Defusing a potential confrontation with the Senate, Gov. Robert Ehrlich Thursday signed a bill called the “Healthy Air Act” that will reduce four major pollutants produced by coal-fired power plants in Maryland.
The bill was the most important of those passed late Friday afternoon that could not be delivered to the governor?s legislative office because the door was locked.
The governor reversed his earlier opposition to the more stringent limits on the pollutants named in the bill, but he antagonized the sponsor ? Sen. Paul Pinsky, D-Prince George?s ? by not notifying him of the formal signing, as is customary.
“I?m overjoyed that he signed the bill,” Pinsky said, but he called the failure to notify him “sophomoric,” “abominable,” “offensive” and “shameful.” “I think it showed no respect for the legislature,” he told the Senate.
Ehrlich said he signed the legislation because it was “very close” to his own clean air proposal, but Sen. Paula Hollinger, D-Baltimore County, said only, “[You?re] a sucker if you believe that.”
Both Senate President Thomas Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Bush praised Ehrlich. “There?s no issue whether the door was closed or open,” Miller said.
“We?re thrilled” the bill was signed, said Kim Coble of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “It?s a great day for the Maryland environment and public health.”
Ehrlich spokesman Paul Schurick called the bill “the most significant air pollution measure in Maryland history” and said the governor signed it because “it was the right thing to do” ? and “it takes a political talking point away from” Democrats.
Ehrlich?s surprise signing took place right after he approved a measure promoting stem cell research in Maryland. His signature on that bill drew even stronger praise from Miller and Busch.
“Stem cell research was the top priority in the House two years in a row,” said Busch said.
Miller, the Senate?s top Democrat, paid Ehrlich a rare compliment: “If we had a conservative Republican governor, we would not have this bill today,” he said, calling Ehrlich “a moderate Republican.”
