“Election integrity monitoring” is one element of the Maryland Republican Party’s ambitious early voting plan, wrote a former press secretary and speech writer to Robert Ehrlich, Jr. in a Baltimore Sun op-ed this week.
There’s another way to describe election integrity monitoring. It’s voter suppression and intimidation.
Unwarranted challenges to people’s right to vote, literature that gives the wrong date for the election or misleadingly implies that you can’t vote if you haven’t paid your rent or your parking tickets, or outright intimidation by posting off-duty law enforcement officials in uniform at polls in targeted areas.
These tactics are used in districts with high Democratic turnout and a high percentage or African-American or Hispanic voters.
Four years ago, the guide that urged Republican poll watchers in Maryland to challenge voters was leaked to the Washington Post the week before the election.
Whether or not such challenges uncover any fraud, they “just try to cause chaos and long lines,” stated the director of the National Campaign for Fair Elections in 2006.
“Election integrity monitoring” for this fall’s election by Maryland Republicans is now hiding in plain sight.
Channeling Ronald Reagan, “There they go again.”
Mr. Ehrlich should personally repudiate such tactics.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
After the Fox News Frenzy, Bipartisan Support Is Welcome
In Maryland, it is illegal to influence a voter’s decision to go to the polls or vote through the use of force, menace, intimidation, bribe, reward, or offer of reward.
That became our law after the General Assembly overrode Governor Ehrlich’s veto of Senate Bill 287 in 2005.
The Voter’s Rights Protection Act of 2010, sponsored by myself and Senator Lisa Gladden, authorized a judge to issue an injunction to prevent voter intimidation if there are reasonable grounds to believe such actions are about to happen.
However, this bill did not become law because Senator Andrew Harris objected to its consideration during the final hour of the 90-day session.
He was not alone. Nine Republican senators and 34 Republican delegates voted against this legislation.
In light of the controversy over the actions of members of the new Black Panther Party at a polling place in Philadelphia, I welcome bipartisan support when we reintroduce this legislation next year.
That became our law after the General Assembly overrode Governor Ehrlich’s veto of Senate Bill 287 in 2005.
The Voter’s Rights Protection Act of 2010, sponsored by myself and Senator Lisa Gladden, authorized a judge to issue an injunction to prevent voter intimidation if there are reasonable grounds to believe such actions are about to happen.
However, this bill did not become law because Senator Andrew Harris objected to its consideration during the final hour of the 90-day session.
He was not alone. Nine Republican senators and 34 Republican delegates voted against this legislation.
In light of the controversy over the actions of members of the new Black Panther Party at a polling place in Philadelphia, I welcome bipartisan support when we reintroduce this legislation next year.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Unopposed!
For the first time in 28 years, I do not have a contested Democratic primary!
July 6th was the filing deadline, and the only candidates for the three seats in the House of Delegates for the 41st District are my two colleagues, Delegates Jill Carter and Nathaniel Oaks, and myself.
We will have a Republican opponent in November, but the Democratic nomination virtually assures us of election. Lisa Gladden, my State Senator, has no opponents in the primary or general election.
We have come a long way from eight years ago. I won then by only 245 votes when the boundary lines of the district were redrawn by the courts after the census.
As I told a reporter, “I am credible when I talk about religious freedom in the Orthodox Jewish community and civil rights issues in the African-American community.”
In addition, our delegation has delivered for the diverse communities of the 41st District – from capital improvements for firehouses and outdoor running tracks, to making the wheels of government function properly for our constituents.
I won’t be taking the summer off. I'll be working on my legislative agenda for next year. Plus, there are several friends in the House of Delegates whom I’ll be campaigning for in the coming weeks, as well as Governor O’Malley and the rest of the Democratic ticket in the fall.
July 6th was the filing deadline, and the only candidates for the three seats in the House of Delegates for the 41st District are my two colleagues, Delegates Jill Carter and Nathaniel Oaks, and myself.
We will have a Republican opponent in November, but the Democratic nomination virtually assures us of election. Lisa Gladden, my State Senator, has no opponents in the primary or general election.
We have come a long way from eight years ago. I won then by only 245 votes when the boundary lines of the district were redrawn by the courts after the census.
As I told a reporter, “I am credible when I talk about religious freedom in the Orthodox Jewish community and civil rights issues in the African-American community.”
In addition, our delegation has delivered for the diverse communities of the 41st District – from capital improvements for firehouses and outdoor running tracks, to making the wheels of government function properly for our constituents.
I won’t be taking the summer off. I'll be working on my legislative agenda for next year. Plus, there are several friends in the House of Delegates whom I’ll be campaigning for in the coming weeks, as well as Governor O’Malley and the rest of the Democratic ticket in the fall.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8 – Play Ball!
Several weeks ago, I asked the Clerk’s Office if I could give the opening prayer for the House on Passover and Opening Day of the baseball season. Turns out they already had me listed.
I had written the baseball prayer in my mind’s eye before my father passed away.
Some personal moments that I hope are universal:
Baseball is…
Waiting for your father to come home from work, so you can play catch in the back yard;
Meeting Casey Stengel in the dugout at Memorial Stadium and impressing him that a 10-year old knows that you score a short to second to first double play: 6-4-3;
Being cut from the junior varsity baseball team in high school after batting practice because you ducked on every curve ball;
Asking Earl Weaver to autograph a photo for the Speaker and he writes, “Mike, Pass Sandy’s bills, Earl.”;
Having your father in the stands this past July when your team won the league championship; and
Hoping that the House – and the Judiciary Committee, adjourn in time today for you to hear the umpire say, “Play ball!”
I had written the baseball prayer in my mind’s eye before my father passed away.
Some personal moments that I hope are universal:
Baseball is…
Waiting for your father to come home from work, so you can play catch in the back yard;
Meeting Casey Stengel in the dugout at Memorial Stadium and impressing him that a 10-year old knows that you score a short to second to first double play: 6-4-3;
Being cut from the junior varsity baseball team in high school after batting practice because you ducked on every curve ball;
Asking Earl Weaver to autograph a photo for the Speaker and he writes, “Mike, Pass Sandy’s bills, Earl.”;
Having your father in the stands this past July when your team won the league championship; and
Hoping that the House – and the Judiciary Committee, adjourn in time today for you to hear the umpire say, “Play ball!”
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7 – Delayed Impact
You say taxation, and I say tenacity.
Amendments designed to put Democrats on record about the need for tax increases to maintain current spending levels were offered by House Republicans as we debated the state budget last week.
Announcing his candidacy for Governor yesterday, Bob Ehrlich one upped them. He pledged to undo the one cent increase in the sales tax that we adopted in 2007.
He did not say where he would cut $600 million from the budget to compensate for the lost revenue. He never put forward such reductions as Governor. In fact, the legislature consistently reduced his proposed expenditures over his four-year term.
Martin O’Malley, on the other hand, will talk about leadership in tough times and investing in the state’s future.
----
The Finance Committee will have a workgroup on my arbitration bill. The members I’ve talked to understand why the bill is needed. Consumers are far too often stuck with arbitrators who are not impartial.
My educated guess: the bill will be amended and then delayed on the Senate floor by the banking industry. Then the House will have to concur in these changes the last night of the session.
My voter’s rights bill has been amended by the Election Laws subcommittee in the House. No delays likely, but Senate will have to agree to these changes as well.
Amendments designed to put Democrats on record about the need for tax increases to maintain current spending levels were offered by House Republicans as we debated the state budget last week.
Announcing his candidacy for Governor yesterday, Bob Ehrlich one upped them. He pledged to undo the one cent increase in the sales tax that we adopted in 2007.
He did not say where he would cut $600 million from the budget to compensate for the lost revenue. He never put forward such reductions as Governor. In fact, the legislature consistently reduced his proposed expenditures over his four-year term.
Martin O’Malley, on the other hand, will talk about leadership in tough times and investing in the state’s future.
----
The Finance Committee will have a workgroup on my arbitration bill. The members I’ve talked to understand why the bill is needed. Consumers are far too often stuck with arbitrators who are not impartial.
My educated guess: the bill will be amended and then delayed on the Senate floor by the banking industry. Then the House will have to concur in these changes the last night of the session.
My voter’s rights bill has been amended by the Election Laws subcommittee in the House. No delays likely, but Senate will have to agree to these changes as well.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6 - Rhetorical or face-to-face
The outcome was not in doubt, but my colleagues kept talking.
When the clerk calls the roll, our votes light up on a big electronic board. Any member can rise for up to two minutes to explain his or her vote.
If eyeballing of the green (yes) and red (no) lights indicates a close vote, members will stall for time and speak, allowing for some last-minute persuasion. (That can be rhetorical or face-to-face.)
When you know that the vote is going to be close, you assign people to stand up and explain their position to allow for your reluctant votes to be reminded of their commitment.
That was not the case today. The gang bill passed, 111-28. But a few people did get their sound bites in the newspaper.
When the clerk calls the roll, our votes light up on a big electronic board. Any member can rise for up to two minutes to explain his or her vote.
If eyeballing of the green (yes) and red (no) lights indicates a close vote, members will stall for time and speak, allowing for some last-minute persuasion. (That can be rhetorical or face-to-face.)
When you know that the vote is going to be close, you assign people to stand up and explain their position to allow for your reluctant votes to be reminded of their commitment.
That was not the case today. The gang bill passed, 111-28. But a few people did get their sound bites in the newspaper.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday, April 5 – Legislating and Endorsing
We’re in the home stretch.
With one week left in the session, two of my bills require some legislating to become law.
We hope to amend the bill authorizing a court to issue a restraining order to prevent certain election law violations. If the House makes that change, then the Senate will have to do so as well.
A Senate hearing tomorrow for my legislation to aid credit card customers and other consumers by requiring organizations that perform arbitration activities to disclose the outcome of the decisions they have reached, the fees they are paid, and their ties to the businesses that select them. Word is that several lobbyists have been hired to defeat my proposal.
I met with the committee chair to outline what the bill would do and why it’s needed. He promised us a fair hearing.
After the session ends, serious campaigning will begin.
This weekend, I received my first candidate questionnaire from an interest group. I found it odd, if not inappropriate, to remind us that endorsements are coming while bills are still pending.
With one week left in the session, two of my bills require some legislating to become law.
We hope to amend the bill authorizing a court to issue a restraining order to prevent certain election law violations. If the House makes that change, then the Senate will have to do so as well.
A Senate hearing tomorrow for my legislation to aid credit card customers and other consumers by requiring organizations that perform arbitration activities to disclose the outcome of the decisions they have reached, the fees they are paid, and their ties to the businesses that select them. Word is that several lobbyists have been hired to defeat my proposal.
I met with the committee chair to outline what the bill would do and why it’s needed. He promised us a fair hearing.
After the session ends, serious campaigning will begin.
This weekend, I received my first candidate questionnaire from an interest group. I found it odd, if not inappropriate, to remind us that endorsements are coming while bills are still pending.
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