http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/ Your source of news and gossip from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Potomac en Copyright 2009 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:21:32 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Frank Kratovil made it official today: he'll vote against the Democratic health care plan in the House this weekend. The freshman Democrat from the Eastern Shore, facing one of the toughest re-election fights in the country next year, released a statement declaring his opposition to the measure. His stance could complicate efforts by Democratic leaders to secure approval of the legislation this weekend. “After months of thoroughly reviewing legislative proposals and speaking with constituents and stakeholders, I am not satisfied that this bill before us is a sustainable solution,” Kratovil said in a release from his office this morning. “While I applaud the efforts to improve this bill, I still am concerned that this bill does not do enough to bend the long-term cost curve and that it lacks adequate provisions to reduce the deficit and protect small businesses.” Kratovil left open the possibility of supporting a future version of health care legislation. He stated that he would “continue to work with my colleagues to pursue a better bill as this process continues.” If both the House and Senate approve health care overhaul plans, a final version of the legislation would have to be crafted and submitted to both chambers for a vote. That merged plan could be more palatable to moderates. Kratovil, who represents the Eastern Shore and portions of Baltimore, Harford and Anne Arundel counties, is close to House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer of southern Maryland. Kratovil had previously indicated his opposition to the House legislation, while leaving open the possibility that he might support it. The former Queen Anne’s County prosecutor is a member of the House Blue Dog coalition, a group of 52 fiscally conservative Democrats that has been critical of the cost of their party’s health care proposal. He had been under pressure, from conservatives in his district and media ads by opponents of the Democratic health care plan, to vote against it. Because House Republicans have remained united in their opposition to the Democratic health care proposal, House leaders will need to persuade at least a dozen Blue Dogs to support the plan. With a total of 258 Democrats in the House, and 218 votes needed to approve the measure, there can be no more than 40 defections by Democrats or the plan as currently written will fail. In recent days, several House Democrats who represent Republican districts have come out against the measure. Kratovil, whose district backed Republican John McCain by a wide margin in 2008, fits that profile. By announcing their opposition in advance of Saturday’s floor debate, these Democrats spare themselves from being pressured by House leaders to support the measure as a matter of party loyalty. Republicans are waging an aggressive campaign to warn Democrats from conservative districts that a vote in favor of the House health care plan, strongly supported by President Barack Obama and—just this week—groups such as AARP and the American Medical Association, could produce a voter backlash in 2010 that will end their careers in Congress. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/kratovil_a_no_on_health_care.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/kratovil_a_no_on_health_care.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:21:32 -0500 It's been nine years since federal Judge Andre Davis of Baltimore was first nominated to fill the "Maryland seat" on the federal Court of Appeals. It's been seven months since President Barack Obama re-nominated Davis for the same position--which has remained vacant, thanks to political stalemate in Washington, since the death of Judge Francis D. Murnaghan Jr. in August, 2000. And it's been more than five months since the Senate Judiciary Committee, on a bipartisan vote, cleared Davis for confirmation by the full Senate. Once again, it was politics--delaying tactics by Senate Republicans, who are waging a relatively unnoticed, but largely successful, blocking campaign against Obama nominees--that forced Davis to wait some more. In just a few days, however, the Baltimore native--having spent his 50s waiting for the promotion to come through--should finally be able to move up. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/long_wait_for_davis_about_over.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/long_wait_for_davis_about_over.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:38:37 -0500 Gov. Martin O’Malley would best former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich in a poll about a hypothetical rematch in 2010, but the sitting governor still may be vulnerable, according to pollsters at Clarus Research Group. How did they come to that conclusion? Several layers of data provide the answer. First of all, pollsters pitted O’Malley against “someone new” in one question put to voters. While O’Malley has Ehrlich beat by a 47-40 percent margin in the poll, he lost to a nameless opponent by a 48-39 percent margin. That's a mixed bag for O’Malley, the incumbent Democrat next November, as well as Ehrlich, a Republican who hasn’t even revealed whether or not he’ll run next year. But other questions also yielded telling results, according to Clarus. O’Malley scored less than 40 percent approval of the way he’s handling seven issues — holding down state taxes, bringing new jobs to Maryland, managing the state budget, bringing people together to solve problems, putting Maryland’s interest above partisan politics, keeping in touch with average citizens, and protecting consumers against high electric utility rates. It has to hurt that only 33 percent approved of O’Malley’s handling of the utility issue even after his recent public clashes with Constellation Energy Group during which he sought rate relief for customers of Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. O’Malley only scored majority approval on one of the issues — 54 percent for living up to high standards of ethics. Then again, 48 percent of those polled approved of the overall job O’Malley is doing while only 40 percent disapproved Clarus also provided more detail on the O’Malley-Ehrlich matchup. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/poll_shows_omalley_may_be_vuln.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/poll_shows_omalley_may_be_vuln.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:30:24 -0500 Republican renaissance? What Republican renaissance? In Maryland, at least, national Democrats are still riding high. According to a new statewide poll, Barbara A. Mikulski heads into the 2010 mid-term election with her status intact as Maryland's most popular politician. The survey, by Clarus Research Group of Washington, showed the Democratic senator with a job approval rating of 57 percent, a good score for an incumbent at a time of widespread voter discontent and economic malaise. A majority of Maryland voters surveyed -- 53 percent -- said they would like to see the Senate's senior woman get another six-year term. Only 36 percent wanted someone new in the job. Mikulski, already running for re-election, has drawn three Republican rivals so far. None of them is well-known statewide or attracting a significant amount of campaign money (the first test for a challenger). http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/obama_mikulski_score_high_in_m.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/obama_mikulski_score_high_in_m.html Candidate Watch 2010 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:10:22 -0500 Mike Pappas, the first Republican brave enough to wade into the 2010 gubernatorial contest in Maryland, is dropping out and throwing his support behind Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. Nearly a year after Pappas declared he was “in it to win it,” he’s now saying he’s in it for Hogan. “I’m withdrawing from the race, and I believe that Larry is the candidate who can win next November,” Pappas said in a press release from Hogan’s campaign. “Larry nearly defeated Maryland’s most powerful Democrat. He has a proven record of wining over Democrats and Independents as well as Republicans.” Hogan does count among his political credentials a campaign that almost unseated Steny H. Hoyer in the 1990s, a significant feat in a heavily Democratic state. The real estate company executive went on to serve in former Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich’s cabinet. Pappas said Hogan has the ability to build the grassroots organization and fund-raising operation needed to be successful as Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley is already gearing up his campaign. But there’s one major caveat — Hogan has said he’s only in it if Ehrlich’s not. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/pappas_drops_gubernatorial_bid.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/pappas_drops_gubernatorial_bid.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:01:30 -0500 Heard the news from the statement from Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Phil Andrews: “Montgomery County has suffered a terrible loss. “Jean Cryor served the people of the County in several capacities – as a local journalist, a State Delegate, and as a member of the County Planning Board. Her absence will be deeply felt in many ways and in many communities. “We mourn her loss and extend our deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and her colleagues on the Planning Board.” My own view: For years, Cryor, former editor and publisher of the Gazette Newspapers, was the lone Republican in the Montgomery legislative delegation. She carried the distinction with humor and class, and fought the good fight on Ways and Means and on the House floor. As a woman Republican from Montgomery, her name was frequently mentioned as a lieutenant governor candidate or for other high-level positions, which she could have filled with distinction. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/former_state_delegate_jean_cry.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/former_state_delegate_jean_cry.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:27:07 -0500 A candidate for Annapolis alderman says he will file a complaint with the state Attorney General’s office after an anonymous racist and homophobic flier criticizing his candidacy began circulating last weekend. The flier, addressed to the “Friends and Supporters of Black Annapolis,” was distributed in public housing developments in Ward 3, where Republican Scott Bowling, who is white, is challenging the Democratic incumbent Classie Hoyle, who is African-American. The flier states that Bowling “will be a danger to us all and our children,” and makes references to the “risk of sexual assault,” and says that Bowling is “white and gay,” and “wants to push for a pro gay agenda at City Hall.” “It’s racial, bigoted and prejudiced and this has no place in Annapolis politics,” said Bowling, 38, a mortgage banker. The flier also compares Bowling, who is openly gay, to Samuel E. Shropshire, the alderman who has been accused of fondling a male midshipman. “There’s no secret,” said Bowling. “I don’t feel that has anything to do with the issues facing the city, but it’s who I am.” Hoyle, who has held the seat for eight years, could not be reached for comment. Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office, said Tuesday that any complaint filed would be reviewed and likely referred to the state’s attorney office. -- Nicole Fuller http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/annapolis_alderman_plans_compl.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/annapolis_alderman_plans_compl.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:07:43 -0500 Updated If Republican candidates roll to big victories in today's elections, it could move at least one Republican closer to a 2012 presidential run: National Party Chairman Michael S. Steele. For some time, the former Maryland lieutenant governor has been open to a presidential try. The scuttlebutt from folks who work at national party headquarters is that he thinks he’s going to be a presidential candidate in 2012. A Republican turnaround after back-to-back defeats in the last two elections could advance Steele's presidential ambitions. He'd be a distinct longshot as a candidate; but if he outperformed expectations, there's no way of knowing where, exactly, he might wind up. Today, Steele is making the rounds in New Jersey and Virginia, two Barack Obama states that Republicans hope to win in the only governor's elections of 2009. Tonight, Steele will be all over cable TV. On Wednesday morning he plans to declare victory at a rare Washington press conference. National party chairmanships aren't typical launching pads for a presidential candidacy (just the opposite in the case of Howard Dean, whose election as head of the Democratic National Committee was a consolation prize after his 2004 primary campaign flamed out). Steele's army of critics, in both major parties, would no doubt say that he is a potential president only in his own mind. But that's where presidential runs start in modern politics. And the notion of a Steele for President campaign isn’t completely far-fetched, at least to Steele. ]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/steele_for_president_in_2012_y.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/steele_for_president_in_2012_y.html Michael Steele Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:51:26 -0500 here. The band has played in Washington, Philadelphia and Ireland since they began performing in 1988, according to Ram’s Head Web site. They are also playing two shows on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Avalon Theatre in Easton. The governor sang lead vocals for the band’s fifth album released this year and titled “Galway Races," featuring remakes of songs by Green Day and the Saw Doctors. The band’s Web site includes a one-word description of the album from a Washington Post review: “... shines...” Well, that's not quite what the reviewer wrote. The full review reads: “The band sounds better when it strikes up sans vocals, as on the traditional instrumental ‘Sean Sa Cheo.’ Elsewhere, harpist Jared Denhard's work truly shines.” Ouch for O'Malley; kudos to the harpist. All of this stage work begs the question again about whether he's truly moonlighting while in public office. (O'Malley got paid $800 for appearing on HBO's “Real Time with Bill Maher” last month, and donated the money to a domestic violence center.) As for the governor playing with the band, aides say he doesn’t make any money from it, and the other band members split any proceeds from concert ticket and CD sales. ]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/omalley_moonlighting_again_sti.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/omalley_moonlighting_again_sti.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:19 -0500 State and local elected officials react to the troubling news that Black & Decker was purchased Monday by Stanley tools of Connecticut, which is where the combined company will be located. "Having the worldwide headquarters of Black & Decker here in Towson has long been a point of pride for Baltimore County," said County Executive James T. Smith Jr. "The company has been an important part of our economic landscape for decades. This is clearly not a positive development. But such decisions are based on global competition. This is the sort of thing we have to expect in this tough economy." "It would be great if, as much as possible, they kept operations here," said state Sen. James Brochin, a Baltimore County Democrat. "Black & Decker has been a huge asset for Towson and a huge asset for the community. The civic work they do is off the charts. There are a lot of people who invest a lot of time in that company, and those families make up the core of this district." And Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to talk with Stanley's CEO and has directed the state labor and economic development departments to provide employment services to any displaced workers. *** A bronze Willie Don draws a crowd of past and present pols to the Inner Harbor, including Gov. Martin O'Malley, Mayor Sheila Dixon and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Former Gov. William Donald Schaefer, who turned 88 on Monday, wasn't about to be upstaged by himself. He gave a short speech: "I'm only going to take two minutes because I saw someone yawn. I used to yawn when I listened to you, too." *** Making a seemingly random suggestion that comes either a bit too late or a bit too early in the slots process, a company offers to sell a parcel near BWI for the development of an Anne Arundel County casino. But Cordish says he's not buying. ]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/in_the_sun_today_tools_statues_slots_venues_.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/11/in_the_sun_today_tools_statues_slots_venues_.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:21:22 -0500 A pair of men in dark suits stepped up to a bank of microphones outside the West Wing this afternoon. As video cameras rolled and still photographers clicked, the guy who hadn't dyed his hair a vaguely greenish hue of brown was first to speak. "Hello," he said. "I'm Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's warmup act." Pause. "My name is Governor Martin O'Malley from the great state of Maryland." Give the Maryland guy credit. Unlike some people in politics, he knows his place (at least in this instance). The two governors from opposite coasts were in town to provide a bipartisan backdrop for Joe Biden as the VP delivered another pitch for the virtues of the vast government stimulus program. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/omalley_ahnold_play_1600_penns.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/omalley_ahnold_play_1600_penns.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:24:07 -0500 two candidates for chairman of the Maryland Republican Party mass e-mailed a public letter to his competitor, Audrey Scott, yesterday evening "thanking" her for entering the race. But he also points out that, frankly, she seems rather inexperienced with the Internet, unlike him. She only joined Facebook three weeks ago! Perhaps Vovak hasn't seen Scott's hip YouTube video. Here's his letter (complete with -- you guessed it -- tons of embedded links): October 29, 2009 Dear Audrey Scott: Firstly, I want to publicly thank you for entering the contest to elect the next Maryland Republican Chairman, since this election defines our leadership differences. Secondly, I want to welcome you to the Internet world, which you entered three weeks ago by starting a Facebook page. I have to admit that it is exceedingly difficult to find your positions on any issues, following your prior-political-retirement from politics. For instance, if someone wants to learn something about me, he or she can simply go to my Wikipedia page or view multiple sources about me from hundreds of media outlets which put my interviews on the record. (NOTE: in the last hyperlink, click the photos to read the stories.) On your Facebook page you have declared an impressive fact: "Thank you Harford County and Queen Anne [sic] County for unanimous support." In addition, I have been told by Calvert County Chairman Frank McCabe that his county will support you unanimously. Their approaches differ drastically from Robert Hodge in Cecil County who stated that "Cecil County not sign any petitions for nominations at this time given the fact that we need information on all candidates." Obviously, some committeemen reserve their votes until issues have been articulated. My greatest complaint of our current United States Congress is their practice of signing bills before congressmen have read them. When Republican House Leader John Boehner publically (and physically) dropped the stimulus bill on the floor of the House of Representatives, I was appalled at what Democrats had done. To my utmost dismay, some Maryland Republican Committeemen are following the ruthless example of Democrats by not knowing your positions (or possibly mine) on issues relevant to our future as a Maryland Republican Party. In the last 40 years, the weakest States for electing state-wide Republicans are Maryland and Hawaii, making it clear to me that our State needs to abandon its status quo position for Republican leadership. Therefore, neither of us should sing kumbaya when addressing elected Republican leaders. Maryland can have a Republican Party that loses; but we will no longer be the Party of losers. Because issues and principals are critical to make our Party a competitive minority-Party in Maryland, I ask you to openly answer the following 18 questions. Respectfully, Daniel "The Whig Man" Vovak Bethesda, Maryland ]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/gops_vovak_to_scott_w-w-welcome_to_the_internet.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/gops_vovak_to_scott_w-w-welcome_to_the_internet.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:44:50 -0500 Schaefer statue larger than life 7-foot statue at Harborplace honors William Donald Schaefer's 52 years of service to Baltimore and Maryland; unveiling Monday He flew through the air like a modern-day Mary Poppins or a balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Over Harborplace, over the Baltimore Visitor Center, a 7-foot-2-inch bronze statue of William Donald Schaefer was lifted by crane and touched down on the west shore of the Inner Harbor Thursday in preparation for its official unveiling on Monday, Schaefer's 88th birthday. Stimulus created or saved 4,460 jobs, O'Malley claims Most federal money not yet spent, governor says More than 4,460 jobs have been created or saved with the infusion of federal stimulus dollars into Maryland, according to an initial accounting that Gov. Martin O'Malley released Thursday showing how some of the money has been spent. That level of job creation is far smaller than the 25,800 jobs lost in Maryland during the same time frame, but state officials caution that they have spent only 6 percent of more than $4 billion in anticipated federal funding. They also note that while the state was the first to funnel money into roads projects, many grants for health care programs and home weatherization have only recently been received. The state report and a national one to be released Friday are expected to reignite the debate over the $787 billion in recovery dollars aimed at averting a longer and deeper recession. As unemployment continues to rise, Republicans have argued that the stimulus program failed. But Democrats are seizing on a just-released report that the economy is officially growing again.]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/in_the_sun_today_wds_in_bronze_jobs_or_snow_job.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/in_the_sun_today_wds_in_bronze_jobs_or_snow_job.html Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:33:33 -0500 Md. Lottery director quits to take D.C. job Longtime Maryland Lottery Director Buddy Roogow, who has led the agency for 13 years, resigned Tuesday to take a job as executive director of the D.C. Lottery. "An opportunity presented itself," Roogow said in an interview. "I decided it's the right thing for me. It's a new challenge." His departure at the end of November comes as the Maryland agency is vetting bidders for licenses to operate slot-machine casinos in the state, and will eventually oversee the gambling operations when they open. He also is leaving as state agencies have seen steep budget cuts; Gov. Martin O'Malley recently reduced the lottery's advertising budget by $5.5 million as part of budget-balancing measures. Wright's appearance sours NAACP award for Arundel man Many won't attend honor for lifelong Republican Perry Ealim was elated to learn he'd won a local business award from the Anne Arundel County NAACP and promptly sent a mass e-mail asking friends and associates, largely fellow Republicans, to join him at the November award ceremony. But most aren't so eager to dine with the guest speaker for the evening, President Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. "I am happy for your honor, however I cannot support an organization that would have a racist/bigot such as Mr. Wright as [its] speaker," wrote James Pelura, outgoing chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. Also check out a short on state senators' ire over the firing of Maryland Public Defender Nancy S. Forster. ]]> http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/in_the_sun_today_no_more_buddy.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/in_the_sun_today_no_more_buddy.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:04:53 -0500 The race to replace outgoing Maryland GOP Chairman James Pelura narrowed Tuesday when Chris Cavey of Baltimore County, the party's first vice chairman, announced that he is withdrawing his name. The beleaguered party plans to select a new chairman at its convention next month. With Cavey dropping out, that paves the way for Audrey Scott, a member of former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich's cabinet. Scott and Cavey had been travelling around the state to talk to local GOP groups, said Mark Uncapher, who is chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party and heading the chairman nominating committee. Cavey said in an e-mail that quickly bounced around the blogosphere that he felt party unity was paramount as Republicans see a major opportunity to make gains in next year’s election. “Roughly fifty-three weeks from today is the 2010 General Election, we need to be unified, in full blown campaign mode and not bickering about the past,” Cavey wrote. “The current race for Chairman is very close and I fear the effects of a close race will only further serve to divide us as a party. The GOP has been beset by infighting and financial problems that culminated with Pelura’s resignation. State lawmakers have clashed with Pelura, saying he fell short on party-building activities including voter registration and that he hurt party morale by criticizing elected Republicans. Separately, under an agreement with the State Board of Elections, the party must repay $75,000 owed to former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's campaign account. That makes a dent in any fundraising. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/maryland_gop_prepares_to_elect.html http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2009/10/maryland_gop_prepares_to_elect.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0500