Thomas Middleton

Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Bethesda) told PolitickerMD.com today that he is "still planning to succeed" Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) as president of the Maryland State Senate, one-day after Miller announced that he would seek re-election in 2010.

"He's a good guy and I think he helps the Democrats," Frosh said. "I'm supporting him for re-election."

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) described embattled Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-District Heights) as "a very dear friend" during his press conference in Annapolis yesterday, saying Currie is an example of "history living."

Discussing the FBI raid on Currie's home last week, Miller said, "As I hear more--I think this is lessening."

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Chesapeake Beach) may be running for reelection after all. Weeks after his 2006 victory, the nine-term state senator announced that he would not seek reelection in 2010, but as The Washington Post reported this morning, Miller has planned a June 4 fundraiser, adding to speculation that he will seek another term in the General Assembly.

Miller's office declined comment about the event or his future when contacted today by PolitickerMD.com, and several of his senate colleagues were not available for comment.

ANNAPOLIS- On Friday, we reported the findings of a study conducted by the advocacy groups Progressive Maryland and Common Cause Maryland. In that report, the organizations reported that those members of the General Assembly who voted to deregulate the electricity industry nine years ago and who remain in office are still receiving much of their campaign contributions from the utility industry.

The report specifically named Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. (D-Clinton) as receiving at least $39,000 in contributions from the utility industry since 1998, the most of any legislator, while Sen. Thomas Middleton (D-Waldorf), the chair of the finance committee, has received at least $23,600, the second highest.

Since that time, Ryan O’Donnell, the executive director of Common Cause Maryland, has provided PolitickerMD.com with more detailed information that was not present in the study. The data below includes current legislators who voted in favor of the 1999 bill to deregulate the electricity industry, and the contribution amounts that they have received from the utility industry, according to O’Donnell, since that time.

PolitickerMD.com contacted the offices of the ten lawmakers who have received the highest contribution totals. To this point, Sen. George Edwards (R-Grantsville), listed as having received the tenth highest amount in contributions, and the office of House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Annapolis), listed as having received the fourth highest contributions, have responded to our questions. Those responses will be printed shortly.

Nine years after the General Assembly voted to deregulate the electricity industry those members who remain in office and who voted in favor of the measure are still receiving much of their campaign contributions from the utility industry, a new report from the advocacy groups Progressive Maryland and Common Cause, finds.

“There are presently 88 members of the General Assembly who were in office when the energy deregulation bill was passed in 1999—65 of whom voted in favor of the legislation,” the report said. “Those who voted on that bill have received at least $280,000 combined in campaign contributions from the electric utility industry since 1998. Those who voted yes received 93 percent of that total.”