Ehrlich Seeks End To Inquiry (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

Washington Post ^ | 08/09/05 | Matthew Mosk and John Wagner

[conservative in nyc]

Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. asked legislative leaders yesterday to abandon their probe into his personnel practices and instead join his administration in an examination of the state's hiring and firing.

"If you really want the best for the state of Maryland and its citizens, I suggest that the three of us work together to establish a bipartisan commission spanning the legislative and executive branches of government," Ehrlich (R) wrote in a letter to the state Senate president and House speaker.

The four-page, sharply worded letter also accused Democratic lawmakers of ordering up the legislature's first formal investigation in three decades as "an attempt to challenge the ethical and legal integrity" of his administration.

Legislative leaders dismissed the letter yesterday as posturing at a time when the probe into Ehrlich's firing of more than 284 employees is about to begin. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said the governor's complaints ring hollow.

"This is not a time for crybabies," Miller said.

The governor's letter marks the latest volley in a series of sharp exchanges that appear aimed at shaping the public's opinion of the looming personnel investigation.

Democrats said yesterday that they view the probe as largely a policy review -- to determine whether state workers are adequately protected from shifts in the political winds. "It is not an attempt to embarrass the governor," Miller said.

--Snip--

The reasons given for convening the probe have evolved.

--Snip--

Legislators said they were particularly concerned by accounts of Ehrlich aide Joseph Steffen, who had set a grim reaper figurine on his desk and told co-workers he was drawing up lists of those disloyal to Ehrlich to be fired.

[conservative in nyc]

I doubt the Democrats will agree to a bipartisan panel. A bipartisan panel with subpoena power would be more likely to subpoena the FR MD4Bush logs, though.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!

[advance_copy]

"It is not an attempt to embarrass the governor," Miller said.

How do you know if a Maryland RAT is lying? Lips. Moving.

[RebelBanker]

... Lips. Moving.

I think that applies to all RATS, but some of our home grown ones certainly deserve particular notice in this area.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"I doubt the Democrats will agree to a bipartisan panel. A bipartisan panel with subpoena power would be more likely to subpoena the FR MD4Bush logs, though."

I agree. It seems Erhlich main concern is to cover his six anyway. His people have to be aware of the logs FR can bring to the investigation. That they don't do anything tells a lot about Erlich's administration.