Comptroller Peter Franchot, who dove into the spotlight last week after hearing rumors Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller wanted to get rid of two of his three deputy comptrollers, appears to have had good reason to be worried, although not because of anything Miller did.

Miller was expected to target the Position Identification Numbers (PINs) of two top Franchot aides for removal — effectively firing them. PIN targeting has generally been frowned on in Annapolis.

Franchot is no stranger to targeting PINs. In 2005, when he was a subcommittee chairman of the House budget committee, Franchot targeted 56 PINs for removal, most of whom were appointed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Senate lawmakers this called Franchot on his apparent reversal on the merits of PIN-targeting, but hen demurred, saying he had learned the demerits of micromanagement.

The antagonism between Franchot and Miller grew after Franchot took over the state comptroller's office last year.

Miller last week called the state Comptroller's office a "one-stop politics shop" for Franchot, a man he said is "an embarrassment to the state of Maryland."

The Association of Government Accountants does not agree Miller's assessment. The group is awarding Franchot the William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership award.