Amid the crush of business in the session's final days, lawmakers take time out to remember Louise Beauregard, who was once a constant presence in the halls of power in Annapolis - and a reminder of the need to be mindfull of human frailty.

Beauregard, 85, who died Wednesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center, was an eccentric gadfly, who testified frequently before the General Assembly and at Anne Arundel County and Annapolis city government meetings.

She was always dressed in her Sunday best, and she spoke up for the poor, though inevitably wandered off topic. The Sun once called her daffy, but there was a constant theme in her verbal ramblings.

Her testimony on behalf of the neglected and disenfranchised reminded us all that society is measured by how it treats the least of its members. The Capital, in its obituary of her on Friday, called her perhaps the area's "most conscientious citizen." She ran for local public office several times, and even garnered 17,000 votes as the Republican nominee for county executive in 1986.

I remember, as a young reporter in the Annapolis bureau of the Baltimore Evening Sun about that time, giving her a ride from a meeting of the Anne Arundel school board, where she had presented her views. She was, as always, unfailingly gracious and polite.

Del. Talmadge Branch, a Baltimore Democrat and the majority whip, announced her death on the House floor Friday. Later, he recalled her as the legislature's 142nd delegate. "She was on everybody's committee," he said.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. today in her memory. There won't be another Louise Beauregard, but her kindred are always among us.

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Sen. John Astle turned 65 today, and the Anne Arundel County Democrat celebrated, he told The Session, by inviting a crowd into his office to watch him jump from the floor onto his desk, without hands. And then when some folks missed it, he did it again.

This is but one feat enjoyed by the fitness-loving former Marine and helicopter pilot. Perhaps he could float an alternative to what looks to become the new State Exercise: the John Astle desk-jump.

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Although House and Senate lawmakers negotiating the finishing touches on the state's $31 billion budget made some progress on how much to reign in spending on the Chesapeake Bay, health care, higher education and transportation projects, they appeared to make no headway whatsoever on a provision in the budget that would restrict Comptroller Peter Franchot to his constitutional duties.

The quick version is that the Senate, which has sparred frequently with the outspoken tax collector, wants the language in the budget bill, and the House does not. 

As the item came up for discussion at this morning's meeting of budget conferees, Sen. Ulysses Currie, who chairs the Senate's main fiscal policy committee, determined by one look at Del. Norm Conway, the budget leader on the House side, that the twain, as it were, had yet to meet.
     
"I can see by the expression on your face, Mr. Chairman," Currie told Conway, "that you don't want this language."

As it happens, Currie is apparently gifted in the art of physiognamy, because the House has yet to budge on the provision. Stay tuned...

     

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During the House and Senate budget negotiations this morning, one of the many items of contention was language in the Senate budget bill that would force Comptroller Peter Franchot to follow his constitutional duties.

This language is no accident, and should be filed under Chapter Two in the tiff that came to a head last month in the Senate over how the flamboyant former Montgomery County delegate has structured his office and, his critics say, taken his many opinions far outside the realm of a state tax collector. Franchot's supporters believe this is one of many attempts to send a message that his maverick stances on everything from slot machine gambling to state land sales and purchases are unwelcome.

While some in the House believe their former colleague has made himself into a less than endearing presence, they nonetheless came to his defense this morning.

"I think that's a silly requirement," said Del. Charles E. Barkley.

"The constitution already holds him to his obligations," said Del. Mary Dulaney-James.

But Senate leaders, notably Ed DeGrange, who has clashed frequently with Franchot this session (as has Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller), held the line, putting off a decision on that measure until a later time. 

P.S. We're sorry about the cached page in the second link above, but the story is no longer on our site. 

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The talk of the Senate this morning -- thanks to Bobby Zirkin -- was that chamber's landslide victory over the House of Delegates in their annual basketball contest.

No one could remember the score. Zirkin, who spent the morning talking trash, claims they won by 16, despite the House's use of several sprightly young legislative staffers. Frank Turner, said to the MVP of the losing team, claimed the margin was 12. Like many things in Annapolis, the truth of it appears hazy, although all agreed that the House got skunked.

"Allan Kittleman was draining threes last night from all over the court," Zirkin said. Kittleman, a bespectacled, fatherly-looking fellow that might not strike a stranger as a blue chip prospect, demurred rather sheepishly, although all acknowledged he had a magic touch.

Kittleman, the Senate Minority Whip focused, instead on the "bi-partisan" makeup of the team, coached by freshman Sen. David Harrington, a Prince George's Dem, and the rebound help they got from Sens. Bryan Simonaire and Paul Pinsky, R and D, respectively.

Turner, on the other hand, admitted to exhaustion this morning. He played with Delegates Ben Barnes and Jon Cardin, coached by Nathaniel Oaks. Barnes clocks in at 32 years old, and Cardin is a triathlete, though not very tall.

"I should have stayed at home," Turner said. "Sometimes, you forget how old you are" (in his case, 60) "but you remember quickly the next day."

Funny and catty comments from participants and witnesses are welcome.

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According to this job site, an anonymous "Maryland based Issue Campaign" is on the lookout for an executive director who can be "responsible for fundraising, hiring staff, directing communications and political activity."

What campaign could that be? Could the "issue," perhaps, relate to slot machines and an upcoming referendum in November in which voters will consider legalizing the devices in Maryland?

Surprise! It does, according to Minor Carter, longtime lobbyist for StopSlotsMaryland. This executive director would be an addition to Scott Arceneaux, another political operative (ran gubernatorial campaign of former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan) who signed up to oppose slots.

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In what we hope can be an ongoing series highlighting flourishes, oddities or otherwise interesting rhetoric from the political class in Annapolis, we bring you the words of Comptroller Peter Franchot from a hearing today on faux slot machines, which, news flash, he opposes:

"Right now, the gambling interests make a killing -- and the taxpayers get hosed." 

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As per PolitickerMd's Kevin Agnese -- who along with a few others apparently made the long slog to Chestertown at 7:30 a.m. yesterday -- the inaugural meeting of a group of Republicans supporting the candidacy of Democrat and Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil for Maryland's 1st Congressional District included several GOP officials from Eastern Shore counties and staffers for Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, who lost to state Sen. Andy Harris in last month's primaries.

Harris's campaign manager also has a pithy response here. As we've written before, the district is being eyed both by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who chairs the Democrats's congressional campaign committee, as a seat that could be picked off from the GOP.

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News flash: state Sen. Andy Harris, the Republican nominee for Maryland's 1st Congressional District, will support Sen. John McCain, who officially clinched the GOP nomination, and campaign on his "ticket" in Maryland.

In a written statement, Harris offered his congrats:

"I congratulate John McCain on winning the Republican nomination for President of the United States. Senator McCain's compelling life story of courageous service to our nation makes him a genuine American hero. John McCain is an experienced leader with bold solutions to the most pressing issues facing our nation today. I am proud to be a member of John McCain's team in Maryland.

"John McCain offers voters a clear alternative to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's big government tax-and-spend liberal philosophy. Senator McCain's belief in lowering taxes and eliminating wasteful government spending to stimulate our ailing economy stands in stark contrast to the Democrats' desire to raise taxes and increase government spending which will only push our nation into a recession.

"Over the next eight months, I will be campaigning throughout the first district as a member of John McCain's ticket. I look forward to serving with him in Washington when I am a member of Congress, and John McCain is the President of the United States."

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With crucial presidential primary contests in the run for the Democratic nomination today, all eyes are on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to see who cries “uncle" first. The race is tight and today’s primaries in Texas and Ohio could prove the deciding factor in one of those candidates conceding.

Veteran political reporter Mark Halperin came up with a list of “13 People Whose Potential Public Calls for Hillary Clinton to Get Out of the Race Would Have an Impact on the Media and Other Democrats.” They include household names such as Al Gore, Jimmy Carter and John Edwards, and national figures such as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

And in the lucky No. 13 spot: Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

You can see the list here: http://thepage.time.com/halperins-take-the-10-people-whose-potential-public-calls-for-hillary-clinton-to-get-out-of-the-race-would-have-an-impact-on-the-media-and-other-democrats-if-not-necessarily-on-clinton-herself/

O’Malley has been considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, and he has a long-standing relationship with the Clinton family. O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese, when showed Halperin’s take, noted that O’Malley is in “good company.” Then he added that O’Malley “committed to backing Sen. Clinton early in the race and still supports her candidacy.”

Posted by Laura Smitherman at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Let it not be said that Peter Franchot doesn't support a ban on faux slot machines. The state's #1 scourge of slots has been railing against the "for amusement only" machines that proliferate in Baltimore's bars and restaurants, and recently he's been auditing the electronic bingo machines that are common in some counties (and which can, under certain circumstances, legally pay out).

But it was Sen. Ed DeGrange and big-time slots backer Senate President Mike Miller who are pushing a bill to actually outlaw the things, which is up for a hearing tomorrow.

So Franchot is working to get back in the game today with a news conference at the Olde Philadelphia Inn in Baltimore (home of the crab pretzel). In case anyone missed it, his office sent out a press release last night. And another one this morning. And another one. And another one. (There were minor variations between the versions; with attachment, without, you get the picture.)

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The Cat in the Hat was a tough act to follow in the House of Delegates this morning.

Later in the session, Speaker Michael E. Busch introduced Thelma B. Thompson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

"Dr. Thompson, it's Cat in the Hat Day," Busch told her. "We're happy to have you, too."

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Slot machine gambling backers have organized an advocacy group and named a chairman to lead their efforts to support November's referendum on expanding gambling.

Frederick W. Puddester, a senior finance and administration dean at The Johns Hopkins University and former state budget secretary, will head "For Maryland, For Our Future." Gov. Martin O'Malley called him within the "last couple days" to ask him to do it, an indicator that the governor will play some role in urging the measure's passage.

"To me, what's important is that people understand the implications of this referendum not passing," said Puddester, who also serves as the chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority and a committee that advises the state legislature on the budget.

"We have to think about the need to have resources for education in this state, and at how much tax revenue flows into Delaware and West Virginia that could be captured for residents of this state. It's important to have a calm, deliberate, rational discourse about what’s at stake here."

In November, voters will decide whether to approve more than 15,000 slot machines at five locations around the state, which would provide between $600 and $800 million a year for education, health care and environmental programs.

The choice of Puddester is interesting less for what it is than what it is not. Instead of a high-priced political operative (although several have already been tapped by both sides), slots supporters have picked a low-key budget guru who formerly ran all of Johns Hopkins' finances.

Although he said many of the details have yet to be ironed out, his comments are an early indication that the campaign will focus significantly more on what the state will do with money from slot machines than it will promote gambling, a likelihood The Sun wrote about in November.

O'Malley's personal involvement in Puddester's selection has also put to rest any question about what role he will play in the effort.

"The governor will be active in the campaign, but expects teachers, nurses, educators, advocates, to be just as active, if not more active, considering what's at stake with this referendum," said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for O'Malley.

Posted by Brad Olson at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Responding to Sen. Ed DeGrange's earlier protest of his release of (publicly available) information about top-paid state employees, Comptroller Peter Franchot sent out his own statement this afternoon. Via his spokesman, Joe Shapiro, Franchot says:

The Comptroller respects Senator DeGrange and has enjoyed a productive working relationship with him through the years. However, with respect to the issue of public records, the Senator unfortunately misunderstands State law and the importance of transparency in government.

Section 10-611(g)(2) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, a part of the State Public Information Act, very clearly states that "‘Public record’ includes a document that lists the salary of an employee of a unit or instrumentality of the State government or of a political subdivision."

It is under this legal authority that Senator DeGrange and his colleagues engaged in very thorough public scrutiny of specific state employees’ salaries when his Committee reviewed the Comptroller’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget request last week.

The Comptroller takes very seriously his obligation under the law to keep confidential records out of the public domain. This agency deals with millions of taxpayer records every year, and enforces a strict policy of absolute confidentiality. However, the Comptroller also believes very strongly in the open conduct of government and in the public’s right to have access to public information. Tax records are confidential; State employees’ salaries are not.

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The general election contest for Maryland's 1st Congressional District is still more than eight months away, but that hasn't stopped anyone from hedging their bets.

Ever since state Sen. Andy Harris defeated nine-term incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in a surprisingly comfortable Republican primary earlier this month, speculation ran wild about who would be picked to take his place, if he can beat Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil, Jr., a Democrat, in November. 

On the record, everyone seems to be feeling coy, but Del. J.B. Jennings, a Republican who happens to be one of three delegates in the House who serve Harris's district, did send out a very friendly note to constituents last week via the media.

In the missive, he talks about the legislative process and his effort to "try to look closely at every bill that comes before me and vote with my conscience while keeping in mind the wishes of my constituents." He even offers to carpool to Annapolis if someone lacks a ride.

Read on for his full letter. 

Continue reading "Jennings warms up to constituents" »

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