Gov. Martin O?Malley went back to basics again last week, reviving Constellation Energy as the punching bag it was during his 2006 campaign. The previous week, he reprised his city crime-fighting crusade.
In the mind of the public being socked with mammoth electric bills, Constellation is almost as attractive a target as street thugs. So when it begins suing for even more money on the same day as it announces whopping earnings, it almost put a sign on that says “punch me.” “Outrageous,” “appalling” and “stunning” was the unusually strong rhetoric O?Malley unleashed.
Problem is Constellation has a lot better lawyers than your average street thug, and what the company is doing may be infuriating, but it is not necessarily illegal.
Kicking an Old Lady
State Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick is a political survivor par excellence, and O?Malley?s efforts to kick her out the door seems to have lost momentum in the legislature, where she has a lot of friends. Apparently there are second thoughts about political meddling with the superintendent, who is appointed by the state school board for four-year terms. The board in turn is appointed by governor for staggered terms.
Senate President Thomas Mike Miller likes to point out that Grasmick?s appointment in 1992 was engineered by Gov. William Donald Schaefer, who pushed out the previous superintendent. Miller should be more sympathetic with someone trying to hold onto the job she has held for 16 years. He?s kept his for 22, but for the prez it?s always “do as I say and not as I do.”
County executives and city mayors, and obviously governors, are often miffed at how little control they have over the schools. Governors and many executives also are limited to eight years. Should any public official, particularly one not chosen directly by voters, get to serve more than eight or 10 years?
Moving Vans on Horizon
The renovation of the State House beginning in April is a hot topic in the ground floor press rooms, with our usual focus on some of the people most affected ? us. Everyone with offices in the capitol building must leave. The press will apparently be moved to the House or Senate office buildings, where the House speaker and Senate president will move their staff.
The Sun and Washington Post and two TV stations have private offices, others such as The Examiner share a 20? x 18? space fondly called the Pit. There are 17 workstations, and the noise can be distracting. Befitting an antique building, most of the desks are scuffed wooden 3 x 5? discards with typewriter wells and Formica tops.
We pay no rent or utilities. Our organizations pay for phone lines, equipment and supplies, but otherwise we are freeloaders, giving us some sympathy for others on the state dole.
Best dressed
Last Wednesday, House Majority Leader Kumar Barve rose to wish a happy birthday “to the best dressed man in the House, Del. Talmadge Branch,” the majority whip.
Then came the booming voice of Del. Emmett Burns, a Baltimore County preacher. “Mr. Speaker, the honorable majority leader is mistaken,” Burns said. “I am the best dressed man in the House.”
As the laughter spread, House Speaker Michael Busch asked, “Will the best-dressed man in the House stand?” A dozen delegates hopped to their feet. Beauty is in the eye of the office holder.
Len Lazarick can be reached at [email protected]
