Hypocrisy, thy name is Maryland Democrats

When it comes to the hypocrisy of Maryland’s Democratic Party, one has to spell the word in capital letters (“Hogan’s order on school start roiling politics, partisan roles,” September 8). Did Nancy Kopp, the true-blue Democratic Maryland treasurer, accuse Gov. Martin O’Malley of an “abuse of executive power” when he issued an executive order mandating that new homes with septic systems use costly technology to limit pollution? Of course not. That characterization only applies when a Republican governor dares to issue an executive order. Nancy Kopp is awaiting Attorney General Brian Frosh’s formal opinion on the matter.

And then there’s House Speaker Michael E. Busch: “In a phone call with Frosh last week, [he] argued that anything short of declaring the governor’s action illegal would set a bad precedent.” Really? The truth of the matter is that if Governor O’Malley or Anthony Brown, had he been elected governor instead of Mr. Hogan, issued the same executive order regarding school start, we wouldn’t have heard a peep from Ms. Kopp or Mr. Busch, or any other Democrat in the legislature for that matter.

Numerous commentators have stated that they see nothing in applicable law that would render Governor Hogan’s executive order illegal. So we’re about to find out whether Brian Frosh is an independent attorney general or Mr. Busch’s lapdog. The article states that Mr. Frosh’s decision “won’t necessarily be released to the public.” Prediction: If Mr. Frosh does Mr. Busch’s bidding, his decision will be released to the public; if he holds that the executive order is legal, it will not be released to the public so as not to embarrass Mr. Busch. Democratic politics, as usual, in Maryland.