It's Monday morning. Does Kathy Szeliga have a job?
UPDATE: Szeliga did work today and will be back in Annapolis on Tuesday. My understanding is that she, Harris and Miller are still deciding how to proceed.
Fallout from one of the more interesting flare-ups last week -- a spat between Democratic Senate President Mike Miller and Republican Sen. Andy Harris -- should be clear today.
At the center of the disagreement is Harris' chief of staff, Kathy Szeliga, who is running for a Baltimore County House of Delegates seat this fall. Miller and an attorney general say she can't keep her state legislature job while she's a candidate. Harris and his lawyer say that the legislature's own ethics rules make it clear that she can keep working right up until she files with the election board, which she has not done.
Last week, Miller said Harris must fire Szeliga unless she stops running for office. Harris said he believes Miller is retaliating because Harris recently raised some uncomfortable proposals regarding lawmaker pay and pensions -- a notion Miller called ridiculous.
Last we left it, Miller had asked that Harris and Szeliga resolve the situation by Friday. Harris sent a letter to Miller at the end of the week saying he simply would not fire Szeliga and that lawyers are involved.
So does she have a job this morning? Word is, Miller has asked to meet with Szeliga one last time today. We'll let you know what happened.
Comments
Is U Currie STILL chair of his committee?
Is Millers son STILL a judge?
Is this GA corrupt?
Posted by: Anonymous | February 22, 2010 8:22 AM
"The legislature's own ethics rules make it clear that she can keep working right up until she files with the election board, which she has not done." End of discussion as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: NotableM | February 22, 2010 1:02 PM
Mike Miller doesn't seem to worry about $2 billion going to illegal aliens in md last year not including their welfare habits. Mike Miller doesn't mind tax $$ going to Casa de Maryland the voice for illegal aliens. Mike Miller doesn't seem to mind $500,000 going to Casa de Md new center for artwork. Mike Miller doesn't mind illegal aliens voting, driving, collecting welfare and its freebies and sec 8 free housing does he!! Why should Mike miller all of a sudden want to follow the rules that he often breaks.
Posted by: jackie | February 23, 2010 7:31 AM
NatableM said it for me....don't the Democrats have anything better to do with their time?
Posted by: Anita Schatz | February 23, 2010 8:18 AM
Though a determined student, I am not an expert in the area, but it seems to me that virtually every member of the General assembly is a candidate for office this year. Few have filed for election, but all have accounts permitting them to raise money. How many of them have been asked to resign from the General Assembly?
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | February 23, 2010 10:08 AM
This is what happens when one party rules a state for decades. You get corrupt extremists like Miller running the show and a bitter legislature thwarting the honest efforts of dedicated servants of the people (read: Ehrlich). Miller is obviously on a political witch-hunt, and Szeliga has been overly careful to avoid appearances of impropriety and conflicts of interest. Bring accountability back to Annapolis! Elect LEADERS, not thugs with a political axe to grind. Go Harris, Go Szeliga!!!
Posted by: Greg Johnson | February 23, 2010 11:18 AM
Perhaps Mike Miller and Mike Busch should first start following the Maryland Constitution before giving edicts as to the interpretation of the Maryland General Assembly Personnel Manual!
For starters, I might respectfully suggest that President Miller and Speaker Busch should comply with the requisite notices to adjourn the General Assembly, as required by the Maryland Constitution. An explanation as to how they allowed an unfunded mandate to be adopted, in direct violation of the Constitution, would be in order. I'd also like to know the basis for the Legislature to confiscate citizen funded contributions to the Fair Campaign Financing Fund, and use said contributions for purposes other than intended by the taxpaying contributors.
Lastly, I'd like to know why President Miller thinks M's. Szeliga is in technical violation of the Maryland
General Assembly Personnel Manual, when the manual clearly indicates that the prerequisite to be recognized as a candidate is the "FILING with the Election Board".
Posted by: Anonymous | February 23, 2010 6:37 PM
unlike GA members, Kathy is having a fundraiser during the session with Bobby Badhair...
And Bobby Badhair was not a dedicated public servant. Bobby and his buffoon of a Lt. Gov. came in to office and had a top aide who openly carried around a book that had a list of moderate Dems, who otherwise would have probably worked with Bobby, that he planned to knock off come election time...how did that work out Bobby???
Posted by: Bruce needs to study... | February 23, 2010 11:11 PM