Michael Busch

House and Senate Republicans are opposing November's constitutional amendment that would authorize early voting in Maryland, claiming it's ripe for fraud, an unfunded mandate and unnecessary since the state already has an absentee ballot program.

But House and Senate Democrats are calling the argument ridiculous.

Comptroller Peter Franchot is stumbling through his second year in statewide office, according to state Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller.

"Your bad habits have diminished your standing and reduced your effectiveness as Comptroller," wrote Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) in a letter to Franchot (D-Takoma Park) on Thursday.

Miller's comments were in response to a note sent by Franchot earlier this week.

Speaker Michael Busch (D-Annnapolis)DENVER – It is the third day of the Democratic National Committee Convention, but the plane carrying state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis) only touched down this afternoon.

“I’m excited about being on the floor tonight,” he told PolitickerMD.com, shortly after arriving.

Though Busch has been tuned into the convention via television, and said he was impressed by U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy’s Monday address.

Speaker Michael Busch (D-Annnapolis)Yesterday, House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch (D-Annapolis) took over as interim chairman of the University of Maryland Medical System as the board reorganizes after some disagreement over its direction.

WBAL reports that Chairman John Erickson and nine other members of the system's 27-member board resigned yesterday after several months of infighting. Busch, a board member, will serve as the chair until a replacement can be found.

According to Baltimore Business Journal, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-Baltimore) asked Erickson to resign last month, though Erickson believes pressure from university leaders, who "felt they should have more say in how things are resolved," were the ones really pushing him out.

Created in 1984, UMMS consists of eight hospitals and is the fourth-largest employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area, with $1.6 billion in economic activity in the state.

ANNAPOLIS - Gov. Martin O’Malley announced Thursday the appointment of former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti to chair the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment. O’Malley and Civiletti were joined by Lt. Gov Anthony Brown (D) and state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis).

Back in November, I thought that we would be bombarded with ads on both sides of the argument when it comes to slots. But so far, the speculation about the PR going on for a year is turning out to be more media hype than anything. You might find a story here or there. The occasional commentary from Marylanders United To Stop Slots comes into my inbox every now and then, but it hasn’t been a big noisemaker in the free state. I suspect now that people realize that November is only four months away, whatever television money has been stored will now be put to good use in the three television markets in the state.

I refer to this issue as a two armed bandit. I do not like the fact that this referendum is going to be an amendment to the state constitution, all in the name of passing the buck. On the other hand (or arm,) I do not want to see this bill defeated because in a way it is passing the buck, in addition to giving the general assembly and Governor Martin O’Malley (D) not only an out and a reason to avoid the issue, but an excuse to cut the budget and/or raise taxes…ok, maybe the latter more than the former.

ANNAPOLIS – Gov. Martin O’Malley swore in Judge Sally Adkins to the Court of Appeals Wednesday, Maryland’s highest court. Also attending the ceremony were state House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis), Comptroller Peter Franchot (D-Takoma Park) and state's Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville). Kratovil is currently running for congress in MD-1.

Gov. O’Malley praised Adkins. “I know that you will carry the high standards with you that you established at the Court of Special Appeals, and take that to the Court of Appeals,” he said.

In case you were not within an ear shot of the nation’s capital, Governor Martin O’Malley made a couple of radio runs this past week, where he took ample opportunities to take shots at his predecessor, now-former Governor Robert Ehrlich.

It’s no secret that the current governor’s job approval rating is down from a year ago, way down, in the 30s. His reasoning behind that is because he raised taxes. That was what he told WTOP (103.5FM) political analyst Mark Plotkin, but he added that it was a bit more complicated than that. “We were left a $1.7 billion deficit by our predecessor that red ink came crashing on us. We had to make a lot of cuts and we also had to push a lot of unpopular measures and nobody ever stands up and applauds.”

If I am not mistaken, I believe that Ehrlich (R) left O’Malley (D) with a surplus and it was widely reported that the Governor would not face a deficit in his first year however, one would happen down the road. That was a pretty short road wasn’t it? This time last year we were hearing about deficits ranging from $1.3-1.7 billion. It should also be noted that the last democratic governor that was in office, Parris Glendening, left Ehrlich with a $2 billion deficit.