JUICE: $8.25/Hour MD Minimum Wage Hike, EMILY's List for Mizeur, Raskin for Treasury, Katz for Council, Made in MoCo TV

Below Maryland Juice provides a few updates on news items of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: EMILY'S LIST ENDORSES HEATHER MIZEUR - EMILY's List ("Early Money Is Like Yeast"), a national organization that backs women for public office, is getting behind Delegate Heather Mizeur in Maryland's gubernatorial race. The Huffington Post post reported on the development (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: EMILY's List, an increasingly powerful group that helps get progressive women elected to office, will announce on Friday that it is supporting Heather Mizeur in the race for Maryland governor. If elected, Mizeur would be the first female governor of Maryland and the first openly gay person elected governor in U.S. history.

"Heather Mizeur is a progressive powerhouse who will fight for the rights of Maryland's women and working families from day one,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “The EMILY’s List community—now three million members strong—is excited about this glass-ceiling breaker....”

While Mizeur faces a tough Democratic primary against two establishment opponents, the support of EMILY's List could make a big difference in her prospects. Since its founding in 1985, the group has raised over $350 million to help elect pro-choice female candidates across the country. EMILY's List has supported the campaigns of every single Democratic woman of color currently serving in Congress, and during the 2011-2012 cycle, it helped elect an historic number of female candidates, including 19 new women to the House of Representatives, nine senators, and 186 state and local officials....

JUICE #2: DETAILS ABOUT A POSSIBLE $8.25 MINIMUM WAGE HIKE IN MARYLAND & MORE RUMORS THAT ANNAPOLIS MAY VETO COUNTY WAGE HIKES - Two articles were released this week providing speculation about the details of a possible minimum wage hike in the 2014 legislative session. The Baltimore Sun reported on a possible $8.25/hour indexed wage hike (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Legislative leaders said Friday raising Maryland's minimum wage could involve boosting the rate statewide and letting prosperous counties increase it even further.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch told county officials gathered for a conference on the Eastern Shore they expected the legislature to consider raising the minimum wage. But, they said, it did not make sense for every jurisdiction to match rates set by counties where the cost of living is higher....

Officials in Montgomery and Prince George's counties recently voted to gradually hike the wage in their own jurisdictions from $7.25 per hour to $11.50.... In an interview about minimum wage, Miller suggested a state-wide floor of $8.25 per hour, and that jurisidictions could raise it higher.  And he suggested a possible constitutional amendment that would tie Maryland's minimum wage to inflation. The veteran lawmaker said, "we're going to get a lot of push-back on this...."

Meanwhile, The Gazette followed-up on rumors of a potential effort in Annapolis to preempt the local minimum wage hikes recently passed in Montgomery & Prince George's counties (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: Despite denials from Annapolis, union leaders claim a move to override Montgomery County’s recent minimum wage increase is brewing in the General Assembly.

Joslyn Williams, president of the Metropolitan Washington Council of the AFL-CIO, said Thursday the union council has it from a reliable source that business-friendly lawmakers are preparing a “compromise” to raising the statewide minimum wage. The compromise would revoke the higher wages passed recently in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in exchange for a higher statewide wage.

Williams would not name who informed the union, saying the individual feared retaliation..... As for the lawmakers allegedly behind the effort, Williams said, “we are trying to track them down.” However, he added that the source warned to focus on “the leadership” and make sure the compromise does not get traction at the leadership level....

Asked for a comment, Miller (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach expressed respect for Montgomery County’s right to set its own wage level. All eight county senators denied knowledge of such a warning....

Gino Renne, first vice president of the AFL-CIO Metropolitan Washington Council, said the session will flush out those behind the alleged compromise....

Notably, Maryland Juice is aware of a memo being prepared by the Attorney General's office researching the legality of county minimum wage laws, and whether they are allowed by county charter powers in Maryland. But who requested this memo? Hmm....


JUICE #3: US SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVES SARAH BLOOM RASKIN FOR #2 SPOT AT DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY - Maryland Juice previously reported that Sarah Bloom Raskin of Montgomery County was nominated by President Obama to serve as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury (the #2 spot at the agency). Politico Pro reported today that her appointment was approved by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and must now be approved by the full Senate (excerpt below):

POLITICO PRO: The Senate Finance Committee today approved out of committee three executive branch nominees, including a new commissioner for the embattled Internal Revenue Service and a deputy Treasury secretary....

Sarah Bloom Raskin also received only one audible no vote to be a deputy secretary of the Treasury. Raskin, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the highest ranking woman in the Treasury Department....

All three candidates must now be approved by the Senate, which is in turmoil after Democrats changed the chamber’s rules to make it much harder for Republicans to block nominees. In retaliation, Republicans are now running the clock on all nominees demanding full debate time for each prompting two back-to-back all-nighters.

Note: Sarah Bloom Raskin is married to State Senator Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County.


JUICE #4: GAITHERSBURG MAYOR SIDNEY KATZ TO ENTER RACE FOR MOCO COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 - We previously reported that Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz was weighing a run for the MoCo Council District currently held by Phil Andrews, who is now running for County Executive. This week two Maryland Juice sources indicated that Katz has decided to enter the race. See one report below:

ANONYMOUS SOURCE: At tonight's meting of the Democratic Club of Leisure World we had about 20 candidates visit and speak for a couple of minutes each. When Nancy Floreen was speaking, she said she was at a meeting earlier today with Sidney Katz, Mayor of Gaithersburg, and he told her he was definitely running for the MoCo Council district 3 seat being vacated by Phil Andrews. Since this was said in front of more than 100 people, it's public information....

JUICE #5: MOCO LAUNCHES NEW TV SHOW "MADE IN MONTGOMERY" - Montgomery County launched a new tv show this week called "Made in Montgomery." The first episode (which you can watch below) highlights Marriott corporation, which is headquartered in MoCo:



We hope this new show decides NOT to highlight MoCo-based Lockheed Martin, because if they did, the episode would have to focus on arms dealing, surveillance equipment and other unsavory things "Made in MoCo."  :)

JuiceBlender: D19 Dems Form Slate w/o Sam Arora?, Obama Picks Raskin for #2 at US Treasury & Candidates Enter AG Race

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

JUICE #1: SAM ARORA'S DISTRICT 19 COLLEAGUES FORMING SLATE WITHOUT HIM? - Bethesda Magazine's Lou Peck today reported that marriage equality flip-flopper Sam Arora may be about to be ditched by his District 19 colleagues when it comes time for re-election next year. Voters in Arora's Montgomery County legislative district are represented by one State Senator and three members of the House of Delegates. The norm for well-functioning teams is often for the incumbent members to run for re-election together as a slate. But writer Lou Peck reports that D19 Senator Roger Manno and D19 House members Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer may be forming a re-election slate without Sam Arora (details below):

BETHESDA MAGAZINE:  Three of [District 19’s] four incumbents – Sen. Roger Manno and Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer – are likely to form a joint slate as they seek re-election in 2014, according to sources.... The slate will not include the district’s other incumbent, Delegate Sam Arora.

Meanwhile, Marice Morales, who works in Manno’s office as a volunteer special assistant, confirmed that she plans to file this week for delegate in District 19.....

Asked whether he plans to seek re-election, Arora would say only, “I expect to announce my plans at the end of summer.” As of January, Arora had only $3,200 in his campaign treasury, raising just $270 during 2012, according to a filing with the state Board of Elections....

Another potential candidate apparently in the mix is Charlotte Crutchfield of Silver Spring, who represents District 19 on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee....

Already filed is Melodye Berry of Silver Spring, a former officer of the county’s African-American Democratic Club who ran for delegate in 2006....

JUICE #2: POWER COUPLE EMERGES IN D20 AS OBAMA TAPS SARAH BLOOM RASKIN FOR #2 SPOT AT U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT - Yesterday, Maryland Juice received a forwarded copy of the following White House press releases announcing that Sarah Bloom Raskin (who happens to be married to State Senator Jamie Raskin) is being nominated for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury. Obama's selection of Raskin would make her the first woman to occupy the #2 spot at Treasury (excerpt below):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• France Anne Cordova – Director, National Science Foundation
• Sarah Bloom Raskin – Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury
• Sylvia I. Garcia – Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, Department of Transportation
• Jo Handelsman – Associate Director for Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Gregory B. Starr – Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, Department of State
• Karen Stanton – Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Department of State
• Amy J. Hyatt – Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, Department of State

President Obama said, “The extraordinary dedication these individuals bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people.  I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Sarah Bloom Raskin, Nominee for Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury

Sarah Bloom Raskin is a Governor on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a position she has held since 2010.  Ms. Raskin was Commissioner of Financial Regulation for the State of Maryland from 2007 to 2010.  Prior to this, from 2003 to 2007, she was the Managing Director of Promontory Financial Group.  She also was General Counsel of Columbia Energy Services from 1998 to 2001, and the Worldwide Retail Exchange from 2001 to 2003.  Ms. Raskin was Banking Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs from 1993 to 1998.  Ms. Raskin began her career as a lawyer for Mayer Brown and Platt in New York, and later for Arnold & Porter, in both New York and Washington D.C., where she engaged in corporate finance work as well as regulatory work.  Earlier in her career, she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.  Ms. Raskin received a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

###

JUICE #3: SEN. BRIAN FROSH & DEL. JON CARDIN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL - The 2014 Democratic Primary for Attorney General is getting underway, as State Senator Brian Frosh and Delegate Jon Cardin announced their campaigns in the last week. The Washington Post's John Wagner reported that Cardin announced his campaign last week with a web video, which happens to feature Del. Talmadge Branch and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (excerpt & video below):

WASHINGTON POST: Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-Baltimore County) formally kicked off his campaign for Maryland attorney general on Monday morning with a Web video in which he pledges to protect families “from the next-generation challenges they face.”

“Families are facing new and complex challenges in today’s rapidly changing world, and I believe Maryland’s next attorney general must be aggressive enough and savvy enough to stay one step ahead of anyone seeking to harm our families, whether on our streets or in cyberspace,” said Cardin, a member of the House of Delegates since 2003 who has been gearing up to run for statewide office for months.... 

The video also includes testimonials from several people — including Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), the delegate’s uncle....

Meanwhile, State Senator Brian Frosh announced his campaign for Attorney General with the following email message:

BRIAN FROSH: Dear Juice, Over the past few months I have traveled across the state talking with Marylanders from all walks of life about their hopes and goals for the future, the challenges that they face, and how state government can help.

Wherever I went, I found that all Marylanders want the same things:  safe neighborhoods; clean air to breathe and clean water to drink; equal opportunity; economic security and a shot at the American Dream.

The problem is that too many people aren’t living in safe communities.  Too many people feel they don’t get a fair shot.  Too many Marylanders feel taken advantage of by utilities that underperform and overcharge.  Too many people worry that polluters are destroying our air and water with little accountability.

In a world where powerful special interests seem to get all the breaks, too many Marylanders feel like their voices aren’t being heard.  They want to know that they’ve got an advocate who will fight for them.  They want to know someone has got their backs.

That’s why, after much encouragement from Marylanders across the state, I’ve decided to run for Attorney General of Maryland.  I want to be the people’s lawyer.

I am no stranger to these battles.  As a young man, my parents taught me the importance of fighting for justice, making independent decisions and standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.    I’ve carried those values with me throughout my career in public service: championing laws to curb gun violence; prohibiting drilling for oil and gas in the Chesapeake Bay; protecting Maryland homeowners from the threat of foreclosure; fighting to end discrimination and inequality; and holding public utilities accountable for poor service and unwarranted rate hikes.

But there’s still much work to be done.

We need an Attorney General who will fight for justice and equal treatment for all Marylanders; someone who knows that protecting our children and fighting for safe communities is the first step in creating opportunity for all; someone who will fight to protect consumers and seniors from scam artists; someone who will crack down on corruption and hold accountable those who try to defraud our citizens; and someone who will enforce laws that protect our environment and work to prevent discrimination so that all Marylanders have the opportunities they deserve.

That’s the kind of Attorney General I intend to be. I will fight for you every day.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey.  Keep checking back in the coming weeks and months for more information on my agenda to protect Maryland families.  Please join me in September for our campaign kick-off.  In the meantime, I’ll continue traveling across the state, discussing the issues and concerns that affect the daily lives of all Marylanders.

Thank you for your support and words of encouragement. Marcy and I are deeply grateful to you, and I am confident that together we can win this race and continue to protect our youth, keep our communities safe, preserve Maryland’s natural resources, and level the playing field for all Maryland families.

Sincerely,

Brian Frosh 

JUICE #4: MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROAD SIGN HACKED TO DISPLAY MARIJUANA MESSAGE  - A couple of Maryland Juice readers took note of an unusual act of "hacking" in Montgomery County. WUSA9 reports that an unknown person took control of a road display sign on Kensington Parkway and used it to tell drivers to "Smoke Weed Evryday" (excerpt below):

WUSA9: [A WUSA employee] spotted an electronic message sign near Beach Drive that read "Smoke Weed Evryday." She turned around and snapped a photo for us....

Of course, hacked road signs aren't new.  In May, a sign in Portland, Oregon  on Southeast 39th Avenue and Grant Street was changed to read "Caution. Gingers ahead."  In 2012, an electronic sign warned of the fiscal cliff ahead while another told drivers that zombies were coming. Take a look at some other signs that were hacked here, courtesy of Jalopnik: http://on.wusa9.com/13mxlYX

DOUBLE-STANDARD: Feds Moving 450 Treasury Jobs from MD to WV // But NOAA Resists Move of 200 Jobs from MA to MD

WEST VIRGINIA TO GAIN MARYLAND JOBS: The Washington Post yesterday reported that the federal government plans to move 450 Treasury Department jobs out of Prince George's County, Maryland to neighboring West Virginia. The rationale for the "consolidation" is that it would help the agency more efficiently use its facilities (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The federal government is relocating 450 Treasury Department jobs from Hyattsville to Parkersburg, West Virginia as part of a move to consolidate operations....

According to the General Services Administration, which manages federal real estate, the move will help Treasury meet a directive from President Obama for agencies to more efficiently use their facilities....

After hearing the news from Treasury officials, U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) issued a press release Wednesday expressing disappointment and suggesting that workers receive help finding new jobs....

Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen and Elijah E. Cummings, all Democrats, attached statements to Edwards’ also condemned the move.

MASSACHUSETTS TRIES TO RETAIN JOBS MOVING TO MARYLAND: But Senator Barbara Mikulski proposed a similar consolidation of 200 fisheries management jobs from Massachusetts to Montgomery County, Maryland, and that plan is seemingly facing a great deal more resistance. Either the Federal government believes in efficiency through geographic consolidation of its workforce or it doesn't. See excerpts from The Gloucester Times below:

GLOUCESTER TIMES: U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s idea to relocate the Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service from Gloucester to near NMFS’ headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., would be costly and “could be disruptive” and inefficient, NOAA reported to Congress this week....

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2013 spending plan for NOAA in April that included an amendment to close the Northeast Regional Office in Gloucester and move the bulk of fisheries management, administration and law enforcement to Silver Spring, Md....

Opposition to the move locally was based on the economic impact of having more than 200 of NOAA’s mostly highly paid employees working and living in and near the city....

Will Maryland become the victim of a double-standard when it comes to the Federal government consolidating offices?