Pr. George's Senator Quickly Steps Into Heated Battles

Gay rights advocates say they found Muse's behavior puzzling. At first, they said, he seemed amenable to expanding rights for same-sex couples. In the end, he voted against measures concerning property rights and medical decisions in favor of Republican-backed amendments.

"He positioned himself as reasonable and willing to compromise," said Dan Furmansky of Equality Maryland, the state's leading gay rights group. "He indicated his flexibility to just about everyone on that committee. . . . It makes you wonder why he was not upfront from the beginning."

Muse said he struggled with the issue, in part because of Britt's support and because he did not want to be criticized for intermingling his religious beliefs as a pastor with public policy. In the end, he said, he put aside his religious beliefs and listened to constituents.

"I voted based on what I heard from them," he said. "Based on the letters I received and the e-mails I received."

In Annapolis, Muse cuts a charismatic figure, charming and affable, impeccably dressed in monogrammed shirts and gold cuff links. He has been a quiet presence on the floor, rising infrequently to speak, but has spoken powerfully on issues he has chosen to address, including his opposition to a violent form of martial arts known as ultimate fighting and to a flavored beer drink marketed to young people.

Muse said he was not attempting to scuttle National Harbor when, on the final day of the session, he proposed changes to a bill that would have provided the project 40 liquor licenses. But he said he was disturbed by reports showing that while more than 30 percent of contracts at National Harbor have gone to local or minority businesses, few have gone to minority businesses in Prince George's.

Muse moved to reduce the number of licenses allowed in the bill but said he would be willing to come back next year and raise the number after he had had time to investigate whether minority contractors had been fairly treated. He went as far as to draft a letter to developer Milton V. Peterson asking that political leaders appoint a committee to vet the project's contracts but said he never actually sent it.

National Harbor requested that the bill be pulled rather than accept the changes, preferring to have the 300-acre project's restaurants go before the local liquor board one by one to seek licenses.

Peterson has declined to comment. But County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) fretted that Muse's actions might complicate efforts to sell the county to high-end retailers at an annual convention in Las Vegas next month. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) said the debate set the county back "light-years." Gov. Martin O'Malley, in a closed-door meeting, told Muse that his actions could be viewed as a "shakedown."

Muse said he now feels he is being targeted to force him to back down from his position. "I think it's totally unfair that when I stand up, I'm attacked," he said. He said he is incensed that his draft letter to Peterson was leaked, calling its wide circulation "definitely unethical and possibly criminal."

At the same time, the tussle could boost Muse's popularity at home, where he is rumored to be contemplating a second run for county executive in 2010 when term limits force Johnson to leave office. Muse said he has given no serious thought to leaving the Senate but would not rule out a run.

"This is a struggle that continues in our community for economic power and the uplift of our people," said Ollie Anderson, a political ally. "If that means disagreeing with what the governor wants to do, then I'm glad there is someone in office willing to do that."

If he does seek higher office, one issue likely to arise would be Muse's financial stewardship of the large congregation he runs. By now, many county residents are familiar with complaints of a United Methodist church in Brandywine he quit in 1999, taking with him some congregants to form the Ark of Safety Christian Church. United Methodist congregants said Muse left the church with $6 million in debt and sued. The case was resolved.

What is less known is his new congregation's continuing financial difficulties, as it has renovated a large house of worship in Upper Marlboro. Last year, a court imposed a lien on the church after a contractor said the congregation failed to pay more than $700,000 in construction costs. The contractor has asked the court to next month consider a motion that would let the company foreclose on the property to repay the bills.

Muse said that the two sides have reached a settlement and that the church has already made three payments to the contractor. One more is due next month, and when it is paid, he said, the issue will be resolved. An attorney for the contractor declined to comment.

The church has also been sued three times in the past three years by companies seeking payment of bills. Each suit has been resolved.

Muse said his congregation is not wealthy. Some of its congregants have been laid off and face foreclosure of their own homes, leading to a drop-off in giving. But he said that the congregation is financially stable and that any suggestion to the contrary is part of a "rumor and innuendo" campaign against him.

"Everyone is struggling today," he said. "Multibillion-dollar businesses are struggling today. It's a sign of the times."