Your daily download of Maryland's top political news and analysis

Friday, November 5, 2009:

Report: Head of energy committee won't support re-regulation
Del. Dereck E. Davis (D-Prince George's), chairman of a key House committee that handles energy matters, will not support proposals to re-regulate Maryland's electricity industry "and vowed to prevent the issue from consuming his panel's work in the 2010 General Assembly," write Alan Brody and Sean Sedam in The Gazette. The two report that Davis made the declaration Wednesday morning at a legislative breakfast at the College of Southern Maryland. The chairman said competition was increasing and he's not convinced re-regulation would return energy rates to the levels customers enjoyed before caps came off under deregulation in 2006.

MoCo may sue state over school funding law
"Top Montgomery County officials threatened Thursday to sue the state and "aggressively pursue" legislation that would change state law after Maryland's attorney general found that the county had failed to meet the state's minimum level of funding for education. The opinion renders it potentially liable for millions of dollars in penalties," reports The Post's Nelson Hernandez.

O'Malley says he'll work to stabilize businesses' unemployment costs
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Thursday said he would work with business leaders to find a "more sustainable solution" to a state employment insurance system under which tax rates are tripling next year for many Maryland companies. The currrent predicament is largely the result of a 2005 law that calls for an annual review of whether the state's unemployment insurance fund is solvent, writes The Post's John Wagner. The economic downturn has taken a heavy toll on such funds in Maryland and other states around the country.

Plan for I-270 light rail gains steam
"Routing a transit line closer to the Kentlands and through two developments planned for west Gaithersburg would draw as many as 42,000 daily boardings, enough to make either a light rail line or busway in the Interstate 270 corridor eligible for federal money, according to a state study released Thursday," reports The Post's Katherine Shaver.

Concerns growing about possible EPA restrictions on Eastern Shore poultry farms
"Cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay is a priority most everyone can agree on. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is getting involved ... The good news is that the EPA is the place where the buck stops ..." writes the editorial board at the Bethany Beach Wave. The bad news: "The EPA is contemplating stricter control over the amount of pollution produced by large-scale poultry farms in Maryland ... The question is whether Maryland's poultry growers will able to meet the new restrictions and remain competitive with farms across the country."

Hundreds show for Currie's $250-a-plate fundraiser
Nearly 18 months after FBI agents raided his home in a federal corruption probe, almost 200 Maryland lawmakers, fundraisers, lobbyists, labor organizers and business owners turned out Wednesday for a $250-a-plate fundraiser for Prince George's Sen. Ulysses Currie (D). "The showing seemed to signal the powerful chairman of Senate's Budget and Taxation Committee no longer fears drawing attention to himself and that both political hopefuls and established members of the state's Democratic party feel comfortable publicly pledging support," writes The Post's Aaron Davis.

Latest tax amnesty nets a quarter of revenue from 2001 effort
"The comptroller's office says Maryland's tax amnesty program has netted an estimated $9.6 million," the AP reports. "A tax amnesty program in 2001 brought in $39.5 million in revenue for the state."

Mikuski intervenes for Baltimore firefighter
"Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski asked Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday to assist the family of a Baltimore fire cadet killed in a training exercise whose death benefit claim was rejected by the Department of Justice," report The Baltimore Sun's Julie Scharper and Annie Linskey. Mkulski's letter came "a day after The Sun reported that a nearly $300,000 claim on behalf of the two children of Racheal M. Wilson was denied because of missing information."

Blogosphere roundup:

Red Maryland: Greg Kline writes that there's "irony in putting the name 'Scott' and 'party unity' in the same sentence." "Audrey Scott is a longtime Republican leader in this state and has served honorably in a variety of elected and appointed posts. I do not question her qualification or ability for the job as chairman.... but her son Lawrence Scott is recognized as one of the most divisive forces within Maryland Republican politics."

Maryland Politics Watch: Blogger Adam Pagnucco suggests there's room for a compromise between Maryland schools and state education officials over proposed fines and other problems.

O'Malley Watch: Blasts the governor for just about everything in the last two weeks.

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Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) will promise Thursday night to work with business leaders to find a "more sustainable solution" to a state employment insurance system under which tax rates are tripling next year for many Maryland companies.

The pledge is included in the governor's prepared remarks to a gathering of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, which is meeting in Cambridge. O'Malley provides no specifics in his speech, and aides said his administration is still reviewing several possible models for reform that will likely require legislative approval.

The currrent predicament is largely the result of a 2005 law that calls for an automatic review of the state's unemployment insurance fund every Sept. 30 to determine if it has enough cash to remain viable in the coming year. A formula is used to determine how much employers must pay to keep the fund solvent.

The economic downturn has taken a heavy toll on such funds in Maryland and other states around the country.

"This organization helped craft the 2005 legislation, which has had the unintended consequence of doubling down on the pain you're already feeling," O'Malley says in his prepared remarks. "There was a lot right about that legislation, which is providing much-needed assistance to those hardest hit by the recession. The Chamber deserves a lot of credit for your ... engagement on finding a workable solution. Therefore, I look foward to working with you on finding such a solution."

In his speech, O'Malley also outlines a "10-point strategy" for small businesses in Maryland. The initiatives, several of which are modest in scope, include streamlining the application process for small business applying for state financing and extending a set-aside of state contracts for small businesses.

O'Malley also pledges "to do even better" in bringing more small businesses into a newly created health insurance partnership.

Nearly 18 months after FBI agents raided his home in a federal corruption probe, almost 200 Maryland lawmakers, fundraisers, lobbyists, labor organizers and business owners turned out Wednesday for a $250-a-plate fundraiser for Prince George's Sen. Ulysses Currie (D).

The showing seemed to signal the powerful chairman of Senate's Budget and Taxation Committee no longer fears drawing attention to himself and that both political hopefuls and established members of the state's Democratic party feel comfortable publicly pledging support.

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., (D) were among those who spoke at the breakfast gathering in Greenbelt.

Currie never mentioned the ongoing probe, but closed the program saying it meant a lot to see so many familiar faces in the audience. "Thanks for supporting us. This means a lot to my wife, Shirley, my family, what you've done for me today."

One attendee said the large turnout reflected all the good that Currie's done for his district, as well as a growing belief among supporters that the probe would not amount to any more trouble.

"He's going through some stuff, but it looks like all of that will work itself out," the supporter said.

One of the Senate's most prolific fundraisers, Currie reported taking in only $17,673 last year -- and all of that was before news broke in late May 2008 about an FBI raid of Currie's home and the headquarters of Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, for whom Currie had been doing undisclosed consulting work.

Currie raised nearly $64,000 during the same period a year before. According to his last required financial disclosure in January, Currie's political bank account had a balance of $345,663.

The Montgomery County school system could be forced to pay millions of dollars in penalties under an opinion Wednesday by Maryland's attorney general that its county government had "artificially" satisfied a state law that sets a minimum funding level for education.

The 21-page opinion issued by Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler could leave Montgomery County liable for $16 million to $64 million in penalties, county officials said. The state Board Of Education will decide whether to penalize the school systems.

Gansler said Prince George's County committed the same violation, but School Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said that, based on the formula used to calculate the penalty, he is unsure whether his school district will have to pay anything.

The central issue has been the ability of local governments to comply with Maryland's "maintenance of effort" law, which sets minimum spending on education. During the economic recession, Montgomery and Prince George's have had trouble meeting the spending requirement.

Montgomery and Prince George's county councils ordered their school systems to reimburse them for debt service on public school construction, an expense usually covered by the counties. The attorney general described that move as an "artificial" way of meeting the minimum requirement for education spending while actually decreasing the amount spent on education. In Montgomery, the reimbursement was $79.5 million. In Prince George's, it was $11.8 million.

Read the full article here.

Your daily download of Maryland's top political news and analysis

Thursday, November 5, 2009:

Election Analysis:
What's it mean for Maryland? Big Republican wins in Virginia and New Jersey were "relevant" to next year's gubernatorial race in Maryland, says former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R). He told The Post's John Wagner that Tuesday's results would figure prominently in his thinking about a possible comeback.

Gov. Martin O'Malley and other state Democrats downplayed the meaning of the results for Maryland, where their party is more dominant.

"I think every race is a little different. I mean, Maryland's not New Jersey or Virginia," O'Malley told reporters, adding that above all else, he thinks Tuesday's results showed voters are apprehensive about the economy and want the government to do more to fix it.

"The best way to prepare for next year is to work as hard as we can right now, to bring recovery to Maryland as soon as possible ...by next year, it's my hope that people will not be in such pain as we are all in right now."

For a rematch, Ehrlich on Wednesday seemed more focused on whether he could win than why he would run. "We're doing the science. . . . I want to look at cross tabs. I want to look at independents. I want to look at ticket-splitters," Ehrlich said, describing his analysis as objective as possible.

The Baltimore Sun's take here.

Late last night, the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group released a poll showing O'Malley with a 7 percentage point lead over Ehrlich in a hypothetical 2010 rematch.

The spread is about the same as that by which O'Malley prevailed in 2006, but Clarus concluded that the Democratic incumbent could be vulnerable, as economic and state fiscal issues drag on his re-election prospects.

Union submits plan to save Eastern Shore hospital
The state's largest public employees union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, says it has a plan for how to cut about 30 percent of annual operating costs out of an Eastern Shore mental hospital - savings that could make it more beneficial to keep the facility open than to pay to relocate hundreds of patients elsewhere in the state.
The closure of the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, which O'Malley and the state's Board of Public Works approved, but then delayed under pressure to consider alternatives, has become a touchstone for the union and other advocates as state budget cuts threaten more and more core state services and state employees' jobs.
The AP's Brian Witte details the union's plan here.

State to begin "emergency" dam removal
Um, that'd be the emergency action the state determined necessary after Hurricane Agnes in 1972 exposed problems with the Union Dam on the Patapsco River in Baltimore County, state officials testified on Wednesday. The Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $1.5 million in funding to remove the structure. State officials said they got serious about getting permits to deal with the dam 12 years ago. Treasurer Nancy Kopp said she was baffled by the decades-long delay. "Has anyone written this up as a case study .... 12 years?"

Aim for the bleachers (but don't hit the scoreboard)
The Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $24 million for improvements to Camden Yards and M&T Stadium, including a new $3.3 million scoreboard for the Ravens. Stadium authority executives all but put the board on the hook after they said failing to make the improvements could expose the state to a lawsuit from Ravens for not giving fans a world-class game experience, which they said was written in to state's leasing contract.
Comptroller Peter Franchot quipped that the state could maybe save money by borrowing the scoreboard from FedEx Field, since the Redskins didn't seem to need it.
Nicholas Sohr has more details in The Daily Record

Lots of news in brief:

Get First Click and all of the Washington Post's Maryland political news - when you want it, how you want it:

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) holds a 7 percentage point lead over former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) in a hypothetical 2010 rematch, according to a poll released late Wednesday by the nonpartisan Clarus Research Group.

The spread -- 47 percent to 40 percent -- is about the same as that by which O'Malley prevailed in the 2006 election. But Clarus concludes that the Democratic incumbent could be vulnerable, as economic and state fiscal issues are a drag on his re-election prospects.

On a separate question, 39 percent of voters said they want to see O'Malley re-elected while 48 percent say they would like for someone new to win.

"O'Malley is favored for re-election because of Maryland's strong Democratic tilt," said Ron Faucheux, president of Clarus Research Group. "But if the state's current economic and fiscal troubles persist, he could be vulnerable to a strong opponent."

Ehrlich is currently mulling a 2010 election bid. He said Wednesday that the Republican gubernatorial victories in Virginia and New Jersey will factor into his thinking.

In the Clarus poll, 48 percent of voters approved of the job O'Malley is doing, while 40 percent disapproved. O'Malley's marks on more specific job questions were mixed. For example, only 39 percent approved of how he is handling the state budget, while 47 percent disapproved.

The Clarus poll of 637 Maryland voters was conducted between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2. It was said to have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Larry Hogan is preparing to announce an endorsement from fellow GOP candidate Mike Pappas, who is dropping out of the race, according to Hogan's campaign.

Pappas, a Towson lawyer who launched a gubernatorial exploratory bid months ago, did not immediately phone calls Wednesday afternoon.

"I am honored to have the support of Mike Pappas," Hogan says in a draft news release that was shared with The Post. "As the only candidate for governor over the last ten months, Mike and his team have worked tirelessly building support across the state. Mike has been a consistent voice and leader for Maryland Republicans. He's got a great future in politics. ... I'm excited to have the Pappas team join my campaign."

Hogan, a real estate broker and former Cabinet member under Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), has said he will withdraw from the 2010 race if Ehrlich seeks a rematch with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

UPDATE: Pappas said in an interview that he is withdrawing because of both personal and professional reasons. His wife has a demanding new job, he said, and his law clients are in greater need of his services.

"I think we need someone who can give 100 percent," he said.

Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) said Tuesday's Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey were "a relevant event for us" as he decides whether to seek a rematch next year against Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

Ehrlich, in an interview Wednesday morning, provided no clearer timetable for when he might make a decision, saying he would conduct polling and convene focus groups in coming weeks to help determine whether a 2010 race is winnable.

"We're doing the science," Ehrlich said. "There is no date. There just isn't. It's no secret. We're running around, talking to a lot of people."

The closest to a timeframe Ehrlich would provide was "winter, early spring."

Ehrlich said Tuesday's results had already increased calls for him to run.

"Our phones started ringing last night, and we got a lot of e-mails at the house," he said. "It's nice, but we're trying to be pretty objective about this analysis."

Of the two gubernatorial races decided Tuesday, Ehrlich said he considered the New Jersey outcome more instructive, calling Virginia a "still light red" state, despite recent victories there by President Obama and Democratic gubernatorial and Senate candidates.

"The Christie race was more relevant for us," Ehrlich said, referring to the victory of former U.S. attorney Chris Christie (R) over New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine (D). "New Jersey is more like Maryland. ... Maryland is still tougher."

Ehrlich said he planned to study the election results in both states more closely in coming days.

"I want to look at cross tabs," he said. "I want to look at independents. I want to look at ticket-splitters."

Your daily download of Maryland's top political news and analysis

Wednesday, November 4, 2009:

Election Roundup:
A Democrat won a narrower-than-expected victory for mayor in the state capital. Voters in Rockville, Maryland's second largest city, ousted its mayor and residents of a Prince George's city elected the first African American to a city council that was recently expanded to encourage minority representation, according to The Post' election results, collected by John Wagner. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) also made headlines telling CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the "race in New York's 23rd congressional district is evidence that the Republican Party is 'at war with themselves.'" O'Malley's comments looked prescient hours later when a Democrat won the race.

Annapolis: Joshua J. Cohen (D), an Anne Arundel County councilman, narrowly defeated David H. Cordle Sr. (R) for mayor, with independent candidate Chris Fox running a distant third. The Capital reported early this morning that the margin of victory amounts to 235 votes and Cordle said he would wait until absentee ballots are counted before conceding defeat.

Rockville: Mayor Susan R. Hoffmann was denied a second term by fellow City Councilwoman Phyllis R. Marcuccio. Hoffmann, first elected in 2007, and Marcuccio had found themselves on the opposite side of many issues.

Greenbelt: Emmett V. Jordan, an African American, was among the seven candidates elected to the newly expanded council. All five white incumbents were also successful, according to unofficial returns. There has been no minority representation on the council since the north Prince George's city was formed 71 years ago. It had been 16 years since an African American sought office.

Frederick: Republican Randy McClement, the owner of a popular deli, was elected mayor of the city of Frederick. McClement defeated Democrat Jason Judd in a tight race, WTOP reports. Three of the city's incumbent aldermen were also voted out of office.

Gaithersburg: Mayor Sidney A. Katz easily won another four-year term against Richard Koch, a real estate developer making his first bid for elected office. Two incumbent council members, Henry F. Marraffa Jr. and Michael A. Sesma, were also reelected to at-large seats, turning back a challenge by Tom Rowse.

Bowie: Mayor G. Frederick Robinson easily won another two-year term over Samuel R. Graham, president of the Bowie Boys and Girls Club. Two incumbents seeking reelection to at-large seats on the council, Dennis Brady and Geraldine Valentino-Smith, also had easy wins. In a race for the District 2 seat, first-term incumbent Diane M. Polangin defeated challenger Piero V. Mellits.

Takoma Park: Mayor Bruce Williams turned back a challenge from Roger Schlegel to win a second term in one of the state's most liberal jurisdictions. In City Council elections, Ward 4 incumbent Terry Seamens defeated write-in candidate Eric Mendoza, and neighborhood organization leader Frederick Schultz prevailed.

College Park: Andrew Fellows, a former City Council member, was elected mayor in a city that has not had a contested race in 20 years. All four council districts, which are represented by two members each, had contested elections.

In other news:

Montgomery lawmaker dies
Jean B. Cryor, a three-term state delegate and member of Montgomery County's planning board died Tuesday. She was 70. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett announced Cryor's death in a statement. Cryor was the lone Republican in Montgomery County's delegation for years before she lost her seat in 2006.
Before entering politics, she was a former editor and publisher at The Gazette.

Union, advocates to propose alternative to closing mental health center
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees along with a coalition of groups supporting the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center say they will announce a plan Wednesday morning that could keep the center open. Gov. O'Malley and the state's Board of Public Works voted in August to close the 200+ bed facility to cut costs. The board is scheduled to revisit the closure Wednesday. The center is the largest employer in Kent County and proponents of keeping it open have argued there's no similar facility to handle the patients on the Eastern Shore.

Maryland will use stimulus money to watch doctor's hand-washing
"State officials said Tuesday they're creating teams of staff members at hospitals around the state to secretly monitor their colleagues' hand-washing habits as part of a first-of-its-kind program," reports the AP's Brian Witte. "The monitors will contribute to a systemwide report on hand-washing, using $100,000 in federal stimulus money."

State seeking overhaul of child support guidelines
Maryland officials are proposing what would be the first increase in 20 years in the recommended amount for child support payments, reports The Post's Donna St. George. Department of Human Resources officials will push the plan in the upcoming legislative session.

Flurry of late activity in Prince George's
Laws to install speed cameras near schools, limit pawnshop sales and give some property owners a tax break were approved Tuesday by the Prince George's County Council as it heads toward the end of its legislative session, reports The Post's Jonathan Mummolo.

State seeing more revenue from cruise ship business
"The number of passengers on cruise ships embarking from Baltimore has broken a record set in 2004, and it's still growing," writes Scott Dance in the Baltimore Business Journal. "Sixty cruises have sailed from Baltimore so far this year, the same number as was seen in the record 2004 year. Twenty-one more trips are scheduled in 2009, and a total of 92 are slated for 2010. Cruising is expected to have a $152 million economic impact on the region this year."

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