Two Republican Delegates Push Back On Authoritarian Speaker
Top Left: Delegate Latoya Nkongolo Bottom Left: Delegate Lauren Arikan Middle Right: Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk
When the Democrat Maryland House of Delegates chose a new speaker, Joseline Peña‑Melnyk, last December, the comments, even from Republicans, were about how they thought the delegate from Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties would bring balance and openness to the House floor.
This is important, particularly for Republicans who are outnumbered by three to one in the House. Previous Speaker Adrienne Jones, Democrat, stifled opposition from Republicans to bills, as did most of the committee chairs under her leadership to the point of denying testimony.
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They misread Melnyk. Aside from her statement upon taking office that she would focus on fiscal stability, affordability, health care access, and immigration protections, she claimed to want to restore order and civility to the House. From Maryland Matters:
“We’re not Washington, D.C. We’re going to act appropriately. We’re going to make sure that we have civility, that we have decency and that we have respect,” Peña-Melnyk said during a recent interview in her Annapolis office.
“Those are things that you make a choice, that you have to be intentional about. I demand it, and I expect it. I set the example,” she said.
Oops. That all went by the wayside when the House started debating the controversial, "emergency" redistricting bill that Governor Wes Moore and some Maryland Democrats want shoved down the throats of the citizens of the state as well as a bill to stop local law enforcement from participating in the 287g program.
Suddenly, amidst all the devastating household power costs, unaffordability of living in Maryland, lack of safety in the cities and schools of the state as well as the loss of thousands of residents each month, redistricting and non-cooperation with federal law enforcement became the first two focuses of the legislature. Why?
Because Wes Moore wants to run for President in 2028. Because Dems in Annapolis hate Donald Trump and anyone who supports him particularly in traditionally red portions of the state. Because they want complete power. Because the default political positions of many Democrats in Maryland is pro-criminal, pro-illegal alien, and anti-American. And of course, Anti Anything Trump Does! We wrote about the effort to take complete power:
In the context of the debates of these two laws, the new speaker has suddenly decided that her announced priorities, as well civility, decency, and fairness, must go out the window.
First we have a clip of Delegate Latoya Nkongolo(R) testifying AGAINST redistricting (the entire video from Metro Conservative Media is an hour long, but the first four minutes are Nkongolo.) Nkongolo states that with so much happening in the state, redistricting should not be a priority of the first 19 days of the session:
When One Delegate Says the Quiet Part Out Loud – Metro Conservative Media
So much for Speaker Joseline Peña‑Melnyk sticking to the important matters.
It's impressive how controlled Nkongolo is given the circumstances. She will tell you that is because of her experience in the mental health field.
The next example of disrespect towards Republicans is worse. Not only does Peña‑Melnyk ignore the issues that matter in Maryland, but she also totally abandons civility, decency and fairness in how she treats Delegate Lauren Arikan (R) during testimony regarding a law prohibiting local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE via the 287g provision:
The Speaker denies Arikan the right to speak fully about the issue of illegal criminals in the state and why it is a good idea to cooperate with ICE via 287g for the safety of Maryland citizens.
Notice that it is when Arikan starts talking about bad bills that were previously passed in Maryland that protect criminals, Peña‑Melnyk really gets upset. She suddenly doesn't think that talking about bills that provided criminals protection in Maryland should be brought up. She, like many Democrats, resort to censorship, rudeness and deflection. She instantly needs to get on with doing the bidding of her Democrat puppet masters and she can't let reasonable arguments get in the way.
So why did she allow Delegate C.T. Wilson, a Democrat, to go on for "40 minutes" regarding redistricting but won't let Delegate Arikan to continue for six minutes on public safety? Why, in this case, did she suddenly call on Parliamentarian Democrat Delegate Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D), who represents Montgomery County, to shut Arikan up because it is "third reader" and they need to "move things along"? Did Melnyk suddenly feel like she was losing control? Why did Wilkins tell Arikan not to have a "back and forth" with the Speaker after the Speaker initiated a back and forth with Delegate Arikan? Has she been watching Maxine Waters for tips?
Somethings are so obvious they don't need explanation. Melnyk had an agenda. She needed to get the 287g bill through as fast as possible, just like she needed to get the gerrymandering through the house in lightning speed. She couldn't tolerate one of those pesky Republicans get in the way.
It's the agenda of almost every Democrat leader in Maryland.
After the Speaker allows Arikan to continue, Arikan does. With her actions she points out what everyone can see, that Pena-Mehnyk is a fraud and a hypocrite and a political tyrant. In other words, she fits right in with the Dems in Annapolis. And then Arikan calmly takes her seat.
That wasn't the end of the confrontation.
Arikan commented on the exchange in an email to constituents. She also included a letter she sent to the Speaker:
All the reconciliation, the fairness, the equal chance to be heard, remains as dead today in the Maryland House of Delegates as it was one year ago. Republicans can expect the same crappy treatment, same disrespect as always.
As the WHO sang "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."
But two determined Republican delegates, and many others, are exposing the hypocrisy of it all. One floor statement at a time.
Additional Information:
There were many other Republicans who spoke out about both of these bills both in the house and in op-eds. Here is an op-ed about 287g to the Baltimore Sun from Republican Delegates Matt Morgan and Kathy Szeliga:
Annapolis' immigration agenda puts lives in danger | GUEST COMMENTARY
Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey along with Delegates Jason Buckel and Jesse Pippy commented on redistricting:
And, finally, in an almost comical temper tantrum, Democrat Senator Threatens Not to Show Up if Gerrymandering doesn't get a floor hearing:
Democratic Senator launches protest calling for chamber to vote on redistricting bill
