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Seven months ago, the University of Maryland, College Park, drew fire from Sen. Andy Harris after some of its students screened a portion of the pornographic film "Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge" on campus.

But the university system's Board of Regents, which declined on Wednesday to adopt a policy keeping students from screening obscene material, might have to prepare for Harris' retribution.

Harris wanted the legislature to pull funding from UMCP or any university if pornographic materials were shown.

After the vote, regents chairman Clifford Kendall said he wanted to press on.

"I'm very hopeful that the legislators that requested it will move on," he said. "I hope we can move forward and put this behind us."

Not so fast.

On Thursday, Harris said he was "very surprised" by the regents' decision and that lawmakers might have to draft legislation to get the university system to adopt a policy.

"It may have to come down to that," said Harris (R-Dist. 7) of Cockeysville. "We can't be spending taxpayers' dollars for the screening of pornographic materials on campuses. That's not good policy."

Instead of creating a policy, university system chief Brit Kirwan will write a letter on behalf of the regents to lawmakers to reiterate the system's commitment to following "all the laws of the land," according to a copy of the regents' resolution.

The university system's letter will also state that a policy would not be in its best interest. "Such a policy, we are absolutely certain, would be challenged in court because it's such a sensitive issue," Kirwan said during the regents meeting. "It would be very difficult to administer in a uniform manner."

A systemwide policy to prohibit the screening of obscene materials would cause a financial burden, as the system would have to adopt additional programs to make sure the policy is implemented, Kirwan said.

— Marcus Moore

Outta the mouths of Dems

With all this talk about health care reform, don't expect tort reform to move front and center, at least according to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mac Middleton.

Middleton, who was on a health care panel at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Policy Conference in Cambridge last Friday, said political realities might prevent it.

Middleton, a Democrat, said that having a Democratic president and Congress means no one is talking about limiting damages in medical malpractice cases.

"One of the things [is], Republican or Democrat, you take care of your base," Middleton said. "You recognize the people that get you there. It's labor and trial lawyers that get Democrats in office. And you don't bite off the hand that feeds you. That's the stark reality of it."

The General Assembly passed limited tort reform during a 2004 special session on medical malpractice insurance.

"I personally think it wasn't enough," Middleton told the audience.

Seated toward the back of the room was Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman, who stood up to leave a short time later.

Passing by a reporter, he asked: "Did you hear Mac talk about labor and trial lawyers?"

The reporter nodded.

"Good, I just want to make sure you heard that," Kittleman said.

— Sean R. Sedam

Rick to Frederick?

Rick Weldon is staying put — at least for now.

No sooner did Frederick voters elect Randy McClement to lead City Hall last week than word began to circulate that Weldon would resign his legislative post to become city administrator. He had a similar job eight years ago.

Yes, Weldon volunteered a lot of his time to help his friend of more than a decade get elected.

Yes, McClement inquired in the last week whether Weldon would have any interest in working for him.

But no formal offer has been made, nor has Weldon decided whether to accept if one is presented.

"It's a decision where you've got to weigh a lot of things, not the least of which is bailing on people who put their faith and trust in me three years ago," he said on Wednesday.

A state law enacted in 1998 prohibits state legislators from having a job in local government (current officeholders were grandfathered in, which is why Adrienne Jones and Richard Colburn still hold such jobs).

Weldon, who has already said he will not run for re-election in 2010, also said any decision he makes would take into account his current job leading the United Way of Frederick County, which he has run for 18 months, and his inability to collect a state pension if he does not complete his second term in the House.

"I'm just at the beginning stages of contemplating what this all means," he said. "Any conjecture about this is dangerously premature."

But he admitted that city administrator would be an enticing offer.

"If there was a dream job in politics for me, it would be county executive, but we're not a charter government, and I don't think we will be anytime soon, so this would be a close second," he said.

The new mayor and his team formally take office Dec. 10.

Stay tuned.

— Alan Brody

For political junkies, 7th may be heaven

It's still early in the filing period, but it's looking more and more like the 7th Legislative District may have one of the more intriguing races to watch in next year's elections.

The departure of Harris — he's taking another crack at Congress — has created a frenzied interest among those who want to take his place.

J.B. Jennings was first to the starting blocks back in September. Last month, news that Jim Smith was selling his Reisterstown home and moving to Cockeysville prompted speculation that he had his eyes on the seat. If he doesn't, Baltimore County political reporter Bryan Sears reports that Vince Gardina might.

And on Tuesday, former state insurance commissioner Al Redmer made it official and formally threw his hat in the ring.

If that's not enough, two GOP candidates — Jim Berndt and John Cromwell — have already filed for the district's delegate seats. Two of those could be vacant with Jennings looking to move up and Pat McDonough exploring a bid for governor.

— Alan Brody

Rematch times two

Harris is hoping for a rematch with Frank Kratovil in the 1st Congressional District race.

But it sounds like there will also be a familiar faceoff in the GOP primary. A source told us E.J. Pipkin ripped Harris at last week's Maryland Federation of Republican Women conference in Cambridge and also made noise this week at a fundraiser for Susan McComas.

Pipkin, who couldn't be reached, apparently has some encouraging polling data, and he's still sore about Harris' attacks during the 2008 primary in which he accused Pipkin of being too liberal.

Expect a formal announcement in December, we're told.

— Alan Brody

Blowing up Boh

The man who wants to unseat John Bohanan is coming out swinging.

Naval engineer Erik Anderson, who formally launched his campaign on Veterans Day, lambasted the District 29B incumbent for just about anything and everything during his 10 years in office.

Reckless budget decisions, supporting legislation that has driven businesses and the wealthy out of the state, letting aging schools fall into disrepair and not standing up to Steny Hoyer, for whom Bohanan works, are just a few of the criticisms Anderson aired during Wednesday's event.

The U.S. Army combat pilot who has never before sought public office will have his work cut out for him. Bohanan remains largely popular within the large military community in St. Mary's County, and he's got plenty of dough to fend off a challenge.

But Anderson is trying to reach out to disgruntled voters and tap into the tea party movement in a part of the state where he said both Rs and Ds possess a conservative bend.

"I brought the fight to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and I will bring the fight to Annapolis," he told a sparse audience at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in California. "It is time to stop this tide of socialism within this county, within this state and within this country, and we do that on November 2."

— Alan Brody

Kumbaya

Gubernatorial hopeful Larry Hogan and his erstwhile foe Mike Pappas are having a "Unity Suite" Friday night at the GOP convention in Bowie. The two surely want to bring their backers together and set the tone for a unity-filled weekend.

But why is the shindig, complete with an open bar and carving stations, being hosted by Bob Costa, who's known more for the martini bar in his Annapolis office than as a heavy-hitter among Republican movers and shakers?

At least one attendee thought it may have been a final swipe at the outgoing state party chairman, Jim Pelura, who is hosting his own farewell suite. But Hogan said Costa volunteered to put it on since he had already booked a big room, and Costa, in addition to being Hogan's delegate in Annapolis, was the first person to give the maximum contribution to Hogan's campaign.

— Alan Brody

Johnson aide heading to A&C

One of Annapolis' top lobbying shops is adding another big name to its roster.

Mike Herman, who's been Jack Johnson's right-hand man as chief of staff since 2002, will join Alexander & Cleaver on Dec. 7 as a government relations consultant and attorney, Gary Alexander said on Thursday.

Johnson announced last month that Herman was stepping down at the end of November to pursue private-sector opportunities. He's also thought to be contemplating a run for state Senate against Paul Pinsky.

Alexander said he's excited to add Herman, a former Riverdale Park mayor and county prosecutor who boasts 16 years of local government experience, to his stable of lobbyists.

Despite his ties to Johnson, Herman will not be the firm's primary Prince George's lobbyist. That responsibility lies with Kenny Battle. Herman will work with clients who have interests across the state.

"I expect Mike Herman will be able to offer our clients some insight on how to do business with governments generally, not just Prince George's County," said Alexander. "He's going to be much less a legislative lobbyist and much more a business strategist with our clients."

— Alan Brody