20060331 Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

Senator crosses the aisle to lead the charge against electric rate hike

http://www.gazette.net/stories/033106/polia%20s193642_31954.shtml

Friday, March 31, 2006

by Thomas Dennison, Gazette Staff Writer

ANNAPOLIS — Sen. E.J. Pipkin has some friends and enemies in unusual places these days.

Pipkin, an iconoclastic Republican from the Eastern Shore, has become a leading player — and a hero to Democrats — for taking on utility companies that are planning a 72 percent rate hike that could affect more than 1 million Marylanders on July 1.

‘‘He’s got guts, and he’s willing to take on anyone — a committee chairman or even the governor,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Thomas McLain Middleton (D-Dist. 28) of Waldorf. ‘‘If I had a bill that I really wanted to pass, I would feel very comfortable if E.J. was carrying it for me. I would know that it’s in good hands.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Dist. 27) of Chesapeake Beach grabbed the freshman senator around the shoulders last week, declaring that Pipkin is one of the session’s biggest ‘‘winners.”

[…]

Somehow, Pipkin (R-Dist. 36) of Stevensville has become Maryland’s version of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — a darling to some Democrats and a lightning rod for some Republicans.

From the time he entered politics, Pipkin has been characterized as a hard-to-define maverick who doesn’t shun risks: Two years ago, he ran against U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski and got clobbered at the polls.

A wealthy former Wall Street stockbroker, Pipkin won his Senate seat in 2002 by knocking off Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Walter M. Baker, a Miller ally…

[…]

Pipkin is also known for his independence…

[…]

On electricity deregulation, Pipkin has charted his own course, clashing with some of his GOP colleagues and the Ehrlich administration, which is trying to remain neutral in the negotiations while blaming Democrats for passing deregulation in 1999.

‘‘This is about policy — not politics,” said Pipkin…

[…]

Other Republicans refrained from passing judgment on their colleague.

Pipkin is ‘‘exercising his prerogative” as a senator and it should not come as a surprise that he is out in front on the issue, said Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Dist. 4) of New Market.

‘‘He’s been working on this issue for a long time,” Brinkley said.

[…]

Read the rest here: Maverick Pipkin pulls no punches by Tom Dennison

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