National Harbor Meltdown: O'Malley vs. Muse

The meltdown on Monday of a bill creating liquor licenses of the National Harbor development in Prince George's County included a memorable exchange between Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's), as Muse pushed for more minority contracting commitments from the project developer.

Late Monday afternoon, O'Malley (D) summoned county senators and County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) to a closed-door meeting at the State House to try reach a compromise. According to numerous participants, O'Malley told Muse that his demands of the developer might be perceived as a "shakedown."

According to Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's), Muse shot back, "Are you calling me a crook?"

"It was pretty rare and pretty uncomfortable," said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George's), who was also present.

For full coverage, see this story by Rosalind S. Helderman, Ovetta Wiggins and Philip Rucker.