Will the real Howard County Republican legislators in Annapolis please stand up?
Democratic candidates challenging for their seats portray the five Republican incumbents as fringe players, marching off a cliff on key social issues, failing miserably on their individual initiatives and playing Monday-morning quarterback by rejecting major legislation without offering alternatives.
"Howard County is the Rodney Dangerfield of the General Assembly," said James P. Mundy, a Democrat trying to oust Republican Sen. Christopher J. McCabe from District 14, which includes Ellicott City and western Howard.
"We have three little Newt Gingriches" from District 14, Mr. Mundy said, referring to the conservative Georgia congressman. the politics of anger. All they do is say 'no' to everything."
In addition, the Republican-dominated delegation has been fiscally irresponsible and hypocritical, said Elizabeth Bobo, a Democratic candidate for delegate in District 12B. The delegation consistently has urged spending and tax cuts while asking for more and more state money for schools, roads and other projects, she charges.
"It doesn't work for a family budget, and it doesn't work for business," she said.
But ask the Republican incumbents about their accomplishments and positions in the State House, and you'll get an entirely different picture.
They depict themselves as fierce independents who have helped revive a moribund Maryland Republican Party, protected citizens' pocketbooks against tax increases and larger government, and opposed legislation they consider unnecessary or expensive, no matter how popular.
"There's an important role as a minority voice," Mr. McCabe said. "We can oppose things that don't make sense, but that doesn't make headlines. It's a lot more difficult to get positive recognition for opposing things."
Democrat Andrew Levy, who is challenging District 14B incumbents Robert L. Flanagan and Robert H. Kittleman, whom he calls "the two Bobs," sees it differently.
'A different drummer'
"I have a sense my two opponents are marching to the beat of a different drummer," Mr. Levy said. "They're marching right off a cliff, and when they look back, the band isn't there anymore."
But the Republicans said they've worked well within the delegation and with the Howard County executive and council, resulting in more state school and road construction money per resident for the county than any other region. They said they see no conflict between acting as watchdogs on state spending and lobbying for Howard construction projects.
The Howard delegation is an anomaly -- the only Republican-led contingent from the Washington or Baltimore areas in a state legislature made up of 154 Democrats and 34 Republicans this year.
Howard County accounts for one of every seven Republicans in Annapolis, but only one of every 27 legislators overall.
Of the six Howard incumbents on Tuesday's ballot, the only Democrat is Del. Virginia M. Thomas, who's trying to move up to the District 13 Senate seat.
The Democratic challengers have thrown darts at the records of the Republican incumbents -- Dels. Flanagan, Kittleman, Martin G. Madden and John S. Morgan and Senator McCabe.
They've attacked the incumbents for conspicuous votes in opposition to several high-profile, comprehensive bills. For example:
* Howard's four Republican delegates are the only ones to oppose this year's Domestic Violence Act, which increased protections for victims. The delegates opposed a provision equating mental injury with physical and sexual abuse.
* Mr. Flanagan and Mr. Kittleman are two of four delegates statewide who voted against this year's welfare reform pilot program, which would have placed some restrictions on welfare payments in three jurisdictions. The bill was vetoed by the governor.
The delegates said the reform effort -- one of many bills they said pass merely because of an impressive-sounding title -- was severely weakened by the elimination of a cap on benefits for recipients who have additional children while on welfare.
* Mr. McCabe and the four delegates voted against the Health Insurance Reform bill in 1993, a voluntary program that guarantees health insurance coverage for small businesses and stabilizes their rates. Two of 47 senators and 14 of 141 delegates voted against the bill. The Howard legislators said they were concerned the measure would increase health care costs and control wages.
'Herd mentality'
"There's a real herd mentality in Annapolis," said Mr. Kittleman, a Republican District 14B representative and the House minority party whip.
Added Mr. Flanagan: "Those are instances when we stood up for what we thought was right. I don't consider that a fringe function."
But Democrat Levy said such votes are earning the Republicans a reputation as "gadflies."
"It's an approach to solving our problems that hasn't worked the past four years and won't work the next four years," Mr. Levy said. "Not only does it not accomplish anything, but colleagues stop taking you seriously."
Howard's Republican legislators said they shouldn't be pigeonholed as hard-line conservatives, however. Several have received high environmental ratings and have supported gun control and abortion-rights measures.
"I think we're well-thought of," Mr. McCabe said. "Our views are well-thought-out and independent. The intellect of our delegation exceptionally high."
But that apparently doesn't translate into passing bills. Since 1991, Howard's Republican delegates have passed only seven of the 120 statewide bills on which one of them was listed as a primary sponsor, a 1-in-20 success rate.
The average success rate for all bills introduced in the House over the four-year period was 1 in 3.
The bills they have passed have been largely obscure measures addressing administrative procedures, though Mr. Madden has been successful in providing a tax credit to religious groups and protections for mobile home park residents.
Mr. Levy has ridiculed Mr. Kittleman for being unable to pass any bills over four years other than a measure related to the official state fossil.
Successful bills
Mr. McCabe had more success in the Senate, passing five of the 17 bills he sponsored, or about 30 percent, which is just below the Senate average. His successful bills have focused on adoption reform and sexual assault on college campuses.
The Republicans argue that partisan politics in the Democrat-controlled assembly works against them. Mr. Kittleman said that powerful Democrats won't allow bills carrying his name to pass because of his GOP leadership position.
A prime example, said the Republican incumbents, is the bill Mr. Kittleman sponsored for years to abolish the legislative scholarship program, which many view as influence-peddling. As the movement gained popularity, Mr. Kittleman was pushed aside as sponsor, they said.
"If people want to elect Republican toadies who will cozy up to the Democratic leadership to get bills passed with their names on them, that's what they should do," said Mr. Flanagan, the District 14B Republican.
"There's a price to be paid for giving up your independence and freedom.
"Any one of us could get our bills passed if we let [House Speaker Casper R.] Cas Taylor [Jr.] know we're willing to pass tax increases and play ball with the approved few who run the legislature. The more independent you are, the less crumbs that get thrown to you."
Party called more visible
Mr. Kittleman said Maryland's Republican Party has become much more forceful and visible, creating a true two-party system, in the eight years since he and GOP gubernatorial candidate Ellen R. Sauerbrey were elected its House leaders. "Our platform was to stop going along to get along," he said.
But that outlook isn't necessarily good for the county or the state, Mr. Levy contends.
"Flanagan and Kittleman are representing the Republican Party," said.
"They make a big deal about how they want to be responsible for the resurgence of the Republican Party. That's fine if they want to represent the Republican Central Committee, but if they want represent us, it doesn't seem like a good strategy."
Mr. Mundy said the Howard Republicans essentially are powerless because the Republican Caucus is a small minority.
"Even if they have the right ideas, they can't move. Their hands are tied," he said.
Mr. Flanagan said it's not hard to move "in a very liberal direction" in the heavily Democratic legislature. But Democrats who have any other agenda should be forewarned, he said.
"If they want to reform the state and push toward smaller, leaner government and oppose tax increases, just because you have a 'D' behind your name, you're not going to do better than if you have an 'R.' "