Donald Norris, professor and chair of UMBC’s Department of Public Policy, commented on the resignation of Maryland state Senator Allan Kittleman from his position as Senate minority leader in the Columbia Flier on Tuesday. Kittleman, who represents western Howard County and part of Carroll County, said, “It was apparent that the majority of the [Senate Republican] caucus members do not want a fiscally conservative who is also a social moderate as the leader of the caucus.”
What are the repercussions of this decision? “It means he’s not going to have nearly as much influence as he would have had previously,” said Norris, arguing it is an “ideological decision, not a practical decision,” and likely the result of “pressure from the hard-core conservatives and right wingers in his caucus.” More broadly, said Norris, “We’ve seen Republicans go after Republicans in this state because they’re not conservative enough.”
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