Senate President Mike Miller Shuffles Committee & Leadership Posts for Brinkley, Feldman, Getty, Hershey, Pugh & Robey

Maryland Juice just received the following press release from the office of Senate President Mike Miller announcing new committee assignments an leadership posts to account for the new members appointed to the body. The shifts impact State Senators David Brinkley, Brian Feldman, Joseph Getty, Stephen Hershey, Catherine Pugh and James Robey. Robey and Pugh are taking the leadership posts previously held by Sen. Rob Garagiola (eg: Majority Leader & Senate Finance Health Subcommittee Chair, respectively). The remaining committee assignments are highlighted below:

PRESS RELEASE

Senate President Miller Announces new Committee & Leadership Positions

Announcement comes after Feldman, Hershey Appointments

Annapolis, MD – Today, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., announced new committee assignments and Democratic leadership appointments resulting from the resignation of Senators Garagiola and Pipkin as well as the appointments of Senators Feldman and Hershey.

“I am pleased to announce these appointments and know that these Senators will be very successful in these roles. We have incredible talent and knowledge in the Maryland Senate and I am certain all of these appointments will serve our State well," said Senate President Miller.

In appointing Senator James Robey as Senate Majority Leader, Senate President Miller remarked that "We have a true and demonstrated leader in the Senate with a career of public service that we all admire and for this reason I am pleased to appoint Senator James Robey as the Senate Majority Leader. While we are all saddened by his decision not to seek re-election next year, we are excited to have him serve in this role in his final year in public service.”

Senate President Miller also announced the appointment of Senator Catherine Pugh as the Senate Finance committee Health Subcommittee chair following the departure of Senator Garagiola, stating, "I can think of no one better than Senator Pugh to help our state move forward in this new and complex era of health care delivery."

Senate President Miller also announced the following committee assignments:

Committee Assignments:

• Senator Brian J. Feldman – Finance Committee
• Senator David R. Brinkley – Finance Committee
• Senator Joseph M. Getty – Budget & Taxation Committee
• Senator Stephen S. Hershey, Jr. – Judicial Proceedings Committee

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ATTORNEY GENERAL 2014: Sen. Brian Frosh Claims Support of 6 Baltimore State Senators & City Council President Jack Young

Sen. Brian Frosh

BALTIMORE SUPPORT FOR BRIAN FROSH: Last July, Maryland Juice broke news that State Senator Brian Frosh was plotting a run for Attorney General in 2014. The Montgomery County progressive Democrat is currently chair of the Senate's judiciary committee, and he appears to be moving quickly to gain the support of his colleagues. Sen. Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County previously stated he would support Frosh for Attorney General. But this week The Baltimore Examiner reported that Frosh may have already lined up endorsements from key Charm City politicians (excerpt below):

EXAMINER: ...it’s through groups like BEST that members of the younger generation of voters gets to interact with local and state democratic leaders – like Senator Brian Frosh of Montgomery County, who came all the way to Baltimore last week to be apart of their latest community event. Frosh, who has served the 16th legislative district since 1995, is now seeking a statewide seat in 2014 – as he has his eyes set on the Attorney General’s post. Currently held by Doug Gansler, another democrat who many believe will run for the open Governor’s seat in 2014; Frosh seems to have the support of most of the city’s political elite – two years out! Stating that he had commitments from all six of the city’s state senators, including the support of East Baltimore native and City Council President Bernard ‘Jack’ Young, Frosh is making the rounds early in order to secure a seat sure to be highly contested – both by Democrats and Republicans alike.

If these reports are true, then the following Baltimore City State Senators are planning to endorse Brian Frosh for Attorney General:

• Sen. Catherine Pugh
• Sen. Lisa Gladden
• Sen. Joan Carter Conway
• Sen. Verna Jones-Rodwell
• Sen. Nathaniel McFadden
• Sen. Bill Ferguson

FROSH BEGINS FUNDRAISING FOR 2014: Senator Frosh is also beginning to build a war chest for a 2014 run. The Bethesda Now site recently noted that Frosh is hosting a fundraising event immediately after the Presidential election, and he's billing himself as an environmental champion (excerpt below):

BETHESDA NOW: State Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda-Chevy Chase) is raising money for a potential 2014 run at Maryland attorney general with a fundraiser touting his environmental accomplishments.

Frosh, who announced the event yesterday, confirmed his interest in running for attorney general in July and is asking for donations of $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 for an evening on Nov. 14 at an Annapolis restaurant.

MORE ON THE 2014 ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE SOON!