House Democrats

A broad group of House Democrats in leadership positions met late Thursday afternoon with Gov.Martin O'Malley to discuss possible special sessions of the General Assembly this spring and summer. Earlier in the day, a smaller core group of House leaders met with O'Malley over breakfast at Government House to talk about the same topic. The second meeting broke up about 6 p.m. House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, a Montgomery County Democrat who attended both, said there was continuing progress toward an agreement.

A broad group of House Democrats in leadership positions met late Thursday afternoon with Gov.Martin O'Malley to discuss possible special sessions of the General Assembly this spring and summer. Earlier in the day, a smaller core group of House leaders met with O'Malley over breakfast at Government House to talk about the same topic. The second meeting broke up about 6 p.m. House Majority Leader Kumar Barve, a Montgomery County Democrat who attended both, said there was continuing progress toward an agreement.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats, hoping to regain the majority in their chamber, are meeting on Maryland's Eastern Shore this week to hash out an agenda for an unpredictable election year that will hinge largely on President Barack Obama. The three-day meeting, which follows a similar retreat by House Republicans in Baltimore last week, is taking place mostly behind closed doors at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will offer separate pep talks to the caucus on Friday.

WASHINGTON — House Democrats, hoping to regain the majority in their chamber, are meeting on Maryland's Eastern Shore this week to hash out an agenda for an unpredictable election year that will hinge largely on President Barack Obama. The three-day meeting, which follows a similar retreat by House Republicans in Baltimore last week, is taking place mostly behind closed doors at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay in Cambridge. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will offer separate pep talks to the caucus on Friday.

Divided House Democrats re-elected their leaders to minority party positions in the next Congress, choosing Reps. Nancy Pelosi as leader and Steny H. Hoyer as whip. Perhaps appropriately, given Maryland's status as an island of Democratic blue in a widening sea of Republican red, the state can lay claim to fully half of the top six members of the incoming leadership team. Pelosi was born in Baltimore, and Hoyer represents the southern part of the state. A sixth member, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, represents Maryland's Washington suburbs.

Maryland employers, particularly those in the defense and aerospace industries, could take a hit from an election-year decision Wednesday by House Democrats to ban corporate earmarks in 2010. In an attempt to contest Republicans for the "reform" mantle, Democratic leaders in the House said they won't approve funding requests for corporate projects this year. Such earmarks are among the most controversial because of the potential for scandal. House Republicans responded by calling for an end to all earmarks, not just those that go directly to corporations.

Democrats in the Houses of Representatives took the unusual step of ousting two committee chairmen this month. Seniority almost always automatically determines chairmanships. But this year, for the first time in 16 years, more than one chairman was deposed -- and it was because of their seniority; they were regarded as too old to be effective.They were also regarded as unresponsive to younger members and/or as poor advertisements to the public. Democrats want the public to think of the House as a vigorous, equal partner in running not only Congress (with the Senate)

WASHINGTON - -Clearing the way for a critical vote on health care legislation in the next two weeks, House Democratic leaders plan to unveil a bill today that would create a new government insurance plan available in all 50 states but step back from the most robust version of the "public option." According to senior lawmakers and aides familiar with the legislation, it will not dictate what the plan can pay hospitals, doctors and other providers, a goal that many liberal Democrats had hoped for as a means to control costs.

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats, opposed to the Senate's focus on helping homebuilders, moved yesterday to reshape housing legislation to help more homeowners. "We need to provide relief to the buyers and families themselves, not just the banks and builders," Rep. Charles B. Rangel, a New York Democrat, said in a statement. House Democrats intend to put "families first," he said. Today, Rangel's Ways and Means Committee will vote on his legislation to provide tax breaks to homeowners, first-time homebuyers and developers of low-income housing.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Kweisi Mfume yesterday announced his candidacy for the chairmanship of the House Democratic TC Caucus, the third-highest party leadership post in the incoming Congress and one that is integral to reshaping the Democrats' overall image."

Centrist Democrats in the House of Delegates have decided to form a group to promote their point of view within the party and weigh in on key issues, a leading member of the group said Thursday. Del. Mary Dulany-James, a Harford County Democrat, said the groups would probably be called the Blue Dog delegation or caucus -- named after a similarly oriented group of moderate Democrats in Congress. James said the group could have apotential membership of about 20 members of the Democratic caucus, which has tended to be dominated by more liberal members from Baltimore city and Prinnce George's and Montgomery counties.

The decision of Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts to retire next year after 32 years in the House is a blow to the Democratic Party, to the cause of liberal politics and to the effort bring public responsibility to Wall Street. It's also a setback to candor, wit and the fading belief on Capitol Hill that sharp ideological and policy differences can be overcome by compromise. Mr. Frank's strength has been not only his acid tongue and in-your-face style, but also his long-held conviction that Ronald Reagan was wrong in his famous dictum that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.

The Sun's recent editorial regarding the debt ceiling vote ("Debt ceiling: Republicans stand by their ultimatums," June 5) compares Republicans to terrorists, criminals and lunatics for refusing to raise the debt ceiling without spending concessions from the Democrats. I find that humorous. While few people would associate the Democrats or their media minions with an understanding of personal accountability, the fact is that the actions of the Republican leaders are less like those of a terrorist or lunatic and more like a normal parent.

Obviously the Democratic/Socialist Party did not hear American citizens in the midterm elections. By choosing Nancy "shut up, I know what's best for you" Pelosi as leader of the House Democrats, they have again thumbed their noses at us. Not to worry, we will be heard — 2012 is coming and we will make sure the message is sent loud and clear! Peggy Alley, Baltimore

Divided House Democrats re-elected their leaders to minority party positions in the next Congress, choosing Reps. Nancy Pelosi as leader and Steny H. Hoyer as whip. Perhaps appropriately, given Maryland's status as an island of Democratic blue in a widening sea of Republican red, the state can lay claim to fully half of the top six members of the incoming leadership team. Pelosi was born in Baltimore, and Hoyer represents the southern part of the state. A sixth member, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, represents Maryland's Washington suburbs.

It's not dawn yet, but Rep. Steny H. Hoyer is already greeting voters at a park-and-ride lot in Southern Maryland. His seat in the House of Representatives is considered safe in Tuesday's election, but his status as its second-ranking member certainly isn't. If Democrats lose the House, as analysts predict, Hoyer will be out as majority leader. He has been working hard to prevent such an outcome, and to increase his own victory margin as much as possible. He raised money at Washington events and campaigned for Democratic colleagues around the country.

WASHINGTON -- Like a groggy boxer after a knockout, the Democratic contingent in the House is just now picking itself up off the mat and facing life as the minority.It is not going well. The former barons of Capitol Hill are still so dazed and dispirited nearly three months after the November elections that they're having an identity crisis: They can't agree on who they are or what they stand for.They're not even sure what hit them. A clear strategy for fighting back has not emerged."We're all at sea on some rafts strung together with twigs and bailing wire we found on the beach, paddling along and doing the best we can to stay together until help arrives," said Rep. Neil Abercrombie, a liberal Hawaii Democrat.

The anti-incumbent mood that threatens the seats of several experienced members of Congress appears poised to spare the three House Democrats representing parts of Baltimore. But all three — C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Elijah E. Cummings — still face opponents, new to politics, who are certain the political wind is at their backs. "The entire mood of the country is to get rid of people who have been in Congress, like Mr. Sarbanes," said Jim Wilhelm, the Republican candidate for the 3rd District, now represented by Sarbanes.

Last week, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dipped his toe in Maryland's political waters to bestow his blessing upon Gov. Martin O'Malley's re-election bid. A day later, the National Rifle Association announced its backing for 1st District Congressman Frank Kratovil, one of the most endangered House Democrats in the country. What should we make of the impact of these developments? Not much, frankly. The endorsements may help Messrs. O'Malley and Kratovil a little. But their electoral fates will not be determined by endorsements — and, in any event, there won't be many political surprises in Maryland this November.