Ehrlich Meets With MD Black Caucus - Tones Down Redneckness
Monday, February 7, 2005 at 07:00AM
TheSpook
Set-Aside Remarks Sparked Criticism
Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. moved quickly yesterday to tamp
down outrage over his remarks that a state program to foster minority
businesses "needs to end." In a hastily called meeting with African
American lawmakers yesterday, Ehrlich (R) pledged his support for the
state's Minority Business Enterprise program and said his comments
Wednesday were not intended to play down the discrimination that led to
creation of such programs. "The goal of the program is to be so
successful that it goes out of business, but we're not there yet,"
Ehrlich told reporters yesterday.Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince
George's), a member of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, called
the remarks by Ehrlich and Schaefer "unfortunate statements by the top
leaders in our state." Sen. Verna L. Jones (D-Baltimore), vice chairman
of the Black Caucus, said the comments were "ridiculous and very
short-sighted." Ehrlich "talks a good game" about minority
participation in business, Jones said, "but when he makes statements
like this, you have to pause." U.S. Rep Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) ,
former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, yesterday sent a
letter to Ehrlich urging him to continue the minority business
initiative, saying, "The future of our state depends on the success of
all minority and women-owned businesses." The program is set to
expire in 2006. Its scheduled termination has been extended several
times since it began. A legislative audit in 2002 found that the 19 percent minority
participation claimed by state agencies was "significantly overstated.[more]