{"id":2587217,"date":"2026-04-04T22:16:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T02:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maryland-state-lawmakers-consider-expelling-republican-delegate\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T22:17:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T02:17:38","slug":"maryland-state-lawmakers-consider-expelling-republican-delegate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maryland-state-lawmakers-consider-expelling-republican-delegate\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland state lawmakers consider expelling Republican delegate\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaryland-state-lawmakers-consider-expelling-republican-delegate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587217&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Maryland House of delegates moved Friday to consider a resolution to expel absentee Republican Delegate Christopher Bouchat for missing floor votes and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-sf-parents-launching-recall-effort-against-school-board-members\/\" title=\"Report: SF Parents Launching Recall Effort Against School Board Members\">committee meetings<\/a> since late February. The measure, introduced by Republican Delegate Lauren Arikan, argues that his <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >absence wastes taxpayer money<\/a> and slows the chamber, and it suggests his replacement could be appointed by the governor. While the resolution passed the initial vote to introduce, it\u2019s unlikely to advance to a hearing as it was filed late and would require 95 votes to pass the two-thirds threshold; 102 delegates voted to introduce it, but it was assigned to the Rules Committee and there\u2019s little momentum for movement.Arikan has defended the timing,noting that there are legitimate reasons for absences but arguing that those who don\u2019t have such reasons should be here; Rules Committee Chair Anne Healey said the bill is very late amid a backlog of other work. The article also notes that Bouchat has recently faced criticism for leaving checks for lawmakers during his absences.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Maryland state lawmakers move to consider expelling Republican delegate&nbsp;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2550383\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\/\">Maryland<\/a> House of Delegates voted Friday to consider a resolution that would expel absentee Republican Del. Christopher Bouchat,&nbsp;but that is likely to die before receiving a hearing with the state House Rules Committee.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Del. Lauren Arikan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mgaleg.maryland.gov\/2026RS\/bills\/hs\/hs0002f.pdf\">introduced the resolution<\/a>, which said Bouchat has skipped floor votes and both committee and subcommittee meetings since late February.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The resolution emphasized that Bouchat is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-signs-bill-that-bans-local-gun-regulations\/\" title=\"DeSantis Signs Bill That Bans Local Gun Regulations\">wasting taxpayer money<\/a> and said his failure to perform duties is slowing down the chamber.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I think he should be removed and I think the people of Carroll and Frederick should have the opportunity to have somebody appointed by the governor to replace him,&rdquo; Arikan <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/marylandmatters.org\/2026\/04\/04\/resolution-to-expel-bouchat-gets-support-then-gets-sent-to-dead-end-committee\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">told<\/a> <em>Maryland Matters<\/em>. &ldquo;Anybody who doesn&rsquo;t want to be here, who feels that his presence is irrelevant, I would say, &lsquo;Sure, and we&rsquo;ll replace you with somebody who wants to be here.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The resolution also stated that Bouchat told <em>Maryland Matters<\/em> on the record, &ldquo;his priority is his personal business,&rdquo; and the delegate is &ldquo;financially benefiting from his absence at State taxpayer expense.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, the measure was introduced late, meaning it needed 95 votes to pass the two<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cabinet-called-on-to-invoke-25th-amendment-oust-biden\/\" title=\"Cabinet Called on to Invoke 25th Amendment, Oust Biden\">-thirds vote requirement<\/a>. 102 people voted to introduce the resolution. While it passed that vote and was assigned to the Rules Committee, it is unlikely to see any movement.<\/p>\n<p>Arikan told <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mgaleg.maryland.gov\/mgawebsite\/FloorActions\/Media\/house-55-A?year=2026RS\">lawmakers on Friday<\/a>, &ldquo;There are many legitimate reasons why folks may not be able to be here. They may be sick or may have personal reasons why they are unable to be here today, or during committee meetings or subcommittee meetings. But those folks who should be here who do not have a legitimate reason, who are simply refusing to come because they claim it is harming them financially&mdash;.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Arikan was cut off during her statement for a point of order, in which she was asked for clarification as to why the bill was late, not why it was a good resolution.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The absence of one of our members has on more than one occasion caused our committees or subcommittees to be delayed in starting,&rdquo; Arikan continued. <\/p>\n<p>Rules Committee Chairwoman Anne Healey, a Democrat, told <em>Maryland Matters<\/em>, &ldquo;Everybody has a justification for their late-filed bills, but it is very late, and we have a lot of work to do, so I&rsquo;m not sure that we&rsquo;ll get to it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4493828\/man-sentenced-prison-sending-threatening-letters-to-jewish-institutions\/\"><strong>MAN SENTENCED TO OVER THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SENDING THREATENING LETTERS TO JEWISH INSTITUTIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a lot of bills that are piling up,&rdquo; she added.<\/p>\n<p>Bouchat was also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/marylandmatters.org\/2026\/03\/31\/return-to-sender-lawmakers-unhappy-with-1000-checks-left-on-their-desks\/\">under fire<\/a> recently for leaving checks for lawmakers amid his absences.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>reached out to Arikan and Bouchat for comment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Md. House weighs expulsion of GOP delegate Bouchat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4226,"featured_media":2587218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mdstatehouse.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[23554,4199,4837,5894],"class_list":["post-2587217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-expulsion","tag-legislature","tag-maryland","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/mdstatehouse.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587221,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587217\/revisions\/2587221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}