This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/why-the-top-leader-in-prince-georges-is-going-after-md-gov-larry-hogan/2016/02/26/8425fe74-dc33-11e5-925f-1d10062cc82d_story.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Why the top leader in Prince George’s is going after Md. Gov. Larry Hogan | Why the top leader in Prince George’s is going after Md. Gov. Larry Hogan |
| (2 days later) | |
| Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III knows that Maryland’s Republican governor is extremely popular in the Democratic-leaning state. | Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III knows that Maryland’s Republican governor is extremely popular in the Democratic-leaning state. |
| But he doesn’t care. | But he doesn’t care. |
| A year into his second term leading Maryland’s second-largest jurisdiction, Baker — who is frequently mentioned as a possible Democratic challenger to Hogan in 2018 — says he is determined to confront the governor over decisions he believes are unfair to the state’s black residents. | A year into his second term leading Maryland’s second-largest jurisdiction, Baker — who is frequently mentioned as a possible Democratic challenger to Hogan in 2018 — says he is determined to confront the governor over decisions he believes are unfair to the state’s black residents. |
| [Black lawmakers accuse Hogan of assaults on their communities] | [Black lawmakers accuse Hogan of assaults on their communities] |
| In a wide-ranging interview, Baker said that although he initially tried to work with Hogan on projects important to Prince George’s, he has concluded the governor does not want to collaborate. | |
| “After a year I found out, guess what, that guy ain’t working with me,” Baker said Thursday night during a trip to meet business leaders in Baltimore County. “I believe this administration makes all of its decisions based on what it thinks is in the best interests of their political operation.” | “After a year I found out, guess what, that guy ain’t working with me,” Baker said Thursday night during a trip to meet business leaders in Baltimore County. “I believe this administration makes all of its decisions based on what it thinks is in the best interests of their political operation.” |
| Echoing criticism levied last week by black lawmakers in Annapolis, Baker blasted Hogan for his reluctance to continue subsidies for a hospital in Prince George’s County and for asking the county to cover more of the cost of the Purple Line light-rail project. | Echoing criticism levied last week by black lawmakers in Annapolis, Baker blasted Hogan for his reluctance to continue subsidies for a hospital in Prince George’s County and for asking the county to cover more of the cost of the Purple Line light-rail project. |
| He and Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz (D), who appeared with Baker and is also a possible 2018 contender, said Hogan’s proposals to cut taxes and tolls would end up decimating funds for road projects and increasing the financial burden on county governments. The two Democrats pledged to join with other county executives from their party to offer a clear alternative to Hogan’s message and policies, something that Democratic lawmakers in Annapolis so far have struggled to do. | |
| [Maryland governor seems deft at sidestepping opponents] | [Maryland governor seems deft at sidestepping opponents] |
| “There are some very real policy differences that are taking place,” Kamenetz said in an interview. “I don’t think the Democrats need to be sniping at the governor’s policies in Annapolis. They need to be showing the other side of the story.” | “There are some very real policy differences that are taking place,” Kamenetz said in an interview. “I don’t think the Democrats need to be sniping at the governor’s policies in Annapolis. They need to be showing the other side of the story.” |
| A spokesman for Hogan said there is nothing political about the way the governor makes decisions. | A spokesman for Hogan said there is nothing political about the way the governor makes decisions. |
| “It’s preposterous,” spokesman Matt Clark said, pointing out that Prince George’s — with nearly 1 million residents and significant pockets of poverty — will receive more local aid than any other jurisdiction in Hogan’s proposed budget. The county is also slated to be the state’s second-highest recipient of discretionary capital funding, with more than $200 million in planned transportation improvements and state support for the Purple Line light-rail project, a new regional hospital and Baker’s bid to host a new FBI headquarters. | “It’s preposterous,” spokesman Matt Clark said, pointing out that Prince George’s — with nearly 1 million residents and significant pockets of poverty — will receive more local aid than any other jurisdiction in Hogan’s proposed budget. The county is also slated to be the state’s second-highest recipient of discretionary capital funding, with more than $200 million in planned transportation improvements and state support for the Purple Line light-rail project, a new regional hospital and Baker’s bid to host a new FBI headquarters. |
| “The numbers reflect the reality,” Clark said. “The reality is that the administrations, at a functional level, are working together.” | |
| [FACT CHECK: Hogan’s record in the black community] | [FACT CHECK: Hogan’s record in the black community] |
| The pointed criticism by Baker and Kamenetz offers what could be an early glimpse of the 2018 governor’s race. While Hogan was considered an underdog in 2014 in a state where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans more than 2 to 1, his approval ratings have soared above 60 percent, and he has begun talking openly about his plans for a second term. | The pointed criticism by Baker and Kamenetz offers what could be an early glimpse of the 2018 governor’s race. While Hogan was considered an underdog in 2014 in a state where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans more than 2 to 1, his approval ratings have soared above 60 percent, and he has begun talking openly about his plans for a second term. |
| Baker, 57, sidestepped questions Thursday night about whether he, too, will seek the governor’s mansion, couching his trip to the Baltimore area as an opportunity to bring new investment and attention to his county. | Baker, 57, sidestepped questions Thursday night about whether he, too, will seek the governor’s mansion, couching his trip to the Baltimore area as an opportunity to bring new investment and attention to his county. |
| But the visit also seemed aimed at raising his profile in a part of the state where he is little known. | |
| Baker was unopposed in his 2014 bid for a second term leading Prince George’s, one of the nation’s most affluent majority-black jurisdictions. He suffered a stiff rebuke last year when voters rejected a ballot referendum that would have allowed him to run for a third term. | Baker was unopposed in his 2014 bid for a second term leading Prince George’s, one of the nation’s most affluent majority-black jurisdictions. He suffered a stiff rebuke last year when voters rejected a ballot referendum that would have allowed him to run for a third term. |
| And he has other nagging problems at home. His effort to significantly raise taxes last year to boost spending on the county’s troubled public schools was resoundingly rejected. Homicides are on the rise again, and a child pornography case has rocked the school system. | And he has other nagging problems at home. His effort to significantly raise taxes last year to boost spending on the county’s troubled public schools was resoundingly rejected. Homicides are on the rise again, and a child pornography case has rocked the school system. |
| A proposal for a new regional hospital is stalled until a state panel signs off on it as financially viable. And Prince George’s is waiting to hear whether it will be chosen as the site of a massive new FBI headquarters building, a project that would go a long way toward erasing the perception that the federal government routinely bypasses the county in favor of other jurisdictions. | |
| [Federal project is next chance at redemption for Prince George’s] | [Federal project is next chance at redemption for Prince George’s] |
| Still, Baker is well regarded within the Democratic Party, credited by many with restoring the county’s reputation in the wake of his predecessor Jack Johnson’s corruption scandal. | Still, Baker is well regarded within the Democratic Party, credited by many with restoring the county’s reputation in the wake of his predecessor Jack Johnson’s corruption scandal. |
| At the small gathering at an exclusive Owings Mills golf club, Baker, a former state delegate, told the story of his political rise. He ran three times for county executive, then found himself having to build a “government from scratch,” he said, because Johnson had left it in shambles. | At the small gathering at an exclusive Owings Mills golf club, Baker, a former state delegate, told the story of his political rise. He ran three times for county executive, then found himself having to build a “government from scratch,” he said, because Johnson had left it in shambles. |
| He said he has prioritized ethics reform, transforming school governance, reducing crime and changing the business climate, and he expects Prince George’s to see more than $6 billion in new development in coming years. | He said he has prioritized ethics reform, transforming school governance, reducing crime and changing the business climate, and he expects Prince George’s to see more than $6 billion in new development in coming years. |
| Baker slammed Hogan’s decision to withhold $15 million in operating funds last year from the Prince George’s Hospital Center, money that county officials say is critical to keeping the county health-care system running until the state approves construction of the larger, state-of-the-art teaching hospital in Largo. | Baker slammed Hogan’s decision to withhold $15 million in operating funds last year from the Prince George’s Hospital Center, money that county officials say is critical to keeping the county health-care system running until the state approves construction of the larger, state-of-the-art teaching hospital in Largo. |
| Hogan also withheld the subsidy in this year’s budget, saying an agreement negotiated with his predecessor had expired. He later agreed to provide the funding, after receiving assurances from the University of Maryland Medical System, which is leading the hospital project. | Hogan also withheld the subsidy in this year’s budget, saying an agreement negotiated with his predecessor had expired. He later agreed to provide the funding, after receiving assurances from the University of Maryland Medical System, which is leading the hospital project. |
| “If you’re pro-business, there is nothing better than the hospital,” said Baker, who was not part of the discussions leading up to Hogan’s decision to provide the funds. | “If you’re pro-business, there is nothing better than the hospital,” said Baker, who was not part of the discussions leading up to Hogan’s decision to provide the funds. |
| Other squabbles have centered on the Purple Line, which Hogan approved only after insisting that Prince George’s and Montgomery counties cover more of the cost so the state could pay less, and on Hogan’s decision last year to withhold some extra education funding that had been slated to go to Prince George’s and other expensive jurisdictions. | Other squabbles have centered on the Purple Line, which Hogan approved only after insisting that Prince George’s and Montgomery counties cover more of the cost so the state could pay less, and on Hogan’s decision last year to withhold some extra education funding that had been slated to go to Prince George’s and other expensive jurisdictions. |
| Baker said he believes some of Hogan’s decisions are based on the fact that the governor got fewer votes in overwhelmingly Democratic Prince George’s than almost anywhere else in the state, and that his approval ratings there are lower than elsewhere — although still remarkably high for a Republican. | Baker said he believes some of Hogan’s decisions are based on the fact that the governor got fewer votes in overwhelmingly Democratic Prince George’s than almost anywhere else in the state, and that his approval ratings there are lower than elsewhere — although still remarkably high for a Republican. |
| “I think there is a clear indication from this administration that here are the people who supported me and here are the people who didn’t,” Baker said, gesturing with his hands as if to show different parts of the state. | “I think there is a clear indication from this administration that here are the people who supported me and here are the people who didn’t,” Baker said, gesturing with his hands as if to show different parts of the state. |
| “I am going to hold the governor accountable to make sure that Prince George’s County citizens get the best that they can,” Baker said. “They can count on me being at the front of the line talking about these issues.” | “I am going to hold the governor accountable to make sure that Prince George’s County citizens get the best that they can,” Baker said. “They can count on me being at the front of the line talking about these issues.” |