Campaign Committee

In a signed statement delivered to Maryland lawmakers yesterday, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party asserts that state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller did not ask for money during a January 2001 meeting in Miller's office. The statement is part of a packet of documents, obtained by The Sun, that Miller gave yesterday to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics to defend himself against allegations that he used his Annapolis office to solicit funds for a national Democratic group he heads.

.. WASHINGTON --When newly elected Democratic members of Congress showed up here last month, they were given the traditional orientation, civic-minded lessons on how Congress works, tours of the Capitol and receptions with their new colleagues and leaders. But about 12 were singled out for a type of orientation that has continued through this month. The "incumbent retention program," a detailed plan worked out after the November election swept Democrats into power in Congress, is aimed at fortifying the most politically shaky with plum committee assignments, prized bill sponsorships and an early start on fundraising, all in preparation for their 2008 re-election campaigns.

County Executive John G. Gary has repaid a 1994 campaign loan from lobbyist Robert R. Neall, his predecessor. A government watchdog group and County Council members had criticized the loan for creating the appearance of a conflict of interest.Gary, who used the $12,000 loan from Neall's election committee to conduct crucial last-minute polling in his race two years ago, had said previously that he would not pay off the balance until next year.Since receiving the loan, Gary had chipped away at the principal and interest, leaving a $7,492 balance.

CHICAGO -- It was a historic campaign that generated millions of dollars in donations. Telemarketers worked the phones, direct mailings asked for dollars, and checks from $5 to $5,000 poured in.Two years later, federal election authorities are conducting an unusual wide-ranging audit of the campaign funds of Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Ill., and are finding possible breaches of federal election law.In the last six months of 1993, Ms. Moseley-Braun's campaign committee, which is $600,000 in debt, paid nearly $40,000 to the team of attorneys handling the audit for them.

Republican candidate Andy Harris has cut into Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil's financial advantage in the most closely watched congressional contest in Maryland, new financial disclosure reports show. The Democratic incumbent has more money in the bank — $1,034,000 as of March 30, to Harris' $703,000. But the Republican raised more than Kratovil during the first three months of the year, collecting $324,000 to the freshman Democrat's $247,000, to narrow the gap. Federal Election Commission records show both men benefiting from the high-profile character of their potential rematch.

Delegate Eileen M. Rehrmann, D-District 34, has raised about $225,000 in her bid for county executive -- about five times as much as her Republican opponent, Geoffrey R. Close.Campaign financial statements filed Friday show that Rehrmann's $225,200 includes a $10,000 contribution from Gov. William Donald Schaefer's campaign committee.Schaefer has visited the county several times during the campaign to appear with Rehrmann at public events.The governor's contribution, which came from his campaign committee, Reflections, is Rehrmann's largest single contribution, her statement shows.

U.S. Senate candidate Alan L. Keyes, smarting from his party's denial of $400,000 in financial aid, accused a GOP leader yesterday of setting "phony" qualifications for the campaign money and of "punishing" his outspokenness.At a news conference in his Rockville office where some thought he might renounce his party membership, Mr. Keyes declared his "independence within the Republican Party.""Because the Republican Party is the party of Abraham Lincoln, I will never surrender the Republican label," he said.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton claims that Sen. Barack Obama's Hope Fund PAC deliberately contributed to candidates in key early primary states in 2006 with the aim of securing their later support. Never mind that the Hope Fund gave to a broad spectrum of candidates - including, oddly, Mrs. Clinton herself. If she really wants Democratic voters to judge their potential nominees on their 2006 choices, she might not like the judgments they make. Last year was a Democratic opportunity, and grass-roots supporters dug deep to finance an ever-expanding array of competitive races.

YOU COULD think of it as sex, lies and radio ads. Unhappy with Comptroller William Donald Schaefer for personal and political reasons, Gov. Parris N. Glendening has launched $15,000 worth of radio attack ads against him. In so doing, Mr. Glendening takes an unseemly feud to a new low. He's manipulating both the facts and the campaign finance laws of Maryland. It's a transparent ploy we hope will backfire. Mr. Glendening's money will pay for ads in support of Mr. Schaefer's opponent in this year's primary, Secretary of State John T. Willis.

An audit by the Federal Election Commission has uncovered significant errors in Rep. Roscoe Bartlett's campaign account, the agency disclosed this week. A final audit of the Bartlett for Congress Committee for 2007 and 2008 found that it failed to report dozens of expenses and significantly under-reported the amounts he raised and spent during that period, which covered his '08 re-election run. The FEC, which enforces federal election law, has not imposed any penalties. Nor did it describe the errors as intentional.