Frederick

Less than a week after Del. Rick Weldon (I-Frederick) announced he would be leaving the Republican Party and registering as an independent, Alderman C. Paul Smith (R-Frederick) says he wants Weldon to step down as chair of the Frederick County legislative delegation.

Smith first made the call in a letter to the Frederick County Republican Central Committee, urging them to take a strong stance on the issue.

"This action is in fact a repudiation of the Republican Party, and thus it would be a colossal act of self-destruction for the Republican Party if the County's delegation were to retain Rick as its chairman in the future," wrote Smith in an email to the Central Committee.

Bartlett Press Secretary Says Debate Will Occur

Sixth district Democratic nominee Jennifer Dougherty (center)State Democrats distributed a release yesterday to more than 3,000 people on their e-mail list, demanding that U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) participate in a debate against his Democratic opponent, former Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty.

"Jennifer Dougherty, Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District, has asked Roscoe Bartlett to a debate in every county in the 6th Congressional District - Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Montgomery and Washington Counties," the release declares. "It's a big district and Jennifer wants voters to have the chance to make their own choice, rather than relying on what the media might cover."

It continues: "Since February, Jennifer has asked five times for a debate in each county, but Roscoe's team says ‘NO,'" adding, "Why won't Roscoe debate in every county?"

Today, Bartlett Press Secretary Lisa Wright told PolitickerMD.com that "voters expect (Bartlett) will debate, and he will."

Democratic congressional candidate Jennifer DoughertyFormer Frederick Mayor Jennifer Dougherty (D) has repeatedly expressed frustration with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) for his refusal to debate his challenger in Maryland's Sixth Congressional District.

The latest instance came last Wednesday night, when Dougherty and Independent candidate Gary Hoover participated in a question and answer forum in Jarrettsville; Bartlett was not present.

"This does not serve the voters very well," Dougherty told PolitickerMD.com. "At least give them the courtesy of showing up."

Lisa Wright, the congressman's press secretary, said "there was no way" Bartlett could have attended the debate last week because "there were votes that night" in Congress.

Democratic congressional candidate Jennifer DoughertySixth Congressional District candidate Jennifer Dougherty (D-Frederick) slammed Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) for his opposition to H.R. 5613, the Medicaid Safety Net Act, which passed in the House of Representatives 349-62 on Wednesday.

The legislation will impose moratoria through April 1, 2009, on the implementation of seven rules issued by the Bush administration that would have reduced federal payments for rehabilitative, outpatient and administrative services offered by Medicaid by more than $15 billion over the next five years, according to a recent report by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The specific effect that the proposal would have had on Maryland was not specified in the report.

"It's a disgraceful and insulting vote to ignore the needs of Marylanders in these tough economic times," Dougherty said in a statement. "Bartlett supports making tax cuts for the wealthiest permanent, but thumbs his nose at people who truly need help. He is out of touch and shows poor judgment with votes like this."

U.S. Rep. Roscoe BartlettRep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) has a substantial cash advantage over challenger Jennifer Dougherty (D-Frederick) despite being outraised in the first financial quarter of the year, according to new data released by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The congressman reported $14,610.00 in total contributions over the quarter with an additional $1,010.00 in total receipts. He has $281,311.29 cash on hand.

Dougherty, the former mayor of Frederick, reported $28,805.40 in total contributions over the quarter, with an additional $25.00 in total receipts. She has $19,240.67 cash on hand.