Month: January 2010

God comes in many flavors at the State House

Did you hear the story about the rabbi and the swami?

Actually it wasn’t a rabbi, as the story was first told, but a celibate swami who asked for help in keeping his distance from the women in the Senate chamber last week.

The two chambers of the General Assembly handle their opening prayers differently, but both tread lightly and work creatively as they look to balance the spirituality of their members, the diversity of the population and the separation of church and state.

VIDEO: Robey Disrobey: Senator takes the plunge

Sen. Jim Robey, 69, started hourly dips into the frigid Chesapeake Bay at 10 a.m. Friday, and is set to continue through tomorrow morning. The Howard County Democrat is freezing for charity in advance of Saturday's Polar Plunge. Here's how to contribute to the Special...

Md. unemployment reform proves tough sell

Business and labor are far apart on the key aspect of Gov. O’Malley’s overhaul. The so-called “alternative base period,” has met with furious opposition from the businesses who pay unemployment taxes.

Advocates push for more on open government

Open government advocates are pushing for more General Assembly transparency, in the wake of this week’s decision to put legislative committee votes online.

The Maryland Open Government Act, a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by more than half the delegates and senators, goes much further.

The bill would change the way committees schedule hearings and place their proceedings online. Our report includes video coverage from Thursday.

State Roundup, January 28, 2010

Today’s roundup provides what you didn’t see from the Maryland delegation during the State of the Union address. Also learn more about the push for same-sex marriage, medical marijuana and how lawmakers get tougher on sex offenders.

Where did $50 million go? Auditors find loose ends from last year’s budget

Maryland government agencies will have to reconcile more than $50 million that was misplaced, forgotten or unaccounted for in fiscal 2009, according to an audit released this week.

The Office of Legislative Audits looked at the closeout of the fiscal year, and found that several agencies miscalculated their assets or debts at the end of last June.

The explanations range from federal cash that never got claimed to money that was counted twice. Officials said the damage would likely be spread around the responsible state agencies, or rolled over to next year.

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