Monday Neighboring State Report: Maryland

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/20/2007 9:09:30 AM

I've decided to try and do this, although who knows if I will succeed.  Also, I'm very much open to others stepping up and volunteering to take this on.  What I'm going to try and do is a quick political roundup from neighboring states.  Virginia border 5 states plus DC, so we'll do one each weekday:  Maryland Mondays, Tennessee Tuesdays, West Virginia Wednesdays, North Carolina Thursdays, Kentucky Fridays, and DC Saturdays.  I'll rely as much as possible on Democratic blogs in those states for the roundup.  Enjoy!

Maryland
In our Northern neighbor, we've got great news: the state Republican Party is "almost broke," with just "$4,615 in cash and $50,500 in debt," not to mention "a $103,536 deficit in the first six months of the year."  Apparently, the party is "reeling from the loss of the governor's mansion" to Democrat Martin O'Malley last November.  How sad.

In other news:

*It looks like slots may be coming to Maryland, something that Robert Ehrlich never managed to accomplish despite the fact that "Maryland's governor is arguably the most powerful in the nation."

*Maryland Public Television is launching Spanish language TV, with shows like "Plaza Sesamo."

*Gov. O'Malley is pledging a "major transportation funding bill" to address crumbling bridges and other infrastructure.  And yes, "Increasing the state's gas tax, which is now 23.5 cents a gallon, is among the options widely acknowledged by aides to the governor." (Note: Virginia's tax is 17.5 cents a gallon)

*The Maryland Climate Change Commission, charged by Gov. O'Malley "with drafting a Maryland Climate Action Plan," held its first meeting on Wednesday, August 8. That's great news, now if only Virginia would form a similar group....sigh.

Comments



About Virginia's neighbors (K - 8/20/2007 10:39:22 AM)
It's noteworthy that only one of the states that borders Virginia has a discriminatory anti-gay amendment in its constitution.

(That state, of course, is Kentucky, where Gov. Ernie is desperately using further gay-bashing (and anything else that comes to mind) to stay in office.)

So why haven't neighbors North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maryland sullied their states' constitutions? Gee, just a guess here, but do ya' think it might have something to do with the fact that Republicans don't control legislatures in those states? Do ya' think having Democrats who won't give the GOP its favorite GOTV tool in recent years might just make the difference?

(None of this is to say that, even if the Democrats could someday take over both houses of the Virginia legislature, there's any hope of cleaning the filth out of Virginia's bill of rights any time soon. But, at least, there's hope of preventing future shameful actions here ...)



Maryland Gov. the most powerful? (LT - 8/20/2007 9:15:30 PM)
What exactly makes the MD governor so powerful? Does he/she appoint any statewide officers (aside from the elected AG and comptroller), have special veto powers, etc?

I knew the MD GOP was in bad shape, having lost the governor's mansion, a chance at winning a senate seat, and losing their "favorite" dem--DINO Comptroller William Donald Schaeffer--in the September primary, but I didn't know they had only $4600. I have almost as much in my own bank account (minus the $50G debt :) ).