Panel to study impact of court ruling on pit bulls; investors hope lawmakers will consider slots along the Potomac in next special session; auditors find lottery agency failed to collect on broken slots machines; Lt. Gov. Brown gets married; former Gov. Ehrlich to headline U.S. Rep. Bartlett fundraiser; and St. Mary’s OKs spending plan.
Month: May 2012
Sen. Cardin and retailers support taxing all Internet sales
Supporters of the Marketplace Fairness Act, including co-sponsor U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., say the failure to collect taxes on Internet sales is only taking money out the pockets of retailers with a physical presence. Improved Internet tax law, said Cardin, would’ve helped Maryland capture $375 million in revenue, enough to solve the doomsday budget problem in Annapolis and eliminate the need for the special session of the legislature.
State Roundup, May 30, 2012
Opponents of same-sex marriage collect twice the number of signatures on petitions for referendum, and some say Obama’s support of gays helped their cause; hour for hour, O’Malley makes a lot of time for DGA work; Maryland Live! casino readies to open its doors even as controversy and support surrounds proposed Prince George’s facility; Blaine Young says he’s “testing” the political waters in considering run for governor; state gets waiver to No Child Left Behind; federal judge orders Henson fined $1 million.
Maryland election board looks at online ballot marking
The State Board of Elections may move to implement an online ballot marking system for all absentee voters in time for this year’s elections, depending on an opinion from the attorney general. But some voter advocacy groups worry about the potential for fraud.
State Roundup, May 29, 2012
Same-sex marriage opponents say they’ll have more than enough petition signatures; gambling expansion an issue that Gov. O’Malley couldn’t avoid; It’s not just pit bulls: Maryland’s General Assembly has used its power to adjusted other court rulings; Gingrich offers O’Malley advice on presidential run; Blaine Young announces run for governor; and county budgets finally coming together.
Labor unions given new protection for communications with workers
Beginning this fall, confidentiality privileges long enjoyed by attorneys and their clients will be extended to labor organizations and their members, raising concerns that these new protections could interfere with federal law.
State Roundup, May 25, 2012
Maryland Republicans say no to special session on gambling; marriage equality polling finds overwhelming support while rally is planned in Cumberland; ratepayers can delay using smart meters; convention held by shopping center organization draws big numbers from Maryland governments; Lt. Gov. Brown launches new funder website; and Gov. O’Malley to meet Newt Gingrich on TV.
Some builders scramble to be grandfathered under new septics law
In some counties, homebuilders and developers are scrambling to get percolation tests down by July 1 so they can be grandfathered in under the new law that restricts use of septic systems for major subdivisions in Maryland.
That’s a “natural” outcome of the bill that stirred intense controversy and opposition in the General Assembly, Planning Secretary Richard Hall told MarylandReporter.com.
Anti-tax advocate Norquist says GOP can ‘change Maryland’
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, is the man Democrats blame for partisan gridlock in Washington stemming from the no-new-taxes pledge he has gotten most Republican lawmakers to sign.
He brought his conservative message to Queen Anne’s County Republicans at their annual Reagan Day Dinner Thursday night and praised the party for emphasizing electing officials at the local level as a way to counter Maryland’s Democratic leanings.
Republicans struggling to get signatures against congressional redistricting
Republicans are having a tough time getting enough petition signatures on a petition to bring to referendum the congressional redistricting plan passed by the legislature. The map redrew lines to make it possible for Democrats to pick up the 6th Congressional District seat of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett in western Maryland.
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