Strange Bedfellows

Kathy Szeliga, Republican Sen. Andy Harris’ chief of staff, said she will put her House of Delegates campaign on hiatus for about six weeks after her fundraiser Wednesday night.

Szeliga, who is running as a Republican, came under fire last week by Democrats who claimed her campaign violates personnel rules for legislative staff, which prohibit employees from running for office while employed by the General Assembly.

Szeliga has announced her intention to run for the House of Delegates in the 7th District. Since May, Sezeliga has raised more than $43,000 and has more than $34,000 cash on hand. Her Web site declares her intentions. It should be noted that Harris, who is running for Congress, is Szeliga’s campaign finance chair.

Democrats balked, saying Szeliga regularly meets with lobbyists as part of her job and could use her position to leverage campaign contributions — sometimes called pay-to-play. (more…)

County Administrative Officer Fred Homan, not County Executive Jim Smith, will meet with members of the county’s House delegation Friday to answer questions about the county’s projected $144 million budget deficit.

The delegation asked Smith to meet with them last month regarding the budget at the request of Republican Del. Pat McDonough, who represents the 7th District including Cockeysville, Middle River and part of Perry Hall.

The political ramifications of such a request must also be noted since McDonough is mulling a run for county executive in 2010, and Smith is  considering a run for state senate in McDonough’s district. (more…)

“I don’t think the only reason we’re there is to pass bills. Part of the reason we’re there is to keep bills from passing.” ~ Del. Todd Schuler, on why he and other legislators are only sponsoring a handful of bills this session.

Del. Emmett Burns was on The Marc Steiner Show on WEAA 88.9 FM Wednesday talking about his bill to ban the recognition of same-sex marriages performed outside of Maryland.

Burns told Steiner and listeners that he disagrees with Maryland granting recognition to same-sex marriages.

“I have no problem with people living in loving relationships if that’s what they want to do in private, that’s  their business,” Burns said. (more…)

The county’s House and Senate delegations wasted no time setting its respective leadership for the rest of the 90-day General Assembly session.

Senators from the county’s eight districts met the first day of session Wednesday and elected Sens. Norman Stone and Kathy Klausmeier chairman and vice chairwoman.

The House delegation met Thursday morning and elected Dels. Eric Bromwell and Steve DeBoy chairman and vice chairman. Del. Jon Cardin was named secretary for the delegation.

Del. Emmett Burns said he plans to file a bill Thursday or Friday that will prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The Democrat and Baptist minister represents the 10th district, including Randallstown and Woodlawn, and has been a staunch opponent of same sex-marriage. Burns has sponsored several bills related to the issue over the last few years.

“I’ve fought this fight over the last 12 years,” Burns said. “Now with Washington D.C. approving (same-sex marriage), it’s needed more than ever.”

Burns said his bill will ban so-called foriegn marriages — unions performed out of state if the couples are of the same sex.

Republican Del. Pat McDonough said after Wednesday’s opening General Assembly session that he’s no longer considering a run for governor and is setting his sights again on running for Baltimore County executive in 2010.

Earlier this year, McDonough said he was considering a run for county executive only to change course a few months later and announce was testing the gubernatorial waters. The caveat was that he wouldn’t run if Republican former Gov. Robert Ehrlich sought a rematch with Democrat Gov. Martin O’Malley.

“I believe (Ehrlich) is running, that’s my opinion,” McDonough said in an interview. “I see a lot more activity, a lot more enthusiasm and a lot more commitments for fundraising. I see the intensity is there.” (more…)

The General Assembly session started today at noon. You can keep up with all the happenings of the county’s House and Senate delegations here, on Twitter and on Explorebaltimorecounty.com.

Things could be a little uncomfortable in the House Republican caucus when the General Assembly session begins on Jan. 13 after Del. Michael Smigiel said recently that Del. Rick Impallaria suggested that he ignore a subpoena at a court hearing earlier this month.

Smigiel, an attorney and Cecil County Republican, was subpoenaed  to testify in a hearing over a contract dispute by Irwin Kramer, an Owings Mills attorney. Kramer had sued Impallaria, claiming the Republican who represents Cockeysville, Kingsville and Middle River and part of Harford County owed nearly $16,000 in back legal fees for his representation of a group known as Democrats for Responsive Government. (more…)

Del. Steve DeBoy returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. DeBoy, a two-term Democrat who represents District 12A, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.

District 12A includes Arbutus and Catonsville. (more…)