Hogan official accuses Maryland Senate president of 'unethical' behavior

The Hogan administration is charging that Senate President Thomas V. Mike Millerimproperly held the nomination of the state health secretary hostage this spring in an effort to force the administration to stop Anne Arundel Medical Center from gaining the authority to perform open-heart surgeries.

Doug Mayer, the chief spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan, said Thursday that the Democratic Senate leader told the Republican governor, Health Secretary Dennis Schrader and other officials that Schrader would be confirmed by the state Senate only if the administration "inserted itself" into the independent process in which the hospital is seeking a certificate of need — a highly coveted green light to perform lucrative surgical procedures.

"The actions that were being suggested were flat-out illegal," Mayer said. He said Miller's actions were "unethical without a doubt." He did not say whether the administration planned to complain to any law enforcement agencies or ethics watchdogs.

Miller, who represents Prince George's County, described Mayer's charges as "spurious allegations."

More