Michael E. Busch Explained

Mike Busch
Office:106th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
Term Start:January 8, 2003
Term End:April 7, 2019
Predecessor:Casper Taylor
Successor:Adrienne A. Jones
State Delegate1:Maryland
District1:30th
Term Start1:January 14, 1987
Term End1:April 7, 2019
Predecessor1:Elmer Hagner
Robert Kramer
Successor1:Shaneka Henson
Alongside1:Alice J. Cain, Herbert H. McMillan, Ron George, Virginia P. Clagett, C. Richard D'Amato, Phillip D. Bissett, John Astle, Aris T. Allen
Birth Name:Michael Erin Busch
Birth Date:4 January 1947
Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Death Place:Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Cynthia Abbott
Children:2
Education:Temple University (BA)

Michael Erin “Coach” Busch[1] (January 4, 1947 – April 7, 2019) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 106th Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2003 until his death in 2019. Busch was a member of the House for nine terms, beginning in 1987. He represented all of legislative District 30 prior to redistricting in 2012, and represented District 30A after the district was split following the 2010 census. The district encompasses parts of Anne Arundel County, including the state capital of Annapolis.

Background

Busch was born in Baltimore and was a lifelong resident of the state of Maryland. He attended St. Mary's High School in Annapolis and in 1970 received his B.S. degree in education from Temple University, where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.[2]

Busch was pursued by the National Football League as a running back, prior to a knee injury. Busch then returned to Maryland to coach athletics and teach.

He was married to Cynthia Abbott Busch, with whom he had two children, Erin and Megan.

Legislative career

Busch first got involved in politics at the urging of parents of his students. After winning election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1986, Busch served on the Judiciary Committee, the Economic Matters Committee, which he later chaired, and as Chairman of the Anne Arundel County Delegation before being elected Speaker.[3] Busch repeatedly won reelection in an evenly-split district and served alongside other delegates in District 30 from both the Republican Party and Democratic Party during his tenure in the House. As Speaker, he had significant influence over matters in the House and in state government overall. He served through 5 governors and alongside his counterpart in the state senate, long-time President of the Maryland Senate Mike Miller.

At the beginning of the 2003 session of the Maryland Legislature, Busch was elected Speaker of the House by his colleagues in the Maryland House of Delegates. He became the longest-serving Speaker in Maryland history.[4]

Busch was known for his interest in the areas of healthcare, education, and economic development. During the 2007 legislative session, he sponsored a bill with other members of the leadership titled the Children and Working Families Healthcare Act of 2007, which proposed to provide health care access to 250,000 Marylanders and all children in the state.[5]

Democrats held a supermajority in the House throughout Busch's terms in office. Busch successfully leveraged his party's majority to advance his legislative goals over the objections of Republican Governors Larry Hogan and Bob Ehrlich. The House overrode a number of vetoes by both aforementioned governors during Busch's time as Speaker. Some significant veto overrides include raising the state's minimum wage,[6] twice,[7] restoring voting rights to felons,[8] closing a hotel sales tax loophole, increasing funding for performing arts, and creating a new Public Service Commission.[9]

Busch had significant knowledge of procedural rules of the House and occasionally maneuvered to block efforts by the minority party to advance legislation outside the normal committee process.[10] Notably, in 2015 Busch blocked an attempt by Republicans to put forward legislation to ban gay marriage in the state by ending the day's session abruptly in a rare move.[11]

Speaker Busch was also instrumental in the passage of LGBTQ+ supportive legislation in Maryland. He rallied his caucus to support legislation allowing visitation rights for unmarried partners before gay marriage was legalized in the state.[12] [13] He also led the fight to legalize gay marriage in the state before other key lawmakers supported the measure.[14] His first attempts to pass the legislation failed,[15] however in 2012 he was successful in leading his caucus to pass legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.[16] The legislation was forced to a ballot referendum in the 2012 general election.[17] The ballot referendum, known as Question 6, passed.[18]

Legislative notes

Speaker Busch voted multiple times to support classroom teachers, public schools, police and hospitals in Anne Arundel County. Since 2002, throughout his Speakership, funding to schools across the state increased 82%, resulting in Maryland being ranked top in the nation for K-12 education.[19]

Awards

Death

Busch underwent a liver transplant in 2017. As his health declined, his supporters adopted the nickname "Iron Mike" to emphasize his strength and resilience as he tried to recover from the transplant.[21] He reportedly fell ill with pneumonia on March 26, 2019, after a follow-up procedure.[22] He was hospitalized at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he died from complications of pneumonia and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis on April 7.[23] Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered flags to be flown at half-staff following his death.[24] Busch was laid in state at the Maryland State House rotunda on April 15, 2019. His funeral took place on April 16 at St. John Neumann Church in Annapolis and was followed by a reception at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.[25] He was laid to rest on April 16, 2019.[26] Tributes from across the state flowed in following Busch's death.[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Legacy

In 2019, Maryland Hall, a cultural and arts center located in Annapolis renamed their building the Michael E. Busch Center for the Arts at Maryland Hall,[33] in honor of Busch, who had fought for funding for the institution throughout his career.[34] [35]

In 2020, Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, Jr. directed that the newly built Annapolis branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library be named the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library in Busch's honor.[36] [37] [38]

In 2020, the District 30 Democratic Club, a social political club representing the same legislative district that Busch represented, was renamed the Michael E. Busch District 30 Democratic club in his honor.[39]

Election results

Voters to choose two:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Michael E. Busch, Dem.20,080  32.6%   Won
Alice J. Cain, Dem.18,070  29.3%   Won
Chelsea Gill, Rep.12,097  19.6%   Lost
Bob O'Shea, Rep.11,324  18.4%   Lost
Other Write-Ins53  0.01%   Lost

Voters to choose two:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Herb McMillan, Rep.14,484  27.9%   Won
Michael E. Busch, Dem.14,289  27.6%   Won
Chuck Ferrar, Dem.11,932  23.0%   Lost
Genevieve Lindner, Rep.11,100  21.4%   Lost
Other Write-Ins56  0.01%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Ron George, Rep.25,631  19.25%   Won
Michael E. Busch, Dem.23,995  18.02%   Won
Herb McMillan, Rep.22,553  16.94%   Won
Virginia P. Clagett, Dem.21,142  15.88%   Lost
Seth Howard, Rep.20,080  15.08%   Lost
Judd Legum, Dem.19,670  14.77%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Michael E. Busch, Dem.22,479  17.1%   Won
Virginia P. Clagett, Dem.22,360  17.0%   Won
Ron George, Rep.21,811  16.6%   Won
Barbara Samorajczyk, Dem.21,758  16.5%   Lost
Andy Smarick, Rep.20,594  15.6%   Lost
Ron Elfenbein, Rep.20,497  15.5%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Michael E. Busch, Dem.22,422  17.7%   Won
Virginia P. Clagett, Dem.21,875  17.3%   Won
Herbert H. McMillan, Rep.20,972  16.6%   Won
C. Richard D'Amato, Dem.20,545  16.3%   Lost
Michael Collins, Rep.19,140  15.1%   Lost
Nancy Almgren, Rep.18,861  14.9%   Lost
David M. Gross, Green2,536  2.0%   Lost
Other Write-Ins71  0.1%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Michael E. Busch, Dem.24,075  21%   Won
Virginia P. Clagett, Dem.24,036  21%   Won
C. Richard D'Amato, Dem.20,223  18%   Won
Phillip D. Bissett, Rep.18,690  16%   Lost
Edward J. Turner, Rep.14,119  12%   Lost
Anthony McConkey, Rep.12,353  11%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
Michael E. Busch, Dem.18,709  19%   Won
Phillip D. Bissett, Rep.18,009  23%   Won
Virginia P. Clagett, Dem.18,254  18%   Won
Ralph C. Rosacker, Rep.16,299  16%   Lost
Joan Beck, Rep.15,974  16%   Lost
John C. Eldridge Jr., Dem.13,320  13%   Lost

Voters to choose three:

NameVotesPercentOutcome
John Astle, Dem.18,009  23%   Won
Aris T. Allen, Rep.16,951  22%   Won
Michael E. Busch, Dem.16,104  18%   Won
Edith Segree, Dem.14,341  18%   Lost
Phillip D. Bissett, Rep.13,321  17%   Lost

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Michael E. Busch, Maryland House Speaker . Maryland Manual On-Line . Maryland State Archives . June 13, 2022 . March 11, 2022 . June 30, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630055923/https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa12196.html . live .
  2. 2011 Pi Lambda Phi Membership Directory
  3. Web site: Archives of Maryland. April 8, 2019. Maryland State Archives. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224826/https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012100/012196/html/12196bio.html. live.
  4. Web site: Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch dies. April 8, 2019. WBAL TV11. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224836/https://www.wbaltv.com/article/michael-busch-dies/27065941. live.
  5. News: Md. House Leaders Offer Plan to Widen Health Coverage. Rein. Lisa. February 8, 2007. The Washington Post. October 2, 2009. April 3, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403172547/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/07/AR2007020702131.html. live.
  6. Web site: Maryland Democrats easily override Hogan's veto of minimum wage bill. March 28, 2019. Baltimore Business Journal. March 3, 2022.
  7. Web site: Md. Legislative Session Opens with Veto Overrides Looming. January 13, 2015. Fox News. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303230328/https://www.foxnews.com/story/md-legislative-session-opens-with-veto-overrides-looming. live.
  8. News: Maryland House overrides three of Gov. Hogan's vetoes. January 20, 2016. The Washington Post. March 3, 2022. September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930020321/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-house-overrides-three-of-gov-hogans-vetoes/2016/01/20/1e88d704-bf77-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html. live.
  9. Web site: Lawmakers override Ehrlich veto on BGE bill. June 23, 2006. Baltimore Business Journal. March 3, 2022. June 25, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060625095143/http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2006/06/19/daily39.html. live.
  10. Web site: ANALYSIS: UPDATED: SPEAKER PULLS AN END RUN ON DWYER'S IMPEACHMENT MOVE. March 31, 2010. Maryland Reporter. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224827/https://marylandreporter.com/2010/03/31/analysis-updated-speaker-pulls-an-end-run-on-dwyers-impeachment-move/. live.
  11. Web site: Maryland Gay-Marriage Ban Killed After Democratic Move. January 13, 2015. Fox News. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303230330/https://www.foxnews.com/story/maryland-gay-marriage-ban-killed-after-democratic-move.amp. live.
  12. News: Override This Veto. May 22, 2005. The Washington Post. March 3, 2022.
  13. Web site: Maryland domestic partner legislation. October 1, 2018. Venable LLP. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224827/https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=afb013e9-e022-4585-9d52-089ddf79d4ee. live.
  14. News: Maryland House derails bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. March 12, 2011. The Washington Post. March 3, 2022. January 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220121000014/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/11/AR2011031106533.html. live.
  15. Web site: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Falls Short in Maryland. March 11, 2011. The New York Times. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224826/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/us/12marriage.html. live.
  16. Web site: In Maryland, House Passes Bill to Let Gays Wed. February 17, 2012. The New York Times. March 3, 2022. March 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220325221651/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/18/us/maryland-house-approves-gay-marriage-measure.html. live.
  17. Web site: Statewide Ballot Questions: Question 6. August 20, 2012. Maryland Board of Elections. March 3, 2022. March 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220319230531/https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2012/ballot_question_language.html#state6. live.
  18. Web site: Maryland Approves Gay Marriage In Historic 'Question 6' Vote. November 7, 2012. Huffington Post. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224826/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maryland-question-6-results-2012_n_2050830. live.
  19. News: Maryland ranks No.1 in Education for fifth year in a row. January 9, 2013. The Washington Post. March 3, 2022. May 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527013944/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/maryland-ranks-no-1-in-education-for-fifth-year-in-a-row-virginia-ranks-fourth/2013/01/09/4f66b686-5a79-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_story.html. live.
  20. Web site: Where Does Your Legislator Rank? See the list.. Poll. April 2, 2010. Maryland Gazette of Politics and Business. April 10, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101018045440/http://www.gazette.net/thelist/. October 18, 2010. dead.
  21. Web site: At speaker's funeral, friends and family remember 'Iron Mike'. April 16, 2019. Capital Gazette. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233949/https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/ac-cn-busch-funeral-20190417-story.html. live.
  22. News: Maryland House Speaker Busch is being treated for pneumonia, could miss the rest of the legislative session. Wiggins. Ovita. The Washington Post. April 1, 2019. April 7, 2019. April 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407203927/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/maryland-house-speaker-busch-is-being-treated-for-pneumonia-could-miss-the-rest-of-the-legislative-session/2019/04/01/767ca67a-54ed-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html. live.
  23. News: Michael Busch, longest-serving speaker of Maryland's House, dies at 72. Bernstein. Adam. April 7, 2019. April 7, 2019. The Washington Post. April 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407214622/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/michael-busch-longest-serving-speaker-of-marylands-house-dies-at-72/2019/04/07/1989c83a-5957-11e9-842d-7d3ed7eb3957_story.html. live.
  24. Web site: Governor Hogan orders Maryland Flags to fly at half staff in honor of House Speaker Michael Busch who passed this afternoon. He was 72.pic.twitter.com/CU48jmvTb6. David. Collins. April 7, 2019. April 7, 2019. May 17, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190517152654/https://twitter.com/dcollinsWBAL/status/1114990970293116934. live.
  25. Web site: Speaker Michael Busch. Bay Weekly. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233950/https://bayweekly.com/speaker-michael-busch/. live.
  26. Web site: Michael Busch Laid to Rest, Governor Offers Tribute. April 17, 2019. Delmarva Public Media. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233950/https://www.delmarvapublicmedia.org/local-news/2019-04-17/michael-busch-laid-to-rest-governor-offers-tribute. live.
  27. Web site: Michael Busch, champion of schools and the bay, and 'coach'. April 4, 2019. The Baltimore Sun. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233948/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-mike-busch-20190404-story.html. live.
  28. Web site: Remembering Speaker Busch on the Anniversary of His Passing. April 7, 2020. Maryland Association of Counties. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233950/https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2020/04/07/remembering-speaker-busch-on-the-anniversary-of-his-passing/. live.
  29. News: Mike Busch showed us the best of politics. April 8, 2019. The Washington Post. March 3, 2022. November 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233447/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mike-busch-showed-us-the-best-of-politics/2019/04/08/aff57230-5a31-11e9-a00e-050dc7b82693_story.html. live.
  30. Web site: Saying Goodbye to Mike Busch. April 18, 2019. Maryland State Educators Association. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233951/https://marylandeducators.org/saying-goodbye-to-mike-busch/. live.
  31. Web site: Speaker Michael E. Busch 1947-2019. April 8, 2019. Maryland Matters. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233950/https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/04/08/speaker-michael-e-busch-1947-2019/. live.
  32. Web site: After honoring Busch, lawmakers reflect on session, plan for new delegate. April 9, 2019. Capital Gazette. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303233950/https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/ac-cn-post-session-20190410-story.html. live.
  33. Web site: Maryland Hall to be named after late speaker Michael Busch. September 5, 2019. Capital Gazette. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303231117/https://www.capitalgazette.com/maryland/annapolis/ac-cn-mike-busch-center-maryland-hall-20190905-szmisbkrmbgkhoxz5acix3cp74-story.html. live.
  34. Web site: General Assembly restores $2M for Maryland Hall. January 22, 2016. Capital Gazette. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303231117/https://www.capitalgazette.com/ph-ac-cn-vetooverride-marylandhall-0122-20160122-story.html. live.
  35. Web site: Legislature Reverses Hogan on Annapolis Arts Center. February 2, 2016. Business Monthly. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303231118/https://bizmonthly.com/legislature-reverses-hogan-on-annapolis-arts-center/. live.
  36. Web site: Anne Arundel executive to name Annapolis library after late Maryland speaker Mike Busch. January 8, 2020. Capital Gazette. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224826/https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/ac-cn-busch-annapolis-libary-20200108-20200108-u3oh2kjqnvbwth3wz4o7g75zna-story.html. live.
  37. Web site: County Executive Steuart Pittman to Name New Annapolis Library after Speaker Michael E. Busch. January 8, 2020. Anne Arundel County Maryland. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224831/https://www.aacounty.org/news-and-events/news/county-executive-steuart-pittman-to-name-new-annapolis-library-after-speaker-michael-e-busch. live.
  38. Web site: BUILDING THE MICHAEL E. BUSCH ANNAPOLIS LIBRARY. March 3, 2022. Anne Arundel County Public Library. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224827/https://www.aacpl.net/services/busch-annapolis/building. live.
  39. Web site: In Memory of Speaker Mike Busch. July 16, 2019. Michael e. Busch District 30 Democratic Club. March 3, 2022. March 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220303224827/https://www.md30dems.org/in_memory_of_speaker_mikebusch. live.
  40. Web site: Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for House of Delegates. Maryland State Board of Elections. March 26, 2020. December 11, 2018. elections.maryland.gov. March 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200320165816/https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2018/results/general/gen_results_2018_2_01630A.html. live.
  41. Web site: 2014 General Election Official Results . Maryland State Board of Elections . January 11, 2014 . April 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190408015516/https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2014/results/General/gen_results_2014_2_01630A.html . live .
  42. Web site: 2010 General Election Official Results. Maryland State Board of Elections. August 13, 2012. August 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120816015103/http://elections.state.md.us/elections/2010/results/General/StateResults_office_016_district_30.html. live.
  43. Web site: Official 2007 Gubernatorial General Election results for Anne Arundel County. Maryland State Board of Elections. January 20, 2008. March 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080305221653/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2006/results/general/county_Anne_Arundel_County.html. live.
  44. Web site: House of Delegates Results. Maryland State Board of Elections. January 20, 2008. July 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170730203416/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/2002/results/g_house_of_delegate.html. live.
  45. Web site: House of Delegates Results. Maryland State Board of Elections. November 7, 2007. September 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170924094921/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1998/results_1998/gahod.html. live.
  46. Web site: House of Delegates Results. Maryland State Board of Elections. November 7, 2007. January 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070229/http://elections.state.md.us/elections/1994/results_1994/gahod.html. live.
  47. Web site: House of Delegates Results. Maryland State Board of Elections. November 7, 2007. September 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170924094330/http://www.elections.state.md.us/elections/1990/results_1990/gahod.html. live.

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