The Vindictiveness of Senate President Thomas V. Michael Miller

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller’s actions against a staff employee of Republican State Senator Andy Harris last week reveals Miller’s true motives. To understand Senator Miller’s motives, one must consider to which political party one belongs and the timing of actions.

For a recap of the saga, see here.

Partisan Politics

Currently, Democrat Senator Ulysses Currie is under investigation by the FBI regarding serious conflict of interest violations in his position as chairman of the Budget and Taxation Committee, the most powerful committee in the Maryland General Assembly, which controls the purse strings of the state legislature. On top of that, he is now suspected of campaign finance violations for using those funds to pay for the legal fees surrounding the FBI investigation.

Has Senate President Mike Miller called for Currie’s resignation? To the contrary, he has defended Currie’s use of the funds, even after an opinion from the Attorney General stated that campaign finance funds could not be used to pay for Sheila Dixon’s legal fees. See video here.

Why, then, would Senator Miller go after a senate staffer over a small personnel policy issue that doesn’t even appear to be a violation?

The Timing of the complaints against Senator Harris

February 4 – Democrat leaders Mike Miller and Michael Busch receive a letter from the Democrat Central Committees of Baltimore and Harford Counties. The letter contends that Kathy Szeliga is in violation of the General Assembly’s personnel policy and asks for action from Miller and Busch.

Nearly two weeks goes by with no response from Democrat leadership.

February 12 – Andy Harris draws up amendments to the pension reform bill SJ5 after the same amendments by Republican Delegate Bill Frank had been prevented in the House chamber by Michael Busch. See article here.

See all of Ann Millers story at the following link.  http://www.examiner.com/x-9345-Baltimore-County-Republican-Examiner~y2010m2d23-How-vindictive-and-partisan-is-Mike-Miller-over-Andy-Harris-pension-reform#comments

Meet and Greet with Charles Lollar Running for Congressional District 5

Just A Friendly Reminder Meet & Greet Charles Lollar Feb 26th Where: Home of Brooks and Judy Freegard 22533 Bull Road Leonardtown, MD 20650 Driving Directions When: February 26, 2010 at 06:30 PM -to- February 26, 2010 at 09:00 PM Add to my calendar MEET Maryland’s 5th Congressional District PLEASE JOIN US ON FRIDAY EVENING February 26th, 2010 In Breton Bay at the home of Brooks and Judy Freegard 22533 Bull Road Leonardtown, Md. 20650 Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm $20 PER PERSON Light refreshments & hors d’ourves Call 301-373-4334, email info@LollarForCongress.com or click on the Register Now link below to RSVP. Register Now!

Shouldn’t Brien Pfoffenberger be worrying more about Hagerstown? Not District 2B

To the Editor:

With unemployment at 9.7% and rising in Washington County, it doesn’t seem like a very good idea for the president of the Chamber of Commerce to be taking almost a year-long leave of absence. I’m unemployed myself, and I’d really like to see the Chamber devoting their energies to bringing jobs and new businesses to the county.

The chamber needs its full staff with an active president.  Allowing the organization to run rudderless while Brien Poffenberger, the taking-a-leave-of-absence president of the chamber, is off trying to run a political campaign is not fair to the community or chamber members.  While I’m trying to get a job, Brien is holding onto his old one.  This is leaving the chamber to fend for itself during this critical period in our county and is further hurting my chances for employment by reducing the effectiveness of our local chamber.  Brien, it’s time to return to the chamber or run your campaign with a clear conscience, you can’t have it both ways.

Mr. Pfoffenberger is a Democrat running for the vacated seat of Delegate Chris Shank who is running for State Senator.

You may have seen in the paper this past weekend that Brien Poffenberger, who’s going to be Neil’s Democrat opponent, has just announced that he is going to take a year-long leave of absence from his job as President of the Chamber of Commerce. We’re hoping that since the campaign can’t respond directly, you might be willing to submit a letter to the editor about this issue to the Herald Mail.

THE ISSUE

The issue is essentially this:  Since September of 2009, Mr. Poffenberger has raised over $20,000 for a “potential” campaign, while still working as the Chamber President.  Many have been concerned that this is a conflict of interest, as he was supposed to be representing the businesses and community of Washington County, rather than using his position to raise a significant amount of money for a campaign.  He now has asked for a leave of absence until the elections in November, leaving the Chamber without a President for 9 months – This at a time when many local businesses are suffering and unemployment in our county is over 9%.  He has also arranged for the Chamber to hold his position.  If he wins the election, he won’t return as the President, but if he loses, he still has his job – despite his lack of work for 9 months.

OTHER THOUGHTS

1)  People who have been looking for a job for many months or years – Why does the Chamber think it is OK for their President to have the ultimate job security, when he chooses not to work?

2)  This deal that they’ve cut is essentially business as usual;  He stays on their health care plan for his 9 months leave, and doesn’t have to do any work, nor does he have to say that he’ll return.  Is that responsible to the Chamber members who pay dues to the organization who is supposed to be helping their business?

3)  Here is the link to the Herald Mail article http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=240122&format=html