need to be certified to offer this to the health care professionals who work with them and the agencies will report the hours and identify the professionals. Last year, 3,318 hours were donated by therapists participating with the Pro Bono Counseling Project. Even if all of them requested the tax credit the cost to Maryland's budget would be minimal.

Del. Hixson's bill offers minimum expense for maximum rewards. More professionals will donate their time because their efforts to extend health care for people in need will be recognized. People who would not have received services will get the treatment they need and deserve, and perhaps emergency room care will be for emergencies, not for health care that is delayed for so long that it becomes an emergency.

Barbara Anderson, Baltimore

The writer is executive director of the Pro Bono Counseling Project, a non-profit organization that provides mental health services to those who are low- to moderate-income, under-insured, uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid.