Here’s the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on some of the funny, ironic and interesting things said in the world of politics.
“It’s like being on an airplane when those oxygen masks drop down from the ceiling. You put your mask on first and then you assist others.”
~Former Republican Del. Don Murphy, Oct. 30, 2009, on when it isappropriate for candidates to help campaign for other candidates.
The current controversy about pensions for County Council members is a no-win scenario regardless of what the council may or may not do in the way of reform, according to former County Executive Don Hutchinson.
“There’s no way they can win on it,” Hutchinson said, adding that voters would likely see any action as “nothing more than reaction to a story of exposure.”
“I don’t think this council can do anything about it,” Hutchinson said. “I think the council, any council, could have changed it, but they chose not to. The new council can talk about it, consider it, discuss it. I think this council is best to leave it alone.”
The two-term Democratic executive talked about the pension issue during an interview about a possible return to politics.
Hutchinson said he understood why the pension issue has captured the attention of the public.
“I think that the average man and woman always look at somebody else’s life in comparison to their own and what they know,” Hutchinson said. “They know that when they retire, regardless of the job they had or what they’ve done, they know they’re not going to get full compensation for their retired years. They know they’re income is not 100 percent of what it was when they left their job.
“That’s all they know, and that’s what they think is fair. They think what is fair for everybody is what has been fair for them.”
So is the public wrong? (more…)
Two weeks ago I wrote that Al Redmer is close to announcing a return to politics and is considering a run for the 7th District Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Andy Harris.
Redmer sent an e-mail to supporters Monday, alerting them to a “no-cost, campaign kick-off” event on Nov. 11.
But for what?
Redmer, a Republican former delegate and state insurance commissioner, won’t say.
I pointed out an e-mail he sent to supporters in which he asked them to hold off on donating money to candidates in the 7th District Senate race. In a post here two weeks ago, Redmer confirmed that he wrote the e-mail in which, in part, states, “Make no mistake, the Senate race in D7 is critical to the state and to the Republican party.”
Redmer wouldn’t budge.
“I want to preserve some of the mystery,” Redmer said.
Isn’t that kind of like the political equivalent of putting pasties on Blaze Starr?
Redmer laughed.
“Maybe,” he said.
It may have been a little confusing if you tuned in to WBAL 1090 AM this morning at 7:39 expecting to hear my weekly chat about county politics but heard Bill Frist. You were just a few minutes late.
Paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors and a Republican former Senate Majority leaders with a perspective on the national health care debate beats a local reporter talking pensions every day.
Yeah, ok, I got bumped a few weeks ago for Paula Zahn, too. Ok, she’s not a health care expert but come on, have you seen me?
That meant moving me to a slot 17 minutes earlier than usual.
Here’s today’s audio link.
Sen. Norman Stone returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Stone, an 11-term Democrat who represents the 6th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.
The 6th District includes Dundalk and Essex.
Both Busch and Miller returned five days’ salary and asked fellow legislators to also give up between one and five days’ pay at the same time 67,000 state employees were being furloughed for up to five days based on individual salary levels. (more…)
Donald Hutchinson won’t seek a third term as county executive.
The two-term Democratic executive confirmed he’s made a handful of phone calls over the last few weeks to friends and supporters telling them he doesn’t have any interest in a year of campaigning.
“If someone wants to appoint me county executive, I’ll take the job because I loved the job,” Hutchinson, 63, told me.”And I think one of the unfortunate things you learn about politics is that when you (become county executive) as young as I did there’s a tremendous amount of knowledge that you accumulate over time and you don’t get to come back and get a do-over.” (more…)
I’ll be on WBAL 1090 AM talking to former state Sen. Clarence Mitchell IV about county pensions.
I’ll be on with C4 after the 2 p.m. news.
Baltimore County Republican Central Committee Chairman Chris Cavey told me Tuesday night that he is withdrawing as a candidate for chairman of the state party.
Cavey forwarded an e-mail to me that he sent to party central committee members around the state.
Cavey provided no additional information and said he would be unavailable for most of the night.
Cavey was one of three candidates vying for the post. His withdrawal leaves only Audrey Scott and Daniel “The Wig Man” Vovak (so named because of his penchant for wearing powdered colonial-style wigs during his 2006 U.S. Senate race).
A final vote is expected Nov. 14 at the state party convention in Bowie.
Here is Cavey’s e-mail: (more…)
Pay and benefits for elected officials have been on the minds of many lately, and a lot of folks are upset by the issue.
The folks over at Maryland Politics Watch have an interesting take on “The real scandal of legislative pay” in Maryland — it’s too low.
They also have an interesting post on which legislators in Maryland are “Too rich for furloughs,” including Sen. Andy Harris, a Republican who represents the 7th District in Baltimore County.
Both posts make for interesting reading. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts about the posts, or pay and benefits for elected officials, in general, in our comments section.
I’ll be covering the County Council meeting today live on Twitter.
Biggest issue on the agenda is the speed camera contract. The council will also consider a bill that will will require scrap metal dealers to track certain information that police can use to help solve thefts of items such as copper pipe, gutters and metal siding.
You can follow along at Twitter.com/bpsears