Sen. Roger Manno's Aide Maricé Morales Wants to Replace Sam Arora // PLUS ANOTHER MYSTERY: Is Sam Pro or Anti-Choice?

UPDATE: Maryland Juice received the following letter from folks at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland taking issue with our anonymous sourcing on that story. Though I cannot divulge my sources, the article was not at all meant to imply anything about how Arora and NARAL might interact in the future. In fact, a few politicos who contacted me after publication suggested that the jury was still out on the freshman lawmaker's views on abortion and related issues. Blog articles notwithstanding, NARAL itself obviously plans an open and transparent survey process. We will be following this story (and the role of reproductive rights in 2014) in the future, but next time we'll be sure to check in directly with the NARAL staff!

Dear Maryland Juice: In your June 29, 2013 post about Delegate Sam Arora's position on women's reproductive rights, you incorrectly attributed your source as an insider at NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland. No NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland staff or officers, nor NARAL Pro-Choice PAC board members were interviewed for your article. NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland and its PAC takes pride in our transparent and fair representation of our positions on all matters concerning the advancement of women's rights in Maryland. We would appreciate it if in the future you would check your sources with our organization before issuing anonymous statements. We encourage you, as well as you readers to contact us directly to answer questions about reproductive rights and where elected officials or candidates may stand on this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Wendy Royalty, NARAL Pro-Choice MD PAC Chair
Jodi Finkelstein, NARAL Pro-Choice MD Executive Director

Sen. Roger Manno & Maricé Morales

Rumors are aswirl that an aide to District 19 State Senator Roger Manno is plotting a run against Sam Arora in 2014. Arora famously voted against marriage equality during an extremely close vote -- and after promising to support LGBT rights. But the 2010 runner-up to Arora (Jay Hutchins) recently announced he had decided not to run, leaving many wondering if Arora was still going to face a challenge.

But Maryland Juice recently met Manno's Special Assistant Maricé Morales at a political event in Montgomery County, where she confirmed she was plotting a 2014 bid for the House of Delegates.

In addition, at the urging of an anonymous source, I poked around on Sen. Manno's website and was intrigued to see hints that he may indeed be backing Morales, given that his press releases seem to be highlighting her work in the District (excerpt below):

SEN. ROGER MANNO PRESS RELEASE: This evening Senator Roger Manno and Delegate Ben Kramer each received the prestigeous “Shofar Award” for their advocacy on behalf of the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy (MJBHA) in Aspen Hill.... 

Joining Senator Manno was his Senate Special Assistant, Ms. Marice' Morales, who worked tirelessly with lawmakers and the community throughout the 2013 legislative session to secure passage of the $100,000 capital bond.

Notably, District 19 Democrats are represented by one State Senator (Roger Manno) and three Delegates: Sam Arora, Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer.  But a visit to Del. Bonnie Cullison's Facebook page also revealed a photo of Maricé Morales at a recent Cullison fundraiser. Now obviously a photo does not necessarily equal an endorsement, but this is still pretty interesting to see:

And to round it all out, here's Maricé Morales with Sen. Victor Ramirez of Prince George's County:

IS DEL. SAM ARORA PRO-CHOICE OR ANTI-CHOICE? - Strangely, one anonymous source also noted that it is apparently unclear where Sam Arora stands on the issue of reproductive rights. Maryland and Montgomery County politics are weighted toward the pro-choice position, but notwithstanding potential exceptions for rape or incest, a few Maryland Juice sources struggled to figure out where Arora stands on the issue.

A national organization voter education organization called Project Vote Smart attempted to survey Arora on abortion and other issues, but their website only had the following information about Sam Arora's views:

PROJECT VOTE SMART: Sam Arora refused to tell citizens where he stands on any of the issues addressed in the 2010 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart, national media, and prominent political leaders.

Nevertheless, Maryland Juice tracked down a 2010 NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland legislative analysis, and Sam Arora is the lone Delegate from Montgomery County who is not listed as a pro-choice lawmaker. Arora is instead listed as "Untested" alongside conservative/moderate Democrats (eg: Steve DeBoy & John Olszewski, Jr.) and Republicans like Kathy Afzali.

At first I thought this could be because no votes on the issue had been taken during Arora's freshman term, but then I realized six additional freshmen from MoCo were rated as pro-choice: Delegates Craig Zucker, Eric Luedtke, Aruna Miller, Ariana Kelly, Bonnie Cullison and Shane Robinson.

AN ANSWER TO THE MYSTERY? - Maryland Juice contacted a knowledgeable source to figure out if there was a story behind Sam Arora being tagged as "Untested" in their analysis. Their response was that in 2010 (ie: his first election for office in liberal MoCo), Sam Arora never returned his candidate survey to NARAL. Hmm.

So does anyone know whether Sam Arora is pro-choice or pro-life? I'm honestly baffled that nobody seems to know the answer to this question. Perhaps one of you knows? If so, please drop a note in the comments section below.

EXCLUSIVE: Maryland Juice Interviews Rob Sobhani // Independent Senate Candidate On Nov. Ballot Questions & More

Over the course of the last few weeks, Maryland politicos have seen hundreds of thousands of dollars of television advertising from independent U.S. Senate candidate Rob Sobhani. The former Republican candidate has been trying to appeal to members of both parties, and that has led both Democrats and Republicans to question Sobhani's motives.

Rob Sobhani campaigning in Montgomery County

Maryland Juice decided to try and find out more about where Rob Sobhani stands on key "values" issues, so we asked him to respond to several questions. Today, we present the results of our exclusive email interview with Maryland's independent U.S. Senate candidate. NOTE: I am aware that several of the issues I raise below are slightly unrelated to the roles and responsibilities of a U.S. Senator -- but I think it is important for voters to hear where Sobhani is coming from on hot topics. Below you can see his responses on a range of issues, including support for a flat tax and support for death penalty repeal (or at least a moratorium).

Without further ado, Maryland Juice presents the following Q & A with Rob Sobhani:

Maryand Juice Question 1  //  November Ballot Questions: How do you plan on voting on the hot-button ballot questions this November? In particular, I am curious about where you stand on:

• Question 4: Dream Act
• Question 5: Congressional Redistricting Plan
• Question 6: Marriage Equality
• Question 7: Gambling Expansion

CD6: DCCC Robocall Attacks Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for Ties to Rep. Todd Akin's Rape Views // Taped Call Tells Voters to Call Bartlett

Maryland Juice recently printed a series of press releases attacking Rep. Roscoe Bartlett for co-sponsoring controversial laws with Rep. Todd Akin. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is now launching a robocall attack into Maryland's 6th Congressional District about the matter. According to Slate.com, this is a national campaign targeting a number of vulnerable U.S. House Republicans. See the DCCC press release and robocall script below:

PRESS RELEASE

DCCC Launches New Advertising Linking Congressman Bartlett

To Congressman Todd Akin's Extremism

JuiceBlender: Federal Court Kills MoCo & Baltimore Abortion Laws, Police Union Referendum Rejected, More Costco Debate

Below Maryland Juice flags a few stories and updates you may have missed, starting with news coverage of a recent legal battle in the pro-choice vs. anti-abortion debate. Some of these controversies are not yet settled, so we'll let you know how they go (see below):

JUICE #1: FEDERAL COURT OVERTURNS MOCO & BALTIMORE REGULATION OF ANTI-CHOICE CLINICS - In 2010 the Montgomery County Council passed a law intending to prevent anti-abortion centers from providing misleading information to visitors. The law, which was proposed by former Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, required the centers to post signs noting that they did not employ staff with medical licenses and to therefore consider seeing a medical professional. Baltimore City around the same time also adopted a similar law. The Washington Post reports that a federal appellate court struck down both the MoCo and B'more laws (excerpt below):

CD6: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Says "Roe v. Wade Will Be History" // GOP Incumbent Explains His New Bill

Yesterday, Maryland Juice wrote about a new law that Rep. Roscoe Bartlett decided to co-sponsor. The bill requires doctors to perform ultrasounds on women seeking abortions, but it specifically leaves women the freedom to "turn eyes away."  Mr. Bartlett explained his rationale for the legislation in a recent press release:

Press Release

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Speaks at March for Life 2012 Rally
20th Consecutive Speech to Marchers

Washington, Jan 23

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett spoke at the March for Life 1012 Rally today.  It was the 20th consecutive time that Congressman Bartlett addressed the marchers assembled to protest the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Congressman Bartlett has a 100% pro-life record. Below are Congressman Bartlett’s remarks.

CD6: Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Co-Sponsors Law Requiring Ultrasound Before Abortion // Women Allowed to Look Away

UPDATE: Maryland Juice is recruiting theories -- how will the issue of choice/abortion play in Maryland's 6th Congressional District? So far, seeking comments.

Maryland Juice just noticed that 6th District Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is co-sponsoring an interesting new legislative proposal in Congress. Mr. Bartlett (along with Rep. Michele Bachmann) has signed onto Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan's efforts to require ultrasounds for women seeking abortions.

Even though Rep. Bartlett feels comfortable telling women and doctors what medical procedures they should employ, he allows them to exercise their free will to "turn eyes away." See excerpts below:


H.R.3805 -- Ultrasound Informed Consent Act

To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 23, 2012

Mr. JORDAN (for himself, Mr. AKIN, Mr. AUSTRIA, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. BARTLETT, Mrs. BLACK, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. CANSECO, Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina, Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. FLORES, Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. GARRETT, Mr. HALL, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan, Mr. HULTGREN, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. JONES, Mr. KELLY, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. KLINE, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LONG, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Mr. NUNNELEE, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. ROSS of Florida, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SOUTHERLAND, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. HUELSKAMP, Mr. FLEMING, and Mr. MILLER of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

...