O'Malley Goes All-In

Our governor here in Maryland, Martin O'Malley, is doing what Democrats in these parts do in office - govern.. and not campaign for the next office.

Gov. Martin O'Malley emerged from a grueling special session of the Maryland General Assembly with big wins on tax and slot machine legislation, praise from lawmakers for his willingness to tackle the state's most vexing issues -- and greatly increased clout in Annapolis.

Less clear, as O'Malley (D) and bleary-eyed legislators celebrated at a bill-signing ceremony yesterday, were the wider political ramifications of pushing through $1.4 billion a year in tax increases during a frantic three-week session called to solve the state's chronic budget problems.

"How it plays politically is still up in the air," said Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery). "Will people recognize it as hard choices that had to be made or as government run amok? But by any measure, the governor did an incredible job pulling it together. He was buttonholing people. He was schmoozing people. I don't know if he was threatening people. At points, it was ugly, but it was certainly an impressive effort overall."

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Del. Tom Hucker (D-Montgomery) said O'Malley won points for his openness to lawmakers' ideas and a work ethic that contrasted with that of Ehrlich, whose tenure Hucker derided as "four years of press conferences and golf."

He of course is in the process of cleaning up a mess left in part by our deposed Republican governor, Bob Ehrlich and his henchman and failed senatorial candidate buddy, Michael Steele. FYI, I'll be voting in favor of the slots referendum next November.