WP: Senate Overrides Ehrlich's Vetoes: Bills Curb (Md. Rep.) Gov's Powers

[DeepModem Mom]

Senate Overrides Ehrlich's Vetoes
Bills Aim to Curb Governor's Powers

By John Wagner and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, April 10, 2005; Page C01


A discordant session of the Maryland General Assembly neared its end yesterday in much the same fashion as it began in January: with Democratic lawmakers muscling through overrides of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s vetoes.

The Senate voted during a rare Saturday session to resurrect a pair of bills that Ehrlich (R) vetoed the night before, both of which aim to curb his powers. One would restrict the governor's appointments to the State Board of Elections, and the other would require him to consult the General Assembly before voicing the state's posture on international trade deals.

The House of Delegates yesterday advanced another measure that would limit the governor's powers, in this case his ability to sell state parkland. The legislation is fashioned as a constitutional amendment, subject to the vote of the people on the 2006 ballot -- but not to the governor's veto. The House's final vote on the bill, as well as consideration of the vetoed measures, is set for tomorrow.

Standing on the State House steps, Ehrlich told reporters yesterday that he was hardly surprised, given that the bitterly partisan legislative session, which ends tomorrow, has included several attempts to rein in the state's first Republican governor in a generation....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40441-2005Apr9.html

[MissWaverly]

1. Thanks Deepmodem Mom

You have made my day, maybe all the data on the Maryland 2004 election is having an impact after all in Annapolis.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. It's great to be able to post good news...

which is all too rare these days!

[MissWaverly]

5. don't worry I am working on it

I told half the planet including Sen. Lautenberg that the 2004 election in Maryland was rigged, as far as Ehrlich re-election, I do not think he's popular, he is not a people person, he's more a theoretical planner, a visionary, someone who could start up a planned community like Reston, VA. I like O'Malley, the current Baltimore mayor, he's had a tough ride here with 9-11 aftermath sucking up all available resources for security issues but he still has a sense of humor and HE has spoken out against Bush in a big way,
which is rare in among democrats since 9-11.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. It sounds like the lines are pretty clearly drawn in Maryland

Novermber 2006 will see either a new governor in that state or a lot of Democrats losing seats to Republicans in the state legislature.

Hold on to your hats.

[saltpoint]

4. Hey, this is nice to see. How do things stand with --

-- the next Maryland gubernatorial race? Can this Erlich guy be shown the door?

DeepModemMom, you rock. Thanks for posting this for us.