Long-serving Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch dead at 72

Busch, a Democrat who became speaker in 2003, had developed pneumonia after a follow-up procedure to a 2017 liver transplant after being diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a liver disease. (File Photo By 1msulax at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by JohnnyMrNinja using CommonsHelper., Public Domain)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Michael Busch, the longest-serving Maryland House speaker in the state’s history, died Sunday. He was 72.

Busch, a Democrat who became speaker in 2003, had developed pneumonia after a follow-up procedure to a 2017 liver transplant after being diagnosed with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, a liver disease. He also had heart bypass surgery in September, after experiencing shortness of breath.

Chief of staff Alexandra Hughes said Busch died surrounded by loved ones.

Busch championed environmental measures to defend the Chesapeake Bay and fought for expanded health care. The state approved same-sex marriage and repealed the death penalty during Busch’s tenure as speaker. Legislation raising the state’s minimum wage was passed twice under his House leadership.

His environmental policies have been especially high-profile in recent days as he sponsored a bill to permanently protect five oyster sanctuaries under the law. The measure drew a veto from Gov. Larry Hogan, but the House overrode the veto Friday, and the Senate was expected to vote on an override Monday — the last day of the legislative session.

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, the state’s longest-serving Senate president, called Busch a model delegate who cared for every corner of the state.

“My heart is broken for Mike Busch’s family, the State of Maryland, and the Speaker’s extended family — elected officials and staff that he has been a mentor and coach to over his time in public service,” said Miller, a Democrat who has been battling prostate cancer. “Mike has been a friend for years, and has led the state to new heights of environmentalism and education.”

Hogan, a Republican, ordered flags to fly at half-staff for Busch and described him as “a giant in our government” with many legislative achievements.

“Speaker Busch and I came from different sides of the aisle, but we often came together in the best interests of the people of Maryland,” Hogan said. “He served with the decency and good nature of a teacher, a coach, and a family man. I was honoured to know him and to work closely with him.”

Alison Prost, the Maryland executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, highlighted Busch’s environmental work.

“The Chesapeake Bay lost a champion today,” Prost said. “While there were many issues that were near and dear to Speaker Busch, he elevated saving the Bay to a priority for the General Assembly, and legislators followed his lead.”

Busch also was respected for his positions on health care.

“Nobody has done more to expand health care access and improve public health in Maryland than Speaker Mike Busch,” said Vincent DeMarco, president of Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative.

Busch was first elected to the House in 1986. His district included the state capital of Annapolis, making him a frequent presence in the Maryland State House — even when the General Assembly wasn’t in session.

He was known as a consensus builder and good listener, qualities that helped him manage the diverse 141-member House of Delegates for as long as he did.

He considered himself a progressive Democrat. He had a strong commitment to equal rights that resulted from growing up in the 1960s during the height of the civil rights movement against racial segregation.

“That was ingrained in me from my grandparents to my parents and through the ’60s,” he told The Associated Press in 2002.

At the time, he recalled two pictures on his grandparents’ mantel — Jesus and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Both sets of grandparents “believed that Roosevelt gave average people a piece of the American dream,” he said. “I really believe government is there to give people opportunity.”

Busch, a Catholic, was born in Baltimore, but lived in Anne Arundel County from age 10 until he left for college.

He was a record-setting running back at Temple University in 1969. His sports career peaked in his junior year when he ran for 185 yards against Bucknell University, setting a record that has since been broken. If it hadn’t been for a leg injury, he might have pursued a pro career. The Dallas Cowboys sent him a letter telling him that “you are being considered by our ball club as one of our top draft choices,” but the team didn’t know his career was already over.

After getting a degree in education, he returned home and taught in public and parochial schools. He was a football and basketball coach at St. Mary’s High School in Annapolis before quitting teaching in 1979.

His interest in politics was whetted in 1982 when he was a driver for Robert Pascal, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor. Busch finished fifth among 12 Democrats running for three House seats that year, but he was elected to the House in 1986.

Funeral arrangements weren’t immediately disclosed.