8 Questions For Bob Ehrlich On His Selection Of Running Mate Mary Kane

8 Questions For Bob Ehrlich On His Selection Of Running Mate Mary Kane

Maryland Democratic Party Chair Susan Turnbull had this to say about the document, “Bob Ehrlich has some pretty serious questions to answer about his vetting process.  The Bush Justice Department investigated a Federal False Claims Act case filed against the company owned by Mary Kane and her husband for defrauding Federal taxpayers.  In 2009, the Justice Department formally joined the lawsuit and is now attempting to recover millions of dollars in taxpayer monies from the Kane Company.”

8 Questions for Bob Ehrlich about Mary Kane

1. While Mary Kane was on its Board of Directors, The Kane Company obtained federal government contracts worth millions yet paid lower wages than mandated by law. Did you know the Kane Company was under investigation for submitting “false and fraudulent documents” to cheat taxpayers?

2. Mary Kane’s company stands accused of cheating taxpayers and its own workers in order to secure for itself millions of dollars of taxpayer money.  Federal prosecutors say your her company "routinely" violated federal law "for most of its federal government contracts" during the period that she helped lead it, and her company also faces allegations that it over-billed and double-charged the government.  Why should taxpayers trust her as a guardian of their funds?

3. In harassing emails submitted as evidence against The Kane Company, Mary Kane’s husband, John Kane wrote to an African American businessman that any success he has had is because of minority “set aside” programs.  Do you agree with John Kane that minority “set aside” programs are not part of the “real world”?  What is your position on Maryland’s Minority and Women owned business program?

4. What is Mary Kane’s position on the Purple Line?  Does she agree with your [Bob Ehrlich’s] position to kill the project and does she still believe that the residents of Silver Spring should be kept out of Bethesda?  Do you agree with her statement?  Did you consider this when you selected her as your running mate?

5. In 2003, Mary Kane left the Board of Directors of The Kane Company to join your Administration. The Kane Company benefited generously from the State of Maryland during your tenure. How can you [Bob Ehrlich] be trusted with the State’s finances when Mary Kane has a personal interest in state contracts?

6. In 2002, Mary Kane made loans to her own campaign committee, Friends of Mary Kane. Why has her campaign committee not paid her back the $48,000 in loans after 8 years?

7. The Kane Company exceeded the campaign contribution limits to Political Action Committees while Mary Kane was on its Board of Directors. How can voters trust that it won’t happen again, now that Mary Kane is a candidate for Lt. Governor?

8. Do you still favor of the pay to play conversion tax that you and Mary Kane’s husband proposed while he was the Chair of the Republican Party in Maryland?