Md. Lawmakers Convene
Democrats Welcome One-Party Rule

By Lisa Rein and Ovetta Wiggins
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, January 11, 2007

The Maryland General Assembly returned to Annapolis yesterday with Democratic leaders tightening their control over state politics and pledging to advance an agenda stalled by four years of clashes with an outgoing Republican administration.

High-spirited Democrats took their oath of office at noon amid talk of a new era of harmony with Gov.-elect Martin O'Malley, a fellow Democrat, and bipartisanship with Republicans, whose numbers shrank after November's election.

"Many of us wore our political affiliation on our sleeve" during campaign season, Del. Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) told his chamber of 141 lawmakers after they elected him to a second term as House speaker. "But as we move forward, the most important thing any of us can carry is that we are Marylanders."

O'Malley, in brief comments to the House moments later, joked that lawmakers shouldn't "get too far ahead of me before Anthony and I get settled in."

The governor-elect and his lieutenant governor, Anthony G. Brown, will be sworn in Wednesday, succeeding Republicans Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Michael S. Steele, who feuded with the General Assembly over a slew of partisan-edged issues.

Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) the longest-serving Senate president in Maryland history, used his reelection to a fifth and final term in leadership to elevate African American lawmakers to several leadership positions.

"We did make some history here today," Miller said, noting the appointment of the first black senator to serve as president pro tem and the first black woman to lead one of the Senate's standing committees.

His comments seemed designed to mollify tensions with black leaders who criticized the party for fielding a slate consisting largely of white men in last fall's campaign.

The legislature welcomed an unusually large freshman class of 34 delegates and 11 senators -- the largest group of Senate newcomers in half a century. Among the newcomers are the first Muslim delegate and the first openly gay senator, two constitutional lawyers, a former county executive and an advocate-turned-politician. Lawmakers also paid tribute to party elders: new U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D) and the Democrat he succeeds, Paul S. Sarbanes; both got their start in the House of Delegates.

Only a handful of bills were filed by day's end. But House and Senate leaders predicted action on increased access to health care, stricter limits on car emissions, new funding to replace crumbling schools and an aggressive cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay.

"It's a whole new day in Maryland," Sean Dobson of Progressive Maryland said as he mingled with lobbyists and lawmakers in the halls of the country's oldest operating statehouse. Dobson, whose Montgomery County-based group supports fair wages and campaign finance changes, reflected the hopes of many advocates for liberal causes.

Lawmakers were less upbeat about what may be their biggest challenge over the next four years, a projected budget shortfall that is prompting talk of spending cuts and tax increases. The death penalty could become another vexing issue after a ruling by the state's highest court halting executions until the state develops a new lethal injection protocol.

Partisan unity started to fray on a few issues. Miller said he opposes a tobacco-tax increase to cover expanded health care, while Busch called it "tax revenue of least resistance."

Busch repeated his long-held opposition to legalizing slot machine gambling, while Miller, taping a public radio show early yesterday, said gambling would help an ailing horse-racing industry. O'Malley said yesterday that he would like to see Miller and Busch come together and present a plan to him, but the governor-elect said, "I doubt that'll happen this session."

He spoke outside the historic Chick & Ruth's Restaurant on Annapolis's Main Street, where he unveiled a sandwich named in his honor. The "Martin O'Malley" consists of roast beef, provolone, horseradish and lettuce on rye bread.

For newcomers to the capital, it was a day of exhilaration and confusion. As Jamin Raskin (D-Montgomery) ushered his wife and three children into the Senate chamber, he asked a reporter standing beside the doorway whether it was all right for him to be interviewed by a television reporter at his desk before the session started.

After getting an all-clear sign, Raskin led his 11-year-old son, Tommy, who was wearing a tie for the first time, to his seat, then glanced over at his wife, Sarah, and smiled as his first interview in his official capacity began.

James N. Robey (D-Howard) said his eight years as county executive have prepared him well for the challenges that Maryland faces. But how will he handle moving from the executive branch to the legislative one?

"That will take some getting used to," he said. "As county executive, I was one of one. When I said, 'Do it,' it got done. Now I'm one of 47 and it will take some adjusting."

Ehrlich did not make an appearance at the State House and was barely mentioned during yesterday's ceremonies. "There will be ample opportunity to recognize the service of Governor Ehrlich," Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert), the minority leader, said.

Among the guests welcomed yesterday were local government officials, who used their visibility to push their priorities for the session. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and members of the county's delegation pledged to work for full funding of the state's Thornton education plan, including a component that divvies up additional money to high-cost regions of the state.

O'Malley said this week that he is "seriously weighing" deferring the estimated $96 million initiative that would give extra money to school systems based on a "geographic index." The money, a third of which would go to Prince George's, would come on top of an additional $580 million the state is required by law to distribute to state schools next year.

Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-Prince George's), who is likely to be named head of the delegation this week, promised to fight for the funding. "We want what we deserve, and we're going to go after it," she said.

Staff writers Rosalind S. Helderman and John Wagner contributed to this report.