A Frenzied Start Upends Usual Opening Calm

After several days of television and radio ads by the bill's backers, Wal-Mart announced yesterday that it would fight back with an eleventh-hour newspaper ad campaign aimed at derailing the legislation. The company said it has purchased ads in The Washington Post, Washington Times and Baltimore Sun that describe the bill as "arbitrary" and "likely to do more harm than good."

"It's a tough vote," said Wal-Mart lobbyist Frank D. Boston III. "We're working as hard as we possibly can. The union pressure is extremely strong."

At times, the issue appeared to throw Ehrlich off balance. During an appearance on CNBC yesterday, he was asked whether he was in Wal-Mart's "pocket" because the company held a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for him.

"Wal-Mart hosted a $1,000 fundraiser for me?" he asked on the national broadcast. "That is absolutely incorrect. Wal-Mart has not hosted any fundraisers."

Press secretary Greg Massoni later said Ehrlich "misspoke. Wal-Mart was not the host, just one of many hosts."

The invitation to the December 2004 event came emblazoned with Wal-Mart's logo, and at the entrance to the function, held in a private room at the waterfront Annapolis Marriott Hotel, a Wal-Mart sign welcomed those attending. Massoni said he could not identify any other sponsors.

Ehrlich was working hard to win over members living in districts where his popularity runs high. He acknowledged that he was facing a tough fight from powerful unions.

Prowling the halls of legislative office buildings were labor advocates wearing purple stickers with the message, "I'm a Health Care voter." In teams of a half-dozen people, they dropped in on lawmakers and reminded them that the unions would be watching their votes.

One of their targets was Del. Murray D. Levy (D-Charles), who voted against the bill last year.

"I'm squarely on the firing line here. I made it clear that I want to honor the vote I made last session," Levy said. But if it comes down to a single delegate and party leaders think Levy's support is imperative, he said, "It becomes a much tougher vote. I haven't reached an answer yet."

During two hours of business on the House and Senate floors, Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) were reelected to lead their chambers -- Miller for the 20th year.

Busch greeted members with a five-point agenda he said was driven by a desire to close the "growing divide between the wealthiest Marylanders . . . and the working and middle class."

He called for property tax relief for low-income senior citizens, better monitoring of sex offenders, controls on agricultural runoff to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, increased access to health care for veterans and free college tuition for the spouses and children of military members on active duty.

Several initiatives resembled proposals Ehrlich has laid out in almost-daily news conferences over the past 10 days. That doesn't mean the election-year session will be harmonious.

"Year 4, here we go again," Ehrlich said from the dais of the Senate chamber. "It's a tough year."

Staff writer Ann E. Marimow contributed to this report.