Unique new baby gift

Md. comptroller gets governor's new baby a unique gift

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and first lady Kendel S. Ehrlich have settled in with their new addition, Joshua Taylor, who was born last Saturday.

The runner-up choice for the baby's name was William Donald after Comptroller William Donald Schaefer who was one of the first to hear the good news, according to Ehrlich.

He has a great fondness for the first lady, said Ehrlich.

Schaefer's fondness for the first lady was evident at Wednesday's Board of Public Works meeting when he presented Ehrlich with a much- anticipated baby gift.

He claims he has a baby gift, but I haven't seen it yet, said Ehrlich the day before the meeting.

When the gift was presented, wrapped in white and green paper, Ehrlich asked if Schaefer paid for the gift with his own money. No response.

The gift, a clock, was intended for Ehrlich - not the baby.

The comptroller was concerned about the first lady getting sleep, so he wants the governor to use the clock to get up with the baby, said a spokeswoman for the comptroller.

By the way, Schaefer did not spring for batteries, she said.

GAVEL

Schaefer was full of more surprises at the meeting when he weighed in on the Baltimore City school system crisis during his opening comments. He said he spent more than 10 hours meeting with Baltimore City Mayor Martin O'Malley, who arrived 15 minutes late.

He put his feet up on the desk, said Schaefer. I did everything else, but I never did that.

Schaefer said he was soon asked not to participate in any more meetings because he asked hard questions and didn't agree with what everyone said.

The city began to tell the state what to do, said Schaefer. Then, they made us look foolish.

During the decision-making process, city teachers and students got involved, which Schaefer called a dirty trick.

Midway through his comments, Schaefer noticed a gentleman in the audience glancing at his watch.

I don't blame you, Schaefer said. I don't want to hear me either.

Schaefer then concluded by defending Ehrlich and his offer of help to the city.

He's a nice man, a decent man, an honest man - he just doesn't know how to play hardball, Schaefer said. I wish he'd let me have a shot at them.

GAVEL

People who litter will be happy to hear that HB 1020, originally titled the Litter Control Fund-Fines and Payments, was revised.

The proposed bill included a bounty for anyone who catches someone littering and turns the criminal in to the police.

This doesn't happen very often by virtue of how much trash is out there, does it? asked Del. George W. Owings III, D-Calvert.

The bounty and the litter fund were stricken from the bill.

All we're doing now is increasing fines, said Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George's, and chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

Debra George Siedt covers the General Assembly for The Daily Record.