WTOP political commentator Mark Plotkin was online Tuesday, Sept. 18 at noon ET to discuss the race for John Warner's U.S. Senate seat, whether Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley will call a special session to fix the state's budget, an imminent vote on the D.C. voting rights bill, and more.

The transcript follows.

Archive: Mark Plotkin discussion transcripts

Plotkin joined WTOP after 10 years as a political analyst for WAMU radio. He has been active in D.C. and national politics since attending George Washington University in the late '60s.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hopefully this an easy one. I've been reading all these articles about the payday lending debate that has been going on, and the one thing I can't figure out ... why is this industry exempt from the normal interest rate cap in the first place? Everything I read says "normally lenders are not allowed to charge more than 24 percent, but payday lenders are exempt from this requirement." ... Why? What was the loophole in the first place? It seems the same gotcha exists in almost every state in the country. ... I think I read that 15 states don't allow the practice, or regulate the interest rate the same as other lenders.

washingtonpost.com: D.C. Payday Lenders Unbowed Ahead of Vote (Post, Sept. 18)

Mark Plotkin: Before I answer this question, I sure would like to give you the most recent low-down on the historic vote this afternoon at 2:15 p.m. on the D.C. Voting rights bill. It looks like it's going to be very close. It takes 60 votes to move the bill and there are 10 firm Republicans, but there are two Democrats who are definitely in doubt; one, Robert Byrd of West Virginia will not be there, and Max Baucus looks like he very well might be the only Democrat to cast a "no" vote. This is a resident of Georgetown and obviously a very ungrateful D.C. citizen. He might come around at the last moment, but the Democratic leadership definitely is working on it.

The Republicans who seem to be in favor are the following: Hatch, Bennett, Collins, Voinovich, Coleman, Smith, McCain, Cochran, Snowe, Specter. The three other possibilities are: Hagel, Lugar, Murkowski.

So the real story on this vote will be that the Republicans will save the day by supplying the 11 necessary votes, if Baucus votes no. I have to get there early, so I hope you will excuse me, I'll have to cut this short this week -- I'll make it up to you next week.

Now on to your question about payday loans. I don't understand how they have gotten away with this either, and Marion Barry's role in this is shameful. Mary Cheh has been great about this and I hope the council protects poor people who are at the mercy of these vultures. What a sleazy group.

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Washington: Hey Mark, got a question about Maryland congressional races but first wanted to compliment your recent piece on TOP on John Warner. Class piece on a class guy. About Maryland: Are there any pick-up opportunities there for the Dems? I understand Rep. Gilchrest is facing a primary challenge this February. If he loses, could the Dems have a shot at the seat? What are the demographics of the district? It would seem to me that DCCC Chair Van Hollen would be looking real close at a possible pick-up opportunity in his backyard, if it exists. Thanks.

Mark Plotkin: Thanks for the kind words about the Warner commentary. but I want to revise that maybe because the vote on the D.C. Voting Rights bill. He is planning to offer a poison pill, saying that the bill requires a Constitutional amendment. That will give cover for people to vote against the bill and vote for the Warner amendment. Tom Davis is going to talk to Warner and trying to persuade him not to offer this amendment.

Concerning Maryland, Gilchrest, as you know, is facing a primary opposition from a conservative state senator, Harris. Gilchrest has faced opposition from the right before and has beaten it back. He is very popular and very principled and -- as I keep on reminding everybody -- the ultimate profile and courage when he voted for the D.C. statehood bill in 1993; he's also been one of the very first Republicans to speak out against the war in Iraq. A former high school civics teacher and Marine, he's one solid citizen -- and in my mind, the model for a public servant. Democrats have represented this district but they are usually very conservative, and I don't see a pick up there. When Roscoe Bartlett retires in the western Maryland district I can see Democrats trying to pick up a seat there. Van Hollen obviously would like all eight members of the Maryland delegation to be Democratic.

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Bethesda, Md.: After her showing in last November's election, I would have thought that Reggie Oldak would have been a strong candidate to replace Marilyn Goldwater. Who is Frick, and what swayed the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (which sounds like how the old Soviet Union chose its leaders) in his direction?

Mark Plotkin: Thanks for pointing this out to me -- I need to get into this selection. When a county committee makes a vacancy appointment, you are sure talking about inside politics. But I'll look into it and find out more about it. Your comparison to the old Soviet Union is absolutely perfect.

I know I have changed the time today. I apologize again, but I sure do want to encourage questions and comments, and I have some suggested topics.

I hope you heard Tom Davis on WTOP (103.5 FM) last Friday and wonder if you think he'll actually stay in and fight it out with Jim Gilmore. Secondly, what is your reaction to the early signs coming out of Martin O'Malley concerning this revenue package, and what do you think of Mike Busch's resistance to a special session? Thoughts about Mark Warner ... is he really a shoo-in, or is the media just building him up too much? Finally, if the District does get the vote and the president doesn't veto the bill and the Supreme Court says it's constitutional, who will run against Eleanor Holmes Norton? I would love to hear your suggestions -- her free days of instant election I think would be over. In fact, there will be some well-known leaders moving into town. Does anybody recognize the name Jessie Jackson Sr.? Let me hear from you on this one.

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Fairfax, Va.: What is happening with development of NoMa Business Improvement District? A few Federal agencies are going there, but little else is being built yet. What is holding progress up?

Mark Plotkin: I've got to talk to council member Jack Evans about what's going on in this area and then I'll give you a more learned opinion. But I appreciate the question. Let me try to inspire you once again with some suggested topics, or you will have to suffer my rambling discourse on a myriad of topics you might not be interested in. I know you don't want that.

Will Fenty get Dan Snyder to move the Redskins to the District? Will there be a stalemate in Maryland, or will Mike Busch and Mike Miller ever agree? Who's lining up to run against Kwame Brown, and can anybody beat him? Will there be a convention or a primary in Virginia for John Warner's seat? Any thoughts on the new mayor of Baltimore? Finally, let's talk presidential politics: Can a Democrat win Virginia? The last time it happened was Johnson in 1964.

I just got a call from Michael Steele, who along with J.C. Watts wrote a great piece advocating D.C. Voting rights in the Washington Times. I wish it had run in The Post. Steele and especially Jack Kemp have been terrific about this issue and actually turned some votes. Now look, I have given you plenty of red meat and brilliant suggestions. Write in or I'll start talking about my intramural basketball career and the time I scored 17 against St. Michaels in Chicago in 1962.

In addition, I'll throw this one out. Karl Hobbs doesn't deserve a contract extension, and GW shouldn't have given him one. If you don't want to talk politics, I'll be glad to talk basketball, which I know more about anyway.

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Washington: Mark, would you consider running for Norton's seat if the Voting Rights bill becomes law?

Mark Plotkin: Is this a draft? A genuine draft? Keep on mentioning my name -- it will drive Norton crazy. It's worth it just for that. Do you think there is support out there? Far be it from me to use this venue to revive my moribund political career.

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Adams Morgan, D.C.: Mark: You are accurate in your description of the Payday Loan people as sleazy. They commissioned a "push" poll and I was unfortunate enough to have been at home when they called. I immediately understood the extreme bias of the questions, but also understood that if I called them on it, my answers wouldn't count. So, to the amazement of the woman on the other end, I preceded to answer in what ordinarily would seemed to be a very contradictory manner. The whole lot of them should be boiled in oil.

Mark Plotkin: Thanks for that little tidbit. They are slimy and sleazy group that preys on the economic misfortunes of a whole class of people, and I'd like Marion Barry to fess up and tell us for once that he is just doing a shill job for these horrible, awful, parasites.

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Arlington, Va.: Although I am predisposed to vote for the Democratic candidate for Senator in Virginia next year, presumably Mark Warner, I think that Tom Davis is probably more of the type who would be able to do very well in the Senate, with his ability to work for compromises and get along with people across the aisle. Do you think that Davis's legislative ability would be a saleable one for him if he made it through to the Republican nomination? P.S.: Please ignore whomever gives you that terrible nickname each week.

Mark Plotkin: Warner is feeling very confident because everything seems to be going his way. It is his election to lose. I do not see a scenario by which Gilmore wins. Davis must first get the nomination, and that in itself is going to be tough. If it's a convention, I just don't see him getting the nomination. If it's a primary, I think he kicks Gilmore's behind. I have asked Gilmore to be on the Politics Program this Friday but have not yet heard from him. Democrats are savoring the prospect of picking up the Senate seat and winning the state's electoral votes for the first time since 1964. Warner, I think probably has peaked, but he has a lot of room to fall down before he is in trouble. Don't underestimate Davis -- he's tough, shrewd, and smart, but he doesn't have statewide name recognition and he's counting on Republicans to revert back to party loyalty.

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Arlington, Va.: I am a long time George Washington fan and agree with you that Karl Hobbs doesn't serve his extension. Although he is an adequate basketball coach, he is unwilling to schedule good teams and has to win the league tournament to get to a first- or second-round NCAA loss. He also has minimal people skills, to such an extent that nobody knew that the men's awards dinner was held until it was over. Compare that to the women's coach, Joe McKeown, who is an ornament to the school.

Mark Plotkin: Boy, you stole my script. McKeown should be the coach -- he's very funny and has had a great record. Hobbs rants and raves and I can't understand how the players listen to him. They also sometimes seem without guidance. They don't run plays, and his substitution pattern is second only to that of the disgraced and defrocked Mike Jarvis, who is toiling away in deserved obscurity. The last time I saw him he was doing analysis on the NCAA tournament in Canada. That's not far enough away from me.

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Washington: Hi Mark, what would be the next step after the statehood vote today? And what do you see happening in the future for the District if we get statehood?

Mark Plotkin: This is not a statehood vote -- the statehood vote was held in November of 1993 in the U.S. House, and it got 153 votes. Jim Sasser and John Glenn made sure it never was voted on in the Senate. When you see Sasser walking around Washington, make sure you remind him of this heinous act. This is just a vote for a modicum of democracy, a vote in the U.S. House, and we have Tom Davis to thank for forging the compromise that got us this far.

Sorry, I have to leave now, but I'll make it up to you next week. Thanks for all your questions and comments.

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