Maryland Moment

Johnson Renews Push for Costly Lease

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:46:29 -0500

A proposal by Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson to lease out pricey private office space for public employees is back. The controversial leasing arrangement had been set aside earlier this year after an outcry from critics who called it wasteful and ill-timed. Council member Eric Olson (D-College Park) revived the plan at Johnson's request, asking the council to approve an annual $1 million payment for a ten-year lease of 38,000 square feet attached to a New Carrollton hotel.

Top GOP Senators Ask Pelura To Resign

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:50:42 -0500

The top two Republicans in the Maryland Senate are calling for the resignation of James Pelura, the state GOP chairman, in the latest sign of party turmoil. "We do not feel that you have positioned the Party to take advantage of the opportunities that have presented themselves as we approach the 2010 election," says an e-mail sent this week to Pelura by Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard) and Senate Minority Whip Nancy Jacobs (R-Cecil). Pelura came under fire earlier this week for dismissing the Maryland GOP's top staffer, Justin Ready, without first consulting with other party leaders. That brought a demand from other party officials that Pelura explain his action or step down himself. A meeting has been called for next weekend. In an interview, Kittleman said that his concerns about Pelura, an Anne Arundel veterinarian, predate this week's episode. "It's something that's been building up for quite

GOP Executive Director Fired, Creating Turmoil

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:05:03 -0500

The Maryland Republican Party, which has struggled for relevance in recent years, was in a state of upheaval today following the ouster of its executive director, Justin Ready. Ready, who was in charge of the party's day-to-day operations, was asked to resign yesterday by Chairman James Pelura and was fired when he refused to do so, Chris Cavey, the party's first vice chairman, said in an interview. April Rose, the party's events coordinator, subsequently resigned, Cavey said, leaving only two paid staffers at party headquarters in Annapolis. Cavey said he was still waiting for an explanation from Pelura, who has had a strained relationship with several other party officials and GOP officeholders. "Jim has always had an us-against-them mentality," Cavey said. "Something happened, and he shifted Justin to the enemies list." Neither Pelura nor Ready returned phone calls placed this morning. Cavey said he was not aware of any wrongdoing

Baltimore County Exec Will Not Challenge Franchot

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:58:47 -0500

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith (D) said today that he would not run for Maryland comptroller next year, forgoing what was expected to be a spirited Democratic primary against the incumbent, Peter Franchot (D). Franchot, a former Montgomery County delegate, has roiled many in the Democratic establishment since his 2006 election with his opposition to slot-machine gambling and other outspoken positions. "Although this has not been an easy decision, I am confident that I am making the right choice," Smith, a close political ally of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), said in a statement. "Having spent many months thinking about the duties of comptroller in the state of Maryland, I have concluded that it is not a position to which I aspire." Besides being the state's chief tax collector, the comptroller is also a member of the Board of Public Works, a three-member panel that approves major state contracts. Franchot beat

Leopold Pulls Anne Arundel Slots Legislation For Now

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:14:53 -0500

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold (R) today temporarily withdrew zoning legislation needed for operation of the largest slots parlor envisioned by the state, but pledged to reintroduce it within the month. The decision effectively could extend debate well into the fall over the fate of a proposed 4,750-machine slots parlor at Arundel Mills Mall. The site is projected to generate more than $500 million a year in state revenue and about $30 million for the county, but has drawn opposition from some in surrounding neighborhoods, who are concerned about increased traffic and crime. County legislation, including the zoning bill, had been languishing for weeks and was set to expire Aug. 14 if the county council did not act. Leopold said in an interview that he remains confident that he will secure the four votes needed to pass the legislation. Anne Arundel is one of five locations authorized by

O'Malley Seems Open to Recognizing Out-of-State Gay Marriages

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:52:10 -0500

During a radio show this morning, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) suggested he was open to recognizing gay marriages performed in other states -- something he hasn't said publicly before -- with several caveats. "If a person has those rights under another state. ... I think we probably should respect those rights," O'Malley said during an appearance on WTOP radio's "Ask the Governor." O'Malley, however, also made clear that his preference remains legalizing civil unions -- and not gay marriage -- in Maryland, and his aides labored to describe the evolving legal, legislative and political contexts in which his remarks were made. State officials are awaiting an opinion from Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) as to whether Maryland can recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. That opinion -- requested by a state senator who is gay -- could still be weeks, if not months, away. O'Malley spokesman Rick

MoCo Council Votes Down Ambulance Fee

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:27:38 -0500

The Montgomery County Council today voted down a proposed ambulance fee that County Executive Isiah Leggett said was needed to balance the budget during the economic downturn but was vehemently opposed by many residents and the influential volunteer firefighters' organization. The proposed fee was designed to charge health insurance companies -- not residents -- $300 to $800 for ambulance transport, an amount is similar to charges in the District and Prince George's and Fairfax counties. But the volunteer firefighters and some residents aregued that it might discourage people from calling emergency services. Leggett (D) warned that he might have to cut other programs and delay improving emergency services if the fee was not approved. Voting against the fee were council members Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg-Rockville), Roger Berliner (D-Potomac-Bethesda), Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring), Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County) and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large). In favor were Marc Elrich (D-At large), Mike Knapp (D-Upcounty),

"DeMarco Factor" to be Immortalized in a Book

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:07:20 -0500

Most Annapolis insiders know Vinnie DeMarco as the indefatigable advocate for universal health care, beloved by progressive Democrats and dismissed by conservatives. As executive director of the nonprofit Maryland Citizens Health Initiative, he's a familiar face to reporters, a friendly nudge, always looking for publicity for his causes. Now comes a book by Michael Pertschuk, a consumer advocate and former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, that immortalizes DeMarco and his story as a template for successful grassroots organizing. "The DeMarco Factor: Transforming Public Will into Political Power," to be published next spring by Vanderbilt University Press, chronicles DeMarco's successful campaigns against the National Rifle Association, the tobacco lobby, Wal-Mart and the health care industry. Pertschuk explains how DeMarco, a former leader of Maryland Young Democrats, has organized since the 1980s broad coalitions of health policy advocates, unions, churches and faith communities and even some business interests to help defeat

MoCo Quietly Extends Planner's Term

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:35:42 -0500

Never mind that the County Council and its staff knew for four years that there would be a vacancy on the Planning Board on June 15, when Commissioner John Robinson's second four-year term expired. And never mind that sometimes in the past, when a commissioner's term expired and the council did not quickly pick a replacement, the seat sat empty until a successor was named. This time, the council and Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson quietly came to an agreement to delay picking Robinson's successor until later this summer, allowing Robinson to stay on as the panel attempts to complete some major pieces of work. The five-member board is in the midst of discussions about a new growth policy, a new master plan for the western portion of the area near Gaithersburg and a new master plan for the White Flint area, among other weighty and politically volatile topics. The

Senate President's Gas Tax Remark Draws GOP Response

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:32:34 -0500

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) has long said that Maryland will probably need to raise its gas tax in the next legislative term if the state has any hope of meeting its transportation priorities. But as election year approaches, he's getting push-back from Republicans, with the loudest criticism coming from his likely GOP opponent next year. On Tuesday, Miller told business leaders in Frederick that if Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is reelected, raising the tax will be a big order of business during in the first year of the new term. He acknowledged that it would be a political unpopular vote for the General Assembly. Miller said federal stimulus money can't come close to covering the state's road and transit needs. Maryland's gas tax has stayed at 23.5 cents a gallon since 1992. "We're paving I-270 with stimulus money," Miller told the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, according

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Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:32:34 -0500

Progressive Maryland Releases Lawmaker Scores

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:59 -0500

Democrats representing Montgomery and Prince George's counties in the legislature top the list of "Heroes of working Families" of the 2009 legislative session released this morning by Progressive Maryland, a liberal advocacy group. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) made the list for the first time. Sens. Jamie B. Raskin (Montgomery), David Harrington (Prince George's) and Richard S. Madaleno, Jr. (Montgomery) took the top three spots in the Senate, while Dels. Roger Manno (Montgomery), Cheryl D. Glenn (Baltimore) and Sheila E. Hixson (Montgomery) were the top three House members to make the list. The legislative scorecard, compiled by the Progressive Maryland Education Fund, the group's research arm, assesses how each state lawmaker voted on nine bills of interest to working families during the 90-day session--and their general support for issues the group cares about. Some of those bills include new regulations to crack down on workplace fraud (passed),

O'Malley Releases Video on Constellation Energy Battle

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:54:52 -0500

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has taken his battle with Constellation Energy into cyberspace. The governor emailed a video called "Protecting Maryland Consumers" to thousands of constitutents and users of Twitter, Facebook, Digg, Linked In and MySpace. A year before his reelection campaign will be at full throttle, it's a message to Baltimore-area voters that O'Malley is fighting for them against the energy company that raised their electricity rates. "For too many of our families, it's become a monthly exercise to figure out whether to pay the BGE bill, or to pay the grocery bill," the governor tells the camera, referring to customers of Baltimore Gas & Electric, a regulated utility owned by Constellation. "That's why it's so important for your state government to do everything we can to protect our hardworking families .." Sound like a campaign commercial? In effect it is, an early effort to gain control over an

Md. Lottery, Ravens Team Up for Prizes

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:59:04 -0500

The Maryland state lottery and the Baltimore Ravens have signed a deal to offer Marylanders a new $5 scratch-off game, with $1 million as the top prize and other Ravens-related prizes, including season tickets, game-day suites, game-worn jerseys and autographed footballs. The deal announced this morning will cost the state $800,000 in prizes and license fees, but the lottery hopes to draw $3 million in net profit from Ravens fans who buy tickets. It's the first time the lottery has offered a game with sports-related winnings. The NFL approved such deals in May for every team in the league. "We're a very young NFL franchise," Ravens President Dick Cass said. "We're trying to build our franchise."

O'Malley's March To Close Out Southern Maryland Swing

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:23:34 -0500

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is scheduled to travel to Southern Maryland on Friday for the latest in his "Capital for a Day" series. This day, however, will be fuller than most: It is scheduled to end with a performance by O'Malley's March, the governor's semi-retired Celtic rock band. The official actvities related to Capital for a Day (or CFAD, as it is known in governor's office lingo) are taking place in Calvert County, home of the powerful Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert). The musical performance is actually taking place in neighboring St. Mary's County. O'Malley's band is appearing as part of the St. Mary's College of Maryland River Concert Series, which is holding a two-day celebration of Maryland's 375th birthday. O'Malley's March has been booked as one of several artists playing with the Chesapeake Orchestra.

Md. House Committee to Consider Re-regulating Utilities

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:16:55 -0500

Energy issues are on the front burner in Maryland again, not just because Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is at odds with Constellation Energy Group over concessions he wants for electricity customers before a French company buys half of the energy giant's nuclear plants. The House Economic Matters Committee is taking a fresh look at whether to re-regulate the state's energy markets, a review that's expected to take six months. The idea is to review whether re-regulation is an option. It's a thorny question that could put the legislature at odds with the energy industry, which opposes re-regulation. The Senate passed a bill to regulate future energy supplies during the legislative session that ended in April, but the bill died in the House of Delegates. House lawmakers said they needed more time to digest such a complicated bill, and industry lobbyists were pressuring them to hold off. Committee Chairman Dereck Davis