A Delegate, A Referendum and A Crab Cake

Del. Pat McDonough has his own way with words but a recent prediction he made regarding the success of an effort to overturn a state law that provides in-state tuition to illegal immigrants may just take the cake—the crab cake, that is.

McDonough, the loquacious and sometimes bombastic Republican delegate and radio show host, appears to be willing to put his money (and his nose) and his pride on the line.

"If it doesn't pass overwhelmingly, I'll push a crab cake up Charles Street with my nose," McDonough told me.

McDonough made the wager (unsolicited) at least three times during a recent interview. It's not William Donald Schaefer jumping in the seal pool at the National Aquarium, but what is?

McDonough is part of an effort to overturn a law that provides in-state tuition rates to students who attend community colleges in Maryland if they attended a high school in Maryland for three years and can show their parents paid income taxes.

McDonough and others want to force the issue onto the 2012 ballot in the hopes that voters will kill the new law.

When asked to define what he meant by passing overwhelmingly, the delegate said 53 percent to 47 percent.

"In Maryland, that's a big number," McDonough said.

But first things first.

The Republican-led group seeking to place the issue on the ballot must collect nearly 56,000 signatures of registered state voters by June 30. About one-third of those signatures—18,500—have to be delivered to the State Board of Elections by the end of the month.

Typically, groups are encouraged to collect 30 to 50 percent more than the number required as some signatures will inevitably be ruled invalid.

McDonough credited the Internet with helping to organize the effort and make petitions more readily available than ever before.

"In the past, if you wanted a petition you had to drive to someone's house and pick it up," McDonough said. "Now, you can be online at 3 in the morning and download and print them."

Thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Harvey. The Perry Hall resident who was a former aide to Councilman Vince Gardina and most recently director of the county Office of Community Conservation is recovering from surgery. Get well soon.

"Still working towards an agreement on a date" for a meeting between county schools Superintendent Joe. A. Hairston and legislators, according to a text message from Del. John A. Olszewski Jr. Hairston promised legislators on April 8 that to questions within a month. Olszewski now says it will be "slightly longer than a month before the Hairston meeting." There are at least three dates at the end of May and beginning of June "that may work," Olszewski writes.

Looks like a rough day for Jim O'Neill. The county director of Department of Corrections saw his beloved Washington Capitals swept from the NHL playoffs last night and has a budget hearing with the County Council this afternoon. Welcome to Shawshank.