The Revenge of Michael Busch
SOURCE: Baltimore Sun
Thank you to all of those who called Speaker of the House Michael Busch concerning his decision to silence Delegate Jill Carter (D-41) by moving her to a committee other than the Judiciary Committee. Your calls worked and reports are coming out of Annapolis that Del. Carter will remain on the Judiciary Committee where she has served her constituents faithfully. (For those unfamiliar with the legislative process here in Maryland – when a bill is introduced it is assigned to a committee to review and either vote it up or down. In baseball terms, a bill getting to a committee is first base. The committee decides whether or not it goes to second base or gets thrown out at first. That’s why it’s important to have allies on the Committee.)
However, fighting to keep Del. Jill Carter (D-41) on the Judiciary Committee did not come without repercussions. Speaker of the House, Michael Busch did not appreciate at all the flood of calls that came to his office – what he described as “unnecessary shenanigans.” For her punishment, Busch has decided to keep Carter on the Judiciary Committee, but has stripped her of her Sub-Committee Chair position (She Chaired the Estates and Trusts Sub-Committee) and banned her from all “backroom discussions” where real decisions get made. He basically has demoted her to the position of a freshman delegate.
Imagine that. After 6 years of being in office, Delegate Jill Carter has been pushed back down to square one. Can you imagine being on a job for 6 years and making great progress and then all of a sudden being punished because of your track record of doing what your constituents want you to do?
This is the same Michael Busch who came to New Psalmist Baptist Church in January 2005 begging Black Clergy in Baltimore to support him in his efforts to block slots in the State of Maryland. He’ll talk to us when he wants us to get in line behind him. Let’s see if he’ll talk to us now that we want him to get in line with what we want.
We didn’t call and email just so that Del. Jill Carter could keep a seat warm on a committee where she is stripped of all access and responsibility. We called so that she would at least be fully restored to where she was before all of this.
So now it’s time to go to the next phase. Remember, “Power concedes NOTHING without a demand.” Now it’s time to show Mr. Busch that we’re serious. An informal Coalition of the Concerned are looking at taking a trip to Annapolis in the very near future to sit in Busch’s office face to face and let him know what we expect. It’s no time to party. There is yet work to be done. Let me know if you’re interested in taking the trip to Annapolis.
For those in Baltimore, please tune in to The Larry Young Morning Show on WOLB 1010AM on Monday, January 19, 2009 as they will be continuing to discuss this injustice from 6AM – 10AM. Tune in and call in to voice your concern about what is being done to Del. Jill Carter. We’re especially looking for all sororities and female organizations to support. You all stood together strong with City State’s Attorney, Patricia Jessamy in her time of need. We’re praying that you do the same for Del. Jill Carter – another strong sister in the city doing a great work on our behalf.
Related posts:
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- Black Delegates disappoint severely by voting “yes” to Gov’s DNA Bill This has been a long day of phone calling, emailing,...
- Del. Jill P. Carter calls for a special session to address electric utility rates For Immediate Release:Â April 26, 2007 For Further Information: 410-367-393;...
- Maryland DNA bill runs into opposition Hat Tip: Baltimore Examiner By BRIAN WITTE, The Associated Press...
- “I Don’t Support Anything That [Jill] Carter is for” – O’Malley That from Maryland’s Governor – Martin O’Malley who was responding...
I am curious to know what justification Mr. Busch has for his assault on Delegate Carter. What has she done to warrant this punishment? I smell a rat. A rat with a history of disrespecting Black women he can’t control and that disagree with him.
Gov. O’Malley, come out, come out from hiding. I suspect you are behind this. It is shameful that members of the legislature would allow this. Where is the Black Caucus? Where is the Women’s Caucus? Where is the Speaker Pro-Tem, Adrienne Jones, a Black Woman? Is Delegate Carter the only elected official in the state not afraid to stand up to O’Malley?
I suspect that we are about to witness either a referendum or aggressive punishment of black leaders all over this nation. The rank and file voters may have voted for President-Elect Obama, however, there were and are a lot of individuals who hold power who are not so happy about his selection and election as President. This sounds like, from another coast, ‘blacks are getting out of their place syndrome’ to me. I suspect that we will all witnessing more persecutions in the very near future. It sounds as if Senator Harry Reed has signed on given his recent shennanigans in the Senate!
So here’s the real deal…..
Further investigation reveals that, O’Malley DNA bill pusher, BGE de-regulation sponsor, slum lord advocate, Samuel I. “Sandy” Rosenberg was working behind the scenes to get rid of Delegate Carter. It seems that Rosenberg, who is not a lawyer, but is vice-chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is in the same legislative district as Carter. He is, reportedly, threatened by her presence because she is a lawyer, and more knowledgable than he on many practical legal matters.
Rosenberg resents her because she has consistently taken the correct stance on issues on behalf of the people they both represent, where he, more often than not, takes the wrong position. It is said to be the nitch he has carved out for himself in his almost 30 year career in the legislature—carrying the water and doing the bidding for whoever is in charge in order to win favor. Naturally, Rosenberg’s chief puppeteer in House leadership, ie., the Speaker, is more than happy to help him shut Jill down. She has never kissed his ring. And, we all know the governor would be more than happy to swat her like a flee because she has exposed his unjust, fascist policies.
Rosenberg is so intimidated by Jill Carter that he has resorted to these dirty tactics to try and eliminate her. It should be noted that after 30 years being nothing more than a suck up, Rosenberg has only been promoted to the position of committee vice chair. The more savvy are usually appointed to chair a committee in the 3rd or 4th term.
Then, there is the fact that Jill has kicked his butt with voters the two times she has run, and she hasn’t had to abandon her integrity or the causes of the people to do so.
For those who want to save Jill, I think the charge is clear.
Rosenberg must be neutralized, or he must go.
The Speaker must be pressured to do what is fair. This will be hard as it is a concept he has long abandoned.
The Governor is the toughest case since he seems to have turned every democrat in the state into irrational O’Malley worshippers–the only explanation for why they continue unwavering support of this man that has done so very much wrong, and caused so very much harm to so very many people, particularly in Baltimore City. I think he should be asked to lay off Jill, publicly apologize to her, and ask forgiveness of the entire community for disrespecting one of its most committed champions.
As someone who workss with, deeply admires and respects Jill Carter, I am outraged but not surprised. Jill has paid dearly for her belief in action that she is supposed to represent the people who vote for her. Jill is one of the finest legislators and is the most stalwart champion of the people in the statehouse and that is intolerable to the majority of them who are not. Jill’s advocacy on issues such as BGE reregulation, bringing the National Guard home and a host of other issues has cost her and us. Maryland’s government is controlled by a Democratic Party machine and that’s an immutable fact. Anyone who dares to go against it pays and that is what’s happened to Jill. While I was not aware that this has happened, I intend to do whatever I can – with everyone else – to force this issue in her – and our – favor. 3Clarke’s posting above is absolutely right – it’s a very accurate description of what’s been going on for some time.