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Democrats on a Maryland Senate panel grilled Gov. Larry Hogans nominee for transportation secretary Monday about the future of the Purple Line light-rail project and decided to call him back for more questions before voting on his confirmation.

It did not appear that the nomination of Pete K. Rahn was in serious jeopardy, but his rocky confirmation hearing which also touched on several other controversies highlighted continuing tensions between the Democratic-led legislature and the new Republican governor.

Besides putting off a vote on Rahn, the Senate Executive Nominations Committee delayed decisions on four other Hogan nominees Monday night, with one Democrat accusing Hogans choice for environment secretary of dodging and weaving in his responses to the panel.

After the hearings, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) predicted that some of Hogans nominations would draw some no votes from Democrats when they reach the Senate floor. But I think theyll be confirmed, Miller said, adding that the Senate should give Hogan wide discretion in choosing leading members of his administration.

Before Monday, the Senate had voted on 12 other of Hogans Cabinet nominees, approving all of them, though some after delays. Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the governor is confident that his latest batch of nominees will ultimately be successfully as well.

Governor Hogan has selected some of the best and brightest from Maryland and around the country to serve the people of our state, Mayer said. We have the utmost confidence that these talented and dedicated individuals will be confirmed.

Several Democrats pressed Rahn about the likelihood that Hogan will move forward with the Purple Line, the planned 16-mile rail connection between Prince Georges and Montgomery counties. Hogan expressed skepticism about the project during last years campaign, saying Maryland needed to focus more on building roads.

Transportation officials said last week that they were pushing back by five months a major bid deadline for companies seeking to build and operate the $2.45billion project.

Rahn said Monday that he has asked the firms to find ways to cut the projects cost without altering the lines length or route. He said he is maintaining an open mind on both the Purple Line and a light-rail line planned in Baltimore. I have not precluded these projects going forward, he told the senators.

Rahn was also pressed on Hogans proposal to cancel scheduled increases in gasoline taxes, which Democrats contend would leave very little money for either mass transit or road projects in coming years.

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Democrats grill nominee for Md. transportation chief about Purple Line