David Brinkley

State Senate Republicans are taking shots at Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D-Baltimore) fiscal policies, following Tuesday's caucus meeting.

"Governor O'Malley's proposal to now cut one-quarter billion dollars from a budget only three months old will wreak havoc to state employees and those who depend upon state services for their livelihood," state Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) said in a statement.

The caucus argued that contrary to conventional wisdom, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R-Baltimore) was not to blame for the so-called fiscal crisis. They say Ehrlich secured a $1.2 billion surplus as protection against future budget shortfalls.

Maryland's Senate Republican Caucus re-organized its leadership on Tuesday.

State Sen. Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) got bumped up from minority whip to minority leader and state Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R) will reside as the caucuses new minority whip.

It's Maryland's Winners and Losers for August 22, 2008. CLICK HERE.

One GOPer thinks the race to succeed state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley is already decided.

Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market)State Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley (R-New Market) has announced he will step down from his leadership post, possibly as soon as next month, when Senate Republicans are set to re-organize.

"When it comes time for election, I'll let someone else take it over," Brinkley told the Baltimore Sun. "I've got plenty on my plate."

Brinkley's future as a leader in Annapolis was called into question in June, when a domestic disturbance at his home and his chief of staff's temporary leave caused uneasines in a GOP caucus that prides itself on family values.

Senate Republicans might hold a re-organizing meeting as early as September. Minority Whip Allan Kittleman (R-West Friendship) and Nancy Jacobs (R-Edgewood/Abingdon) are considered top contenders for the job.

What do two flacks, two candidates for Congress, two regulators, three party leaders and a soon-to-be-ex House member all have in common?

Why, they're all in Maryland's Winners and Losers for June 13, 2008! | CLICK HERE

So Monday came and went, and none of those who were talking so cavalierly about giving Republican state Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley the boot made their move. Not atypical of the political set.

One person heard that Brinkley might have given a statement to the Sun yesterday, but that turned out to be nothing. Nope. It's pretty clear he won't say anything for some time.