Day: January 26, 2011

Blog: Delegates bring God into gun debate

Blog: Delegates bring God into gun debate

The House Judiciary Committee brought God into its debate about gun legislation. At the meeting, Del. Michael Smigiel, R-Cecil, argued in favor of his bill, which would allow gun permit holders in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia to carry their guns in Maryland. He...

Sen. J.B. Jennings to miss most of session for Air Force training

Sen. J.B. Jennings reports Sunday for Air Force training in Georgia and will miss of the rest of the session, except for any time he has off from the 13-week training at Robins Air Force Base.

Jennings, 36, a member of the Maryland Air National Guard, is a master load specialist and is being trained on the new C27 Spartan cargo plane.

State Roundup, January 26, 2011

The state budget spares counties on teacher pension costs, but adds new ones; state leaders say O’Malley falls short on state pension fixes; major tax package would aid roads funds; gay marriage gains momentum — but not for everyone; three jurisdictions join the chorus for allowing BYO-wine; jobless rate steady in state; state police oppose proposal to allow concealed weapons across state lines; and Ruppersberger named top Dem on House Intelligence panel.

Coalition backs tax hikes for roads, transit, along with a “lockbox” to protect the money

Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola plans on introducing a major tax package to pump $400 million to $600 million a year into the dwindling transportation trust fund, along with a constitutional amendment to put the fund into a “lockbox” so it can’t be raided for other purposes.

A new coalition of 32 business and consumer groups known as the Statewide Transportation Alliance to Restore the Trust (START) is backing the move.

July primary proposed for 2014 election

Sen. Roy Dyson, vice chair of the Senate committee that handles election law, said Tuesday that he and Chair Joan Carter Conway would propose legislation to move the 2014 gubernatorial primary to the second Tuesday in July, rather than its traditional mid-September date.

The change is designed to help Maryland comply with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), the 2009 law that requires absentee ballots be sent to voters overseas and in the military 45 days before an election.

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