The House of Representatives voted once again on February 14th on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act after it failed on February 9th. While consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, our delegation really outdid themselves this time. As one political maven commented to me: "You can smell the positioning." See who changed their votes and how after the jump.
Vote Switchers
Changed from Yes to Absent: Van Hollen (D).
Changed from No to Yes: Bartlett (R), Cummings (D), Edwards (D).
Changed from Yes to No: Harris (R), Hoyer (D).
Two Consistent Votes
Yes to Reauthorization: Ruppersberger (D).
No to Reauthorization: Sarbanes (D)
Oh, and this time the reauthorization succeeded as it needed just a majority instead of two-thirds as before when it was brought forward by the Republican leadership under rules requiring that level of support.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Patriot Act Musical Chairs
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Monday, November 08, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Congressman Chris Van Hollen on "Political Pulse" on Ch. 16 TV
Chris Van Hollen, Congressman from Maryland's 8th District and Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) will be on "Political Pulse" on:
Friday, Oct. 22nd through Sunday, Oct. 24th at 6 p.m. and Tuesday October 26th, at 9:30 p.m.
Topics that will be discussed include the mid-term elections (and whether the Democrats can hold onto the House of Rep's), jobs, campaign financing, the Health Care bill, the Stimulus bill and other local issues.
Political Pulse is on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Why Incumbents Lose, Part Five
Most incumbents lose because of themselves, but a few have the bad luck to face great challengers. Let’s look at the upstarts more closely.
Every challenger thinks he or she is top-notch, but very few of them are. We define a great challenger as having the following four qualities.
1. Well-financed
A challenger may not have more money than an incumbent, but a successful one needs enough to compete.
2. Pre-existing base of support in the district
Fly-by-night challengers to incumbents almost always lose. The best ones start off with a base of supporters and volunteers that can match, or even surpass, the incumbent.
3. Knows how to exploit incumbent’s problems
Most incumbents have vulnerabilities. Great challengers know how to expose them and use them to their advantage.
4. Works HARD
Incumbents almost always have money, institutional support and some base inside the district. Great challengers counter their advantages with sheer hard work, often over long periods of time.
Here are the best challengers from Montgomery County over the last four election cycles, along with why they were so special. Note the occasional input from our fabled spy network.
4. Rob Garagiola, defeated Republican Senator Jean Roesser (D-15) in 2002
Twenty-nine-year-old Rob Garagiola seemed cast by Hollywood as an ambitious, energetic young politician. The 2001 Montgomery County Democrat of the Year and former paratrooper started campaigning against the 72-year-old incumbent over a year before the general election. But the race almost did not happen as District 17 Delegate Cheryl Kagan was nearly redistricted into District 15 for a challenge to Roesser. When that fell through, Garagiola was off to the races for a clean shot at the incumbent.
In 2002, District 15 was a swing district. Roesser, a Republican, had knocked off incumbent Democrat Larry Levitan in 1994. Partisan dynamics did not guarantee Garagiola victory in a good year nationally for the GOP. So he knocked on tons of doors, poured in nearly $200,000 in self- and family-financing and beat the incumbent by just 755 votes, or two percentage points. Garagiola’s work ethic still shows in his excellent fundraising and ascension up the leadership ladder in Annapolis.
3. Phil Andrews, defeated County Council Member William Hanna (D-3) in 1998
Andrews, once a high-level amateur tennis player and then the director of Common Cause, is Montgomery County’s undisputed champion of door knocking. He put that skill to good work in defeating a four-term incumbent in a district race. Andrews, who is a former MCGEO member(!), also enjoyed substantial labor support in his first win. That is ironic considering that he is now one of labor’s greatest enemies in the county. Then and now, Andrews refuses PAC and developer contributions.
Spy: Long out of step politically with his district, Bill Hanna had almost been defeated more than once. In a three-way race, though, the anti-Bill votes were divided. In 1998, the field was just two candidates. Phil hustled the progressive votes and ran circles around Hanna.
Spy: Phil had already run an energetic, but unsuccessful campaign for Council at-large in 1994, so he knew a lot about campaigning. The district race was better suited to his strengths as a likable, retail, door-to-door campaigner. His youthful energy and good looks worked to his advantage against the then 77-year-old Bill Hanna, who had developed a reputation as a curmudgeon and a bit of an eccentric. Hanna had alienated labor unions (which Andrews would also eventually do) and had particularly alienated the gay community by opposing domestic partner benefits, which also hurt him among liberals.
2. Jamie Raskin, defeated Senator Ida Ruben (D-20) in 2006
It is certainly true that Senator Ruben, who had spent over thirty years in Annapolis, self-destructed in 2006. But Jamie Raskin was ideally suited to capitalize on her problems. Smart, liberal and devoid of pretense, Raskin was able to bring together Ruben’s enemies (including supporters of banished former Delegate Dana Dembrow) with District 20’s diehard leftists to engineer a stunning coup of Ruben. Raskin had an all-star campaign team boasting David Moon, Ryan O’Donnell, Miti Figueredo, Rebecca Lord and Jonathan Shurberg and a seemingly limitless army of volunteers. He even nearly equaled the incumbent’s fundraising, collecting $227,542 vs. Ruben’s $253,202. Despite making the Apple Ballot, Ruben was blown out by 33 points - the worst performance of any MCEA-endorsed incumbent in that cycle.
1. Chris Van Hollen, defeated Senator Patricia Sher (D-18) in 1994 and Congresswoman Connie Morella in 2002
How many Maryland politicians have knocked off a State Senator, a Member of Congress and a Kennedy? Just one: Chris Van Hollen.
Van Hollen’s 2002 campaign for Congress, during which he defeated District 15 Delegate Mark Shriver in the primary and incumbent Republican Congresswoman Connie Morella in the general, is well-known throughout the county and is even the subject of a book. But he would probably have never made it to Congress if he had not already knocked off another incumbent eight years before. Van Hollen was first elected to the House of Delegates from District 18 in 1990. Four years later, he ran against Senator Patricia Sher, a freshman in the upper chamber who had spent three terms in the House.
Spy: This is one of the most interesting races. Van Hollen was a Sher protegé - she picked him from a crowded field of aspirants to run on her “pro-choice” slate when she challenged longtime incumbent Margaret “Peg” Schweinhaut for the District 18 Senate seat in 1990. But then the young, ambitious Van Hollen bit the hand that fed him and took advantage of District 18’s history of volatility to take out his patron.
Spy: This was a combination of the self-destructing incumbent (see Ruben vs. Raskin, 2006) running into the ambitious, smart, hard-working young challenger.
Spy: Chris out-organized Patty and was already coasting to a big victory. She then shot herself in the foot in a Wash Post interview. Chris won huge and brought in newcomer Sharon Grosfeld on his coattails.
Spy: My most distinct memory of the campaign was this: Chris was already leading in the perception of those following the race (I don’t know if there were any polls), when Patti shot herself in the foot, head, and all parts of her body. During an interview with a TV station, she said in effect that “all the blacks in Annapolis are corrupt and on the take.” Whoa! Patti was not racist, but that stupid statement clinched it for Chris. She doubled her error by claiming she thought the conversation was off the record. Oy!
Spy: Sher did her best to vote pro-business and annoy EVERY municipal official in her district. Also, there was her racist comment at the end of the campaign. Chris just pointed all this out. Also, Chris smartly (does he ever make mistakes?) chose NOT to build a slate against the incumbent delegates (thereby assuring that they would not campaign).
The end result of all of the above was an incredible 50-point blowout for the then-35-year-old Delegate over the Annapolis veteran. Van Hollen’s ability to combine ground game, message, discipline and organization makes him both an outstanding candidate and a great adviser to other candidates, as national Democrats were pleased to find out in 2008. Maryland’s incumbent U.S. Senators better hope that he never runs against them.
So what are the lessons for incumbents from this series? First, if you are not lazy, perform your job decently and lack lots of enemies, you will very likely be re-elected. As one of our informants says, “Basically, if you are an incumbent, and you knock on doors, don’t offend anyone, vote the wrong way or pick your nose (in public) you win.” But as we have seen above, every election cycle generates at least one great challenger. Say a prayer every night that he or she is not living in your district!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Town Hall Meeting with Chris Van Hollen
Following is an announcement of a town hall meeting with Congressman Chris Van Hollen in Germantown on April 12.
Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) will convene a town hall meeting for residents of the Eighth Congressional District. The Congressman will report to residents about the activities of the 111th Congress and the important issues facing the nation. Van Hollen will answer questions and respond to comments from the audience. All residents of the 8th Congressional District are invited to participate.
WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2010, 7:30-9:00 pm
WHERE: Montgomery College – Germantown Campus Globe Hall – High Technology & Science Center 20200 Observation Drive – Germantown, MD
Certified housing counselors will be available. A sign language interpreter will be provided. Parking is available on campus and there is a drop-off entrance in the rear of the building with several handicapped parking spaces.
DIRECTIONS:
- By car: Take I-270 to Exit 15A (Route 118-North). Continue to the second traffic light at Observation Drive; turn right onto campus.
- By Metro: From Red Line Shady Grove station, transfer to Ride On Bus Route 55 to on-campus stop.
- By Bus: The campus is served by Ride On Bus with connections to Metrorail.
QUESTIONS: Please call (301) 424-3501
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Fourth Quarter House Campaign Finance Reports
By Marc Korman.
Back in October I wrote about campaign finance reports for the US House of Representatives candidates. Unlike state campaign finance reports, federal reports are released quarterly. Reports from the 4th quarter of 2009, covering October 1st to December 31st, are now online and it is time for an update.
1st Congressional District
In October, I wrote that Congressman Frank Kratovil is “Maryland’s most endangered incumbent.” I meant it then and it is just as true today. Unless former-Governor Ehrlich takes the plunge, this will be the only Maryland campaign to receive significant national attention in 2010.
During the 4th quarter, Kratovil raised a respectable amount and has a healthy amount in the bank. But despite that nice chunk of change, Kratovil has a lot of problems. His announced opponent, State Senator Andy Harris, is so far unopposed which is a significant improvement for him given his long primary battle in 2008 where the incumbent Republican, vanquished in the primary, endorsed the Democrat. Harris may start 2010 with less cash on hand, but he also starts with a double digit lead in the polls. In 2008 Kratovil did not pull ahead in the polls until around October, but the playing field will be very different this year now that Kratovil is an incumbent and the Democratic winds are no longer at his back.
4th Congressional District
Congresswoman Donna Edwards caught a break when Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey decided not to challenge her. But she took his potential challenge, as well as the stirrings from Delegate Herman Taylor, seriously and raised significantly more in the last quarter. She still has a lot less than a typical House incumbent, but her numbers are a significant improvement over the last quarter when she raised about $39,000 and had $56,000 in the bank.
I could not find a federal report for Delegate Herman Taylor. It is hard to see how Taylor can pull off an upset barring a scandal, especially if he does not have federal funds ready to go.
6th Congressional District
Long time incumbent Roscoe Bartlett continues his streak of not showing too much interest in fundraising or campaigning. But he is still in fine shape financially given his Republican leaning district.
One of Barlett’s potential opponents, Casey Clark, is making a spirited showing. Since Clark began his campaign, he has raised approximately $95,000. That presents two problems. First, it is significantly less than the $150,000 Clark claimed to have raised earlier in January. Though it is possible he raised $50,000 more in January. Second, that is just nowhere near enough to be competitive against a long time incumbent who has so much more in the bank and will be assisted by national Republicans if he is seriously threatened.
2006 Democratic nominee Andrew Duck continues to have low fundraising. His only hope of getting through the primary is significant grassroots support built up over two previous runs.
8th Congressional District
Congressman Chris Van Hollen is safe in his district, but has a lot of insurance with his multi-million dollar campaign account. A significant sum of that impressive total will be directed to House races across the country as part of Van Hollen’s efforts as DCCC Chair. The outcome of the midterm elections could have a huge impact on Van Hollen’s future in the House. He originally did not want to return as DCCC Chair, was persuaded to by Speaker Pelosi, and now may be in charge of the political arm of the House Democrats in a brutal election year. It is early and November is a long way away, but if House Democrats suffer serious setbacks, Van Hollen will look less like a “Man of the House” and more like a future Senate candidate.
And All The Rest
All of the other Maryland incumbent House members should coast to reelection. They are all well positioned financially. Each has a minimum of $500,000 in the bank and raised in the six figures last quarter.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Van Hollen Comments on Campaign Finance
Congressman Chris Van Hollen called into the Kojo Nnamdi Show today to comment on what campaign finance measures he would like to see in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision recognizing political free speech rights by corporations. The video below was posted by the show.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Monday, November 02, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Van Hollen Prods DOD on BRAC Traffic
Congressman Chris Van Hollen has inserted language in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010 calling on the Department of Defense to pursue traffic mitigation measures for the expanded Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda. The bill has been passed by the House and Senate and awaits President Obama's signature.
The relevant language exists in two sections.
First, Section 2714(a)(8) instructs the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a master plan that:includes a community development plan that incorporates multiple options to alleviate traffic congestion related to the expansion of the National Naval Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, including a review of options
Second, Section 2714(d) contains this statement as a Sense of Congress:
(A) to expand adjacent highways;
(B) improvements to nearby intersections;
(C) on-facility site queuing; and
(D) multimodal expan-sion that could include expanded support for buses and subways.(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TRAFFIC MITIGATION IN VICINITY OF NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER.-
This is not the end of the story. The county government and the surrounding communities will still have to wrangle with the military and the state government to complete the improvements on a pretty tight schedule. The old Walter Reed facility in D.C. is scheduled to close by fall 2011 and the Bethesda expansion should be finished by then. But Van Hollen has made it clear that Congress expects this work to proceed without excuses. That's a useful statement for county officials and for residents in Bethesda and Chevy Chase.
Given the anticipated significant increases in local traffic in the vicinity of the National Naval Medical Center, and the unusual impact that such traffic increases will have on the surrounding community due to the planned expansion of the installation, it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) multiple methods are available to the Department of Defense to implement the defense access roads program (section 210 of title 23, United States Code) to help alleviate traffic congestion, including expansion of adjacent highways, improvements
to nearby intersections, on-base queuing options, and multi-modal expansion, including expanded support of buses and subways and other measures; and
(2) all of the efforts to alleviate the significant traffic impact need to be pursued to ensure readily available access to health care at the installation.
We reprint the text of this portion of the bill below.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
House Campaign Finance Reports (Updated)
By Marc Korman.
Campaign finance reports for the US House of Representatives have been released for the third quarter, covering July 1st to September 30th. The reports for the 1st, 4th, and 8th Congressional Districts of Maryland help set the stage for the 2010 election year.
1st Congressional District
Maryland’s most endangered incumbent is Congressman Frank Kratovil. His seat is the only one in Maryland that will receive national attention in 2010.
Kratovil raised $222,257 in the third quarter and has $691,205 cash on hand. State Senator Andy Harris was Kratovil’s opponent in 2008 and they will likely face off again in 2010. Harris raised $179,306 last quarter and has $313,055 cash on hand. In the last election, Kratovil expended almost $2 million and Harris around $3 million, though Harris had to beat an incumbent to win the primary. Their rematch will be expensive and bitter. Kratovil is off to a good start with his fundraising.
4th Congressional District
Congresswoman Donna Edwards raised only $39,191 and has just $55,742 cash on hand. She has the smallest balance of any Maryland incumbent and her fundraising has declined each quarter of 2009. She has also been spending actively, with recorded expenditures of over $227,000 during the campaign cycle so far.
The 4th Congressional District will not be going Republican any time soon, but Edwards may have a primary challenge. As Adam has highlighted, District 14 Delegate Herman Taylor may be running. Delegate Taylor does not have a federal account. In January, his state account had over $19,000 in it. But according to FEC regulations, federal campaign committees cannot accept funds from a nonfederal campaign account.
Delegate Taylor or other potential challengers should not be fooled by Congresswoman Edwards’ slow fundraising. Her donors may have been fatigued from her efforts in 2006 and 2008, but she has raised her national profile among progressives while in office and will be able to raise substantial funds if necessary. She raised almost $1.5 million for her successful 2008 campaigns.
8th Congressional District
Congressman Chris Van Hollen raised $170,926 in the third quarter, giving him $2.9 million cash on hand. Van Hollen will likely have just a token Republican opponent next year. Most of Van Hollen’s funds will go towards fellow Democrats that he is charged with protecting as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). In the 2008 campaign cycle, Van Hollen donated $715,000 to the DCCC and Maryland Democratic Party.
The other House districts in Maryland are pretty quiet. Republican Roscoe Bartlett’s potential challenger, Andrew Duck, raised under $5,000 so far this year. Maryland’s other four Democratic House members all have ample cash on hand of over half a million dollars each.
Update: One of MPW’s readers alerted me to Casey Clark, another Democratic candidate in District 6 seeking to challenge Congressman Bartlett. Mr. Clark has raised $69,529 so far this year including $18,900 in the most recent fundraising quarter.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Montgomery County’s Most Influential People, Part Three
Get ready for the big time, people! These six elected officials are the heaviest hitters in Montgomery County.
6. Brian Frosh, Senator (D-16)
31 Votes
Reader: Potential heir to Mike Miller. Has a lot of influence, but has been holding the use of it in check to make that potential a reality. Unfortunately, that's leaving a vacuum in progressive leadership in the Senate.
Reader: Montgomery County’s only Senate Chair and an important progressive voice in the county.
Reader: Although somewhat recalcitrant and in the shadows, Frosh has become the elder statesman of Montgomery politics.
Reader: He is widely acknowledged as one of the two or three smartest legislators in the General Assembly. At a time when political discourse has become coarse and lacking in civility, Brian Frosh remains one of the bright lights in our state.
Reader: As chair of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, Senator Frosh exercises a great deal of influence over extremely contentious, personal, and emotional legislation involving civil rights, criminal law, and criminal justice. His decision to delay or withhold a committee vote can break a bill. Because of the issues that his committee deals with, Senator Frosh is a key focus of attention for the most committed ideologues of both the left and the right. Another factor adds to his influence: Since he is in the running to succeed Mike Miller as Senate President, Senator Frosh is a legislator whose favor many other senators and activists are more likely to curry. Should Miller have another change of heart and announce his departure from leadership after 2010, look for Frosh’s influence to increase even more.
Reader: Great State Senator, hopefully he’ll replace Miller as Senate President if he can bring together the county delegation’s votes and score some votes from the Prince George’s delegation.
Reader: Because he is respected by nearly all for being smart, progressive and an utterly decent person. Possible future Senate President.
Reader: Progressives who follow Annapolis have no love lost with Senator Frosh, who has moved to the center in a quest to be the next Senate President. His constituents don’t know the details of how he carries the water of Mike Miller - they only know him as an environmental champion and powerful committee chairman. Senator Frosh isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and may even get his wish to become Senate President one day - maybe even without selling his soul out to Mike Miller and conservative Democrats in the process.
Reader: Doesn’t exercise much influence outside his own committee, but always could.
Reader: Central to state formation of legal public policy. Highly underrated. Possible future Senate President (in the year 2030 when Miller dies!)
Reader: Intelligent, honest. Brian is a very rare politician in that he is always true to his word. He truly believes in Constitutional rights, fairness, and a level playing field.
Adam: Brian Frosh proves nice guys can still go a long ways in politics. He gets lots of respect for being a squeaky-clean, honest liberal who doesn’t get in the faces of people who disagree. Not a MoCo partisan – pursues the state’s overall needs rather than focusing on the county’s narrow priorities.
4 (tie). Valerie Ervin, Montgomery County Council Member
33 Votes
Reader: Ervin is probably the standout candidate right now to succeed Ike in 2014.
Reader: One of the only Council Members with people skills to complement her policy and political abilities. A promotion is likely, but where? Exec? Congress? Annapolis?
Reader: I expect that her commitment to neighborhood causes and constituent services are gaining Valerie Ervin a district full of supportive voters. Because she was so quick to seek higher office from the School Board she’d just been elected to, I didn’t trust her when she first announced her candidacy for the 2006 County Council race. But in the time since then, she’s won me over. She has been an energetic advocate for community issues I care about, she has been an effective advocate in protecting the quality of life in residential neighborhoods, she has reached out to me and my neighbors, and she’s a joy to spend time with. Any politician who can change my opinion of her from mistrust to strong support in such a relatively short time is, in my opinion, a force to be reckoned with.
Reader: Former union member and proud of it (rare given the faux politics in this county). Comes from the working class and remembers her roots. Determined, courageous. Just compare with the hollow rhetoric of Duchy Trachtenberg.
Reader: I have personally observed her ability to get things done and see her dedication to issues that really affect neighborhoods, such as the recent controversy surrounding the Sligo Creek Golf Course.
Reader: Influence is not always positive and she plays politics big time. Nevertheless, she is a union darling and has a bully pulpit that she uses effectively. She is difficult to defeat on matters she takes a stand on. She also brings several votes with her on the big issues.
Reader: In a strong position on the Council and a shoo-in for re-election. Clear accomplishments and a good case for re-election. Almost everyone else on the Council has potential problems as they approach a surly electorate in 2010.
Reader: Common sense, takes risks, leads without fear, inspires a true cross-section of the county’s voters – keep an eye on her.
Reader: I rank Valerie above Ike Leggett because she’s the first person community members, unions, and other civic leaders turn to when they want to get things done. Her role in electing Donna Edwards in 2008 (she supported Donna in 06 and 08 when no one else did and was key to getting her local labor and political support) and now Nancy Navarro has positioned her as the strongest political player in the county and the region’s leading progressive voice. Navarro’s win was just as big a win for Valerie as Valerie now leads a majority coalition (Ervin, Navarro, Leventhal, Floreen, Knapp). Her base is strong – solid inside her diverse and liberal vote-rich district, popular among progressives, young activists, labor unions, civic leaders and the business community. Most importantly, Sonya Healy is the smartest, and probably hardest working, person in Rockville. One District 16 official recently told me, “Valerie and Sonya clearly carry the intellectual heft of the County Council.” Her relationship with the labor unions in a county and state heavily influenced by labor unions makes her even more influential, and she is well positioned to move up.
Reader: Valerie Ervin is a true rising star, not just in Montgomery County, but in the Maryland Democratic Party as well. In her few years at the County Council, she has proven to be a liberal but pragmatic operator who can maintain strong ties with interests ranging from business, labor, communities of color and progressive groups. More importantly, unlike our Executive, she is not afraid of taking potentially unpopular or controversial positions, and she is willing to expend capital for her allies. Given that this has been a successful endeavor (witness the election of Nancy Navarro to the Council), Valerie is now positioned as the true powerbroker in County politics. As a result, she is mentioned by many as a top tier candidate for County Executive, Lieutenant Governor, and maybe even Governor.
Adam: A force in county politics who has never forgotten where she came from. Whipped Ike Leggett in his backyard during the 2009 special election and is the person he fears the most. She is the subject of more speculation about her future than any other MoCo politician with the exceptions of Chris Van Hollen and Doug Gansler.
4 (tie). Sheila Hixson, Delegate (D-20)
33 Votes
Reader: The Chair of the Powerful House Ways and Means Committee knows how to work the corridors of power in Annapolis.
Reader: Knows where all the bodies are buried in Annapolis and MoCo.
Reader: As chair of the powerful Ways & Means Committee she can kill bills and also get bills through if she wants. She has the only real leadership position from MoCo in the House.
Reader: Because she will kill any bill in her committee.
Reader: Tradition, wisdom and influence – good to have some of that left in our delegation.
Reader: Feared more than respected or liked in Annapolis.
Reader: Her absolute power as chair of Ways and Means has blocked many good public policy initiatives from being considered (and possibly passed) by the House of Delegates.
Reader: Where would we be if her chairmanship were held by a Baltimore Delegate?
Reader: Potentially big role in tax policy over $30 billion, but most of it is not her call, but rather Busch’s and the Caucus.
Reader: Most experienced tax policy leader in the state (this includes the Senate). Don’t EVER think of crossing her! LBJ in heels!
Reader: Sheila Hixson continues to be one of the most powerful, yet underrated politicians in Montgomery County. Her position as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee means that little can get done in Annapolis without her support. Nevertheless, she represents a very liberal district where a chunk of single-issue voters seems to never forgive her for supporting the ICC, regardless of all the other work she does for the County and ignoring the fact that nothing more can be done about the ICC. Unfortunately, this means Delegate Hixson will likely have to work hard for reelection, but as long as her slate-mates are happy with her, she should be safe.
Adam: Our sources are divided on Hixson. Her supporters point to her Chair of Ways and Means, a position she has held since 1993. Her detractors claim that the Speaker makes most of the big decisions on taxes and Hixson must implement them to keep her Chair. Regardless of who is right, look at it this way. Ten years ago, the county’s most powerful women included Connie Morella, Marilyn Praisner, Betty Ann Krahnke, Nancy Dacek, Ida Ruben and Sheila Hixson. Today, Hixson is the only one of them who could still make that list.
3. Rich Madaleno, Senator (D-18)
42 Votes
Reader: Rich Madaleno is already highly influential on budget matters (not just on the key Committee but one of the “deciders” of that Committee) and chairs the Senate delegation in his first term.
Reader: Having the ear of the Senate President is an automatic path to power. Having it on budget issues gives Madaleno tremendous input into the course of the state.
Reader: When it comes to the state budget, Rich is always the most knowledgeable guy in the room. He’s a real asset for Montgomery County.
Reader: District 18 had an open senate seat in 2006, yet then-Delegate Rich Madaleno ran unopposed in the primary. That said a lot about Rich Madaleno’s political standing three years ago, and I see no evidence that it has diminished since then. People in Montgomery County and Annapolis respect him for understanding the complexities of budgets in ways that few other legislators do. He understands legislative politics, too: In the game of legislative chess, he can see 20 moves down the road. Few if any question his integrity. One indication of his standing in Annapolis is his interactions with Senate President Mike Miller: When Madaleno has crossed Miller, Miller has threatened but not punished him. (Contrast that with Budget and Taxation Committee-mate Rona Kramer, for instance). With regard to looking out for neighborhoods in his district, he has been a vocal advocate for Georgia Avenue issues since 2003, his freshman year in the House. This was three years before the area community association's pre-primary letter-writing campaign and Crossing Georgia website made everyone else sit up and take notice. For some politicos, the fear they engender in others gives them influence. People don’t fear Rich Madaleno, and that has cost him on occasion. But they like, respect, and trust him a great deal, and that gives him a different type of influence.
Reader: Has the smarts to be an effective legislator and the patience to work on issues important to him.
Reader: With unrivaled budget experience in county and state government as both a staffer and elected official, Madaleno is emerging in many people’s minds as a logical candidate for County Executive when Ike steps down.
Reader: Perhaps the most untouchable political figure in the county because his reputation alone is bigger than life.
Reader: I think that Rich is the only real leader in our delegation. He is always the go-to guy. He is highly regarded among all his peers. He is smart, he gets things done in Annapolis.
Reader: Extremely smart and knowledgeable on all issues. Annapolis insider and knows how to get things done - much like Chris Van Hollen when he was a State Senator. Very popular at home and can sell tough issues.
Reader: Senator Madaleno is one of the more respected members of our County’s Annapolis delegation, so it is no wonder his colleagues chose him to chair their Senate delegation. Whether you agree or disagree with his views, there is no doubt that he is a true district representative who channels the views and interests of his constituents well, whether on tax policy or the Purple Line.
Reader: The Budget expert of the General Assembly is also one of the smartest senators, well versed on all the important issues, the chair of the Montgomery County delegation, often quoted in the press, the hero of the gay community, and well-liked by his colleagues. He may again go unchallenged in the next primary election, and if he continues to fund-raise, will have the capacity to help his colleagues out, thus increasing his clout in Annapolis.
Adam: Terrible budget times amplify the importance of his skill set. Also effective as a crusader for civil rights who earns points with his civility. Indispensable to his county, his district and everyone who cares about equal rights.
2. Ike Leggett, Montgomery County Executive
50 Votes
Reader: I guess.
Reader: The County Executive almost has to be on the most influential list, although Ike seems to be doing his darndest to squander his influence. Increasingly unpopular and bordering on the sleep-inducing in speeches, and the purchase of helicopters is only the latest in a long saga of missteps. The Governor doesn’t listen to him, our state delegation doesn’t listen to him, and increasingly the County Council doesn’t listen to him. He may not be on the list for much longer.
Reader: A legislator by nature, clearly not an executive.
Reader: Some may not like Ike’s waffling style, but the Executive of Maryland’s largest jurisdiction is a high profile job and carries considerable weight here in the County and throughout the state.
Reader: I’ve been pleased with his fiscal restraint philosophy, or at least as much as one is capable of in Montgomery County.
Reader: He’s the County Executive, which de facto makes him one of the most influential people in Montgomery County politics. A look at the 2006 primary election results for County Executive shows Ike as more popular than he really is. Leggett won in a lopsided victory against Silverman because he represented change that he has not delivered, anti-development sentiment, and the lack of a State or Federal candidate pushing Montgomery County voters to turnout. Anti-development sentiment was particularly strong in 2006 because the press coverage of the Clarksburg development scandal made voters concerned that the county’s leaders were in the pockets of developers. Growth has since slowed, and now that the Purple Line seems more certain voters will be less angry about traffic congestion. Leggett’s stands on Latino and Labor rights issues show he is not on the side of working families, and he has not been a leader in the fight to dismantle the achievement gap in MCPS. He will always have a loyal following among the 60+ crowd, but as the MPW polls have showed, the wide-reaching progressive coalition of voters that elected him in 2006 is very dissatisfied. Ike doesn’t take stands on most hard issues, and his “professorial” style of leadership usually just equates to no leadership at all.
Reader: Ike Leggett is the consummate politician. He is a better legislator than he is at being the Executive. Being the Executive requires decision making skills and having a vision. People are willing to give him a pass because he is so likable. There is also the myth that he cannot be beaten. Many believe that the only competitive race against Ike would have to be by another African American.
Reader: Love him or hate him, he is still the County Executive.
Reader: He’s the County Executive and still wields a bit of influence - mostly with the voters, but that is waning. I almost didn’t put him on the list.
Reader: If you wanted to use reverse psychology to achieve your own ends, he’s someone you want on your side. It seems that by not doing anything until the last minute then deciding whether or not to take credit for the results (depending on how good or bad they are), he’s gotten many, many other people to do the heavy lifting of running the county for him.
Reader: Quietly uses the power of his office. Probably the only sane office holder at the county level.
Reader: Agree with him or not, he still controls the agenda and no effective opposition inside or outside party has arisen. He may not win every issue, but he wins most of them and he still sets the tone. His “smart growth initiative” is moving along and actually makes sense. Mike [Knapp] and his gang can’t hang together long enough to put up a coherent fight. Also, with the competition intense among Council Members for who succeeds Ike, none of them will do too much to make one of their own the leader because of the implications for the Executive race. It’s a weird world, but it leaves Ike dominant even when he’s not always on top of every issue.
Reader: Maybe should be dropped a few more pegs after his endorsement did little to help out Ben Kramer.
Reader: Is this high mostly due to the office itself. Would be less influential than the Council as a whole, except for their divisions. Not greatly respected by his peers, which is a problem.
Reader: Montgomery County’s Executive is one of the most influential people in local politics. Unfortunately, it is too bad that he has a negative impact on the County rather than a positive one. Time and again, the Executive has proven himself unwilling to take stands on many issues, thereby creating twice as many enemies than had he simply picked a side. This waffling style of politics might make sense for a member of the Council, but not for an Executive. This nice guy routine will only work so long as Ike doesn’t face a real opponent for reelection, but should that change, expect the many disaffected Ike supporters to line up against him. Oddly, the one time when Ike does take controversial positions is when he aligns himself with entrenched politicians like Al Wynn, Ida Ruben and the Kramer family. All of this smells like “old school” politics at its worst in an era when voters are seeking vision, competence, and a change from status quo politics. This is the era of Obama, yet Ike is still governing in the era of Dukakis.
Adam: You guys can complain all you want about Ike, but he does not have a credible challenger yet. Last time we checked, an incumbent without a challenger usually gets re-elected.
1. Chris Van Hollen, U.S House of Representatives
56 Votes
Reader: Mr. Democratic Party has national standing, a deep purse and perfect hair.
Reader: The fact that he came in number two last year is ridiculous. Van Hollen is now the partial architect of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives, a mover at the national level, and could give Hoyer a run for his money when Pelosi leaves the Speaker’s chair. He also went from insurgent challenger in 2002 to the elder statesman of Montgomery County now.
Reader: If he wants to exert himself, he is probably one of the few politicians who could convince another to run or not run for something. As his power in the House grows, so does his ability to influence events in the county.
Reader: Beloved by nearly a million Montgomery and Prince George’s constituents. Sky’s the limit for this guy.
Reader: Extremely ambitious but not transparently so. Much like Ike Leggett, Van Hollen managed to navigate his way up through the ranks, in large part, by avoiding contentious issues. As a result, he doesn’t have many political enemies. The lesson is that there is generally little or no upside in Montgomery County politics for taking an unambiguous stand on a difficult issue. After almost 20 years in elected office, can anyone really articulate with specificity where Van Hollen stands on the ICC or the Purple Line??
Reader: Chris Van Hollen has always impressed people with his brains, his energy, and his liberalism. Everyone knows he's going places. He is well respected among Montgomery County political figures and activists. If he wanted to, he could exercise a great deal of influence in local politics. However, he sees himself more as the Watcher than Galactus, generally choosing not to interfere.
Reader: Everyone loves Chris! A successful role as the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and now the Assistant to the Speaker it appears everyone in congress also respects him. I can’t think of a more valuable endorsement from an elected official in Moco than Van Hollen. While he tends to stay out of Moco internal political fights, he is easily defined as the man from Montgomery County. Every time he is mentioned as running for the Senate, you get at least half a dozen people saying they would run for his seat. He’s got the top echelon of Moco leaders chomping at the bits waiting for his next “move.”
Reader: An obvious choice. If talent, hard work, and smarts were not enough, I’d give him an edge just on the decency factor. He’s probably the nicest person in elected office, at any level of government.
Reader: He is everybody’s favorite politician. He is smart, charismatic, does his homework, pays attention to his district and is building an incredible support base in Congress and around the country. He raises money like nobody else. I think that Chris can write his own ticket. I can’t think of anybody in elected office that is held in such high esteem.
Reader: Superstar. Viewed as progressive when he actually compromises quite a bit and is heavily involved in the sausage making of Congress behind the scenes. He was born to legislate and yields a lot of national influence as well as back home.
Reader: Huge potential influence, but not sure he uses it. As the only fed on the list, is in a different category than everyone else. Can potentially affect more dollars and more people than any of us, but I don’t believe he does that so often.
Reader: The 8th District representative is a true national player, given his role at the DCCC and with the Obama administration. He continues to maintain high popularity among constituents, and his strong national connections should make him a strong contender for a U.S. Senate bid. Nevertheless, at least at the local level, his absent voice during some of the more controversial local debates does not go unnoticed. Much of this is likely due to the attention he must give to helping run the national Democratic Party, but it is also at least partly due to his unwillingness to ruffle feathers and get his hands dirty. That might be a perfectly fine strategy for him, but it also makes him a bit boring and a bit like yesterday’s news, since it has been a long time since he had a competitive race. Of course, all that may change in the midst of a heated Senate bid, as we expect people to get energized once again.
Adam: I agree with the lavish compliments from most of the spies. In addition, let’s remember that MoCo residents care MUCH more about national politics than state and local politics. Van Hollen’s sky-high profile as the Democrats’ point man endears him to his constituents. Nothing makes a MoCo liberal happier than to see his or her local Congressman spanking Karl Rove and other Neanderthals on the Sunday talk shows.
We’ll start looking at the non-electeds tomorrow.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Tidwell, Chris Van Hollen and Global Warming, Part Two
By Marc Korman.
In Part One, we discussed CCAN founder Mike Tidwell’s concern with the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill and his advocacy for Chris Van Hollen’s alternative. Today we will take a closer look at the Van Hollen proposal and what Maryland is already doing on climate change.
Before diving into the Van Hollen proposal, it should be noted that Congressman Van Hollen voted for Waxman-Markey and advocated for its passage, despite having an alternative proposal of his own.
The Van Hollen bill would place a cap on emissions that would be reduced over time, the same as the Waxman-Markey bill. The cap would be enforced by requiring permits to be purchased “upstream,” meaning those introducing greenhouse gas emitting fuels into the economy would need to purchase permits, as opposed to those actually causing emissions by using the fuels such as utilities. Unlike Waxman-Markey, 100% of these permits would be sold and none would be given away. The proceeds of the permit sales would be divided up equally among each American as a dividend.
As Tidwell said, Congressman Van Hollen’s proposal has the benefit of being simple and transparent. But the shortcoming is that it does not prepare emitters to reduce their emissions as the cap lowers. Tidwell said the invisible hand of the market would help emitters figure out how to cut emissions, since the price of energy would rise due to permits. In his view, those rising prices would lead to innovations by the emitters. The hands off approach is in contrast with the vast efficiency requirements and dedicated funding for research and development provided for in the Waxman-Markey bill.
The problem with the market-driven approach is that due to the presence of the dividend returning any increased costs to electricity consumers, there will not be heightened energy costs to encourage innovation. If an upstream provider of fossil fuels, for example a coal mine, is required to purchase permits for its coal, they will in turn raise the price of that coal when they sell it to a coal-fired power plant. The power plant will, in turn, raise its rates (different states regulate their electricity sectors differently and in many cases power plants would have some constraint in their ability to immediately adjust rates). That would be tough on electricity consumers, except that each year the proceeds of the permit sales, minus a small amount for administrative costs, would be sent to them in the mail. In fact, the dividend could even be structured to be credited right to their power bill. So everyone in the supply chain is paying more up front, but that is being compensated for by higher prices for the coal mine and power plant, and the dividend for the electricity consumer. So where will the market drive for increased efficiency come from?
Maybe the reality of a steadily lowering cap will encourage someone in the supply chain to seek better efficiencies or new technology, or it could just convince them to raise prices to decrease demand. That may bring down emissions, but it probably makes less sense then serious investments in new clean energy technology and increased efficiency standards. Ironically, Tidwell criticized these type of command regulations in federal legislation, while praising California for such policies which have left California using 50% less electricity per capita than Maryland. In a way, the cap-and-dividend approach is also essentially a command regulation, in that it sets a cap on emissions but provides no tools for consumers or utilities to reduce emissions or shift to alternative energy. Waxman-Markey is not perfect, but it gets this general concept right. Congressman Van Hollen probably understands it too, which is why he has other pieces of legislation providing financing for green projects.
Tidwell also gave some credit to Maryland for having some useful policies in place. Surprisingly, he did not praise himself or his organization for their commendable work in passing some of these policies. Maryland is part of the only functioning cap-and-trade program in the United States, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Along with other states in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, Maryland has a cap on carbon emissions from power plants. Two other regional plans are being developed around the country, the Western Climate Initiative and the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord. But only RGGI has been put into effect. Maryland also has a renewable portfolio standard, which requires a percentage of the state’s energy generation to come from renewable sources. A renewable standard is another piece of the Waxman-Markey legislation.
A national plan is needed, but happily Maryland is not just waiting for one but continuing to move ahead with state or regional transformative programs. That’s partly thanks to CCAN and other state leaders.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tidwell, Chris Van Hollen and Global Warming, Part One
By Marc Korman.
On a recent morning, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Breakfast Club heard from Mike Tidwell, the founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN).
CCAN was founded in 2002 to address climate change and its effects. When the organization began, their primary mission was one of education. As time has gone on and the general populace has learned more about climate change, CCAN has shifted to a solutions oriented mission. Tidwell points to multiple reasons the public has woken up about climate change: Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, Hurricane Katrina, and All-State’s decision to no longer furnish new home insurance properties for coastal Maryland due to the threat of rising seas and increased hurricanes. In Tidwell’s view, the multiplier effects of addressing climate change include improvement to the environment, reduced costs of healthcare due to better health due to cleaner air, a stronger economy, and improved national security.
Taking a page from Bethesda-resident Tom Friedman’s Hot, Flat and Crowded, Tidwell said that the proliferation of magazine articles about going green and lists telling people ten ways to be green are not enough. Transformative legislation is needed to stop climate change. Comparing climate change to civil rights, Tidwell asked if anyone told George Wallace when he stood outside the University of Alabama to prevent its integration that there were ten easy ways he could integrate. Rather, the country responded with transformative legislation such as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Tidwell wants to see a similar response to climate change. Voluntary and independent action is good, but it is not enough.
Tidwell’s goals are ambitious as he looks to Congress for national action. He wants a ban on new coal-fired power plants, which according to the Energy Information Administration provide almost half of US electricity today. Although he believes the cap-and-trade proposal, known as Waxman-Markey, passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year is better than nothing, he is not enamored with it. In his view, pressure by utility companies led to a convoluted bill with lots of protections for legacy generators, is unfair to the middle class, and does not appear to be built to last. Tidwell also condemned the length of the bill, which was 1,428 pages.
Instead of Waxman-Markey, Tidwell supports Congressman Chris Van Hollen’s Cap and Dividend Act of 2009, which Tidwell happily told us was only about twenty pages. Apparently, the length of legislation has some type of relevance to its effectiveness. We will take a look at the Van Hollen bill and why Maryland is already a leader on climate change policies in Part Two.
Monday, April 27, 2009
On Political Pulse
Congressman Chris Van Hollen will be on "Political Pulse" on Channel 16 TV in Montgomery County on Tuesday, April 28th at 9:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 30th at 9:00 p.m.
Topics that will be discussed include whether Pakistan will be the next terrorism hotspot, the federal bailout and stimulus legislation and Congressman Van Hollen's position as (a) the Assistant to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and (b) the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Read the Book on Chris Van Hollen
Come join Representative Chris Van Hollen, former White House press secretary Mike McCurry and author Sanford "Sandy" Gottlieb for a book signing and discussion of "Red to Blue: Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Grassroots Politics". Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 pm, Barnes & Noble-Rockville (Rockvillle Pike and Montrose Road)
This new book describes the emergence of the Democratic majority through the prism of Congressman Van Hollen's career.
(Hat tip to Sen. Rich Madaleno.)
Monday, February 09, 2009
Barbara Mikulski and the MoCo Dominoes
Rumors are swirling that President Obama is considering Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski to be the next Health and Human Services Secretary. So let’s play a game, shall we? What if the President asked Senator Mikulski to take the job? And what if Governor O’Malley picked Maryland’s most formidable Congressman, Chris Van Hollen, to be the next U.S. Senator? Then who in Montgomery County would run in a special election for the District 8 seat? And who would win? Let’s find out what the spies had to say!
First of all, several informants spanked me for even bringing up the scenario. “Don’t be silly!” one of them scolded. Many sources believe that the Governor would face irresistible political pressure to create Maryland’s first African-American Senator – probably Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown or Congressman Elijah Cummings. One spy said this:As much as we might like to see Van Hollen in the seat, the racial politics of the state will be too much to bear for O'Malley. Anthony Brown is too young for the Senate seat and would only continue the tradition of creating political backlog. Elijah Cummings in the more attractive pick for all involved because of his race and age.
Others believe that Van Hollen may want to stay where he is. But our sources were willing to play the game just for fun. After all, Van Hollen’s seat will open up someday and it’s never too early to stir the pot!
Our informants collectively named the following people as most likely to run for Van Hollen’s seat if he leaves: Senator Jamie Raskin (D-20), Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15), DNC Member Susan Turnbull, Senator Rich Madaleno (D-18) and Montgomery County Council Member Phil Andrews. Garagiola lives in Congressional District 4 at the moment but that's something a real estate agent could easily fix. Many sources also speculated that Senator Brian Frosh (D-16), Delegates Saqib Ali (D-39), Heather Mizeur (D-20) and Brian Feldman (D-15) and County Council Members Nancy Floreen and Valerie Ervin might consider a race.
Our informants had no consensus on who would be most likely to win. Four spies picked Raskin, three picked Madaleno and two each picked Garagiola and Mizeur. One source makes this case for a Raskin victory:I think Raskin would be the odds on favorite to win this seat for two reasons – none of the other candidates have had to run serious races recently, so they haven't been forced to stay visible and build a current crop of activists. Plus, Raskin’s followers are Kool-Aid drinkers – ie: they really believe in him (and with good reason, I would add). People sometimes laugh at D-20’s activists, but I have to say, if you’re trying to get something done, there's no other District I’d rather represent – the constituents are progressive workhorses, and Raskin’s a real motivator. He could run a campaign that would be more impassioned than Van Hollen’s... The big question for him would be whether he sits this out, lets the bloodbath happen, and then waits for Gansler to leave the AG’s post in 2014.
Raskin supporters do need to remember an important fact listed by another of my informants: 14 of District 20’s 24 precincts are located in Congressional District 4. Only 2 of District 18’s 37 precincts and 9 of District 15’s 32 precincts are located outside Congressional District 8. That gives Madaleno and Garagiola a leg up.
Haven’t heard enough rumors? Check out these tidbits from our informants:
Spy #1:If for whatever reason Van Hollen leaves his safe, 8th district Congressional seat, Montgomery County politics will never be the same. My crystal ball says watch for two scenarios – either a realization that a battering primary (in which many current state elected and county politicians would have to give up their seats) would be bad for the County in the big picture, especially in Annapolis, and people start to get behind a consensus pick. Or the second scenario – all out political warfare that will shape county politics for a decade.
Spy #2If it winds up being a donnybrook, it may break down according to demographics and how many candidates are from the same base. So if there are 2-3 Takoma / Silver Spring people, that could open the door for upcounty or western county people, or allow Josh Rales to parachute in with all his money.
Spy #3:Say Garagiola, Raskin, and Madaleno run during a regular election (not a special election to fill the seat) and leave their Senate seats open. In D-15, Feldman likely wins that seat in a cakewalk. Heather and Tom run like hell to take Raskin’s office. District 18 is a different story. Ana Sol would give it thought, I think, but D-18 is used to having someone on B&T with a wealth of knowledge on budget issues. Also, the GLBT community would want to keep a seat in the Senate. Mizeur can fill that slot in D-20, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some lobbying and support behind Pete Fosselman (Kensington mayor). Pete’s an ally of Governor O’Malley and the only elected Democrat in Montgomery County to have endorsed MOM’s campaign during the primaries. If it went to the Central Committee, which it likely will, Pete’s stock should rise.
Spy #4:Who would win? The one with the most money.
Well now. I think that’s enough gossip for one day, don’t you?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Work of Our Congressional Delegation, Part Two
By Marc Korman.
My last entry examined the committee assignments of four of Maryland’s Congressmembers and what issues they might deal with in the coming year. Today we will take a look at the remaining four.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
As Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer has no committee assignments. On the other hand, he is in every meeting of the Congressional leadership and helps to craft and pass all of the legislation that goes through the House of Representatives. He also helps to determine the schedule, so the timing of major Obama initiatives will be signed off on by Hoyer. Will new regulations for global warming pass in 2009? When will healthcare be dealt with? Hoyer will weigh in on these decisions.
Congressman Roscoe Bartlett
The lone Republican in Maryland’s Congressional delegation serves on the Armed Forces Committee, Science and Technology Committee, and the Small Business Committee.
On the Armed Forces Committee, where Barltett just lost a bid to become the top Republican, he is considered a naval expert. That is no small matter for a state that houses the Naval Academy.
Barlett also has a background in science that equips him for the Science and Technology Committee, where he will address the same issues as Congresswoman Edwards mentioned last week.
The Small Business Committee has jurisdiction over the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the various federal programs to support and develop small businesses. According to the SBA, Maryland is home to 511,805 small businesses, which has the amorphous definition of a business that is “independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation.” The amount of small businesses in Maryland has probably shrunk during the current recession.
Congressman Elijah Cummings
Congressman Cummings sits on three House Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I), Armed Services, and Oversight and Government Reform.
Oversight and Government Reform has been extremely active over the last two years, since the Democrats became the majority in the House of Representatives, investigating the Bush Administration. It remains remains to be seen how active they will be in keeping watch over the Obama Administration.
On T&I, in addition to the major transportation bill, Congressman Cummings will likely continue his chairmanship of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. That Subcommittee helps oversee port security, an important issue for Congressman Cummings’ Baltimore district.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen
Unlike Maryland’s other member of the House leadership, Van Hollen maintains his committee assignments. He serves on the Ways and Means Committee and Oversight and Government Reform.
As Obama pushes forward with tax reform, both in the stimulus and because the Bush tax policies expire in 2010, Congressman Van Hollen’s committee has a central role.
On Oversight and Government Reform, Congressman Van Hollen is in the unique position of being the Representatives for many of the government workers being overseen. As one staffer told me, this means that he needs to be at every hearing since it is his constituents testifying. It also increases the stakes for his participation in committee activities.
Committee work is just one part of a Congressmembers’ contribution. But it is the area where they have the potential to have the biggest impact. Regardless of which committee each Congressmember serves on, there is a full agenda for Congress in the coming year.
