The Politics Hour
Maryland joins the movement to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. The District looks at hopping on board a growing nationwide trend of allowing medical marijuana. And Virginia legislators cool to signing up for their governor's plan of allowing more charter schools in the Commonwealth. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies, and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.
Guests
Resident Analyst; NBC 4 reporter; and Columnist for the Current Newspapers
"Loose Lips" Columnist, Washington City Paper
Member, Arlington County Board; Board Member, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; and former Chair, Transportation Planning Board for the National Capital Region
Executive Director, DC Republican Committee
Politics Hour Extra
Arlington County board member and WMATA board member Chris Zimmerman said that if it would help Metro, he would "leave tomorrow." He said that the search for a new General Manager to replace retiring GM John Catoe continues, and that they will have an interim director in place before Catoe leaves in early April. "I want somebody named yesterday," Zimmerman said of the time frame for appointing the interim director:
Metro's current ad contract is set to expire soon, and Chris Zimmerman said that the organization will lose money with the next contract because of the economic downturnand because the current contract is unusually advantagous to WMATA. Zimmerman said the board is considering a permanent fare hike, even though it could mean setting Metro on a downward spiral:
This week D.C. Councilmember Marion Barry (D) apologized for improperly giving a contract to his girlfriend. Kojo, Tom and Mike discuss what comes next for Barry and Council Chair Vincent Gray (D):
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