Mike Miller

The Maryland Republican Party is asking state Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s County) to step down from his position as chair of the state’s Budget and Taxation Committee.

According to the Associated Press, an affidavit from an FBI special agent made public on Tuesday accused Currie had used his office to benefit companies in which he was doing consultation business with.

"During the time period that Currie received payments from SFW and SuperValu, Currie voted on a number of bills that impacted, or would have impacted, the grocery industry and therefore, SFW and its parent company SuperValu," wrote FBI special agent Steven Quisenberry in an affidavit.

He continued: “Based on the facts set forth in this affidavit, it is my belief that Currie used his official position and influence in connection with such legislation and in certain business transactions involving the State of Maryland, in ways that benefited or would have benefited SFW and SuperValu.”

The MDGOP responded, charging that Currie had violated state ethics laws but also praised state Sen. Mike Miller (D).

When Senate President Mike Miller talks about January as the time for decision-making when it comes to whether state Sen. Ulysses Currie keeps his Budget committee chairmanship, he's not really talking about January.

He's talking about a six month window for Currie to bow out somewhat gracefully.

State Sen. Ulysses CurrieIn an interview with the Baltimore Sun Monday, state Senate President Thomas "Mike" V. Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) raised the specter of removing Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chairman Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) from his leadership position over to the federal investigation into the Senator's ties with the Lanham-based company Shoppers Food and Pharmacy.

A legislator from Prince George's County for more than two decades, Currie's home was raided by federal agents early one morning in late May. He is allegedly the target of an investigation for accepting payments to intervene in state issues on the company's behalf. Currie never disclosed his consulting work for Shoppers Food and Pharmacy with the State Ethics Commission.

Miller told the Sun, "As with anyone who hasn't been charged and is presumed innocent, at this point there really isn't an issue as to him continuing as a chairman of Budget and Taxation Committee."

"If by January this issue hasn't been resolved, we'll have to make a decision."

Ehrlich in oilIt's time for PolitickerMD.com's Winner and Losers, and as Barbara Mikulski could attest lately, you win some, you lose some. Also: scandals account for two losers, while Al Wynn cashes in and Bob Ehrlich takes his place in history.

All in Maryland's Winners and Losers for June 6, 2008. | CLICK HERE

Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, III, the son of the Senate President, received his long-awaited nomination for the Anne Arundel District Court yesterday.

A convergence in recent news: the apparent decision of Senate President Mike Miller to seek re-election in 2010 and the near-unanimous ruling from the California Supreme Court granting marriage equality to same-sex couples.

While the event in California accelerates the possibility of Maryland gay and lesbian couples gaining marriage licenses, Miller staying on slows it right back down.

Miller is quick to remind people that he doesn't support "gay marriage," which is certainly not helpful to their cause. He has claimed he wouldn't stand in the way if the votes for cloture were there, but everyone knows the Senate President likes to keep controversial issues from reaching the Senate floor.

In a must read from this morning's Annapolis Capital, Comptroller Peter Franchot has strong words for his fellow Democrat and Senate President Mike Miller, labelling him the "Boss Tweed" of Maryland with "a Tammany Hall approach to politics [that] brooks no dissent or opposition."

Though comparing Miller to the epitome of corrupt machine politics, Franchot does note he's a "wonderful guy."

Miller shot back that Franchot is an "ultra-liberal from Takoma Park" that "is like the person who waits until the battle is over … and he shoots the wounded."

Besides Miller, Franchot also wrestles with revenue and the upcoming slots referendum.