Last year, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller proposed merging the University of Maryland's College Park and Baltimore campuses. A panel was convened and ultimately came to the conclusion that the merger did not make sense.

That process cost a great deal of money, but the costly futility of massaging Mr. Miller's ego was evidently not enough to keep him from bringing forth another proposal to link the two campuses ("Miller tries again to join UM campuses," Jan. 6). Especially repugnant is the manner in which he has announced his latest proposal — as a threat, "... to force the issue through legislation if necessary."

It is long past time for fresh leadership in the Maryland Senate. His threat to force his ego upon us by legislation smells of an abuse of power and should be roundly condemned.

Tim Eastman, Baltimore