GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Republicans in Democratic legislature try to 'fight the good fight'
ANNAPOLIS — When the state’s budget came up for its final vote in the Senate, Sen. Allan Kittleman stood and asked his colleagues to remember the “forgotten man” in the spending plan.
“We talk about all the people we need to help, but we forget who is paying the bill,” said Kittleman, R-District 9 and minority leader. Kittleman’s comments were part of a larger discussion about the budget on the last day of the General Assembly session. In the end, no changes were made and the budgets passed, but Republican lawmakers said it’s not always about winning. “We are the weight that pulls them back to center,” Kittleman said.
Republicans are a small minority in Annapolis with only 36 out of 141 delegates and 14 out of 47 senators. Many GOP lawmakers say their role is to ask questions of legislation being introduced and bring up issues that may not be raised otherwise. Del. Donald Elliott, R-District 4, said the minority party plays a key role in the process. “I think it’s very important that we continue to rise up and challenge parts of legislation that aren’t appropriate for the citizens of our state,” he said. “We weren’t elected to sit on our hands. We were elected to fight for what we feel are the feelings of [our constituents].”Del. Nancy Stocksdale, R-District 5, attended a Tax Day Tea Party in Westminster on Wednesday where residents protested government spending. She said the experience inspired her. “After being in Annapolis for so long you think you are the only one,” she said. “[After attending the protests] I realized that’s what I’m fighting for down there. I’m fighting for these people.” Kittleman said he’s often asked why he keeps going down to Annapolis when the Republicans are such a small minority in the General Assembly. His response is the same: “Imagine if we weren’t here.” “All we can do is fight the good fight,” Kittleman said.
While Republican legislators don’t often defeat unsavory bills, Del. Susan Krebs, R-District 9, said many times the ideas are incorporated. “We get the bills so they are reasonable,” she said.
Communication is key
With such small numbers, the lawmakers said they have to be highly organized and informed. Once a week, the Senate Republicans have a roundtable where members talk about what bills are coming up. “It helps keep open communication between the members,” Kittleman said. “We work things out together. It helps our caucus be much stronger. Speaking on the floor, we have substance behind what we say. Even legislators on the other side of the aisle will say we do a very good job of explaining our message.”
Senate Majority Leader Edward Kasemeyer, D-Baltimore and Howard counties, agreed that the Senate GOP is more organized than the Democrats. “The communication process is very good between them,” he said. “[The Senate Democrats] range is so vast we go from very liberal to pretty conservative. It’s harder to keep it together.” Sen. Larry Haines, R-District 5, said the Democrats lack of organization isn’t hurting them. “They have such a majority and the leadership,” he said.
Sen. David Brinkley, R-District 4, said the communication is key for Republicans. “Because we are so few in number, we have to exceed and excel at coordination and communicating,” he said. “When we coordinate our message we don’t always win, but we make it uncomfortable and generally our ideas are integrated.”
The House Republican Caucus also meets about once week, and sometimes more often if important issues are coming up. Stocksdale said the caucus was very effective this year. “We asked questions that pointed out what was wrong with the bills,” she said. “It’s the only way we can get the information out there.”
In order to do that, Stocksdale said the House Republicans told the Speaker and committee chairmen that they wouldn’t be following a policy known as the “second reader rule.” Under the policy, members of committees are discouraged from asking questions about bills that came out of their committee on the floor, Stocksdale said.
It’s not all partisan politics
Kittleman said philosophical bills tend to be more high profile, but most of the bills are voted on based on merit and not party. The majority leaders in the House of Delegates and the Senate agreed. “The goal is to solve the problems and collectively come up with the best answer,” Kasemeyer said. “The vast majority of the Republican caucus is trying to help develop the answer.”
Del. Kumar Barve, D-Montgomery County and majority leader in the House of Delegates, said it’s dangerous to look at either party as a monolithic group since party isn’t a factor most of the time. “We do most things on a bipartisan basis,” he said.
On the first day of session, Minority Leader Del. Anthony O’Donnell, R-Calvert and St. Mary’s counties, discussed with the House Republican Caucus some of the major issues coming up during session. Prior to session, O’Donnell said there was a lot of talk about bipartisanship between Gov. Martin O’Malley and legislators. “I hope it’s serious. I hope it’s real,” he said. “We’re willing to work with you, but you have to invite us to the table. ... Bipartisanship is not a one way street.”
Getting things done
Elliott said it can be frustrating for Republicans when it comes time for a vote. “It’s a political tsunami and Republicans are being washed away when the vote is taken,” Elliott said. Sen. Larry Haines, R-District 5, has been in the legislature for almost 20 years. “I’ve observed [the legislative process] long enough. They kill Republican bills,” he said. Del. Tanya Shewell, R-District 5, said she takes a different approach. “Obviously, since I’m in the minority party, I need their votes to get things passed,” she said. “I always try to find another delegate who is a Democrat and is passionate about the same issue.”
This session, Shewell worked with Del. Benjamin Kramer, D-Montgomery County, on the Silver Alert legislation and worked with Del. Steven DeBoy Sr., D-Baltimore and Howard counties, on legislation protecting the custody rights of parents serving overseas in the military. Both bills cleared the General Assembly. “I’m just tired of partisanship on any side. I go down [to Annapolis] to deal with issues,” she said.
Reach staff writer Beth Ward at 410-751-5908 or beth.ward@carrollcountytimes.com.