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Maryland Dem Clips
June 22, 2006
BGEhrlich
Ehrlich’s first campaign ad draws fire
Mayor Martin O’Malley’s campaign manager, Josh White, said, “Bob Ehrlich has failed time and time again to provide real leadership for Maryland’s working families, choosing instead to side with giant corporate interests.” Len Lazarick
The Examiner - Jun 22, 2006
"Annapolis - Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s re-election campaign launched its first television ad Wednesday and it has already drawn fire from Democrats and environmental groups for distorting his record.
The ad, which can be seen online at www.bobehrlich.com, uses a series of average residents to make the case for Ehrlich. “He hasn’t governed from the right or the left but the center, where most of us are,” it says."
Ehrlich signals veto of BGE bill
Decision due today; he targets interest fees, lack of choice
By Andrew A. Green, Sun reporter, June 22, 2006
"Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s decision on whether to veto the General Assembly's BGE rate-deferral plan isn't due until midnight tonight, but he has given strong signals that he will reject the legislation and attempt to push a bill of his own."
Ehrlich hears calls for veto of electricity rate bill
By David Abrams, Annapolis Capital Staff Writer
"After more than six hours of testimony from the public yesterday, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. hinted he might call the General Assembly back for another try to cushion soaring electricity bills."
Ad depoliticizes Ehrlich; critics call it misleading
"I think he's really taken a hit in the electricity rate controversy," Crenson said. "He knows he has to regain his footing fast, and that's what this is trying to do. He's trying to depoliticize himself."
By Jennifer Skalka, Sun reporter, June 22, 2006
"Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. released his first television advertisement of the Maryland gubernatorial campaign yesterday, a folksy 30-second spot that uses seemingly regular people - but not the governor - to praise the Republican incumbent as a centrist who has kept taxes down, promoted environmentally sound policies and pushed for stem cell research."
Petition Fails to Derail Md. Early Voting
Election Board Says Drive Backed by Ehrlich Fell Short by 138 Signatures
By Steve Vogel, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, June 22, 2006
"A Republican-led petition drive to block legislation allowing early voting in Maryland elections for the first time this year has failed by fewer than 140 signatures, state officials said yesterday.
Democratic leaders hailed the news as a rebuke for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R)."
Push to block early voting apparently fails
State officials say effort fell 138 signatures short of required total
The Associated Press, June 21, 2006
"Maryland Republicans appear to have failed in their attempt to keep the state's new early voting law from being used in the primary and general elections this year. Opponents needed 17,062 signatures from registered votes to block the law and put it on the ballot for voters to approve or reject in November. State officials said an initial tally shows the petition drive fell 138 signatures short of that goal."
Early-voting opponents' petition drive falls short
Effort to meet first deadline for referendum fails by 138 signatures
By Kelly Brewington, Sun reporter, June 22, 2006
"A Republican-led petition drive to thwart Maryland's early-voting provisions hit a major snag yesterday when the state Board of Elections said the effort fell 138 signatures short of moving forward.
The news was a blow to Marylanders for Fair Elections, a volunteer group backed by Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who both complain that the legislature hastily enacted early voting without safeguards to prevent voter fraud. Democrats considered it a victory, calling the drive a ploy to suppress voter turnout."
Power politics
Baltimore Sun Editorial, June 22, 2006
"It doesn't take a clairvoyant to have anticipated Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s distaste for the Baltimore Gas and Electric rate relief plan. In Tuesday's six-hour infomercial live from the State House (it may have been staged, but that was no Masterpiece Theatre, Maryland Public Television), the outcome appeared as predetermined as the witness list. If there was one new iota of fact to be gleaned from the event, it eluded us. Misinformation, on the other hand, was in plentiful supply."
ELECTION 2006
Duncan Proposes New Limits On Campaign Contributions
By Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, June 22, 2006
"Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan is set today to announce a proposal that would block the state from doing significant business with companies that contribute campaign cash to politicians who control Maryland's purse strings and to political parties."
Schaefer Ends the Guessing: He'll Run
84-Year-Old Comptroller Has Primary Challengers
Washington PostBy Matthew Mosk and Steve Vogel, Washington Post Staff Writers, Thursday, June 22, 2006
"Former Maryland governor William Donald Schaefer ended weeks of speculation about his political future yesterday, announcing he will seek a third term as state comptroller."
AROUND MARYLAND
Md. judge casts doubt on execution process
Ruling criticizes how state adopted lethal injection
Baltimore SunBy Jennifer McMenamin, Sun reporter, June 22, 2006
"An administrative law judge has issued a decision in the case of death row inmate Vernon Lee Evans Jr. that could force Maryland to redevelop its lethal injection ".
The decision stems from an inmate grievance Evans filed -- along with bringing state and federal lawsuits -- challenging how Maryland carries out executions and how the procedures were developed."
Crisfield voters oust mayor, 2 on council over no-bid, 6-year redevelopment deal
Baltimore SunBy Chris Guy, Sun reporter, June 22, 2006
"CRISFIELD -- Voters in this tiny Eastern Shore town ousted their longtime mayor and two City Council members yesterday, electing a slate that promised to scrap a deal that put a private firm in charge of redevelopment projects."
NATION
Renewal of Voting Rights Act is delayed
By Johanna Neuman, June 22, 2006
"WASHINGTON -- The Voting Rights Act, which has protected minority voters from discrimination since its passage more than 40 years ago, appeared headed for an easy reaffirmation in the House yesterday - until conflicts old and new clouded its future."
GOP Rebellion Stops Voting Rights Act
Complaints Include Bilingual Ballots and Scope of Justice Dept. Role in South
By Charles Babington, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, June 22, 2006
"House leaders abruptly canceled a vote to renew the 1965 Voting Rights Act yesterday after rank-and-file Republicans revolted over provisions that require bilingual ballots in many places and continued federal oversight of voting practices in Southern states."
Battle over raising minimum wage heats up
Baltimore SunChicago Tribune, June 22, 2006
"WASHINGTON -- A battle over whether to raise the minimum wage is spilling into congressional races, with the Democratic Party promising to increase the wage as one of its first acts should it win control of Congress.
Democrats have crafted a campaign message attacking Republicans for accepting annual cost-of-living increases while denying a raise to 6.6 million low-income workers, who have not seen a minimum wage increase in nine years."
Senate's female Democrats present agenda for change
Baltimore SunJune 22, 2006
"WASHINGTON -- Led by Maryland's Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, the Senate's nine female Democrats unveiled their "checklist for change" yesterday, challenging Republican leaders to address issues they said are critical to the nation's future.
"The Republican leadership has squandered time, squandered opportunities and squandered taxpayers' dollars," Mikulski
said"
Senators spar over calls by Democrats for Iraq pullback
By Maura Reynolds, June 22, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Democrats and Republicans in the Senate dueled over the Iraq war yesterday, exchanging rhetorical jabs as both parties sought political advantage from a debate that many strategists think could be a decisive factor in determining which party controls Congress after the November elections.
Lawmakers' Profits Are Scrutinized, Hastert and Others Defend Land Gains
By Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, June 22, 2006
House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) made a $2 million profit last year on the sale of land 5 1/2 miles from a highway project that he helped to finance with targeted federal funds.
A Republican House member from California, meanwhile, received nearly double what he paid for a four-acre parcel near an Air Force base after securing $8 million for a planned freeway interchange 16 miles away. And another California GOP congressman obtained funding in last year's highway bill for street improvements near a planned residential and commercial development that he co-owns.
Republicans Gone Wild
By Dana Milbank, Thursday, June 22, 2006
"During a break in the proceedings at yesterday's House Homeland Security Committee hearing, George Foresman, the Bush administration official in charge of disaster preparedness, put down the "Read Ahead Book" his staff had prepared for him and began to wring his hands."
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
June 22, 2006
Rate debate really about self-interest
I watched, with bewildered interest, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s "public hearing" to determine whether or not the legislation passed during a special session for a rate relief plan for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers serves the financial interests of ratepayers ("Hearing supports Ehrlich's opinion," June 21).
I have a few questions regarding the governor's timing.
If the governor was not pleased with the amount of money Constellation Energy is giving back to consumers under this plan, if the governor was not happy with the lack of an ability to opt out of an interest-payment plan, if the governor objects to firing the Public Service Commission, why was he absent from the negotiations on the bill during the special session he himself said was necessary?
The governor's "public hearing" was simply a way for him to make the public think that he represents its interests. I expect that he will veto this bill and portray that veto as one that champions the interests of the working man or woman.
The Democrat-controlled legislature will override the veto, and the governor will claim that he, and not the legislature, has ratepayers' best interests at heart.
Unfortunately, I believe the governor and the legislature have only one interest at heart - self-preservation.
David Coyle, Baltimore
Energy bill strikes the right balance
I do not believe anyone thought there would be an agreement under which we would face no rise in our Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. bills. I think most of us just wanted a chance to ease into the higher prices gradually rather than start with a 72 percent increase.
The agreement reached by the General Assembly special session was just what the people of Maryland needed.
I, for one, wish to thank the General Assembly for bringing this agreement into effect, and I thank Mayor Martin O'Malley for bringing the lawsuit that started the ball rolling.
Although the price hikes are hard to swallow, BGE is a business and it does have to make certain profits.
This agreement will help us to ease into the higher payments while letting BGE continue to manage its business and make a profit.
What I do not understand is Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. calling for another hearing on the matter ("Hearing supports Ehrlich's opinion," June 21).
And why he insists on standing up for the Public Service Commission is beyond me.
It makes you wonder if Mr. Ehrlich really lives in the state of Maryland. Or even on this planet.
Kathy Riley, Baltimore