Free Republic

CHESTERTOWN The Maryland Transportation Authority, which controls tolls on highways and bridges in the state, will have to listen harder to the public next time it decides to raise prices. Legislation sponsored by Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-36-Upper Shore, in the 2012 regular session, established a "protocol by which the Maryland Transportation Authority raises tolls ... and requires public comment throughout the process," according to a Pipkin press release. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and the House. It was signed into law two weeks ago. At the MDTA board's September meeting, where they took a unanimous vote for an...

The top two Republicans in the Maryland State Senate are asking Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-36-Upper Shore, to take on incumbent Democrat Barbara Mikulski in next year's U.S. Senate election. "We believe that success you have had in the past will translate into success in a U.S. Senate run in 2004," wrote Sens. J. Lowell Stoltzfus, the Senate Minority Leader, and Andrew P. Harris, the Senate Minority Whip, in a letter to Pipkin. "We hope you will consider seriously our encouragement and look forward to your future candidacy for U.S. Senate." In July, Maryland Republican Party Chairman John Kane also urged...

GRASONVILLE -- Republican state Sen. E. J. Pipkin declared his candidacy today for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Barbara Mikulski, beginning what he acknowledged will be an underdog campaign against a popular three-term incumbent. But Pipkin, who has the backing of top Maryland GOP officials, said Mikulski can be defeated. "We're going to have a competitive race here. All I know is I got into this to win," he said. Mikulski was elected with 60 percent of the vote in 1986 and was re-elected in 1992 and 1998 with 71 percent of the vote. Josh White, executive director...