Guest column: One-party control of state government not healthy | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

I recently commented to Speaker of the House Mike Busch, D-Annapolis, that the contest between Republicans and Democrats in the General Assembly is like a match between Chesapeake Bay Middle School and Duke in basketball - and Duke never lets up! He laughed. I didn't.

Our nation's founders understood the importance of balance, moderation and separation of powers in the halls of government. The two-party system that has evolved in this country reflects those priorities.

By its nature, the two-party system promotes compromise and keeps both parties from swinging too far to the right or the left, lest middle-of-the-road voters abandon a party that has drifted too far afield.

A quick review of the balance of power in the various branches of our state government reveals the extent to which Maryland is out of kilter.

The executive branch includes the Office of the Governor and the governor's Cabinet, which consists primarily of the various departmental secretaries. The current governor is a Democrat (and a fairly partisan one at that). The lieutenant governor is a Democrat, along with 21 out of the 22 members of the Cabinet. Republicans need not apply.

The legislative branch consists of the 188 members of the General Assembly and is comprised of the Senate and the House of Delegates. Of the 188 members, 137 - 73 percent - are Democrats and only 51 - or 27 percent - are Republicans. This Democratic supermajority assures that any legislation the Democrats want, they get.

But the real locus of power in the General Assembly is the two presiding officers and the committee and subcommittee chairs. The two presiding officers have enormous sway over their respective chambers and, when they have a mind to, can determine whether a particular bill succeeds or fails.

Senate President Mike Miller is a Democrat, and so is Mr. Busch, the speaker. Their power was on full display during the special session, particularly in the case of slot machine legislation, which had been blocked for the entirety of the four-year term of the prior Republican governor.

Committee chairs also have a great deal of authority. These officers have the power to determine whether a bill gets a hearing and advances from the committee to the floor for a vote. Of the 10 standing committees, 10 are chaired by Democrats.

That's 100 percent. Of the 48 subcommittees, 47 are chaired by Democrats - 98 percent.

Obviously, Republicans are not generally welcomed into this elite club.

The judiciary branch is the third leg of the separations-of-power stool. The ultimate power within this branch is the Maryland supreme court, known as the Court of Appeals. Maryland's supreme court is comprised of seven judges who are appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate. These judges have vast powers to interpret, uphold and invalidate laws passed by the General Assembly.

Of the six currently sitting judges (there is one vacancy), five are registered Democrats and the party affiliation of one is unknown. There's not much of a Republican perspective on that court.

Marylanders are ill-served by an imbalance of this magnitude. As Lord Acton observed, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

The Democratic Party's overwhelming dominance of Maryland state government breeds arrogance, disrespect for rules, and disregard for alternative points of view and policies.

Even the Democratic Party itself would benefit from a more equal balance of power.

Competition is healthy and keeps us on our game. After all, Duke wouldn't be Duke for long if it played Chesapeake Bay Middle School every day.

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The writer, a Gibson Island resident, is a state delegate representing District 31.