Embattled GOP Chair Pelura says no, he won't go
More than two weeks after Maryland Republicans met behind closed doors and voted to express “no confidence” in their leader James Pelura, the state GOP chairman insists he’s not going anywhere. And, he said, he has the votes to ensure that he isn’t forced out.
“I am not resigning,” Pelura declared in an interview.
While the executive committee, made up of 30 statewide and county officers, voted against Pelura during a July meeting, the only way to remove the party chairman is by a two-thirds vote of the much larger state convention. Pelura said his supporters have indicated to him that they have lined up 100 convention members who committed to remain on his side — enough to stop his opponents. A convention is scheduled for November, though the executive committee could call a special convention before then.
Pelura, a veterinarian, has held onto the volunteer post despite calls for his resignation.
Legislative leaders have complained that Pelura has been openly critical of elected Republicans. They also have accused him of meddling in policy matters while falling short on traditional chairman activities, such as voter registration and fundraising.
The embattled chairman has defended his record, and he has served during a difficult period for Republicans as the party suffered electoral defeats and financial problems.
The party has $10,000 in debt remaining on a line of credit and has been ordered by the Maryland State Board of Elections to repay $77,500 in contributions from Michael S. Steele, former lieutenant governor and now chairman of Republican National Committee. Elections officials said the contributions from Steele's campaign account exceeded the legal limit or were improperly recorded.
Pelura said he has asked the RNC for financial help but added that he wouldn’t necessarily characterize the request as a bailout. “I always ask the RNC for money; every state chairman does,” he explained. Besides, he said, he has pretty good connections at the national party.
“I know Michael very well,” Pelura said, referring to Steele. “I can say, ‘Hey Michael, I need help.’”
Comments
Republican legislators and GOP insiders want to dump Dr. Pelura because he called their bluff, saying:
"Unfortunately, there are a significant number of our elected Republicans that either vote with the Dems, refuse to introduce meaningful legislation, or simply just say ‘no' with no alternative."
GOP legislators don't get it. Politicians who vote against tax increases and boast about it owe the people a detailed budget showing specifically how they propose to balance the books without the revenue the tax increase yields.
Instead, Maryland Republicans try to pass off two-page double spaced press releases as budget proposals, or most bizarre of all, say they have a plan to balance the budget with 50 individual line items, but refuse to show it to anyone.
Those tactics might draw applause at tea parties and admiring callers on the Ehrlichs' radio show, but Maryland voters will not reward a Republican party that refuses to show us--with specifics--how they propose to do a better job.
- Steve Lebowitz, Annapolis
Posted by: justdafacts | August 4, 2009 2:50 PM
Hey Steve what does OMalley have for breakfast each morning?
Please name me OMalley accomplishments in the last three years?
I am curious.
Are you on OMalley's payroll?
Not a fan of the right either but
your boys in Annapolis are taxing the crap out of us
spending wildly
and in my view accomplishing nothing. Partially thanks to liberal justice, aka Democrats, Baltimore city is a cesspool of a city, overtaxed and crime ridden. All under Democratic watch. Slots are a joke, laws made in Annapolis get struck down in court, pandering to illegal immigrants, sanctuary state, the list goes on and on. I trust Ehrlich better than your boy OweMalley with state funds.
Please answer Steve
thanks
Jay.
Posted by: jay | August 4, 2009 6:06 PM
Jay,
Steve makes valid points. Why don't you answer them?
Alan
Posted by: Alan | August 4, 2009 10:38 PM
Jay -
I don't work for Gov. O'Malley. I'm not government material.
To answer your other question, Gov. O'Malley has done several things for you.
For one, while Gov. Ehrlich and Maryland Republican legislators were busy making noise but offering no solutions, Gov. O'Malley and the Democratic legislative majority made the hard choices and actually balanced the past three budgets. They've reduced spending by over $4 billion in response to the deepest recession since the Great Depression, preserving priorities a majority of voters share and our triple-A bond rating.
Forty-six states face budget shortfalls, and just about all of them accumulated surpluses like we did before the real estate bubble burst and the economy tanked. The governors of most of those states would trade places with Gov. O'Malley in a minute, since he made the hard choices early, putting our finances in much better shape than most states.
For another, if you file jointly with an AGI up to $150,000 or singly with an AGI I'm not looking up right now, you can thank Gov. O'Malley and the Democrats for an income tax cut that took effect January 1, 2008. In Gov. Ehrlich's four year term, his only sorta-kinda tax cut was a roll-back of his own hike in the state share of the property tax. Gov. Ehrlich raised property taxes and then rolled back the increase when assessments rose due to the national real estate boom.
If you're feeling over-taxed, read Andy Green's July 9th post on neighboring states' taxes again. Your comment was correct. Delaware has no sales tax. As Mr. Green pointed out, instead they have a value added (or gross receipts) tax, which is a stealthy version of a sales tax built into the prices Delaware consumers pay for a broad range of goods and services. All 78 of my Daily Kos readers were treated to a similar comparison a few months ago.
I have no idea what the governor had for breakfast, but I bet it was grown, produced, or harvested locally.
- Steve Lebowitz, Annapolis
Posted by: Steve Lebowitz | August 5, 2009 7:57 AM
Pay no attention to Steve Lebowitz aka Justafacts aka David Nitkin aka the reporter Governor Ehrlich had banned from the state house when he was governor.
Speaking of David Nitkin, where is he these days?
Could it be he is writing Blogs on Daily Kos?
Just my conspiracy theory. Doesn't make it fact, however I find this person "alone again, naturally".
Posted by: Carole | August 5, 2009 8:52 AM
Steve-
I enjoy a good mature debate sir. Thank you.
Why were slots not passed during the Ehrlich era?
Wasn't your boys in Annapolis unable to allow a Republican a victory on this topic?
Who made slots a constitutional amendment Steve?
Who so totally botched slots?
Why does your boys in Annapolis pander to the illegals?
Steve
a balanced budget is a legal requirement. So no tooting the horn on that one. Speed cameras are yet another tax from Annapolis.
One more item Steve why does Maryland tax retirement funds?
Delaware does not. Annapolis just over spends period.
OMalley spend the large surplus Ehrlich left behind after his first term. Why no ethic investigations on Currie? Why does your boys in Annapolis not investigate each other? Currie failed to disclose he broke the law.
One last point how has the Democrats helped Baltimore city.
They have run Baltimore for over 50 years now look at the results. Why no accountability there?
How does your liberal justice work?
Posted by: jay | August 5, 2009 2:22 PM
Jay,
How old are those talking points and how short is your memory? Ehrlich hiked state spending by 40% in 4 years and every budget he proposed was still cut deep by the assembly. Ehrlich raised taxes by $6 billion dollars and you probably still think hiking and creating new "fees" means it's not a tax.
We had a brief surplus thanks to those Ehrlich tax hikes. So, speak proudly about that surplus, you paid for it.
But he spent that money, too. There was no surplus of anything but lies out of Mr. Ehrlich and his buddies with self-inflicted blindness.
Posted by: Simone | August 5, 2009 6:20 PM
Nice counter point Jay.
And wasn't it O'Malley who chastised Ehrlich for raising college tuition, then went ahead and did so himself in a time when people can afford it the least?
And wasn't it O'Malley who promised he would never raise our BGE rates just to get elected because he knew all along he couldn't do a dang thing about it?
And wasn't it O'Malley who never fully funded Thornton?
Posted by: carole | August 5, 2009 6:37 PM
Simone-
Yes Ehrlich raised fees and taxes.
However he was upfront and honest about it.
What happened to this OMalley nugget-
"85 percent of you will see your taxes go down."
Said before 2007's special session.
And of course another broken promise about BGE.
And how many times did OMalley blame Ehrlich.
I have more faith in Ehrlich managing the state's money tham OMalley. As least Ehrlich was honest about it.
Can OMalley spell honesty?
Posted by: jay | August 6, 2009 10:29 AM