“That was a good deal,” said the Republican whip. He was referring to the utility legislation that failed on the last day of the regular session this past April.

It was 12:05 a.m., and the roll call on the alternative plan soon followed. 109 House members thought this was a better deal; only 26 voted with the Governor. It was the first time in four years that a significant number of his GOP members had deserted him. They all came from areas affected by the BGE increase.

The events of the last few days could very well be a very bad deal for the Governor’s reelection campaign.

By Election Day, we won’t know whether this bill worked. The new Public Service Commissioners will have begun asking the questions necessary to determine the level of increase that BGE is entitled to. But they will have begun that process.

At the heart of the Governor’s reelection campaign is his assertion that the obstructionist Democrats in the General Assembly have frustrated his efforts to make policy. Now add to that litany Mayor O’Malley and his lawsuit against the PSC.

Will the voters see the lawsuit as the event that laid bare the commissioners’ failure to do their job? Will they see the Governor as incessantly criticizing the Democrats and failing to provide the leadership essential to governing?

Monday, the Governor said the bill would cripple BGE: "There are a whole lot of bad provisions in this bill," he said. "It ... sends an incredibly destabilizing message to the markets, making capital more expensive, and to the extent capital is more expensive, BGE has tremendous problems."

Tuesday, he abruptly changed course: "It's fascinating because the amendments appear all to be going Constellation's way against consumers, and that's obviously of interest to us and not a positive sign."

“Whatever it is, I’m against it,” as Groucho Marx once said.

On Election Day, the voters will have their say.

Astounding.

BGE is talking to the legislative leadership. The Governor is not.

The company is negotiating the provisions of the bill. The Governor is soundbiting.

"Is there anyone here from the Ehrlich Administration who wants to testify?" asked the Finance Committee chairman at today's bill hearing.

At the special session on medical malpractice, the Governor himself testified. And he knew the substance of the issue.

If someone in the hearing room today wanted to know the Administration's position, you had to listen to Republican legislators.

"Why didn't we name a new Public Service Commission when we deregulated in 1999?"

"We're looking for certainty. People will be falsely paying a 15% increase when we know it will be 72%."

The current commissioners have the authority to ask the questions necessary to learn what rate increase is justified. They chose not to. They have given every indication they don’t want to.

That’s why we’re in special session. BGE’s participation in the creation of that legislation is wecome. So would the Governor’s.

For two months now, I’ve been going door to door, armed with a voters’ list and my end-of-session newsletter. Saturday afternoon, as I was about to give someone the newsletter, I realized that it would soon be outdated.

“We need a special session of the General Assembly to prevent the 72% rate hike,” I wrote in early April. Soon thereafter, at one neighborhood meeting after another, my 41st District colleagues and I heard the concerns and outrage of many constituents about this increase. Telling voters about the passage of my embryonic stem cell bill quickly took a backseat to addressing this more pressing matter.

In mid-May, Senator Gladden, Delegates Carter and Oaks, and myself wrote the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker, urging them to call a special session and listing a baker’s dozen of proposals that should be considered. That session will begin Wednesday.

Today, House and Senate Democrats met in a joint caucus to hear a summary of the provisions of what will be Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1. The 60-page legislation won’t be available until the committee hearing tomorrow.

That we were meeting together was a first. The reason: to reach agreement and avoid public divisions among ourselves. There will be plenty of negative comments and amendments lobbed our way from the Republicans when we get to the floor.

Also historic was the fact that we were calling ourselves back into session. The state constitution authorizes us to do so, but in the past it has always been the Governor who issued the proclamation.

Last week, the Governor wrote a letter saying that he would call us into special session, but after that initial publicity, nothing. Deja no follow through - all over again.

(In Tuesday morning’s paper, I learned that the Governor had issued a proclamation - late Monday afternoon, with no notice to the presiding officers.)

2006
June (3)