Anthony J. O’Donnell

House Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell (R-Lusby) called on Rep. Al Wynn (D-Mitchellville) to “fulfill his obligation” and stay in office through his current term, which is set to expire Jan. 3.

Saying it was “very important” for the residents of Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District to “have representation in the United States House of Representatives,” O’Donnell told PolitickerMD.com that a special election would cost “hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.”

“I think we should minimize the burden on the citizens of Maryland,” O’Donnell said.

Anthony J. O’Donnell, the Minority Leader in the House of Delegates, said he would likely remain neutral among the remaining Republican presidential candidates. The minority leader had been a vocal supporter of former Sen. Fred Thompson, who ended his campaign earlier this week.

In an interview today with PolitickerMD.com, O’Donnell said he “thought Thompson was the right guy, but it didn’t work out that way.”

Republican legislative leaders filed suit yesterday in Carroll County Circuit Court with the goal of invalidating all laws approved during the special session, particularly those related to tax increases, gambling, and spending reductions. The GOP contends that the Senate violated Article III, Section 25 of the state constitution by adjourning for a six-day period from November 9 to 15, without a vote of approval from the House of Delegates.

The clause in the constitution reads, “Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, at any one time, nor adjourn to any other place, than that in which the House shall be sitting, without the concurrent vote of two-thirds of the members present.”

The GOP argued that this invalidates all measures adapted during the special session.

“I think we have a very good chance to win this argument,” David R. Brinkley, Senate minority leader, said during an interview with PolitickerMD.com. “The legislature ignored the constitution.”