I wanted to share a thoughtful and unexpected letter from our former colleague, Delegate Kittleman, published in the Baltimore Sun about the Maryland Freedom Caucus. It’s such an honor to receive such a kind compliment from a former Republican Delegate. Thank you, Trent, for the encouraging words—we really appreciate it!
As a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, I applaud the members who created the Freedom Caucus (“Could Maryland’s Freedom Caucus invigorate the GOP — or deliver a second term for Gov. Wes Moore?” March 16). During my eight years, I hoped to see stronger, more dynamic action from our caucus. But Republicans are both political and personal conservatives. That makes it difficult for most of us to employ the dramatic tactics Democrats use to get press coverage.
Their rationale for the more restrained approach is that they have to appease Democrats to get anything done. My response is that we don’t ever get anything from the Democrats.
During Gov. Larry Hogan‘s second term, I was frustrated that he didn’t take full advantage of his “bully pulpit.” He missed the rare opportunity to grow Maryland’s Republican Party. With four years and no reelection in his future, Governor Hogan could have used his popularity and his voice to speak directly to the people, criticizing the far-left liberal bills and giving an eloquent and articulate defense of Republican alternatives.
Rather than trying to “work with” the Democrats to scrape out a few minor “wins,” Hogan could have spoken out loudly against their extravagant expenditures and the restrictive highly-regulated programs that were trapping lower income families into the perpetual poverty of government handouts.
It would have been tough for the Republican governor to engage in a public repudiation of the Democratic ideas. The Democratic legislators would have been furious and Hogan, like Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. before him, believed his Democratic friends were open to compromise. Eventually, however, both governors learned the hard way that the huge supermajorities Democrats hold in Maryland make them feel and act omnipotent.
Yes, Democrats might include an outlandish provision in a bill so that they can give the Republicans a “win” by deleting it. But nothing stops them from passing more and more far-left legislation.
The new Republican Freedom Caucus is proving that Republicans can make a difference. The caucus has been successful in getting media coverage and is articulating the Republican approach to a broad audience. And they are good. If anyone wants to hear an articulate explanation of why Republicans support or oppose legislation, go listen to the Republican floor speeches.
Almost all of my former colleagues can and do make powerful arguments during the floor debate on bills. Throughout my tenure, I fervently wished there was a broader audience for these speeches. With the creation of the new Freedom Caucus, there now is.
— Trent M. Kittleman, West Friendship
The writer, a Republican, represented District 9A (Carroll and Howard counties) in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2015 to 2023).