In an event billed as a triumph for homeland security and government cooperation in Maryland, a phalanx of armored police vehicles paraded around the State House yesterday, taking several local leaders for a spin.
But something was missing from the brief martial display-cum-news conference. In fact, two things were missing: Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) and Howard County Executive James N. Robey (D).
Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said teamwork is what secured the new armored vehicles.
(File Photo)
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The two boycotted the gathering, saying Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) was attempting to claim credit where none was due.
Homeland security was on ample display, what with the five $194,000 trucks and their 1.5-inch-thick armor. But where was the cooperation?
"I just don't want to be misleading the public," O'Malley said, explaining his absence in an interview before the vehicles arrived. "There's not a dime of state money in any of this and it is misleading and duplicitous to tell the public otherwise."
Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese DeLeaver said: "This is a team event. This is the result of federal, state and local governments working together."
Seven of the vehicles were purchased with a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A coalition of seven local governments -- Baltimore and Annapolis, plus Anne Arundel, Carroll, Harford, Howard and Baltimore counties -- applied for the grant. Maryland's Emergency Management Agency shepherded the grant through, and Ehrlich was on hand yesterday to hail the "teamwork" involved in procuring the trucks.
"This is as good as it gets," the governor said from the steps of the State House before ushering Anne Arundel County Executive Janet S. Owens (D) into her police department's newest ride. "The bottom line here is teamwork."
HMO Increases
Democratic lawmakers said yesterday that they will seek to restrict Maryland's insurance commissioner from approving premium increases proposed by HMOs without first holding a public hearing.
A bill including that restriction was introduced in the Senate yesterday by Sen . Dolores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County). Del. John A. Hurson (D-Montgomery) said he is working on a similar measure to introduce in the House.
