Chris Cilizza

5. Maryland’s 1st district (D): A recent poll conducted for state Sen. Andy Harris’ (R) campaign showed him leading Rep. Frank Kratovil (D) by a 52 percent to 39 percent margin. That Kratovil’s campaign didn’t release numbers of its own suggests the incumbent isn’t in a good place — not surprising given the Republican tilt of this Eastern Shore district. (Previous ranking: 7)

Speaker Michael Busch told C4 today on WBAL radio that there will be no tax increases by the legislature in 2010. From the interview:

“We’ve spent pretty responsibly down here in Annapolis,” said Busch.

Maryland Politics Watch concludes, based on voter registration by party, that Bob Ehrlich would not have a chance to defeat Martin O’Malley in 2010.

Mike Spellings is out as campaign manager for the candidacy of Andy Harris. Reports indicate that there was a personality conflict between Spellings and the candidate.

The Baltimore Sun has called on Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to step aside at least temporarily.

Len Lazarick of Maryland Reporter has taken an in-depth look at all the perks and benefits given to members of the Maryland legislature – including all the per diem money they take home in questionable circumstances at best.

Douglas Tallman reports that rumors of the erection of a statue of Senate President Mike Miller are not true, according to Miller’s chief of staff. Adam Pagnucco has a bit of fun with the rumors.

Inside Charm City blogged about a Bryan Sears article on possible influence-buying in Baltimore County Council races being facilitated by Jim Smith’s son and a former Smith law clerk.

Baltimore City Council has been criticized for not reviewing budget information the resulted in the approval of $24K worth of uniforms for employees of the city’s 311 call center.

Laura Smitherman is the newly-announced business editor of The Baltimore Sun. This will obviously take her off the political beat.

Maryland Reporter has other government news from over the weekend.

PAT McDONOUGH LEADERSHIP TEAM NEWSLETTER
TITLE: “OPPRESSION HITS JULY 4TH PARADE”

The theme of the Bel Air Independence Day Parade was supposed to be “American Patriots, Then and Now!” Wow, talk about hypocrisy! Apparently, Michael Blum, Chairman, and other members of the Parade Committee, don’t have a clue as to what “patriotism” is really all about. Liberty and the Constitutional guarantee of free speech are the foundations of good old U.S.A. patriotism. Chairman Blum and his gang confronted at least three participants in the parade and seized, on one occasion, Delegate Rick Impallaria’s private signs. Blum and company actually yanked these signs from the hands of the children who were carrying them, including a couple of eight year olds.

The reaction from the crowd watching the parade was vitriolic, including shouts of “Sign Nazis or Communists” referring to the sign police. Although those sentiments may be a bit extreme, the crowd was obviously annoyed by Mr. Blum’s antics. The messages that were proclaimed on Delegate Impallaria’s signs were the following: “Support the Constitution,” “Support the Tea Parties,” and “Cut Taxes.” Remember, the theme of the parade was “American Patriots, Then and Now.”

Ironically, on the same day as the parade, more than 500 citizens showed up that morning at a Tea Party in downtown Bel Air. I am sure Chairman Blum was not in attendance at the tea party.

Delegate Impallaria was not the only elected official that Blum and his hit squad harassed during the parade. Prior to the Impallaria incident, Mr. Blum attempted to intimidate me and demanded that I remove my “Speak English” slogan, which was part of my Delegate Pat McDonough signs. I told Mr. Blum that the Constitution was more important to me than his opinion. The signs remained with me throughout the course of the parade, igniting loud cheers and a lively response from the patriotic crowd. I reminded Mr. Blum that my signs had appeared in five previous Bel Air parades without receiving any intimidation from him or anyone else.

Moreover, it is important to note that all of the other July 4th parades included signs and slogans from everyone. I had just departed from the Greater Kingsville Parade where not only were the signs welcomed, but the parade officials read them out loud as they passed by the reviewing stand. Apparently, parade officials all around the state support freedom of speech and expression. Mr. Blum has decided to turn Bel Air into a “free speech dead zone.”

Citizen Blum proudly boasts on his personal website that he is a “yellow dog democrat.” This type of individual, according to the popular definition, will blindly vote for anyone who is a democrat, even a “yellow dog.” This kind of narrow thinking means Blum is a predictable advocate for President Obama’s policies of more government, less liberty, and reckless spending.

The “yellow dog democrat” is probably deeply offended by the popular, growing TEA PARTY grassroots movement in Harford County. One could honestly ask the question, “Is Chairman Blum misusing his authority over the Bel Air parade to promote his own agenda and silence other opinions?”

Obviously, some type of action must be initiated to prevent this type of ugly incident from occurring again. A number of citizens have come together in order to review the options available, ranging from litigation to protest, and a replacement of Michael Blum with a fellow citizen who understands the true meaning of patriotism, free speech, and America’s birthday on July 4th.
(Continue reading…)

WBAL.com

State Sen. Andy Harris, who lost a close race for Congress in Maryland’s 1st District, is taking a part-time job at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Harris is an anesthesiologist who has a full-time job at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Harris says he hopes to learn firsthand about work in the smaller hospital in Salisbury to better understand the nation’s health care issues.

He says he wants to work with the staff and learn more about rural health care access issues.

The Cockeysville Republican has announced plans to run against Democrat Rep. Frank Kratovil again in 2010.