ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says his nominees for top-level jobs aren鈥檛 getting a fair shake in the Maryland General Assembly.
In a news conference Wednesday where Hogan gave a progress report of his legislative agenda, the governor complained that his nominee for the Department of Planning had been mistreated by the Senate’s executive nominations committee.
Hogan called the hearing process for Wendi Peters 鈥渄isgraceful鈥� and said she was questioned in a 鈥渄emeaning, sexist way.”
Peters鈥� nomination was rejected by the committee, whose members found her unqualified for the job.
Another appointee, Day Gardner, faced tough questioning by the committee on her nomination to serve as a consumer representative on the state Board of Physicians.
Gardner鈥檚 background as the founder of a group called the National Black Pro-Life Union raised questions among members of the Senate committee.
鈥淛ust because the woman happened to be pro-life instead of pro-choice wasn鈥檛 enough reason to attack her,” Hogan said. He said she requested her nomination be withdrawn.
But Hogan鈥檚 greatest frustration was reserved for the holdup of a hearing for Dennis Schrader, his pick to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Noting that Schrader, who is serving as acting secretary, has yet to get a hearing, Hogan put the blame squarely on Democratic Senate President Mike Miller.
Hogan said the holdup comes amid what he says is a health crisis: from the to the possible elimination of federal programs and funding that benefit Marylanders.
Hogan said Schrader has been working to protect the state鈥檚 Medicare waiver, which the governor says is worth $2 billion dollars to the state, and that Schrader鈥檚 working to blunt any negative effects to the Affordable Care Act.
鈥淗undreds of thousands of people鈥檚 lives are at stake,鈥� Hogan said. The governor concluded his Wednesday news conference by saying 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 going to personally blame Mike Miller if anything happens because of his games-playing.鈥�
Miller鈥檚 office had no response to the governor鈥檚 comments.
