Responding to potential gubernatorial foes who have criticized or pledged to repeal Maryland’s recent gas tax increase, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown on Thursday said his opponents might need a lesson in economic development.

Speaking to a group of construction leaders at a meeting of the Maryland chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, Brown briefly detoured from his talking points on public-private partnerships to take on opponents of the phased-in gas tax hike.

“There are some people who want to lead this state who don’t want to make that infrastructure investment,” Brown said. “Anyone that thinks we can grow our economy without investing in transportation doesn’t know a whole lot about economic growth.”

Del. Ronald A. George, an Anne Arundel Republican, pledged to repeal the gas tax increase if he is elected governor. Harford County Executive David R. Craig, a Republican, has said he would cut “all” of Maryland’s taxes if elected.

But Brown’s small salvo may have been most directly targeted at Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, a likely opponent in the Democratic primary, who was critical of the gas tax increase in an interview with The Daily Record in May.

Gansler has not officially announced his candidacy for governor, but campaign aides insist he will seek the governor’s office in 2014.

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Here’s a few government and politics headlines for Friday:

• MarylandReporter.com reports Howard County Del. Guy Guzzone is plans to run to replace Sen. Jim Robey, who has said he does not plan to run for re-election.
• The Gazette reports Del. Brian Feldman of Montgomery County could replace Sen. Rob Garagiola, who is resigning on Sept. 1.
• The Daily Record reports the Purple Line is receiving more private sector interest than the Red Line.
• The Annapolis Capital reports Democrat Joanna Conti, who lost to former Anne Arundel County John Leopold in 2010, plans to run again for Anne Arundel County executive.
• The Baltimore Sun reports the “House of Cards” television show is using the Maryland State House as a set next week.
• The Washington Post reports Del. Heather R. Mizeur, D-Montgomery, would be the first openly gay elected governor if she decides to run — and wins — in 2014.

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Del. John L. Bohanan Jr., D-St. Mary's (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

The House of Delegates work group formed this year to study Maryland’s business climate has been meeting with business leaders the state since the General Assembly concluded, the work group’s co-chairman said Wednesday.

Del. John L. Bohanan Jr., a St. Mary’s Democrat, said one meeting of the 10-member group was with Milt Peterson, a Virginia developer whose Peterson Cos. built National Harbor in Prince George’s County.

“We have a bad reputation, especially when it comes to Virginia,” Bohanan told a meeting of economic development professionals at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center in California. “We need to take a good honest assessment.”

He said lawmakers were soliciting thoughts from business leaders on how to improve Maryland’s business climate in order to attract and retain businesses in the state. The group will then take recommendations back to the 141-member House.

Del. Galen R. Clagett, D-Frederick, co-chairs the work group. House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve, D-Montgomery; Del. Pamela G. Beidle, D-Anne Arundel; Del. C. William “Bill” Frick, D-Montgomery; Del. Keith E. Haynes, D-Baltimore; Del. Stephen S. Hershey Jr., R-Eastern Shore; Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr., D-Prince George’s; Del. John A. Olszewski Jr., D-Baltimore County; and Del. Jay Walker, D-Prince George’s, round out the panel.

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Here’s a few government and politics headlines for Wednesday:

• Patch.com reports Sen. Bobby Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, is endorsing fellow Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard, in Kittleman’s run to be Howard County executive.
• The Baltimore Sun reports Senate Republicans are joining Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler in his call for an independent investigation of the Baltimore jail.
• The Daily Record reports the Baltimore City Council has approved “rain tax” breaks for some businesses.
• The Gazette reports Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett will seek a third term.

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Here’s a few government and politics headlines for Tuesday:

• Patch.com report two state delegates say last weeks’ hearing on corruption at the Baltimore Detention Center was not adequate.
• The Washington Post reports Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler wants there to be an independent probe of the jail.
• The Daily Record reports state officials hope to make use of the new public-private partnership procurement law “three to five” times a year.
• The Baltimore Sun reports Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake would be OK with a tax on shopping bags. Similar state legislation has previously failed.

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Here’s a few government and politics headlines for Monday:

• The Baltimore Sun reports a delay in background checks of gun purchasers — which exploded when the General Assembly began exploring tight gun control legislation, signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley last month — has led some gun dealers to release firearms before the checks return.
• The Daily Record reports the Baltimore City Council is attempting to hire its own lawyer, after passing legislation that City Solicitor George A. Nilson said was unconstitutional.
• The Associated Press reports Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has hired a campaign manager.

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Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, a Republican who was the Senate’s minority leader before bucking his party’s stance against gay marriage, intends to launch a campaign for Howard County executive next week.

Kittleman, 54, has been a member of the Senate since 2004. He was elected minority leader in 2008 and served in that role through the end of the 2011 General Assembly.

He’s been planning a run for county executive for at least the last year.

The launch party will be held Tuesday, according to an event description posted on Kittleman’s Facebook page. The senator was a Howard County council member from 1998 through 2004.

Current Howard County Executive Ken Ulman — who is term limited — was announced this week as Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown‘s running mate in the race to be Maryland’s next governor.

Kittleman becomes the second state Senate Republican to make plans to run for a local office in 2014. Sen. Barry Glassman of Harford County plans to announce a campaign to become Harford County executive on Saturday, which he has dubbed a “coming home” announcement.

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Federal, state and local government officials will detail plans for Baltimore’s Red Line on Monday at a forum intended to gauge industry interest in building or operating the light rail line.

The forum at the Baltimore Convention Center — hosted by Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown and new Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary James T. Smith Jr. — is similar to an event held last month in Hanover, where Brown and others tried to gauge industry interest in building or operating the Purple Line.

The two light rail lines were leading engines behind the General Assembly‘s push to increase the gas tax this year. The increase, which won’t be fully phased in until 2016, should cover land acquisition and design of the transit lines. Federal dollars are being sought for construction, but the state still must figure out how to pay its half of construction costs.

The projects are expected to cost close to $5 billion combined.

A public-private partnership — in this context, a long-term lease deal with the state in which there is substantial capital investment by a private company in exchange for conducting day-to-day operations for state-owned property — is thought to be one way to find the needed money.

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other government officials are expected to meet with industry representatives including regional, national and international transportation contractors; engineering, financial investment and insurance firms; rail vehicle manufacturers; and women and minority owned businesses.

The Red Line is expected to run along a 14.1-mile path starting in Woodlawn and ending at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in East Baltimore. In a statement, Brown said he expected construction to create 4,200 jobs over six years.

Despite doubts among some state and local elected officials, other officials say the Red Line is expected to open in 2021 and carry 54,000 passengers a day by 2035.

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Here’s a few government and politics headlines for Friday:

• The Gazette reports on former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s impact would be on the governor’s race in Maryland.
• The Annapolis Capital reports Anne Arundel County has a new state’s attorney.
• The Daily Record reports public safety Secretary Gary D. Maynard thinks Baltimore’s jail needs to be replaced.
• The Frederick News-Post reports Frederick County has OK’d a $516 million operating budget.

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In sports, a common refrain when a starting player is lost has become “next man up” — a mindset the Maryland Senate must now adopt.

Sen. Robert A. Garagiola, the Senate’s majority leader since 2011, plans to resign from elected office Sept. 1, according to a statement sent by his office.

“For nearly 20 years, most of my life has been dedicated to public service of varying forms, and I’m ready to start the next chapter” Garagiola said in the statement. “I want to spend more quality time with my children. It is time for me to be a father first for them and I realize as I watch them grow and become young adults that I won’t be able to get this time back.”

Garagiola’s resignation leaves a hole in Montgomery County’s District 15 and among the Senate’s Democratic leadership ranks. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s, holds absolutely authority to name Garagiola’s replacement.

“Rob Garagiola is a talented and energetic senator who has represented his district for over a decade with incredible skill and dedication,” Miller said in a statement. “I am saddened by his decision to leave the Senate but I respect and admire his tough, yet understandable decision to spend more time with his three children and I wish him nothing but the best in the future.”

When Garagiola was named majority leader in 2011, he had been deputy majority leader since 2007. The Senate’s next majority leader need not come from its present leadership ranks, but Sen. Catherine E. Pugh of Baltimore currently serves as deputy majority leader and is chair of the Democratic caucus.

Sen. Lisa A. Gladden of Baltimore and Sen. Jamin B. “Jamie” Raskin of Montgomery County are both majority whips in the Senate. Gladden also serves as vice chair of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.

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