Setback to Baker, state panel rejects new casino in PG

Prince George’s Executive Rushern Baker

Today the special commission that was charged by Governor Martin O’Malley, Speaker Michael Busch, and Senate President Mike Miller to explore finding a consensus on the hotly debated proposal of expanding casino gambling into Prince George’s County had planned to announce a deal on a plan that would be considered in a special session the week of July 9th, but those plans have been scrapped. Panel leaders announced they have not been able to reach consensus and there would be no extension in their work. That is fancy talk for saying they failed.

The proposal, which was pushed by County Executive Rushern Baker, took over the final days of the regular session of the General Assembly. Many blamed Senate President Miller for holding up budget negotiations in an attempt to push the hand of the House of Delegates but by midnight both proposals had failed to be approved. Legislators returned to Annapolis last month to resolve budget work and planned to return next month to deal with the casino proposal. News today that the commission named to draft the plan both chambers would debate failed to reach a deal seems to end those plans. Governor O’Malley had indicated he would not call another special session unless the panel was successful.

Last week officials with MGM Grand announced plans to develop a casino at Prince George’s National Harbor in what some elected officials said was another attempt to push the hand of legislators. MGM promised the deal would create more than 1,000 construction jobs and more than 4,000 jobs after the casino opened. For Prince George’s County, which struggles with job creation, that was big news. Additionally a state report released said the casino would generate more than $200 million annually in education funding for the state. Opponents to the casino point to the promises made by the lottery and said they never came to fruition. Community groups and church leaders in the county also opposed the plan saying the amount of crime and social issues the casino would create was not worth the risk.

Sources in the Prince George’s County government say the executive and his team will continue to explore ways to move forward with their plans. Any expansion in the county would first have to be approved by both the legislature and voters in a constitutional amendment.

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The O’Malley casino commission: PG gets none, MoCo well represented.

Governor Martin O’Malley on Face the Nation

On Monday Governor Martin O’Malley appointed his long discussed Working Group on Gaming. Despite what the governor puts out as a wide ranging portfolio, this group has one task, deciding if the state will allow an additional casino at National Harbor in Prince George’s County. However guess what we weren’t supposed to notice? None of the voting members of the group are from Prince George’s County.

Here are the official voting members of the group -

• Governor’s Chief of Staff Matthew Gallagher
• Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management T. Eloise Foster
• Secretary of Appointments Jeanne Hitchcock
• Senior Policy and Legislative Advisor Joseph Bryce
• Senator Edward Kasemeyer
• Senator Nathaniel McFadden
• Senator Richard Madaleno
• Delegate Sheila Hixson
• Delegate Peter Hammen
• Delegate Frank Turner

Now before we get all crazy and stuff the governor did also name alternates to the group and there are two members from Prince George’s County in that group, but both of them are pro-slots coming to the county. The members of that group are below.

Senator Douglas Peters, Senator George Edwards, Senator Robert Garagiola, Delegate Dereck Davis, Delegate Robert Costa, and Delegate Eric Luedtke.

So here is how things balance out.

Voting Members of the Working Group

Baltimore City – 2

Howard County – 2

Montgomery County – 2

Non-voting Members of the Working Group

Anne Arundel County – 1

Montgomery County – 2

Prince George’s County – 2

Total= Baltimore City 2, Howard County 2, Montgomery County 4, Prince George’s County 2

From looking at this you would think that this site was going to be in Montgomery County.

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Del. Gerron Levi leads charge against Baker & slots

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Earlier today former Prince George’s County Delegate Gerron Levi blasted Executive Rushern Baker and Senate President Mike Miller’s plans over the stalled state budget, the plan for a new casino, and the need for expensive special sessions at a cost of about $25,000 per day.

From Delegate Levi:

Former Delegate Gerron Levi (D-23A)

Thomas V. Mike Miller, Maryland’s President of the State Senate, demonstrated just how far gambling supporters will go to force a slots parlor in Fort Washington.  In a gross abuse of power, he blocked a compromise on Maryland’s budget in order to get what he wants — Maryland’s 6th casino in Prince George’s County. As a result, Prince George’s County now faces over $60 million in cuts, and counties, cities, schools, police departments, colleges and popular programs across the state are staring down the prospect of over $500 million in cuts.

You see, Mike Miller is the Master of the Senate, and one of the three most powerful men in the State of Maryland.  Having served in Annapolis for over 40 years, he is also a master of political brinksmanship.  A Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly will now have to be called at taxpayers expense to raise taxes and solve the state budget.  And, if all goes according to Mike Miller’s calculation, a Prince George’s slots parlor will be on the agenda.

Mike Miller’s Plan:  With enough time, the “hue and the cry” of teachers and college students and others across the state facing “doomsday” cuts will be so loud and the pressure on the Governor and the Speaker of the House so great, that one of them will have to blink and bend to His will and give him “something” on the Prince George’s slots deal.  All he needs is for one them to get behind his casino and round up the votes in the House of Delegates to pass it so that it goes to statewide referendum in November.  He knows that no Prince George’s politician wants this on the ballot when they have to run for reelection in 2014.  So, this is the year!  He has been waiting for this day for a long time — slots in Prince George’s within his grasp — and he has no intentions of retiring from the State Senate before he gets it; he has been planning it for over a decade.

Follow the Leader thinking and cold political calculation led a number of Prince George’s lawmakers to shudder their campaign opposition to slots in the county and follow Mike Miller’s model on abuse of power.

These are just a few examples:

• Cuts to the Education Trust Fund:  Two Prince George’s lawmakers introduced, the County Executive urged support, and  for bills (SB 892) that would cut 15% of slot revenues going education to go instead to profits for casino operators. Recall in 2007/2008 gambling was sold to statewide voters as a way to fund education.   5 Prince George’s Senators voted for that bill.

• Promised a “Local Vote” for Prince George’s and then took it back:  A County Council resolution sought to condition a county slots parlor on the will of Prince George’s voters.  When casino supporters realized they did not have the votes for a county slots parlor in the House of Delegates they dropped that “local vote” provision, leaving it to voters statewide to decide for Prince George’s County.  5 Prince George’s Senators voted for that bill.

• Baker’s Exaggerated Revenue Numbers:  While Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker claims the county will win $69 million in revenue from his slots parlor, he fails to mention that the state has yet to reap the revenue promised in 2008 from the existing slots program.  In fact, The Maryland State Lottery Agency reported that the state is spending $71.5 million per year to provide slot machines to three casinos — that is $10 million more than the  leasing cost projected for all 5 casinos in the coming year.

• End-Run Around Prince George’s Leaders:  The customary rule is this: the will of the Prince George’s Delegation is communicated to the Speaker of House or other House leaders after a discussion among delegates and either a vote of the delegation or a decision to send a delegation letter from the Chairwoman.  At the request of County Executive Rushern Baker, several delegates decided instead to send their own “group letter” to House leadership to express “the will” of the delegation.  12 state delegates signed that letter.

• The customary rule is this:  the will of the Prince George’s County Council on legislation is communicated to leaders in Annapolis after a discussion of the Council and a vote or a Council letter from the Council Chairwoman.   At the request of the County Executive and Senate President, several County Council Members decided instead to send their own “group letter” to Annapolis to express “the will” of the County County.  6 County Council Members signed that letter.

Organizations Opposing A Casino in  Prince George’s County:     1.   Coalition of Central Prince George’s County Community Organizations 2.    Indian Head Highway Area Action Coalition (IHHAAC) 3.    National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 4.    Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) 5.    Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) 6.    Prince George’s County PTA Council 7.    Progressive Cheverly 8.    Mission of Love 9.    Men Aiming Higher 10.   Kettering Civic Federation 11.   Executive Committee, Hillcrest-Marlow Heights Civic Association 12.   Suitland Action Team 13.   Mission Baptist Ministers Conference 14.   Original Free Will Baptist Conference 15.   Fairfield Knolls Civic Association 16.   Helping Hand Club 17.   Concerned Citizens of Seabrook Park Estates 18.   Forestville Park Homeowners Association 19.   District III Coffee Club 20.   Page After Page 21.   Integrated Processing Labs 22.   Family, Faith, and Future 23.   Veteran’s Advocacy Group 24.   Former Prince George’s County Councilman Thomas Dernoga 25.   Former Maryland State Delegate Gerron S. Levi 26.   Former Prince George’s County School Board Member Patricia Fletcher 27.   Lewisdale Citizens Association 28.   Community of Hope AME Church 29.   First Baptist Church of Highland Park 30.   Jerusalem AM.E. Church 31.   Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church 32.   Bride of Christ Church 33.   New Creation AME Church 34.   Cornerstone AME Church 35.   Mt. Victory Baptist Church 36.   Triumphant Church 37.   New Hope Baptist Church 38.   Christ Kingdom Church 39.   Wayman Memorial AME Church 40.   United By Faith Christian Church 41.   Solid Rock Missionary Baptist Church 42.   Marlboro Meadows Baptist Church 43.   Embry AME Church 44.   Antioch Baptist Church – Clinton 45.   Shalom Ministries Christian Center 46.   The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square 47.   Judah Temple AME Zion Church 48.   Higher Place of Praise Ministries 49.   New Community Church of God in Christ 50.   Bethel Deliverance Outreach Church 51.   Christ Missionary Baptist Church 52.   Disciples of Christ Christian Church 53.   Carolina Missionary Baptist Church 54.   Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church 55.   Union Bethel AME Church 56.   Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church 57.   Ebenezer AME Church 58.   New Vision Baptist Church 59.   Gethsemane AME Church 60.    New Liberation AME Church 61.    Millwood-Waterford Citizens Association 62.    Hunter Memorial Church 63.    South Potomac Citizens Association 64.    Wilburn Civic Association 65.    Central Civic Association (Wilburn Community) 66.    Maryland Family Alliance 67.    Greater Accokeek Civic Association 68.    Laurel Clergy Association 69.    Bethany Community Church 69.    New Chapel Baptist Church 70.    Jericho City of Priaise 71.    Community of Hope AME Church 72.    Reid Temple AME Church (North) 73.    From The Heart Church Ministries 74.    Glenn Dale Citizens’ Association 75.    New Revival Kingdom Church Follow The Real Prince George’s on Facebook and Twitter. Also get the latest in your inbox by subscribing on the right side of the page.

Sen. Muse comes out against casino in special session

State Senator C. Anthony Muse today released the following editorial opposing consideration of a new billion dollar casino during the expected special session. The opposition from Muse for consideration is interesting as he represents the area that both potential sites, National Harbor and Roscroft, are located.

“The Only Gaming During a Special Session Should be Doubling Down on the People’s Business”

 

Whether you support casinos in Maryland or not, one thing is certain, the proposed expansion of gaming will have no direct impact on the fiscal year 2013 budget.  In fact, projected revenues from a proposed casino in Prince George’s County would not be realized for nearly six years, at best; and projected revenues from table games are a few years off as well. Further, the expansion of gaming hinges on the voters of Maryland agreeing to support the referendum, which some may say is likely, but there are no guarantees.  For these reasons, and many others, it seems irrational and irresponsible to tie the ability of the General Assembly to pass a responsible budget for this year to the condition that we send a question to referendum that may fail.  This is a gamble that I don’t believe the state should take.

Governor Martin O’Malley was right when he said, “Our republic was not built on gambling gimmicks, bingo games or bake sales.”  I believe that our republic was built on intellect, courage and humanity; and the future of our republic depends on brave men and women standing for the greater good and putting personal interests aside to get a job done for the citizens of Maryland. 

We ended this session with the people’s business unfinished, because the special interest of gaming dominated the closing days of the General Assembly.  As a result, Maryland must cut $512 million from education, public safety and other services.  In addition, tuition rates will increase at state universities, making higher education less affordable for our young people.  My home county, Prince George’s, will likely see a $65 million reduction in state aid, resulting in cuts to k-12 education, public safety and other services.

I understand that Senate President Mike Miller and County Executive Rushern Baker have a desire to bring slot machines and table games to Prince George’s County, but I believe it is mutually exclusive from this year’s budget and should be dealt with during the course of the regular session next year.   I don’t believe it is worth gambling with the important issues that we as public servants must face today.  Right now, the Prince George’s County Public School System ranks 24th of 24 in the state, yet we are now facing devastating cuts to our education system because we could not pass a responsible budget.  Just a couple of weekends ago, there were five killings and four shootings in Prince George’s, yet we are now risking cuts to public safety.  Conditioning this year’s budget on gaming is at best poor judgment, or at worse one of the greatest abuses of power that this state has ever seen.

The state of Maryland is facing a structural deficit, and yet we allowed one special interest to potentially cost taxpayers additional money to bring the General Assembly back into session to pass the budget that should have been and could have been passed in the 90 days the people have allotted for us.  If we allow gaming to play a role during a special session, shame on us!  We would be sending a message to the world that Maryland can be bought and bossed by special gaming interests, and that we are willing to sacrifice education, healthcare, public safety and transportation for the promise of revenues generated by slot machines and table games.  I believe the people of Maryland deserve better of us.  Let’s not gamble with their future.

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O’Malley blast GOP, Senate and PG Democrats over budget, PG Young Dems hit back

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Yesterday Governor Martin O’Malley took to this campaign email to blast members of the GOP for cheering the cuts the doomsday budget lays out:

Ten days ago, Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly failed to reach a consensus on a budget to move Maryland forward.  Now, there is more work to do.

As Democrats, we know we need to come together to protect our investments in public education, affordable college and public safety — and we will come back to complete this important work.

The failure to pass a budget to move Maryland forward is bad enough, but the Republican reaction is even worse. When Republicans in Annapolis learned that the inaction by the Maryland General Assembly would result in more than $500 million in cuts to public education, public safety and social services, they cheered.

They cheered about the possibility of turning back Maryland’s progress over the past six years.

They cheered for cuts that will harm every school in every county.

They cheered for cuts that will harm every student in every classroom, every library, and every local police department.

They cheered for cuts that will raise tuition on every Maryland college student, make our community colleges less affordable and reduce funding for life-saving and innovative research and development.

For all of this, they cheered.

After blasting the GOP for cheering the cuts, the governor tried to play the elder statesman in Annapolis by imploring his party leaders to come together on a deal.

If there is ever a time to come together as Democrats, it is now. You and I both know that a modern economy requires modern investments, by all of us, for all of us.

Governor O’Malley has received a lot of bad press following the legislatures failure to reach a budget deal. Many blame his national ambitions as a reason the budget package wasn’t passed. Now he is fighting back.

Earlier today O’Malley took to twitter to blast Senate Democrats focus on gambling and that didn’t sit well with the Prince George’s County Young Democrats. See the governor’s tweets below and then the PGCYD response that follows.

Earlier this week Senate President Mike Miller, who represents part of Prince George’s, sent a two page letter to members of his chamber hitting back at efforts to blame him and County Executive Rushern Baker for pushing the National Harbor Casino project as the cause of the budget deadlock. With the special session likely weeks away, both sides of this inter-party struggle seem far apart.

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Students and education officials put pressure on for special legislative session

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One the setbacks to the General Assembly not reaching a deal on the revenue package (taxes) that will fund the spending plan is the cuts to public education. This week students at the University of Maryland, who face the possibility of a 10% increase in tuition, plan to take to the public square at College Park in protest demanding Governor Martin O’Malley call a special session to address the unfinished business. In addition PGCPS Superintendent Hite also is sounding the alarm.

In a statement posted to his blog and emailed to community stakeholders, Hite writes: ” Because the General Assembly session ended without the approval of the Fiscal Year 2013 budget submitted by Governor Martin O’Malley, our school system is now faced with an additional $51 million in cuts. Needless to say, this would have a substantial impact on our students, teachers, staff and schools.” A member of the Prince George’s County House Delegation to the House of Delegates called Dr. Hite’s estimate “conservative” and warned the cuts could be far more than that. The superintendent also wrote that he and the members of the board have already written to the governor, senate president, and speaker of the house to request they reconvene to solve the problem and encouraged citizens to do the same.

Here are the details of the University of Maryland event:

Rally on the Mall- Prevent 10% Tuition Increases!

Thursday, April 19th @3:00PM

McKeldin Library, University of Maryland

McKeldin Library, College Park, MD 20742

As you may have heard by now, the Maryland General Assembly failed to fully fund the operating budget, which means as of now the so called “Doomsday Budget” goes into effect. The “Doomsday Budget” will have devastating affects on our university, as the University System of Maryland could face cuts up to $50 million.

These cuts will mean that more of the burden will fall on students next year and there will likely be at least ten percent tuition increases for the incoming fall semester.

Now, is the time for action! Governor O’Malley still has the option to call a special session to raise the revenues to offset the cuts to the university. We will rally on the mall (in front of Testudo) and urge legislators in Annapolis to get their act together and protect higher education.

Balancing the budget on the backs of students is not acceptable. We need to have a special session, so that students that are struggling to get by will not be unduly burdened by petty politics.

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Should the legislature avoid casinos in special session?

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Governor Martin O’Malley has said he will not call a special session of the General Assembly, which some see as necessary, until the Speaker of the House of Delegates Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller come to an agreement on what will be discussed and passed. Issue number one on the agenda of both Governor O’Malley and Speaker Busch is the tax package required to accompany the budget in order to prevent a wave of deep cuts to spending that will hit education the hardest. However Senate President Mike Miller and Prince George’s Executive Rushern Baker are pushing for the legislation to build a casino at National Harbor to be included as well. Disagreement over the casino legislation is being blamed for holding up the budget and many people, including supporters of the casino like Del. Justin Ross, say they aren’t sure it should be dealt with in the special session.

We want to know what you think.

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Fannie Lou Hamer PAC slams Del. Griffith over closed door meeting on redistricting maps

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The Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, which has made a name for itself by using forceful language to attack redistricting maps they disagree with, took Prince George’s County Delegation Chairwoman Melony Griffith for holding an emergency closed-door meeting to discuss the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee’s map.

Read their full statement below:

To Whom It May Concern,

On tonight, Monday, December 19, 2011, the Prince George’s County House Delegation held a meeting on legislative redistricting at the Prince George’s County Administration Building.  This meeting was called by the Delegation Chair, Melony Griffith, Democrat 25th Legislative District.  The purpose of this meeting was to critique the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee’s Legislative Redistricting proposal for the 47 Districts in the State of Maryland.  The invited speaker was Joseph Bryce, the Legislative Director for Governor Martin O’Malley and the key staffer to the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee.

The Maryland Open Meeting  Laws states that when the House Delegation Members meet to conduct public business, those meetings are to be publicized and open to the public. (http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Maryland_Public_Information_Act)

Delegation Chair, Melony Griffith, decided to hold this meeting as a “closed door meeting.”  This is a clear violation of the laws that they are elected to uphold.  It is my understanding that the topic of redistricting is an ineligible criteria for executive session meetings.  All of the Governor’s redistricting advisory committee meetings were open to the public and had transcripts produced to demonstrate a legal history of the meetings and work products. If I am incorrect and this meeting was legal then I find it to be clearly unethical.

Dennis Serrette, the President of the Barnaby Manor Civic Association, attempted to enter the meeting.  Mr. Serrette stated that he was stopped by the police and was told that this meeting was closed to the public and only for Delegates.  Mr. Serrette stated that there were 10 police officers standing guard to block the doors and public access to the meetings.

It is my understanding that Senator Mike Miller informed Delegate Melony Griffith that this had to be a closed door meeting to allow Delegates that were being redrawn out of their districts an opportunity to present their grievance.  Incumbency protection of elected officials is the only concern for Senator Miller and Delegate Griffith.

Anytime an African American Women instructs African American County police officers to prevent the Black community from being informed on redistricting is DISGRACEFUL.  Especially if this action is coming under the direction of a White man, Senator Mike Miller.

I know that you are tired of hearing this but this is just another example of ‘Negro Intellectual Castration.”  Or since we are speaking of a Black Women..I will call it “Negress Intellectual Abuse.”  I hope that I am wrong and am falsely accusing Delegate Melony Griffith.  If I am wrong then I publicly apologize.  If I am right, then Delegate Melony Griffith owes the Black Community an apology for instructing a Black man with a gun to prevent another Black Man from exercising his Public Rights…

Yours in the struggle,

Radamase Cabrera

–
Fannie Lou Hamer – Political Action Committee

“Ensuring A Fair and Responsive Redistricting Process”

P.O. Box 2302 * Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

flh.pac@gmail.com * 240-389-2066 * www.flh-pac.org

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Message from proposed redistricting map, white officials beware in Prince George’s

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Prince George’s County has 23 delegates in the Maryland House of Delegates. Additionally we have 8 senators for a total of 31 voices in the General Assembly. If the newly proposed map by the Governors Redistricting Advisory Committee is approved by Gov. O’Malley the county could lose a delegate but even more it could see as many as six more minorities in the delegation all at the expense of…white incumbents.

Changes to districts 21, 22, 23, 27 and 47 which are the only legislative districts in the county with white delegates or senators has made being a white elected official in Prince George’s County a dangerous thing. That these proposals were made by a committee with only one African-American is even more shocking.

Prince George’s County has 8 white delegates and one Filipino. The other fourteen are African-American. The county has three African-American senators, one Hispanic senator, and four white senators. However under the proposed map by the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee things might change a lot!

District 21

The incumbents in this district should remain safe, including the two white delegates Ben Barnes and Barbara Frush, but changes to the southern portion of the district will impact the safety of Delegate Doyle Niemann in the 47th.

District 22

District 22 currently is made up of the communities of Greenbelt, Hyattsville, New Carrollton, and Riverdale, but changes to the map bringing in communities with more blacks such as Lanham, Seabrook, and Glenn Dale could seriously endanger Senator Paul Pinsky and Delegate Ann Healey. The district has another white delegate in Justin Ross but Ross has proven himself to be a favorite in the black community. While the only African-American delegate in the district Tawanna Gaines out polls them both year after year, Healey has often come in third of the three and in 2006, the last time they faced a challenge, only beat challenger Karren Pope-Onwukwe by 1,355 votes or 6%.

Senator Paul Pinsky on the other hand hasn’t faced a primary challenge since 2002. This could make him out of touch with voters where he hasn’t had to actively campaign for reelection in 9 years now but 12 by the next primary. A district with more black voters for an aging senator (he will be about 64 during the next primary) could make him a target for retirement.

District 23

Nobody thought that leadership favorite Senator Douglas JJ Peters would be on the chopping block during redistricting. The chairman of the delegation, Peters is well liked both in Annapolis and his district, but has long feared a well-funded African-American taking him out as almost happened in 2006 when Bobby Henry challenged him and lost by about 2% of the vote. In 2010 Henry made another run for it, but without the funding Peters crushed him for reelection. That could change in the district proposed that makes 23A (the more white district) smaller and expands 23B (the more black district). To make matters more interesting 23A which currently has two delegates will lose one (we will talk about in a moment) and 23B will gain one (it currently has one and he is…black). Does this mean Peters might be out? No because Peters has a good relationship with many parts of his current African-American community and if he does his job right he will keep it, but it does put him on notice.

Delegate James Hubbard on the other hand is gone. Will he retire instead of fighting to keep his seat is the question but if 23A goes from two seats to one will in no way be able to fend off newly elected Delegate Valentino-Smith who crushed him in 2010 by over 6% of the vote. While the two of them ran on the same slate as Sen. Peters and 23B delegate Marvin Holmes, there was no secrete Smith and Hubbard hated each other and Peters preferred Smith over the elder statesman.

District 27

The movements to make District 27A a one member seat verses the current two seat and draw out Delegate Vallerio has taken many by surprised. Vallerio much like his senator Mike Miller who is president of the senate, has been in Annapolis forever. Miller also was a member of the committee that came out with this map. Vallerio is well liked by most in the delegation and despite his age still makes it around to events. He also chairs the Judicial Proceedings Committee and giving up a chairmanship is not anything many in the county seem interested in doing. However that this move was made might mean that Vallerio has indicated to Miller he desired to step down.

District 47

In 2010 Delegate Doyle Niemann ran against the slate of Senator Victor Ramirez, Delegate Jolene Ivey, and newbie Delegate Michael Summers. He ran instead with Senator David Harrington. The Ramirez and Ivey team hasn’t trusted him since and when district 47 goes into an A/B district he can expect to not be on the ticket. In 2006 he lost to newcomer Jolene Ivey by almost 10% and barely beat the other incumbent Rosetta Parker by 3% to keep his seat. In 2002 he barely beat newcomer Victor Ramirez by almost 2% but the difference between him and the losing candidate in 4th place was only about 4%. In 2010, the most recent race he came in second place by beating newcomer Michael Summers with less than 3% of the vote after he was crushed again by Ivey with over 10% of the vote. It will not help him that when the district is split into an A/B seats with B having two and A having one, he will be in the B seat with Ivey and Summers with the A seat being drawn for a Hispanic.

How all of this plays out still depends on a few key things happening;

1) Will Governor Martin O’Malley accept this map as it is written? If he does and presents it to the General Assembly it will become law unless another map is passed by the chambers. That seems unlikely since both presiding officers served as members of the committee that drew this map.

2) If Martin O’Malley does send this map to the General Assembly, will there be enough blow back to pass another map?

3) Will this map stand up in court? From all appearances it will and no one has raised any serious legal questions to the map since it was released last week.

Governor O’Malley will hear comments concerning this map during a public hearing on December 22nd at 10AM in the Legislative Services Building at 90 State Circle in the Joint Hearing Room in Annapolis, MD 21401. Those requesting to speak may sign up in advance by clicking here. To review the map for yourself click here.

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Monday makes for busy day in politics

Busy day in Maryland Politics today.

The Maryland General Assembly will convene in a special session at 9AM to review and pass congressional and school board redistricting maps.

Governor Martin O’Malley, Senate President Mike Miller, and House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch will hold a press conference to introduce the governor’s final redistricting plan. If the General Assembly fails to introduce and pass their own plan the governor’s draft will automatically become law.

The Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee will join with GOP leaders to introduce their own congressional redistricting plan at noon also in Annapolis.

The Prince George’s County Council will meet as the District Council to review zoning decisions.

The county council will attempt to find a compromise between Executive Baker and the volunteer firefighters over plans to reorganize the Fire Commission.

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