MARYLAND BRIEFING

Friday, January 4, 2008

CONGRESSIONAL RACE

Wynn Gets Backing of 2 Teachers Associations

U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.) announced yesterday that he has been endorsed for a ninth term by the National Education Association's Fund for Children and Public Education and the Maryland State Teachers Association's Fund for Children and Public Education.

The endorsement means that the nation's largest teachers group will recommend that its members vote for Wynn in the Democratic primary Feb. 12 and, if he wins the nomination, in the general election in November.

"Congressman Wynn has shown political courage in raising major concerns about the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Law," Clara Floyd, president of the Maryland State Teachers Association, said in a statement. "If we want to make sure that every child has access to great public schools, then Congress must provide the flexibility and resources needed to make that happen."

Wynn faces a tough challenge from four candidates for the Democratic nomination in Maryland's 4th Congressional District, which encompasses most of Prince George's County and part of Montgomery County. They include lawyer Donna F. Edward, who came within three percentage points of defeating Wynn in 2006.

-- Rosalind S. Helderman

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY

Man Reported Hit by Car Had Been Shot

Prince George's County police were called last night to the scene of an apparent fatal pedestrian accident but found that the victim had been shot, officials said.

Officers found the unidentified man in the street in the 2400 block of Tucker Road after receiving a 911 call saying that he had been struck about 9 p.m. by a burgundy-colored car, said Cpl. Clinton Copeland, a police spokesman. Investigators found that the man, who was dead, had been shot in the chest, he said.

Police said the car might have struck the man after he was shot.

-- Clarence Williams

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

O'Malley to Campaign for Clinton in N.H.

Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is scheduled this weekend to join Maryland politicians who will be stumping for their presidential picks in states with early primaries and caucuses.

Aides said O'Malley plans to canvass tomorrow in Portsmouth, N.H., with other supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.). He also plans to attend meetings with undecided young professional voters, a labor rally in Manchester and a debate-watching party.

The governor will be accompanied in New Hampshire by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a national co-chair of Clinton's campaign, an aide said.

Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D) was among those campaigning for Clinton yesterday in Iowa for the caucuses, aides said.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) was also in Iowa yesterday, stumping for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

"I have been making phone calls, knocking on doors, attending Obama rallies, talking to the press and setting up chairs and taping up signs at the Windsor Elementary School Library in West Des Moines in preparation for tonight's caucus there," Gansler said in an e-mail forwarded by an aide.

-- John Wagner

TAX-INCREASE LAWSUIT

Lawmakers Question Gansler's Impartiality

Republican lawmakers suing to overturn Maryland's new tax increases called yesterday for an investigation by the state prosecutor's office, saying that the Democratic attorney general cannot be impartial in the case.

The lawmakers called on Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) to request that the state prosecutor's office, which investigates allegations of public corruption allegations and other crimes, take over the case.

The GOP says the Senate adjourned illegally for more than three days during a special session in November without consent of the House of Delegates. The Democrat-dominated legislature approved $1.4 billion in tax increases during the session.

Gansler spokeswoman Raquel Guillory said there is no reason to "waste valuable resources on a case we believe involved no wrongdoing whatsoever."

A Carroll County judge is scheduled to hear arguments in the case today.

-- Lisa Rein