30 Md. lawmakers call for resignation of housing secretary

(AP) – Maryland Democratic lawmakers are calling for the resignation of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s top housing official, who expressed support for limiting landlord liability in lead paint cases, because a mother could put a lead fishing weight in a child’s mouth before testing for lead poisoning.

The letter urging Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth Holt to resign was sent Monday, signed by 30 members of the Maryland House of Delegates.
    
It says Holt’s comments at a conference Friday “betray a shocking and complete lack of understanding of Maryland law.”
    
Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford said Saturday that Holt had never spoken to senior officials about trying to limit landlord liability, and there are no administration plans to do that. Holt has apologized for the comments through a spokeswoman.