Van Hollen No Longer Flawless

• By Tory Newmyer and Steven T. Dennis
• Roll Call Staff
• June 21, 2010, Midnight

It was an uncharacteristically rough week for Rep. Chris Van Hollen.
The Maryland Democrat, who is widely viewed as a possible future Speaker, has thrown himself into the middle of the legislative push to roll back a controversial Supreme Court decision lifting restrictions on corporate political spending. But the months-long effort blew up last week — just as it was finally due to hit the floor — after a deal that Van Hollen crafted to win the support of the National Rifle Association sparked a firestorm of criticism from across the ideological spectrum both on and off Capitol Hill.