Maryland Politics Watch

• Hilton Spurns MoCo, Gets Nice Reward From Ike

  This goes into the category of stories that are difficult to believe without direct evidence. But once again, dear readers, we have it and then some!
  
  Have you ever been to the annual County Executive’s Ball? Oh, dahlings, it’s oo-la-la! All the top power brokers, money men, politicians and [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Dana and Duchy Take on the KGB

  District 18 Delegate candidate and County Council staffer Dana Beyer has accused the county’s Ethics Commission of discriminating against her because of her transgender status and attempting to harm her political career. Her employer, Duchy Trachtenberg, has even compared the commission to the KGB. Are the heirs to the [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Marc Elrich on Growth Policy

  Following is an op-ed on the county's Growth Policy by County Council Member Marc Elrich that appeared in the Gazette earlier this week.
  
  The Montgomery County Council is engaged in its biannual evaluation of the growth policy and the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. The APFO determines if public [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 9:00am EST
  

• Valerie Ervin on Maintenance of Effort

  Following is an op-ed on the state's Maintenance of Effort (MOE) law by County Council Member Valerie Ervin, Chair of the Council's Education Committee, that appeared in the Gazette earlier this week.
  
  #####
  
  As chairwoman of the Montgomery County Council's Education Committee, I am extremely disappointed with [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Becky Wagner Announces First Fundraiser

  At-large County Council challenger Becky Wagner has selected a campaign manager and announced a fundraiser. These are the first steps in a widely anticipated run for public office.
  
  Wagner has been the Executive Director of Interfaith Works, a non-profit providing services to the homeless, for more than [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 3:00pm EST
  

• A Note on Maintenance of Effort

  One of the points made by Blair Lee in his must-read column on the state's Maintenance of Effort (MOE) law for school funding is that Montgomery County has been paying well in excess of the state's requirements for education funding for many years. Lee is right about this in [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part Six

  So you think that Maryland political candidates have to disclose all their donors? Well, they don’t. They can legally conceal their identities by reporting “lump sums.”
  
  The State Board of Elections’ (SBE) Summary Guide lays out the circumstances under which lump sums can be used:
  
  Certain contributions, [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Inflationary Policies

  By Marc Korman.
  
  Economists are afraid that the government’s fiscal and monetary policies will lead to an oversupply of money and runaway inflation. But out in Colorado, the opposite is taking place. Projected deflation in 2010 means the state’s minimum wage will actually decline.
  
  Colorado’s Constitution (Article VIII, [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Senator Jennie Forehand on "Political Pulse" on Channel 16 TV‏

  MD State Senator Jennie Forehand from District 17 will be on the "Political Pulse" political talk show on:
  
  Thursday, November 19th at 9:00 p.m.
  
  Friday-Sunday (November 20th-22nd) at 6 p.m. and
  
  Tuesday, November 24th, at 9:30 p.m.
  
  Senator Forehand will discuss some of the issues [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part Five

  Who is financed by Maryland residents and who is backed by out-of-state money? We know the answers and now so do you.
  
  Total Receipts from Maryland Contributors (Excludes Self and Family)
  
  1. Steve Silverman, County Council/Executive Challenger: $2,427,826
  2. Ike Leggett, County Executive: $1,165,525
  3. Rob Garagiola, Senator [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Is Slots Job Fair Pressure, or Desperation?

  By Rob Annicelli.
  
  Simon Corporation, Cordish Cos., and Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold are now engaging in a full scale public relations blitz to try and rescue their collective proposal to place a slots casino in a shopping center. With less than three weeks to go until [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:00pm EST
  

• County Employees at Risk

  The awful condition of the state budget has attracted a lot of attention in recent months. But the county budgets are not doing much better. And one constituency is going to pay the price as much or more than anyone: county employees.
  
  Below are the salary increases granted by [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part Four

  It’s time to look at self-financing. Which MoCo candidates depend on themselves the most? Let’s find out.
  
  Total Receipts from Self (Includes Loans)
  
  1. Ben Kramer, Delegate/County Council Challenger: $220,450
  2. Mike Lenett, Senator (D-19): $164,352
  3. Rob Garagiola, Senator (D-15): $149,428
  4. Ike Leggett, County Executive: $125,000
  [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Worst Picture Ever of a Council Member?

  So a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Wait until you see this!
  
  Last week, the Examiner excoriated the Montgomery County Executive and the County Council for not taking transit to work. What the article omitted is that most of them live nowhere near a Metro station. [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:00pm EST
  

• State of Maryland Blogdom: October 2009

  Blog readers of Maryland, it is time to review the condition of our realm. And as the Keepers of the Great Database of Blog Statistics, we pronounce that the State of Maryland Blogdom is:
  
  Strong!
  
  We have been tracking site visit and page view statistics for 41 Maryland [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part Three

  In our ten-year dataset of MoCo political contributions, business entities and PACs accounted for 27.1% of all receipts and labor PACs and political clubs accounted for 4.9%. Here are the leaders for each category.
  
  Total Receipts from Business Entities (Including PACs but not Individuals)
  
  1. Steve Silverman, County [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Montgomery College on New Agreement with SEIU Local 500

  Following is the press release from the college.
  
  Media Contacts: Elizabeth Homan, 240-567-7970; Brett Eaton, 240-567-7952
  
  Montgomery College and SEIU Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract for Part-time Faculty Members
  
  SEIU Membership and College Board of Trustees to Vote on Contract
  
  Montgomery College and the Service Employees [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  

• More on Marylandreporter.com

  In the wake of our revelations concerning the affiliations of Marylandreporter.com, publisher Len Lazarick has not responded to our story. But our investigation continues.
  
  On November 2, the same day we wrote about Marylandreporter.com’s secret right-wing links, Maryland Morning’s Sheilah Kast interviewed Lazarick and asked [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• SEIU Local 500 Reaches First Contract with Montgomery College

  This concludes nearly two years of organizing and bargaining. Following is the press release from SEIU Local 500.
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
  
  Anna Oman, Communications Director
  (301) 740-7123
  omana@seiu500.org
  
  PART-TIME FACULTY SETTLES HISTORIC FIRST CONTRACT WITH MONTGOMERY COLLEGE
  Monday, November 16, 2009
  
  ROCKVILLE [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part Two

  Let’s start crunching our colossal dataset of Montgomery County political contributions!
  
  Here is the distribution by category of all contributions and loans received by every MoCo county and state incumbent, along with nineteen past incumbents and potential challengers, since 1999.
  
  
  Individual contributions dominate the [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Sun Parent Company Boss: Bankruptcy Could End by Spring

  [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Turnbull Congratulates Scott... Sort of

  This is about the most backhanded "congratulations" we've ever seen. Somewhere former Maryland Democrats Press Secretary David Paulson is smiling.
  
  Media Contacts: David Sloan
  Office: 410.269.8818
  
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
  STATEMENT FROM MARYLAND DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR SUSAN W. TURNBULL
  
  ANNAPOLIS, MD (November 14th, 2009)
  [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 6:48pm EST
  

• Council Explains Growth Policy Changes

  This press release is a good explanation of the relatively minor changes the County Council made to the existing growth policy. Our compliments to council press officer Neil Greenberger, who did a good job of explaining some complicated issues.
  
  Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 / Jean Arthur 240-777-7934 / [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• County Council Holds Town Hall Meeting Near White Flint

  Following is the press release.
  
  Montgomery County Council to Host White Flint / Kensington / Garrett Park/ North Bethesda Areas Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18
  
  Residents Invited to Express Their Views on Issues, Ask Questions of Councilmembers at Tilden Middle School
  
  ROCKVILLE, Md., November 9, [...]
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  Posted: November 14, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Microsoft Comes to Chevy Chase

  Following is the county's press release.
  
  Contact:
  Kristina Ellis, DED, 240-793-9568
  Tonya Klause, Microsoft, 703-402-7020
  
  For Immediate Release: November 13, 2009
  
  Microsoft Celebrates New Chevy Chase Office
  Will Bring 500+ New, Relocated Jobs to the County
  
  Montgomery County Department of Economic Development Director Steve Silverman joined' [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:00pm EST
  

• More Evidence of Herman Taylor Running for Congress

  Check out this business card, folks.
  
  
  HLT Maryland Leadership Inc. was incorporated on 11/6/09. Its Articles of Incorporation are not yet online. It is headquartered at 804 Pershing Drive, which is the same address used by Herman Taylor for Montgomery County LLC.
  
  Looks [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Follow the Money, Part One

  Now it can be told. For months, we have been quietly gathering tens of thousands of records of political contributions to county and state candidates in Montgomery County. After countless hours of scrutiny, analysis and data-crunching, we are finally ready to unveil the results of our most comprehensive survey of [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Leggett Finalizes Live Nation Agreement with Lees

  County Executive Ike Leggett has announced an agreement to proceed on the Live Nation project with the Lee family. Leggett has fought hard for this deal, combatting skepticism from some members of the County Council and supporters of a prior proposal involving the Birchmere. The opening of the Live Nation [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 7:20pm EST
  

• Breaking News: Leggett Will Announce Agreement with Lees on Live Nation

  Our sources have informed us that County Executive Ike Leggett has reached an agreement on the Live Nation music facility in Silver Spring with the Lee family, who own the building. The press release will come out tonight. [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 5:40pm EST
  

• Why Maryland is Not New Jersey and Bob Ehrlich is not Chris Christie

  By Marc Korman.
  
  Former Governor Bob Ehrlich took a look at the election results in New Jersey and Virginia and liked what he saw. I think Bob Ehrlich should take a closer look before deluding himself further.
  
  A Washington Post article after the November 3rd election quoted [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Turnbull Taunts Ehrlich

  Maryland Democratic Party Chair Susan Turnbull just sent out this delightful open letter taunting former Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich. Game on!
  
  Dear Former Governor Ehrlich,
  
  Running for governor is an intensely personal decision for you and your family, and no one – Republicans or Democrats – should [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 1:00pm EST
  

• Top Blog Posts, October 2009

  Here are the most-viewed blog posts on MPW in October 2009.
  
  1. Gazette Makes More Cuts
  2. Compassion Trumps Pocketbook: Maryland Voters Support Increase in Alcohol Tax
  3. Smoking Out Saqib Ali
  4. Hunk of the Hill Runs for Delegate
  5. New Labor Secretary [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• I-270 Issue Far From Over

  The Montgomery County Council has signaled a consensus in favor of Council President Phil Andrews’ proposal to add two reversible lanes on I-270. But this issue is nowhere close to a resolution.
  
  The Washington Post reported that the council unanimously agreed on adding reversible lanes that would [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Siemens Buys the Washington Post

  OK, just kidding. But maybe not. Check out their home page today, which had almost half of its screen area covered by two Siemens ads. It looks like they had to shrink the content print to fit those indispensable messages from their sponsor.
  
  
  Look, we [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  

• O’Malley Campaign Manager: Pay No Attention to New Jersey or Virginia

  In a message to members of the O’Malley/Brown campaign’s Finance Committee, campaign manager Tom Russell is claiming that GOP victories in New Jersey and Virginia are not relevant to his clients’ re-election chances. Here’s the email.
  
  
  
  To: O'Malley/Brown Finance Committee Members
  From: Tom Russell,' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 4:30pm EST
  

• Rollin Stanley: Problem and Potential, Part Two

  Rollin Stanley, Montgomery County’s star planning director, favors channeling growth to walkable downtowns, encouraging mixed-use development with significant density and even using congestion to force people onto transit. Furthermore, he is not a patient man when pursuing his goals. Both his philosophy and his tactics are drawing resistance.
  
  Few [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• WMATA: No to Employee Raises, Yes to Goodies for Catoe

  Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, which represents WMATA employees, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to enforce an arbitrator’s decision granting pay increases to its members. WMATA is crying poverty, claiming that they cannot afford the raises. But poverty did not stop WMATA from giving their General Manager, [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Guled Kassim on Fort Hood and Muslims in the Military

  Guled Kassim, a former candidate for District 19 Delegate, a current candidate for a County Council at-large seat and an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, sent us these remarks about our post on anti-Muslim bigotry in the Washington Post’s comment section.
  
  #####
  
  I [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:00pm EST
  

• Rollin Stanley: Problem and Potential, Part One

  Montgomery County Planning Director Rollin Stanley is starting to hit a wall. That’s a problem – not only for him, but also for the county that depends on him.
  
  Rollin Stanley is not an ordinary public servant. He is the choice of legendary Montgomery County Planning Chairman Royce Hanson [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 3:00pm EST
  

• Leggett Protects Incumbent TV

  In its new package of budget cuts, the Leggett administration did not heed our call to cut County Cable Montgomery (CCM), also known on this blog as Incumbent TV. Instead, the County Executive has chosen to keep CCM whole in time for the next election.
  
  The County Executive’s [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Maryland Transportation Authority in Trouble

  At a recent meeting of Montgomery and Prince George’s County state legislators, the state’s Department of Legislative Services (DLS) made a detailed presentation on the state’s transportation prospects. We have already covered the state’s problems with the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). But the condition of the Maryland Transportation Authority [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Hate Runs Amok in Post's Comments Section - Again

  Four of Maryland's biggest blogs - MPW, Rockville Central, Just Up the Pike and Annapolis Capital Punishment - ban anonymous comments. Why? Because none of us wants to enable the hate rhetoric that occasionally bubbles up on the Washington Post's website.
  
  The following comments were [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:00pm EST
  

• Andrews: Widen I-270, BRT for CCT

  County Council President Phil Andrews, who represents Rockville and Gaithersburg, has issued a memo explaining his support for adding two reversible lanes to I-270 and constructing the CCT as bus rapid transit.
  
  Andrews favors adding two reversible lanes to I-270 that would be restricted to carpools, buses, motorcycles and [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 3:00pm EST
  

• Marc Elrich Comments on School Funding Dispute

  County Council Member Marc Elrich, a former 5th grade teacher at MCPS for many years, offered the following comments about the county’s school funding conflict with the state.
  
  #####
  
  The State BOE (Board of Education) is fundamentally wrong on this one. The compromise would have been to grant [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Senator Jennie Forehand Pays Tribute to Jean Cryor

  By Senator Jennie Forehand (D-17).
  
  Jean Cryor was a rare combination, professional and studious, together with a great sense of humor and an ability to walk in other people’s shoes. Her life experiences gave her a positive and common sense approach to public policy which made her very effective [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:00am EST
  

• Problems on the Left for Kratovil

  Bob Stewart, Executive Director of Montgomery County’s giant public employees union MCGEO, has sent out an open email to the Democrats and the rest of labor blasting Congressman Frank Kratovil for not supporting health care reform. This is a sign of big problems to come for the freshman.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Remembering Jean Cryor

  By Cheryl Kagan.
  
  Tomorrow, Jean Cryor will be laid to rest. She was my friend, former House colleague, and co-teacher at Montgomery College. As the community prepares to pay its respects to this tremendous woman, I thought I’d share my thoughts.
  
  She was respected and liked by virtually [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Bailed-Out Banks Double Credit Card Rates

  

  Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

  [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Kratovil Votes No on Health Care Reform

  The headline says it all. He was one of the 39 Democrats to bolt. See how every rep voted in the NY Times. Interestingly, this was after he voted against the successful anti-choice/pro-life amendment to bill. My guess is that Speaker Pelosi had more votes in reserve but [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 1:02am EST
  

• Weast Throws Council Under the Bus on School Funding Dispute

  In a statement released to the media but not to County Council Members, MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast puts the blame squarely on the council for the county's setback on school funding. Weast has long run an empire at MCPS, with an independent line to the Washington Post's editorial writers [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Funeral Arrangements for Jean Cryor

  TO: All Members of the Maryland General Assembly
  FROM: The Chief Clerk’s Office
  RE: Death of Former Delegate Jean B. Cryor
  DATE: November 4, 2009
  
  It is with deep regret that we inform you that former Delegate Jean B. Cryor passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2009. She served in [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• A Tribute to The Honorable Jean Cryor (1938-2009)

  By Delegate Bill Bronrott (D-16).
  
  The death of Jean Cryor is a very sad loss for everyone who knew her and for the community that she served so ably and honorably as a newspaper editor and a policymaker for two decades.
  
  I had the good fortune of sitting [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  

• MPW Reader Translates Leggett Statement on Traffic Lights

  OK, we shouldn't print this. Absolutely not. It's a sin! But we have to do it because it's too damn funny.
  
  Many of our readers have suffered through the abominable Montgomery County traffic light crisis, which the county now claims is fixed. Following is the statement from' [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• MoCo School Funding Dispute: A Way Out

  The intense school funding dispute now raging between the Montgomery County government and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) may be headed to court. But it does not have to go that far. There is real potential for a settlement that gives each party what it needs without [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Delegate Kathleen Dumais on Jean Cryor

  By Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15).
  
  Maryland lost an elegant and effective Stateswoman with the passing of Jean Cryor on Tuesday. I lost a very dear friend. Jean and I met on the campaign trail in 2002 when I first ran for the House of Delegates -- and we became [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:00pm EST
  

• O'Malley's Key to Victory

  The Post and the Sun have already covered the Clarus Research Group poll on Governor O'Malley's re-election chances. We have just one thing to add.
  
  The only region of the state in which O'Malley leads former Governor Bob Ehrlich is the D.C. suburbs. We hope he [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 7:00pm EST
  

• John McCarthy at the BCC Breakfast Club, Part Two

  By Marc Korman.
  
  Last time we reviewed two of the priorities State’s Attorney John McCarthy discussed at a recent visit to the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Breakfast Club. Today, we will look at what the State’s Attorney had to say about his third priority, Internet Safety, and other issues.
  
  Internet [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 4:00pm EST
  

• Maryland’s Black Hole Gets Bigger

  In March, we referred to the State Retirement and Pension System (SRPS) as “Maryland’s $10 Billion Black Hole.” Recent data proves we were too conservative: the black hole is now $17 billion.
  
  The state’s latest Spending Affordability Briefing illustrates significant deterioration in the state’s already troubled [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 1:00pm EST
  

• MoCo Threatens to Sue the State Over School Funding

  An increasingly explosive dispute between Montgomery County and the state government over public school funding looks like it may be headed to court.
  
  This morning, the Post reported that Attorney General Doug Gansler had found the county's attempt to meet state requirements on school funding to be illegal. [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:00am EST
  

• What Does the Rockville Mayor Race Mean for the Rest of Us?

  We don’t normally scrutinize the meaning of municipal races for county and state races. But Rockville is no ordinary municipality. It is the county seat and home to some of Montgomery’s most prominent players. And Challenger Phyllis Marcuccio’s upset win over incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann is a noteworthy event. Is [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Shower Nut Leader Testifies Against D.C. Gay Marriage Bill

  Thanks to Teach the Facts' Jim Kennedy and Metro Weekly for finding this incredible video showing Ruth Jacobs, leader of the Shower Nuts, testifying against the D.C. gay marriage bill. The money quote is "The anus was designed for exit, not entrance," but that's just the start.' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  

• John McCarthy at the BCC Breakfast Club, Part One

  By Marc Korman.
  
  On November 2nd, John McCarthy visited the Bethesda Chevy-Chase Breakfast Club. He announced, though not for the first time, that he was seeking reelection and discussed three of the key issues he has worked on over his three years as State’s Attorney: domestic violence, senior fraud, [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• More on Ivey vs. Edwards

  Roll Call and the Examiner both report that State's Attorney Glenn Ivey is seriously considering taking on Congresswoman Donna Edwards. The latter publication asked for the opinion of yours truly. It's also worth reviewing our readers' take on the incumbent's performance in office. If this race happens,' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Nancy Floreen on Jean Cryor

  Council Member Nancy Floreen sent us these comments about former Delegate Jean Cryor, who passed away yesterday.
  
  The thing about Jean Cryor. She twinkled. She epitomized Maya Angelou’s memorable observation “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will' [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:00am EST
  

• Prince George’s Girl Power

  The Post and the Gazette have reported that Delegates Aisha Braveboy (D-25) and Gerron Levi (D-23A) are considering running for Prince George’s County Executive. Normally, two freshman Delegates would not be considered top-tier contenders but we believe it is unwise to count them out.
  
  First, [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• U.S. Senator Ben Cardin on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV‏

  Ben Cardin, United States Senator from Maryland, will be on the "Political Pulse" TV Show on:
  
  Thursday, November 5th at 9:00 p.m.;
  Friday-Sunday, November 6th-8th at 6:00 p.m.; and
  Tuesday, November 10th at 9:30 p.m.
  
  Topics that will be discussed include:
  
  -The Health Care Debate;
  [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:00am EST
  

• Marcuccio Defeats Hoffmann in Rockville

  Challenger Phyllis Marcuccio has defeated incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann by a 3,311-2,998 (52.2%-47.3%) margin. Incumbent City Council Members Piotr Gajewski and John Britton were re-elected and joined by 2007 Mayor candidate Mark Pierzchala and Bridget Newton. Newton served as Laura Berthiaume's campaign manager in her successful campaign for the [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 11:08pm EST
  

• Former Delegate Jean Cryor Passes Away

  Former Delegate Jean Cryor (D-15), who later became a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board, has passed away at the age of 70. Cryor served three terms in the House starting in 1994 and was the only Republican Delegate from Montgomery County in her last four years. Craig [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 8:00pm EST
  

• Kagan on MoCo as State's Cash Cow: "We Need Legislators Who Will Stand Up and Say No"

  This video comes from Cheryl Kagan's fundraiser last week. Note her view of the state's budget situation.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  

• Reznik and Barkley: Build CCT Now, Study More Transit Later

  Here's an interesting take on the CCT/all-transit debate from District 39 Delegates Kirill Reznik and Charles Barkley: they want to build the CCT now and study the other transit options named by Action Committee for Transit later. We reprint their letter to the County Council below.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Delegate Sheila Hixson's Son Passes Away

  Following is the notice from the General Assembly.
  
  TO: All Members of the Maryland General Assembly
  FROM: The Chief Clerk’s Office
  RE: Death of Son of Delegate Sheila Hixson, Colonel Todd Hixson
  DATE: November 2, 2009
  
  It is with deep regret that we inform you that the [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 1:00pm EST
  

• Powell Takes on Hoffmann's Contributions

  Former Neighborspac leader and one-time Rockville Mayor candidate Drew Powell has released an analysis of incumbent Mayor Susan Hoffmann's campaign contributions. Powell is concerned with development-related contributions and we have quibbled with him over that issue before. But it's hard to disagree with his conclusion that a great deal of [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 11:00am EST
  

• Hard Hats and Small Politics in Rockville

  What does the mock hard hat below have to do with the current relationship between Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council? Quite a bit, actually.
  
  
  At last week’s unveiling of the new Silver Spring library, Executive Branch staff handed out the above [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Punches at the Post

  This goes into the category of "you gotta be kidding me." Politico has details on a fist fight at the Post and the Washington City Paper has the background. Somewhere, the Boy King is telling people to grow up. [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:00am EST
  

• Chris Van Hollen on the Public Option

  [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 10:00pm EST
  

• Berthiaume Makes Endorsements in Rockville City Races

  Laura Berthiaume, who finished fifth of seven candidates in the 2006 District 17 Delegate primary and was elected to the Board of Education last year, sent out this mass email naming her endorsees in tomorrow's Rockville city races. Berthiaume may one day run for higher office, so her chances are [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 6:00pm EST
  

• State Legislators Urge Council to Back Rail CCT, Question ACT All-Transit Option

  A letter organized by Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15) and signed by seven other state legislators representing areas along the CCT's alignment urges the County Council to support rail for the project and expresses skepticism about Action Committee for Transit's (ACT) all-transit option for the corridor.
  
  The County Council [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 2:00pm EST
  

• Details on MoCo Equal Benefits Bill

  Following is the press release from the County Council.
  
  Montgomery County District 4 Councilmember Nancy Navarro at 12:30 p.m. TODAY, Monday, Nov. 2, in Rockville will announce details of an “equal benefits” bill she will be introducing before the Council that would extend to employees of many contractors and [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 12:00pm EST
  

• Who is Behind Marylandreporter.com?

  Marylandreporter.com is a new online-only state politics news site founded by former Baltimore Examiner editor Len Lazarick. The site contains information on Lazarick, who is publishing it, but no information on its backing. Let’s shed some light on that.
  
  Len Lazarick is an experienced political reporter in [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 7:00am EST
  

• Democratic Women's PAC Holds Campaign Training

  Following is their release.
  
  
  Ten days until the training, and seats are limited! Register now for our intense and comprehensive campaign training for women candidates, potential candidates, elected officials, campaign staff, volunteers and activists.
  
  Click here for more information and to sign [...]
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  Posted: October 31, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• Delegate Bill Frick Comments on Credit Card Vampires

  By Delegate Bill Frick (D-16).
  
  Thank you for sharing your experience at the hands of credit card vampires with MPW readers. The situation you faced is exactly what motivated me to introduce House Bill 1048 in the 2009 legislative session.
  
  Like you, many thousands of [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 3:00pm EDT
  

• Shifting Funds

  By Marc Korman.
  
  Last week I wrote about campaign finance reports for Maryland House of Representatives candidates. I received some questions about the ability of a state candidate to transfer money to a federal account. Today I will try to address the inquiries.
  
  The context in which [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 12:00pm EDT
  

• MDOT Goes Schizo on Gaithersburg West

  So would the Planning Board’s proposed Gaithersburg West Master Plan be a bad idea because it would gridlock local roads and require vast sums of money to redo intersections? Or would it be a good idea because it would make a light-rail CCT cost effective? According to the Maryland Department [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• Van Hollen Prods DOD on BRAC Traffic

  Congressman Chris Van Hollen has inserted language in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010 calling on the Department of Defense to pursue traffic mitigation measures for the expanded Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda. The bill has been passed by the House and Senate and awaits President [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 8:00pm EDT
  

• Low Rate Credit Card Balance Transfers Available: Save. Money. Now.

  By Delegate Saqib Ali (D-39).
  
  As an elected official, I have a unique perspective to the grinding recession facing our nation. I unfortunately get to hear from too many of my constituents who are suffering from the poor economy. Day after day after day my inbox is filled with [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
  

• Credit Card Vampires Out for Blood

  Ever think that even though the credit card companies are going after everyone else, they won’t come for you? I used to believe that too until I received the following notice in the mail. But these vampires came after the wrong blogger, and I am fighting back!
  
  Check out [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• Inside the MPW Datafile

  Once again, we are releasing the results of our leading posts and search terms as measured by Statcounter. Here are the most-read stories from August 23 through October 25, which represents approximately our last 100,000 page views.
  
  Top Stories, 8/23/09 – 10/25/09
  
  1. Montgomery College President Wanted [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• O'Malley: State Agencies Should Prioritize Transit-Oriented Development

  Governor Martin O'Malley has just issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to consider proximity to transit stations as a criterion in planning their office space. In Maryland, land-use planning is a function of county governments and local agencies like M-NCPPC, so the state's ability to influence development is limited.' [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 6:00pm EDT
  

• Perez Golf Story: Follow-Up

  Back in August, we revealed how the staff of former Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Tom Perez organized a 1:30 PM golf outing for him on the same day that the Governor announced millions of dollars in budget cuts. But a Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• SEIU Local 500 Declares Impasse with Montgomery College

  SEIU Local 500, which won a campaign to represent Montgomery College’s adjunct professors in June 2008, has reached deadlock with the administration on a new contract. That does not bode well for the new college President who replaced Brian Johnson in September.
  
  Union organizing in the public [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• Creative Campaigning

  Former Delegate Cheryl Kagan (D-17), who is challenging incumbent Senator Jennie Forehand, held a contest among her supporters to craft a new drink called a "Cheryl-tini" in her honor. The drink's recipe was unveiled at her fundraiser tonight. Just tell us this isn't the most creative campaign flyer so' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:00pm EDT
  

• Ben Kramer is Raising Money

  Delegate Ben Kramer (D-19) is holding a fundraiser on November 8. So what's unusual about that? Plenty.
  
  Kramer is a wealthy commercial property owner and developer whose family has long been a force in the county's political and business communities. His family's company, Kramer Enterprises, owns over [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• Too Rich for Furloughs

  As we wrote yesterday, we believe that state legislators are paid too little relative to their job duties. That threatens to shrink the pool of competent people willing to serve and it is one reason why we have not made a big deal about their giving up furlough days [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• SHA Answers Council’s Questions on I-270

  The County Council sent a list of questions to the State Highway Administration (SHA) about the I-270 project and SHA has responded. Here are the questions and answers that caught our attention.
  
  Question:
  The Alternative Analysis/Environmental Assessment stipulates that the funding strategy for the I2-70 widening would be a [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• The Real Scandal of Legislative Pay

  The recent talk about which state legislators are giving up part of their salaries to match state employee furlough days obscures a much, much larger issue with legislative pay. The real scandal of legislative pay is:
  
  It’s way too low.
  
  During this term, state legislators are paid [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• Slots and Reality Still Don’t Mix

  By Rob Annicelli.
  
  In a desperate attempt to help aid the faltering Cordish bid for slots zoning approval at Arundel Mills, Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold “decried a proposal for a new site for a casino in the county as a de facto ‘prohibition’ on slot [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• Audrey Scott's Campaign Video for GOP Chair

  [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 2:21pm EDT
  

• MoCo Non-Profits Protest Safety Net Cuts in D.C.

  A coalition of non-profits in Montgomery County has sent a letter to the Mayor and City Council in the District of Columbia protesting budget cuts targeting vulnerable people. This should be no surprise given that need knows no borders. We reprint the letter below.
  
  October 9, 2009
  
  Honorable [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 2:00pm EDT
  

• What I Will Teach My Kid About Politics

  As every reader knows, Baby Olson Pagnucco (now known as Andres) has arrived. Now we will have to teach the next generation the way of things. That means saying please and thank you, brushing teeth, tying shoes and not repeating every bad word that comes out of Daddy’s mouth. [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 7:00am EDT
  

• House Campaign Finance Reports

  By Marc Korman.
  
  Campaign finance reports for the US House of Representatives have been released for the third quarter, covering July 1st to September 30th. The reports for the 1st, 4th, and 8th Congressional Districts of Maryland help set the stage for the 2010 election year.
  
  1st Congressional [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 3:00pm EDT