Panel on Md. Firings to Have Subpoena Power

Republican lawmakers sought to require nine of the panel's 12 votes to subpoena a witness or personnel records. With eight Democrats on the panel, that would have ensured that at least one Republican member supported the request.

"This is the amendment where we can decide how this committee is going to function," Del. Jean B. Cryor (R-Montgomery) told her colleagues. "This is the amendment that reassures the public it's going to be fair."

The amendment was voted down along party lines.

Republicans also sought to strike the committee's ability to hire outside counsel, a move that would have limited staffing to legislative aides. After that effort failed, the Republicans sought to authorize hiring separate counsel to represent their interests. That was voted down as well.

GOP members also sought a cap on committee spending, which Democrats said was premature because the scope of their efforts remains undefined.

Republicans argue that the investigation is overreaching, and Democrats counter that Ehrlich's personnel practices warrant the scrutiny.

Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery) recounted episodes in which longtime employees were escorted out of work by armed guards upon being fired and said he has heard several allegations of employees being fired for political reasons -- a notion Ehrlich disputes.

"If you look at what has happened, it cries out for a hard look," Frosh said.

Administration officials have accused Frosh and others on the panel of prejudging the outcome of the review and have urged their removal.

In an exchange of letters between Miller and Stoltzfus released yesterday, Miller suggested that Ehrlich had done the same thing earlier in his political career. As a member of Congress in 1998, Ehrlich was quoted in a newspaper article before President Bill Clinton's impeachment proceedings as saying: "He clearly, clearly committed perjury many times. I don't think anyone can argue it."

DeLeaver, Ehrlich's spokeswoman, characterized the comparison as "pretty desperate." She said, "Federal apples are being mixed with state oranges."