A Round-Up of New Endorsements in Maryland's Open-Seat US Senate & House Races: Less Than Six Months Until Primary Day

By Matt Verghese

As we pass the sixth month mark until Maryland's April 26 primary, more endorsements were announced this week in the state's open seat US Senate race and in the open 4th and 8th District Congressional races. We previously published a round-up of all the endorsements in those races, but more have begun pouring in as the races take shape. Maryland Juice's Matt Verghese has a full round-up of updates below:

FIREFIGHTERS ENDORSE VAN HOLLEN FOR SENATE: The Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland - the state association for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) locals, which represents 10,000 current and retired professional fire fighters, unanimously endorsed Chris Van Hollen for United States Senate. Local affiliates in Baltimore, Prince George's and Montgomery Counties have also endorsed Van Hollen.

PFFM President Mike Rund: Congressman Van Hollen has shown that public safety is and will continue to be a top priority for him. The money that has been secured through federal grants wouldn’t have been possible without Chris’s help. It is for these reasons and many more that that we endorse Chris Van Hollen for United States Senate.

This continues the split in local labor endorsements between Van Hollen and Congresswoman Edwards.


OFFICE EMPLOYEE UNION ENDORSES RASKIN FOR CONGRESS: Office and Professional Employees International Local 2 (OPEIU Local 2), a member of the AFL-CIO, became the second labor union to endorse Senator Jamie Raskin in the 8th Congressional District race. OPEIU Local 2 represents 7,000 workers in the region.

OPEIU Local 2 President Dan Dyer: OPEIU Local 2 is excited to endorse Jamie Raskin, an unwavering supporter of Maryland's working families and the proven progressive leader we need in the 8th District. Senator Raskin’s exemplary record of success in Annapolis shows that he is willing to stare down the powerful interests and stand up for the rights and values of working men and women. Our union is proud to stand with Jamie so he can go to Washington and take on the big-money special interests that are trying to destroy the right to organize and to engage in collective bargaining. We know we have a true partner in Jamie Raskin and we are excited to do everything we can to support his campaign for Congress.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM SUPER-PAC ENDORSES RASKIN: Raskin was also endorsed by Mayday, a pro-campaign finance reform super PAC formed by Democratic Presidential hopeful and Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig, and House Judiciary Committee Vice Chair Delegate Kathleen Dumais (D-15).


EMILY'S LIST COMES OUT FOR MATTHEWS: Kathleen Matthews earned the coveted support of EMILY's List. The well respected and well funded organization that backs pro-choice female candidates, could be one of the most important endorsements in the CD8. The organization's support often brings fundraising assistance, visibility and potentially staff and advertising support.

EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock: Kathleen Matthews is a lifelong advocate for women and families and a dynamic leader who will fight for progressive change in Congress. As a news anchor at WJLA-TV, she put a spotlight on issues affecting women and families – jobs, education, health care, and equality in the workplace – and as an executive, she spearheaded efforts to advance women's careers and women-owned businesses around the world. Maryland’s Eighth District has never elected a Democratic woman to Congress, and the EMILY’s List community is thrilled to endorse Kathleen Matthews: a pro-choice leader fighting for Planned Parenthood and deeply committed to helping Maryland working families get a fair shot.

EMILY's List previously endorsed Donna Edwards in the US Senate Race.


SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES PENA-MELYNK & RASKIN FOR CONGRESS: The Sierra Club announced its endorsement of Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk in Congressional District 4. The Maryland chapter previously announced its support of Jamie Raskin. No endorsement quote was provided, but the chapter's endorsement release is excerpted below:

Sierra Club: Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk has been a staunch supporter of environmental legislation and has worked well with the environmental community in the State Legislature where she represents State District 21. She has a lifetime score of 94% as reported by MD-LCV and she has proved herself to be a fierce fighter for our issues. We know she will be a great representative for District 4.

Sierra Club Endorses Jamie Raskin in Maryland's 8th Congressional District Race to Replace Chris Van Hollen

By Matt Verghese

The Sierra Club's Maryland chapter endorsed Sen. Jamie Raskin today, becoming the first environmental organization to endorse in the competitive Democratic primary in the 8th Congressional District. The field also includes Maryland House Environment & Transportation Committee Chairman Kumar Barve. The chapter's endorsement statement as released by the Raskin campaign is quoted below (emphasis mine):

SIERRA CLUB: "Senator Jamie Raskin has an extremely compelling record as a passionate environmentalist in Annapolis and has time and again proven his willingness to stand up to powerful political and economic interests to protect the land, the air, the water, and the people," said Betsy Johnson, Political Chair of the Maryland Sierra Club. "We are proud to support him and believe he will be a great representative for District 8."

While the Sierra Club said they would share their "enthusiastic endorsement with its members" the chapter did not mention how many members they had in CD8 (they have 14,000 in the state), or if their support would lead to PAC expenditures in the race.  In 2014, the chapter endorsed Del. Heather Mizeur in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. 

JUICE: Dana Beyer vs Sen. Madaleno, MD #1 for Millionaires, Labor vs Brochin, Simmons vs Kagan, Gov & Min Wage Update

UPDATE: Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger has decided not to run for Governor.

Below Maryland Juice provides a round-up of news items of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: DANA BEYER POLLING POTENTIAL RACE AGAINST SEN. RICH MADALENO - A Maryland Juice source sent us word of a poll out in the field right now in District 18. Two-time D18 Delegate candidate Dana Beyer now appears to be kicking the tires on a challenge to State Senator Rich Madaleno:

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: Beyer has a baseline poll in the field testing the delegate candidates, a Beyer/Madaleno senate matchup and testing some positive and negative messages as well as lines of attack.

JUICE #2: GOV. O'MALLEY & NUMEROUS LABOR UNIONS BACK CHALLENGER TO STATE SENATOR JIM BROCHIN - The Washington Post's John Wagner reported yesterday that Governor Martin O'Malley is backing a Democratic Primary challenger to State Senator Jim Brochin (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. never agreed on much, but the two adversaries have come to the same conclusion about one thing: Someone other than James Brochin should be elected to the state Senate from District 42.

Both O’Malley (D) and Ehrlich (R) have penned fundraising solicitations in recent weeks for candidates challenging Brochin, the independent-minded, three-term Democratic incumbent representing the Baltimore County district. O’Malley is supporting Connie DeJuliis, a former member of the House of Delegates who helped him in his gubernatorial campaigns....

“Connie is running to be a strong, Democratic voice for the communities, families, and citizens of the 42nd District in Baltimore County,” O’Malley said in his Jan. 7 fundraising solicitation for DeJuliis. “Her campaign is an important one, and she needs our help....”

I looked up the recent campaign finance reports for both Brochin and DeJuliis, and here's where the two candidates currently stand in terms of cash on hand:

• State Senator Jim Brochin (incumbent): $228,744.52
• Connie DeJuliis: $41,745.06

Note that Connie DeJuliis' campaign finance report shows donations from a wide range of labor unions and some politicians including: AFSCME Local 770, Baltimore Fire Officers Local 964, Maryland Social Services Employees Local Union 112, Maryland Teamsters PAC, 1199 SEIU - NYS Political Action Fund, CWA Cope - VA, Local 32 BJ NY/NJ American Dream Fund, Teamsters Local Union No. 639, Ironworkers Political Action League PAC, UAW PAC MD State, Friends For John Olszewski Sr and Friends Of Senator Norman Stone.


JUICE #3: NEW STUDY REPORTS MARYLAND IS #1 FOR MILLIONAIRES, VIRGINIA IS #7 - After all the hysteria from Democratic lawmakers about the potential flight of millionaires to Virginia, Maryland Juice was irritated to see a new study last week indicating that Maryland is #1 in the nation for millionaires (per capita). Can we please end the hysteria used to advocate for pro-millionaire policies already? Phoenix Marketing International published the following study, which was summarized by Politico's Mike Allen:

MIKE ALLEN (VIA POLITICO): States with the most and least, per Phoenix Marketing International: 1) Md. 2) N.J. 3) Conn. 4) Hawaii 5) Alaska 6) Mass. 7) Va. 8) N.H. 9) Del. 10) D.C. 11) Calif. 12) N.Y. ... 22) Texas ... 30) Fla. ... 36) Ohio ... 46) Tenn. 47) Ky. 48) W.Va. 49) Idaho 50) Ark. 51) Miss.

Here's a screencap from the Phoenix Marketing study:

JUICE #4: SIERRA CLUB ENDORSES HEATHER MIZEUR FOR GOVERNOR - Maryland Juice received the following press release from Heather Mizeur's campaign announcing the endorsement of the Sierra Club in her bid for Governor (excerpt below):

PRESS RELEASE

Mizeur-Coates Campaign Picks Up Sierra Club Endorsement


SILVER SPRING, Maryland – This weekend, Heather Mizeur and Delman Coates, Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, received the endorsement of the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, one of state’s leading environmental groups. They are the first environmental group to endorse in the Democratic gubernatorial election.  

"The next Governor will face tough environmental challenges from eradicating dead zones in the Bay and boosting our alternative energy options to protecting and sustaining our natural resources," said Mizeur. “We’re honored to have the support of Sierra Club—and all their members—in this campaign, and look forward to working with them in victory.”  

The Sierra Club is the largest grassroots environmental organization in the country. The Maryland Chapter has 12,000 members. Some of the chapter’s priority campaigns are focused on moving the state "Beyond Coal" and "Beyond Natural Gas", and on preserving the natural environment for future generations.



"Delegate Mizeur is a true environmental champion who leads the fight to ensure that all Maryland families have access to clean water, healthy air and open spaces,” said Josh Tulkin, state director of the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter. “Heather isn't afraid to speak her mind and stand up to special interests.”


Last week, the Mizeur-Coates campaign received endorsements from two women’s groups: Maryland NOW PAC and Feminist Majority. The campaign has also been supported by several other groups, including EMILY’s List and the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of Police....

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JUICE #5: SUSAN LEE FOR D16 SENATE & KELLY, KORMAN, JAMGOCHIAN FOR D16 DELEGATE  // PLUS: DUCHY TRACHTENBERG WEIGHING AT-LARGE COUNCIL RUN - The Sierra Club also informed Maryland Juice that in District 16, they've endorsed Del. Susan Lee for State Senate and Del. Ariana Kelly, Marc Korman & Hrant Jamgochian for the three Delegate slots. On a similar note, Bethesda Magazine's Lou Peck reported today that former Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg has decided not to challenge Susan Lee for the State Senate seat and is instead weighing a run for MoCo Council At Large (excerpt below):

BETHESDA MAGAZINE: ...Delegate Susan Lee took another step toward locking up the nomination for the seat now held by Sen. Brian Frosh, who is seeking the Democratic nod for state attorney general. Former County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg said this week that, despite “a great deal of encouragement and support from many District 16 residents, I will not be running for the…Senate seat.” Trachtenberg, who continues to weigh a bid to regain an at-large seat on the County Council, added: “My political interests have always been in Rockville, and down on Capitol Hill....”

JUICE #6: GANSLER SUPPORTS TYING MINIMUM WAGE HIKE TO CORPORATE TAX CUT  //  PLUS: SENATE PRESIDENT MIKE MILLER SENDS MIXED SIGNALS - Earlier this month, Baltimore Business Journal reported that gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler supports linking a state minimum wage increase to corporate tax cuts (excerpt below):

BUSINESS JOURNAL: Senate Bill 8 was introduced by Sen. Richard Colburn, R-Caroline. Colburn is a member of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The bill is one of several attempts expected this General Assembly session to reduce the state’s corporate income tax to bring it in line with neighboring states like Virginia, where the rate is 6 percent.

Those attempts could gain traction this session because several candidates for governor have come out in favor of a tax decrease. Attorney General Douglas Gansler, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, wants to see the rate lowered to 6 percent. Gansler would tie the reduction to a hike in the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, up from the current $7.25 an hour.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks Senate President Mike Miller made a series of telling comments about his views on a minimum wage increase. The Baltimore Sun's Erin Cox reported on Miller's thoughts (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller predicted a big fight over raising the minimum wage in Maryland and publicly urged his colleagues to look for compromise.

Miller said he doesn’t believe the proposal backed by Gov. Martin O’Malley will pass his chamber, and that while there is broad support for a wage increase, the state will have to allow different regions to have different wages. “I’m trying to find way out of dodge,” Miller told reporters, adding: “I’m telling you right now: it’s going to be a very tough sell....”

Miller, who said he believes some wage increase will pass, criticized those jurisdictions for acting alone. “Personally, I think what Prince George’s and Montgomery County have done is a tremendous disservice to their state and their community,” Miller said. The higher wage, he said, creates a political challenge for passing a state-wide wage lower than $11.50 and it discourages chain businesses from launching new enterprises in those counties.... 

JUICE #7: ANTHONY BROWN ENDORSES MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION PROPOSAL  //  PLUS: MARYLAND LEADS NATION IN POT ARRESTS -  The Baltimore Sun's Michael Dresser recently reported that Lt. Governor Anthony Brown is endorsing a legislative proposal to remove the 90-days-in-jail penalty for marijuana possession in Maryland (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Speaking at a Baltimore Sun Newsmaker Forum, Brown also came out strongly for decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana. But he said Maryland should wait and learn from the experience of other states before moving to full legalization of the drug.... On marijuana, Brown took a middle ground between the O'Malley administration's cautious support of the limited medical marijuana program approved last year and the legalization plan offered by Del. Heather R. Mizeur of Montgomery County, one of Brown's rivals in the June Democratic primary....

Meanwhile, Christopher Neely of the Capital News Service reported that Maryland has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the top five states in the nation for marijuana arrests (excerpt below):

CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE (VIA PATCH.COM):  Maryland is a state with a serious marijuana arrest problem, according to the FBI’s 2011 annual Uniform Crime Report. With 22,043 arrests for marijuana possession producing an arrest rate of 378 people per 100,000, Maryland ranked among the top five in marijuana possession arrests according to the most recent data available. This is not new for the Free State. Since 2007, Maryland has been in the top five states in marijuana possession arrest rate.

“I have no idea why these numbers are so high,” said state Sen. Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, who is an advocate for marijuana decriminalization in Maryland. “The numbers are shocking and staggering.” Experts say the numbers are in part the result of the war on drugs being focused on petty marijuana possession arrests starting in the 1990s. Some also attribute much of the increase to then-Baltimore Mayor and now Gov. Martin O’Malley, who helped introduce both statistics driven policing and zero tolerance policies to the state.

From 2000-2007, Maryland’s overall marijuana possession arrest rate rose by 4,916 arrests per year, or 28 percent statewide. During the same time period, Baltimore’s marijuana arrest rate surged by 3,686 arrests per year - more than 155 percent....

But according to a recent poll conducted by Democratic-affiliated Public Policy Polling, 68 percent of Marylanders support decriminalization. Fifty-three percent support legalization similar to Colorado and Washington.... 

In other news, a coalition of groups including the ACLU, Equality Maryland, League of Women Voters of Maryland, NAACP and more have formed a coalition to end marijuana prohibition.


JUICE #8: GANSLER ATTACKS ANTHONY BROWN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE CONTRACTORS - In response to the ongoing controversy over Maryland's bungled roll-out for Obamacare enrollment, Attorney General Doug Gansler issued the following press release slamming Anthony Brown for taking thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from contractors working on the project (excerpt below):

PRESS RELEASE

Brown/Ulman Took Nearly $130K from Health Care Interests for Campaign, Leaving Marylanders to Foot $170 Million Bill

While Taxpayers Have Spent $170 million on Botched Health Exchange, Brown Reaping Campaign Contributions

Silver Spring, MARYLAND – According to campaign finance reports, the Brown/Ulman gubernatorial campaign received $45,850 in campaign contributions between 2011 to 2014 from health care interests directly associated with the Maryland Health Insurance Exchange that Brown is overseeing – in addition to $84,000 Brown has received in donations linked to the health care industry in prior years.

A description of the contributions is below.

“While taxpayers have spent over $170 million on a botched insurance website overseen by Lt. Governor Brown, he has been reaping nearly $130,000 from health care interests. That is outrageous. Lt. Governor Brown owes taxpayers an answer for this ethical lapse – and an apology for the state of the exchange,” said Bob Wheelock, communications director for the Gansler/Ivey campaign....

Campaign Contributions to Anthony Brown and Ken Ulman from Healthcare Interests Directly Related to Exchange

Friends of Anthony Brown & MBHE Vendors

• Friends of Anthony Brown received $8,550 from vendors listed as receiving contracts from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchanges and executives or employees with those vendors.
• Friends of Anthony Brown received a total $4,750 from lobbyists who currently or formerly represented companies that received contracts from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. $2,450 came from individuals who are currently registered to lobby on behalf of vendors, and $2,300 came from individuals who had formerly been registered to lobby on their behalf. (Note that some of these lobbyists were also registered on behalf of insurance carriers on the Exchange.)

 Friends of Anthony Brown & MBHE Insurance Providers

• Friends of Anthony Brown received $22,700 in contributions from authorized marketplace insurance carriers and their executives.  The carriers were CareFirst, Evergreen, and Aetna.
• Friends of Anthony Brown received $10,495 from lobbyists who currently or formerly represented Maryland Health Benefit Exchange insurance carriers $4,325 came from individuals who are currently registered to lobby on behalf of carriers, and $6,170 came from individuals who had formerly been registered to lobby on their behalf. (Note that some of these lobbyists were also registered on behalf of vendors contracted with the Exchange.)

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JUICE #9: HEATHER MIZEUR BEATING DOUG GANSLER IN POLL OF BALTIMORE CITY VOTERS? - DMV Daily's Hassan Giordano reported on an interesting poll of Baltimore City voters showing Heather Mizeur leading Doug Gansler in the Governor's race (excerpt below):

DMV DAILY: In a recent DMVDaily poll of likely voters, both from the citywide voter file as well as the avid readers of this publication, the once unknown Mizeur campaign has seemingly catapulted its way into the mainstream conversation of likely victors. Polling in single digits late last year, the Mizeur/Coates campaign has gained considerable ground amongst Baltimore City voters, closing the gap with such tenacity that one has to wonder how well she will do statewide with more time to connect with voters.

Our recent survey, asking roughly 500 area voters who they would choose for Governor if the election were held today, showed Mizeur trailing Brown by a mere three percentage points (32%-29%), while Gansler lagged far behind at 18%. And while over 20% of respondents were still undecided as to whom they would support, the fact that Mizeur has already bypassed her Montgomery County colleague Gansler, shows her campaign’s strategic success over the past few months....

Note: I have not seen the actual polling memo, sample or crosstabs, so I have no idea whether this was a statistically valid poll.


JUICE #10: DEL. LUIZ SIMMONS SENDS ANOTHER DIRECT MAIL PIECE IN D17 SENATE RACE AGAINST CHERYL KAGAN  //  PLUS: WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL CRITICIZES SIMMONS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Delegate Luiz Simmons sent a second direct mail piece to D17 voters regarding "mudslinging" in his State Senate battle against Cheryl Kagan (see below):

Meanwhile, The Washington Post's editorial board issued the following piece highlighting Delegate Simmons' obstruction of legislation to combat domestic violence (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Maryland has long had the dubious distinction of being the only state that imposes a rigid burden of proof for victims of domestic abuse to receive a civil protection order. Past efforts to change the outdated law never got very far in a hidebound legislature, and advocates became so discouraged that they didn’t even raise the matter in recent years....

Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery), chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee and a candidate for attorney general, is sponsoring legislation that would establish a more reasonable burden of proof for victims seeking protection orders....

Mr. Frosh expressed confidence that the reform will pass in the Senate, but the real obstacles lie in the House of Delegates, notably its Judiciary Committee. It killed similar legislation when it was last proposed in 2010. Not even the wrenching testimony of a woman whose three children were drowned after she couldn’t obtain a protective order against her estranged husband could convince the committee of the need for change. The callous, if not hostile, treatment of Amy Castillo brought justifiable criticism to the committee and its chairman, Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr. (D-Prince George’s), but it remains to be seen whether lawmakers have learned from their mistakes.

Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons (D-Montgomery), who led the effort to kill the bill four years ago, told us he might be open to the change and has some ideas for “compromise” that he plans to discuss with Mr. Frosh. Perhaps not coincidentally, Mr. Simmons is seeking election to the Senate and is locked in a primary battle with former delegate Cheryl Kagan in which women and domestic violence issues are sure to be a focus....

JUICE #11: MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER TO PROTECT "TEN MILE CREEK" - An interesting environmental issue has emerged in Montgomery County's County Executive race. Activists with the "Save Ten Mile Creek" coalition are trying to stop development that would impact a MoCo waterway that serves as a back-up water supply:

SAVE TEN MILE CREEK: Just outside the boundaries of Clarksburg Town Center runs one of the healthiest waterways in the Chesapeake Watershed: Ten Mile Creek. A designated drinking water supply, Ten Mile Creek flows steadily, clear and cold, and teems with fish, many different kinds of aquatic insects, salamanders and other life forms. But large commercial and residential development proposals threaten this creek and watershed. Ten Mile Creek is delivering clean, healthy water to Little Seneca Reservoir and the Potomac. We want to keep it that way now, today and tomorrow....

Notably, this issue is becoming a key political debate ahead of the 2014 Democratic Primary, as candidates for County Executive have weighed in on the issue. Below we excerpt a letter from County Executive Ike Leggett regarding this issue, as well as an email blast from former County Executive Doug Duncan:

IKE LEGGETT: As you know, protecting the environment is a priority of mine. It is for this reason I am making a commitment that the County will forego any development on the 128-acre County/Clarkwood site. Further, I have made a decision that the County will not build the proposed addition to the County Correctional Facility. Together these two properties owned by the County total over 400 acres in the Ten Mile Creek area. The commitment to forego any development on these two County properties represents a signficant reduction in impervious surface, and therefore a substantial contribution to protection the environmental resources in this watershed.

DOUG DUNCAN: Montgomery County is facing a major land use decision with environmental consequences that will outlive all of us by decades or centuries. Ten Mile Creek in the Clarksburg area is a County treasure - one of a very few high quality reference streams in the County. In the coming weeks, the County Council has to decide how much development to allow in the Ten Mile Creek watershed, a decision that will say a lot about our commitment to protecting our environment and our region's water supply. The Creek is like an endangered species - we value it for many reasons. If we destroy it, we will learn, to our regret, that it was truly irreplaceable.... The County Council must make this right by limiting development in the headwaters of Ten Mile Creek so that the current water quality of the Creek is maintained and that no further degradation occurs.... We can and must save Ten Mile Creek. If you agree, contact the County Council to please ask them to base their decision on this issue by supporting the policy of no further degradation to the Creek.

For what it's worth, County Exec candidate Phil Andrews also joined Duncan and Leggett at a "Save Ten Mile Creek" event this weekend.


JUICE #12: DOUG DUNCAN WINS ENDORSEMENT OF MOCO FIREFIGHTERS - Last week Doug Duncan announced the endorsement of the Montgomery County firefighters union in his bid for County Executive (excerpt below):

JEFFREY BUDDLE, IAFF LOCAL 1664: As president of the Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1664, I am pleased to let you know that we have endorsed Doug Duncan to be the next County Executive of Montgomery County.

Having been a career fire fighter for 15 years now, and having worked with different administrations and politicians, I know that the traits Doug brings to the table are exactly what Montgomery County needs at this point in time in order to get us back on track.

His resolute commitment to public safety, both in the past and going forward, his vision for tomorrow’s Montgomery County, and his leadership style are what distinguish him as the clear choice in this race and made it an easy decision for us.

Doug has been an ardent supporter of the career fire fighters since day one. He understands the importance of working together to create one of the finest fire and rescue services in the country.  Doug knows how critical safeguarding the residents of Montgomery County is.

Montgomery County needs a strong, invigorated leader with innovative and new ideas. More of the status quo will just simply not work and we must once again get Montgomery County moving in the right direction. It was an honor to work with Doug before and we look forward to working together again with him as the next Montgomery County Executive....

JUICE #13: NARAL PRO-CHOICE MARYLAND PAC ISSUES CALL FOR CANDIDATE SURVEYS - Maryland  Juice received the following alert from the NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC requesting candidate surveys for its endorsement process:

PRESS RELEASE

NARAL PRO-CHOICE MARYLAND PAC
Announces Endorsement Process

SILVER SPRING, MD--Today, the Political Action Committee of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland announced that they have launched a new portion of their website dedicated to preparing for the upcoming elections.

Persons interested in the endorsement process, voting information, and volunteer opportunities should visit www.prochoicemd.org. The site will be continually updated and will include endorsed candidates when they are announced.

The NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland Political Action Committee is the only statewide PAC dedicated solely to electing pro-choice candidates to office in Maryland. Since 1982, NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland PAC has worked to elect pro-choice officials at the state and county levels.

NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland is dedicated to ensuring that Maryland continues to be a leader in the reproductive rights movement

To learn more about the endorsement process, please visit www.prochoicemd.org/elections.

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JUICE: Miller for Pot, Sierra Club for Frosh, Ulman for NSA, LCV Endorses, Wage Hike Roll Call, Ervin Contenders & MORE!

PLUS: Battles in D17, D22 & D26, Roscoe Bartlett Update, Paid Paternal Leave and the Nutcracker

Below Maryland Juice provides an extensive round-up of news bits of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: SENATE PRESIDENT MIKE MILLER ENDORSES MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IN MARYLAND  - The Washington Post reported this week that Senate President Mike Miller has endorsed marijuana legalization in Maryland. Indeed, after helping clear the way for marriage equality and death penalty repeal (positions he disagrees with), it seems clear that Miller tries to keep an accurate gauge of Democratic policy trajectories on hot-button issues (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The move to legalize marijuana in Maryland has a powerful ally: Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Miller (D-Calvert), who has presided over his chamber for more than a quarter century, said in an interview Friday that he would support legislation allowing the regulated sale of marijuana, similar to what is now taking place in Colorado.

“I favor the legalization and taxation of marijuana, with restrictions,” Miller said, adding that he thinks his position will only grow in popularity in coming years. “I know where people are going to be a generation or two from now....”

While he said a legalization bill would stand a good chance in the Senate, he thinks the odds are much longer in the House and said that Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) — who rose to prominence as a tough-on-crime mayor of Baltimore — is “always slow on issues like this....”

In a separate interview later Friday, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said he believes the state should wait to see how things play out in Colorado before seriously considering expanding the legal availability of marijuana in Maryland....

JUICE #2: SENATOR BRIAN FROSH RECEIVES ENDORSEMENTS FROM SIERRA CLUB & FORMER GOV. HARRY HUGHES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL - This month, State Senator Brian Frosh of Montgomery County received endorsements from the Sierra Club and former Governor Harry Hughes in his quest to replace Doug Gansler as Attorney General. The Sierra Club provided the following endorsement statement:

SIERRA CLUB: Today the Sierra Club's Maryland Chapter bestowed upon Senator Brian Frosh its endorsement for Attorney General of Maryland. “Brian Frosh has been an environmental champion in the state legislature for as long as he has served and we are proud to endorse him,” said Betsy Johnson, Political Chair of the Maryland Chapter. Frosh, Senator from Montgomery County’s District 16, has authored such laws as the Maryland Recycling Act, the ban on drilling for oil or gas in the Chesapeake Bay, and the Maryland Brownfields Redevelopment Act, as well as numerous energy conservation laws, Clean Cars legislation and more. He is well respected on both sides of the aisle because he knows how to build bipartisan support without damaging relationships or subverting his own passion for environmental protection. “These are the qualities that will help make him an outstanding Attorney General,” Johnson said. “We look forward to a fruitful relationship with our next Attorney General, Brian Frosh.”

Meanwhile, The Star Democrat reported on Frosh's endorsement by Gov. Harry Hughes (excerpt below):

STAR DEMOCRAT: Former Maryland governor and Caroline County resident Harry R. Hughes last week announced his support ofstate Sen. Brian Frosh’s run for attorney general. “He’s a good public servant. He has been one for several years and he has the right sense of values,” Hughes said. Hughes, a Democrat, was Maryland’s governor from 1979 to 1987....

Senate President Mike Miller had some very candid commentary about the Attorney General race in remarks he provided The Washington Post this week (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), who is supporting Frosh for attorney general, said he expects few of Cardin’s bills to become law.

“Jon has never had any real success getting bills passed before,” Miller said. “I don’t know why it would be different this session. … He comes from a nice family, but the blood has obviously gotten weaker along the way.”

Andrew Carton, Cardin’s campaign manager, said “such comments are to be expected when you are willing to challenge the Annapolis political establishment. While parents, community leaders and law-enforcement officers from across the state have embraced Jon’s legislative agenda of new and innovative ideas … there will always be some longtime Annapolis politicians who just don’t deal very well with change....”

JUICE #3: HOWARD COUNTY RECEIVES MONEY TO ENABLE THE NSA'S MASS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM - The Washington Post reported this week that Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has brokered a deal to facilitate the NSA's potentially unconstitutional mass surveillance program, in exchange for $2 million a year for the HoCo government (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: Howard County, Md., has agreed to supply treated wastewater to cool a computer center being built at Fort Meade by the National Security Agency.... The NSA is footing the cost of building a pump station, estimated at $40 million, and will pay the county as much as $2 million a year for treated water....

“There are so many benefits to this project,” Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said. But NSA critics see an opportunity to disrupt the agency’s controversial surveillance activities. A coalition of rights groups has targeted similar deals elsewhere — notably in Utah, where the NSA recently completed a $1.5 billion data center — lobbying state lawmakers to make it illegal for local governments to supply water and other utilities to the agency.

“Maryland is one of the most crucial states in this national campaign,” said Shahid Buttar, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee in Washington. “Because Congress has been so abysmally dysfunctional and inactive in the oversight arena for the last 10 years, the municipal checks and balances are really all that we the people have had an opportunity to exercise....”

A federal judge recently declared the telephone program “almost Orwellian” and probably unconstitutional. A second federal judge later ruled that it was legal and a valuable part of the nation’s anti-terrorism efforts. Separately, a task force urged President Obama to end the operation, to reform a secret surveillance court and to impose limits on the surveillance of close allies....

“This is a great democracy,” [Ken Ulman] said. “People have the right to let their thoughts be heard, to protest. . . . But at the end of the day, we have major defense installations throughout this country that are woven into our economies, our communities, and they need the infrastructure to perform their mission....”

Indeed, it appears that war, arms dealing and mass surveillance of innocent Americans are now considered jobs programs by Maryland Democrats. You can add the enabling of NSA surveillance to other advocacy for the military industrial complex by area Democrats in recent months. These have included MoCo taxpayer giveaways to Lockheed Martin, low interest taxpayer loans to Bechtel, efforts to pass Internet surveillance legislation like CISPA, billions of taxpayer dollars spent to subsidize the boondoggle F35 fighter jet program, taxpayer bailouts of Lockheed Martin employee pensions, and perhaps most telling, a successful lobbying effort by high-profile Maryland Democrats to kill a purely symbolic anti-war resolution in Montgomery County. Yes folks, perpetuating war, dealing arms around the world, and engaging in mass surveillance of citizens are now jobs issues for Maryland Democrats. Luckily, the NSA's unconstitutional shenanigans may well end up before the U.S. Supreme Court, given recent Federal District Court rulings that are divided on the issue. UPDATE: In contrast to HoCo, California lawmakers have introduced a bill to cut NSA's utilities, ban research at state schools and impose sanctions on contractors. Believe it or not, enabling the NSA's sketchy mass surveillance of innocent Americans does not have to be seen as a given.


JUICE #4: LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS RELEASES INCUMBENT ENDORSEMENTS FOR MD LAWMAKERS - Maryland's League of Conservation Voters released its first round of incumbent endorsements for environmental lawmakers. See an excerpt from their press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

Maryland League of Conservation Voters Announces Early Endorsements for
Maryland Senators and Delegates

Candidates Have Proven Conservation Records and Demonstrated Leadership

(Annapolis, MD) Today the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) released its first round of endorsed candidates for Senate and the House of Delegates in the 2014 state primary elections. The organization said the 8 Senate and 28 House candidates have all demonstrated pro-conservation records, leadership on environmental issues, and an open-door policy when it comes to working with the environmental community.

“These candidates have consistently prioritized the environment - and their legislative track records reflect that,” said Karla Raettig, Executive Director of Maryland LCV....

Maryland LCV’s endorsement process is based on proven leadership on the environment for incumbents and a thorough evaluation of new candidate’s background and commitment to the environment....

###

Maryland League of Conservation Voters
2014 Endorsements – January 7, 2014

District	Name, Office
10	Adrienne Jones, House
11	Dan Morhaim, House
11	Dana Stein, House
13	Shane Pendergrass, House
13	Frank Turner, House
14	Karen Montgomery, Senate
14	Anne Kaiser, House
14	Craig Zucker, House
15	Kathleen Dumais, House
16	Ariana Kelly, House
17	Jim Gilchrist, House
18	Richard Madaleno, Senate
19	Roger Manno, Senate
19	Bonnie Cullison, House
20	Jamie Raskin, Senate
20	Tom Hucker, House
21	Jim Rosapepe, Senate
21	Ben Barnes, House
21	Barbara Frush, House
21	Joseline Peña-Melnyk, House
22	Paul Pinsky, Senate
22	Anne Healey, House
22	Tawanna Gaines, House
24	Carolyn Howard, House
28	Peter Murphy, House
30	Speaker Michael Busch, House
39	Shane Robinson, House
39	Kirill Reznik, House
40	Barbara Robinson, House
42A	Stephen Lafferty, House
43	Maggie McIntosh, House
43	Mary Washington, House
44A	Keiffer Mitchell, House
46	William Ferguson, Senate
46	Luke Clippinger, House
47	Victor Ramirez, Senate

JUICE #5: ADVOCATES RELEASE LIST OF MOCO ENDORSERS OF AN INDEXED $10.10 MINIMUM WAGE - The minimum wage hike advocates at Raise Maryland and Jews for Justice released a list of state lawmakers from Montgomery County who have endorsed their proposal for an indexed minimum wage rate of $10.10 an hour. All but three MoCo lawmakers have signed onto the proposal, though it is not necessarily clear whether the three missing names are opposing the $10.10 minimum wage or have simply not yet responded to the inquiry. The three MoCo officials who haven't yet endorsed the Raise Maryland proposal are Delegates Kumar Barve, Kathleen Dumais and Sam Arora. You can see further information in an excerpt from the Raise Maryland press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

Montgomery County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly announces support for raising the state’s minimum wage during upcoming legislative session

County delegation chairs releases list of elected supporters of higher pay for Maryland workers

KENSINGTON, MD – Calling passing a higher minimum wage a highest priority for the upcoming Maryland General Assembly, the Montgomery County delegation to the Maryland General Assembly detailed its support for raising the state’s minimum wage during a press conference today in Kensington, Md.

All eight of the county’s senators and a majority of the delegates have signed onto a letter of support circulated by Raise Maryland in support of a higher wage (see list below). Signatories call for legislation to raise the state’s lowest wage that includes three key provisions:

• Raise Maryland’s minimum wage in three steps to $10.10 by 2016;
• Index the minimum wage to the cost of living thereafter so that it doesn’t lose value over time; and
• Increase the minimum wage for tipped workers from the current 50 percent to 70 percent of the prevailing minimum wage....

###

Chamber	District	Elected Official	Signed on to letter
House	18	Ana Sol Gutierrez	Yes
House	39	Kirill Reznik	Yes
House	16	C. William 'Bill' Frick	Yes
House	18	Jeffrey D. 'Jeff' Waldstreicher	Yes
House	39	A. Shane Robinson	Yes
House	14	Anne R. Kaiser	Yes
House	14	Eric G. Luedtke	Yes
House	15	Aruna Miller	Yes
House	19	Bonnie L. Cullison	Yes
House	14	Craig J. Zucker	Yes
House	17	Luiz R. S. Simmons	Yes
House	20	Sheila Ellis Hixson	Yes
House	20	Tom Hucker	Yes
House	16	Ariana B. Kelly	Yes
House	16	Susan C. Lee	Yes
House	18	Alfred Clinton 'Al' Carr Jr.	Yes
House	15	David Fraser-Hidalgo	Yes
House	19	Benjamin F. Kramer	Yes
Senate	15	Brian J. Feldman	Yes
Senate	16	Brian E. Frosh	Yes
Senate	17	Jennie M. Forehand	Yes
Senate	18	Richard S. Madaleno Jr.	Yes
Senate	20	Jamie Raskin	Yes
Senate	19	Roger Manno	Yes
Senate	39	Nancy J. King	Yes
Senate	14	Karen S. Montgomery	Yes
House	20	Heather R. Mizeur	Yes
House	17	James W. 'Jim' Gilchrist	2013 co-sponsor
House	39	Charles E. Barkley	2013 co-sponsor
House	17	Kumar P. Barve
House	15	Kathleen M. Dumais
House	19	Sam Arora

Meanwhile, Politico released an article this week calling a $10.10 minimum wage the centerpiece of the Democrats' election platform this year and detailing the roots of the movement in Baltimore (excerpt below):

POLITICO: ...the Obama administration plans to make raising the federal minimum wage, from its current $7.25 an hour to $10.10, a centerpiece of Democrats’ 2014 midterm election efforts.... Barack Obama’s sudden embrace of a minimum wage boost is very likely a shrewd political move. To start, it has the potential to make life difficult for Republican politicians, who will have to decide whether to oppose a minimum wage hike, angering the 64 percent of independents and 57 percent of Republicans who according to a recent poll support it, or get behind it themselves and anger their backers in the business community who overwhelmingly oppose it....

The living wage movement began in the early 1990s, when pastors in Baltimore started to notice something curious happening. An increasing number of the people showing up for food or lodging at the city’s church-affiliated soup kitchens and homeless shelters had full-time jobs; they just weren’t making enough money from them to provide for themselves or their families. Working with local unions, the pastors—most of whom were affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, a national community organizing group that does much of its work through churches—successfully pressured Baltimore’s city council in 1994 to require any company receiving public money for service contracts to pay its workers at least $6.10 an hour rather than the federal minimum wage of $4.25.

The $6.10 figure was called “a living wage”—a term that dates back to the labor unrest of the late 19th century but more recently came to be defined as hourly earnings that would keep a family of three or four above the poverty line—and the Baltimore campaign soon begat similar successful living wage movements in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York....

JUICE #6: NINE TEN CANDIDATES FOR APPOINTMENT TO VALERIE ERVIN'S MOCO COUNCIL SEAT // PLUS: OTHER CONTESTED MOCO COUNCIL SEATS  - Tomorrow is the deadline for Democrats residing in MoCo Council District 5 to apply for an interim appointment to Valerie Ervin's vacant seat. The Washington Post's Bill Turque reports that so far there are nine applicants (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: ...The filing deadline is Wednesday, and at least nine candidates have applied so far. They are Alan Bowser, a former deputy assistant secretary of commerce; Cherri Branson, chief oversight counsel for the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security; Jeanette Dixon, former principal of Paint Branch High School; Ronald Galvin Jr., executive director of Impact Silver Spring, a community action group; Arthur Jackson Jr., a retired D.C. police captain; Andrew Kleine, former acting chief financial officer for the Corporation for National and Community Service; Timothy Male, a Takoma Park City Council member; Harold McDougall, a Howard University law professor; and Daniel Wilhelm, an East County activist and engineer for Mitre.

NOTE: Just before publishing this piece, Maryland Juice received word from Montgomery County officials that a tenth candidate has applied for the D5 vacancy: Silver Spring Democratic activist Mark Woodard.

In any case, Turque's piece also contains interesting commentary from candidates in the contested County Council races in Districts 2 and 3 (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: It was business, not politics, that Gaithersburg Mayor Sid Katz said drew him into the June 2014 Democratic primary for the District 3 Montgomery County Council seat.... Katz’s candidacy is unwelcome news for Gaithersburg City Council member Ryan Spiegel, 35, who had hoped to go into the primary without the sudden entry of a well-known competitor.

“It’s a free country, but I would have hoped and preferred to get some advance notice, given that he was well aware of my plans for a while,” said Spiegel, a Bethesda lawyer in his second term. He said he wants to see Montgomery get more of its money back from Annapolis and that he is better suited to the task than Katz, who has held the largely ceremonial, nonvoting mayor’s post....

In northern Montgomery’s District 2, first-time candidate Neda Bolourian will challenge the incumbent council president, Craig Rice (D-Upcounty). Bolourian, 32, a Bethesda lawyer, is critical of the substantial pay raise, effective after the election, that council members approved last year. She said she is “dismayed” by Rice’s lack of leadership on environmental issues, especially the debate over the future of the Ten Mile Creek watershed near Clarksburg.... “I’m running because I think it is time to shake things up,” Bo­lourian said.

JUICE #7: STATE SENATOR JENNIE FOREHAND ANNOUNCES HER RETIREMENT // CHERYL KAGAN & DEL. LUIZ SIMMONS BEGIN BATTLING - The Baltimore Sun's Mike Dresser reported this week that District 17 State Senator Jennie Forehand has announced her retirement after this term (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: State Sen. Jennie M. Forehand, a veteran liberal Democrat from Montgomery County, has announced she will retire from the General Assembly after her current term -- avoiding a certain primary fight.... This year she would have faced competition from both Kagan and Del. Luiz R. S. Simmons in the June 24 primary.

Former Delegate Cheryl Kagan released the following statement in response to the news (excerpt below):

CHERYL KAGAN: Dear Juice, I wanted to make sure you heard the news.  Senator Jennie Forehand called me last night to say that she will not be seeking reelection. After 36 years of dedicated service to our state, and especially to residents of mid-Montgomery County, I salute Jennie for her remarkable career in public office and congratulate her on her many accomplishments.  Jennie is a true trailblazer, and we owe her our gratitude.  

On so many important issues, Jennie has been a legislative pioneer ahead of her time. Whether it has been standing up for women's reproductive rights, protecting victims of domestic violence, supporting the ICC to alleviate our transportation problems, or working to outlaw genetic discrimination, she has been a consistent advocate for the interests of women, families, and Montgomery County residents....

Interestingly, Kagan also posted the following message on her Facebook page highlighting commentary from rival candidate Del. Luiz Simmons on Forehand's retirement:

CHERYL KAGAN: I am posting my opponent's statement about Senator Forehand's career with no edits or comments for your information.

Senator Jennie Forehand announced today that she will be retiring at the end of her term. Claire and I applaud her years of service and wish her and Bill health and happiness in the future.

If Jennie Forehand has left any permanent legacy it has been her commitment to honest and positive campaigns, free from mudslinging.

- Luiz

JUICE #8: DISTRICT 22 SLATE FORMS WITH SEN. PAUL PINSKY, AND DELEGATES TAWANNA GAINES, ANNE HEALEY AND ALONZO WASHINGTON - Maryland Juice received the following press release from Delegate Anne Healey announcing that she has formed a slate with incumbent lawmakers Sen. Paul Pinsky and Del. Tawanna Gaines, alongside newly appointed Delegate Alonzo Washington. Notably, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker's son (Rushern Baker IV) is also seeking a D22 Delegate seat. You can read an excerpt from Delegate Healey's press release below:

PRESS RELEASE

Delegates Tawanna Gaines and Anne Healey File for Re-Election in Maryland House of Delegates

ANNAPOLIS -- Delegate Tawanna Gaines and Delegate Anne Healey filed together to run for re-election to their seats in the Maryland House of Delegates on Thursday at the Maryland State Board of Elections. They represent District 22 in Prince George’s County....

District 22 includes the municipalities of Berwyn Heights, Edmonston, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, New Carrollton, Riverdale Park and University Park, as well as unincorporated areas in Lanham-Seabrook, Glenn Dale, Whitfield Chapel, Dodge Park and Palmer Park.

The two women are running on a slate with the two other incumbents from District 22,  Sen. Paul Pinsky and Delegate Alonzo Washington.

###

JUICE #9: D26 DELEGATE VERONICA TURNER FILES CANDIDACY TO CHALLENGE STATE SENATOR ANTHONY MUSE - District 26 State Senator Anthony Muse of Prince George's County is now facing two challengers in the June 2014 Democratic Primary, Delegate Veronica Turner and Brian Woolfolk:

JUICE #10: STATE SENATOR VICTOR RAMIREZ'S CHIEF OF STAFF DENI TAVERAS ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR PG COUNCIL AGAINST DELEGATE DOYLE NIEMANN - State Senator Victor Ramirez's Chief of Staff Deni Taveras has announced a campaign for the Prince George's County Council seat being vacated by Will Campos. Taveras will face off against Delegate Doyle Niemann for the District 2 Council seat, and you can read an excerpt from her announcement below:

DENI TAVERAS: Hi Juice -- Happy New Year!  I want you to be among the first to know some exciting news: I'm running for Prince George's County Council....

I believe that government is here to provide the basic services people need: properly paved roads, rapid responses to constituents' requests, and quality schools where children can learn.

Yet when I talk with people in the community they tell me about dozens of concerns still unmet and codes not enforced. They wonder how we will take care of our seniors and whether safety will improve. Most of all, they worry about the quality of our public schools, especially the overcrowding.  

The fact is that Northern Prince George's County has not gotten its fair share of the County or State's resources. But I believe that with hard work we can overcome that. We can fix more roads, respond faster to constituent concerns, help our seniors stay in their homes, bring in the purple line, and build more schools....

I don’t know whether I’ve told you, but I have spent two years as State Senator Victor Ramirez’s Chief of Staff, helping to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, reducing domestic violence, protecting asbestos workers, removing corrupt officials from office, and passing the DREAM Act. However, nothing that I have ever done—either in Annapolis or anywhere else—has been more personally rewarding for me than volunteering and serving as my Condominium Association’s president....

JUICE #11: DELEGATE CURT ANDERSON AMAZED AT HOW MANY MEXICANS WORKING IN BALTIMORE SCHOOLS - Delegate Curt Anderson, a Baltimore Democrat is under fire for comments he made at a recent League of Women Voters event. The Daily Record reported on the controversy (excerpt below):

DAILY RECORD: Del. Curt Anderson is coming under fire by a conservative blogger for comments made about the race of workers at a city school he recently toured.

Anderson, a Baltimore City Democrat who chairs the city delegation in the House of Delegates, can be heard discussing the issue of school construction in the city at a League of Women Voters legislative breakfast....

During that discussion, Anderson tells the audience about touring a school that is scheduled to open on January 6. “I was amazed at how many Mexicans they have working on that school,” Anderson said. “Should be more African-American and minority contractors but still....”

[Dennis McIver, the politico who recorded the comments] said he was surprised by what he called “an off the cuff statement” by Anderson. He said the comments received little reaction from the audience. “There was no reaction at all,” McIver said. “It was crazy....”

JUICE #12: FORMER REP. ROSCOE BARTLETT LIVING IN A CABIN, PREPPING FOR DOOMSDAY - Politico Magazine published a fascinating (and very long) profile of former CD6 Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, discussing that Bartlett now "lives in a remote cabin in the woods, prepping for doomsday" (excerpt from the intro below):

POLITICO: When Roscoe Bartlett was in Congress, he latched onto a particularly apocalyptic issue, one almost no one else ever seemed to talk about: America’s dangerously vulnerable power grid. In speech after late-night speech on the House floor, Bartlett hectored the nearly empty chamber: If the United States doesn’t do something to protect the grid, and soon, a terrorist or an act of nature will put an end to life as we know it. Bartlett loved to conjure doomsday visions....

The octogenarian Republican from western Maryland—more than once labeled “the oddest congressman”—found himself gerrymandered out of office a year ago and promptly decided to take action on the warnings others wouldn’t heed, retreating to a remote property in the mountains of West Virginia where he lives with no phone service, no connection to outside power and no municipal plumbing. Having failed to safeguard the power grid for the rest of the country, Bartlett has taken himself completely off the grid. He has finally done what he pleaded in vain for others to do: “to become,” as he put it in a 2009 documentary, “independent of the system.”

I visited Bartlett this past fall, following a set of maze-like directions—take a series of different forks in the road and look for the one paved driveway that turns off a narrow, rocky dirt road—as I climbed to nearly 4,000 feet, one of the highest U.S. elevations east of the Rocky Mountains....

When I arrived, Bartlett greeted me in faded denim overalls and an unruly white beard and asked if anything had happened since he was last in Maryland, about a week earlier. I told him that the National Security Agency had just been caught tapping into the connections between data centers run by Google and Yahoo. He looked nonplussed....

JUICE #13: D20 SENATOR JAMIE RASKIN AND DELEGATE SHEILA HIXSON IN THE NUTCRACKER - A Maryland Juice reader sent us the following photos of D20 lawmakers Jamie Raskin in Sheila Hixson in Nutcracker garb. Here's the explanation accompanying the photos: "Senator Raskin and Delegate Hixson made appearances in the Maryland Youth Ballet's annual Nutcracker ballet, performing as guests in the First Act, party scene.  Delegate Hixson showed off her ballroom dancing while Senator Raskin helped greet guests."

JUICE #14: SPOTLIGHT ON THE MOVEMENT FOR PAID PATERNAL LEAVE & GENDER EQUITY IN THE WORKFORCE - Maryland Juice caught a fascinating article in The Atlantic discussing the effects of paid paternal leave policies in helping balance gender inequities at home and in the workplace. The article also notes that doomsday predictions of negative impacts on employers are unfounded (excerpt below):

ATLANTIC: ...As usual, California is at the vanguard of this shift.... in 2002 California became the first U.S. state to guarantee six weeks of paid leave for mothers and fathers alike, financed by a small payroll-tax contribution from eligible workers. Since then, Rhode Island and New Jersey have followed suit with four and six paid weeks, respectively, while other states are taking steps toward similar policies....

But here’s what men may not realize: While paid paternity leave may feel like an unexpected gift, the biggest beneficiaries aren’t men, or even babies. In the long run, the true beneficiaries of paternity leave are women, and the companies and nations that benefit when women advance. In October, the World Economic Forum released its latest global gender-gap report, showing that countries with the strongest economies are those that have found ways to further women’s careers, close the gender pay gap, and keep women—who in most nations are now better educated than men—tethered to the workforce after they become mothers....

While most mothers in the United States now work, many women still see their careers suffer after they became parents, in part because they end up shouldering the bulk of the domestic load—a phenomenon the sociologist Arlie Hochschild has dubbed the “second shift.” A 2007 study found that 60 percent of professional women who stopped working reported that they were largely motivated by their husbands’ unavailability to share housework and child-care duties....

In their pursuit of an egalitarian workplace (and higher fertility rates), countries like Sweden and Germany have at times offered women more than a year of maternity leave—sometimes quite a bit more—a strategy that can fortify the glass ceiling rather than shatter it. Anticipating that women will disappear for long periods of time, managers become reluctant to hire them into senior positions, and female workers are shunted (or shunt themselves) into lower-paying sectors. Among labor economists, overly long maternity leaves are now recognized as creating a barrier to pay equity....

Since California instituted its program, the percentage of “bonding leaves” claimed by men has risen from 18.7 in 2005 and 2006 to 31.3 in 2012 and 2013. A study by the economist Eileen Appelbaum and the sociologist Ruth Milkman showed that initial concerns that the California law would be a “job killer” were unfounded, and that workplaces have figured out effective and creative ways to cover for leave-taking parents. The biggest hurdle seems to be getting the word out, particularly among lower-income families that could benefit enormously from the program. (Part of the beauty of the California policy is that it extends leave to men in non-white-collar jobs.)