February 22, 2012
Same-sex marriage bill moves to the Senate floor; "Gun day" in Annapolis; Frederick County makes English the official language; transgender discrimination bill passes in Towson; manure use on farmland; maintenance of effort and the pension shift to counties. [...more]
February 21, 2012
Same-sex marriage bill to be considered by Senate committee today; Catholics in Annapolis in time to lobby against it; Cardin endorsed by ministers and Jacobs endorsed by Harris; gas tax could cost $400 per household; costs of ending coal tax incentives; Anne Arundel legislators oppose proposed National Harbor casino. [...more]
February 20, 2012
Recapping and looking ahead on same-sex marriage; red vote may cost Del. Arora; Currie censured; illegal immigrant tuition referendum moving forward; Kamenetz tries to combine county and school functions to deal with pension shift, while some localities just say no; Women's Caucus renews efforts to get Tubman statue in U.S. Capitol. [...more]
February 17, 2012
Lots on the delays and drama of the same-sex marriage debate; ethics committee recommends censuring Currie; Schurick sentenced to home detention and community service; public defender mandate postponed by high court; no redistricting hearings; Baker proposes $1B casino in National Harbor. [...more]
February 16, 2012
Jurisdiction chiefs unite to blast teacher pension shift to locals; as bill hits House floor, Republican Del. Hogan won't support gay marriage; uniform policy in treating students' serious allergies sought for public schools; bill would extend protective orders in domestic violence; Schurick wants new trial in robocall case; and state Sen. Garagiola goes after primary opponent for donating to a Republican. [...more]
February 15, 2012
Gay marriage bill sent to the House floor with one Republican vote, supporter confident of passage; O'Malley adds money for locals to ease burden of gas tax; lawmakers question O'Malley on green bills: wind farms, septic system controls, PlanMaryland; tech companies come out against digital download tax; and Baltimore County may water down transgender protection bill. [...more]
February 14, 2012
Government workers, state Democrats criticize Obama's budget; medical marijuana bill returns to State House with Health secretary's support; religious leaders turn out to support wind energy; rallies continue to support gay marriage, transgender protections; O'Malley's redistricting map could become law without lawmakers' action; and bill would keep student tweets private. [...more]
February 13, 2012
Slots vote in Prince George's ruled unconstitutional; O'Malley expected to submit gas tax plan today; state pushing hospitals to encourage breast-feeding; legislature works to clamp down on in-house corruption; fish poaching appears to be down following last year's spate; Prince George's votes down financial literacy school program, phys ed requirement; and Montgomery puts Israeli sister city plan on hold. [...more]
February 10, 2012
Bill to move ethics disclosures online to be proposed; Maryland gets nearly $1B in foreclosure settlement; House of Delegates hears the same-sex marriage bill today; federal gridlock is bad for Maryland; bill named after Sen. Mathias' late wife proposed for parity in chemotherapy treatments covered by insurance; Women's Caucus turns 40; Franchot will not endorse a Republican in 6th District. [...more]
February 9, 2012
Franchot eyes paperless tax filing; bill would make it illegal not to report missing, dead children; criminal penalties sought for failing to report child abuse, neglect; senators propose gas, sales tax for urban residents; state workers to get new drug plan; O'Malley, Franchot trade punches over gas tax proposal; Prince George's proposed bag tax killed; and former Annapolis Mayor Callahan dies. [...more]