Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is scheduled to travel to Southern Maryland on Friday for the latest in his "Capital for a Day" series. This day, however, will be fuller than most: It is scheduled to end with a performance by O'Malley's March, the governor's semi-retired Celtic rock band.

The official actvities related to Capital for a Day (or CFAD, as it is known in governor's office lingo) are taking place in Calvert County, home of the powerful Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert).

The musical performance is actually taking place in neighboring St. Mary's County. O'Malley's band is appearing as part of the St. Mary's College of Maryland River Concert Series, which is holding a two-day celebration of Maryland's 375th birthday. O'Malley's March has been booked as one of several artists playing with the Chesapeake Orchestra.

Republican leaders in the House of Delegates are taking aim at Gov. Martin O'Malley's propensity to set goals.

A recent story in The Washington Post detailed the latest efforts by O'Malley (D) to push his administration to reduce childhood hunger, increase transit ridership and tackle several other long-term challenges, using specific numeric targets.

A commentary in today's Gazette by House Minority Leader Anthony J. O'Donnell (R-Calvert) and House Minority Whip Christopher B. Shank (R-Washington) say the goals may be worthwhile but accuse O'Malley of "governing by mirage."

In the Post story, O'Malley defended his use of the targets, suggesting they are useful even if they are never met.

"The politically safe thing to do is never have any goals, because then you can't be judged or measured by them," O'Malley said. "That's the risk we take."

Maryland House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel), who is seeking re-election next year, has scheduled a major fundraiser tomorrow morning at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

In keeping with the baseball theme, Busch is asking for $500 apiece from "All Star" donors. For $1,000, one can become an "MVP" donor, and $2,000 makes one a "Hall of Famer."

An aide said special guests at the breakfast event, which begins at 8 a.m., will include Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D) and Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-Md.).

Busch held a similar event last year. An aide said tomorrow's breakfast is expected to raise at least $100,000.

Has the business climate in Annapolis reached a low point? That, at least, is the conclusion of the latest annual rankings of lawmakers' votes by Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG).

In the group's latest report card on selected votes from the past session, "overall scores are the lowest on record," MBRG reports.

The group notes that this year only two Democrats out of 134 -- Sens. Rona E. Kramer (D-Montgomery) and James E. DeGrange Sr. (D-Anne Arundel) -- voted the group's way 70 percent of the time. Fifteen years ago, it said, there were 84 Democrats from both the House and Senate voting at least 70 percent favorably on business-related issues.

Among the bills scored by MBRG was one giving the state additional tools, including broader condemnation powers, to keep the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, as well as the properties of the bankrupt-owner of the horse race, Magna Entertainment Corp. That bill, MBRG asserted, "sets an extraordinary precedent worthy of careful consideration."

The group's 2009 scorecard is available here.

Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery) was elected unanimously by his colleagues last night to serve a third year as chairman of the Montgomery County delegation in the Maryland House of Delegates.

The delegates, at their annual organization meeting, also elected Del. Susan C. Lee (D-Montgomery) to serve a fourth year as vice chairwoman of the 24-member delegation, the state's largest.

Feldman, who is serving his second term in the House, is a lawyer and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University. He is a Potomac resident.

Lee has been a House member since 2002. She is a laywer who lives in Bethesda.