O'Malley may seek to end practice of state paying most of teacher pension costs; budget to include creation of “Health Enterprise Zones;” Monday night citizen rallies touch on everything from Dream Act to windmills; some legislators exhume debate over 17th Amendment to Constitution; 8 U.S. House candidates from Maryland don't live in districts they seek; and Sen. Cardin supports fracking “the right way.” [...more]
Assembly ethics panel considers online posting of financial disclosure statements; Eastern Shore lawmakers fight hard against PlanMaryland; 300 jobs expected to come from parks, public land projects; Nate Landow's slots bid rejected, leaving one Rocky Gap bidder standing; Maryland Live! jobs fair opens today; O'Malley to rally against Romney in Myrtle Beach; new Dover Bridge over Choptank may or may not happen; and Baker hopes to secure more cops for Prince George's. [...more]
Speculation about early Senate vote on same-sex marriage; some African-Americans unhappy with redistricting; Ethics Committee has closed meeting on Currie; Garagiola releases tax returns, battles attack e-mail; Del. James consider group for Blue Dog Dems; Miller on tax hike; report on breakfast with the governor; O'Malley unveils housing initiative. [...more]
Session opens with talk of gas, sales tax hikes, the environment and a bridge over the Choptank; Maryland schools ranked high in Education Week rating; two death penalty opponents named as co-majority whips; Sen. Norm Stone marks his 50th year in the General Assembly; Glenn Ivey won't run for Congress; and Del. Afzali explains why she will. [...more]
O'Malley to focus on job creation, justifying tax hikes, school spending; as the session starts, redistricting plan to be introduced; gas lease fee proposed to fund drilling study; Busch, Miller set to continue long tenures in leadership posts; state Sen. Muse takes to the podium; Mooney won't add his name to crowded field for U.S. Rep. Bartlett's seat after all; and, despite rumors, Mathias won't run against U.S. Rep. Harris. [...more]
O'Malley to propose $350 million for public school construction; Ocean Downs Casino sees no profit in 2011; death penalty opponents to renew push in Annapolis; state recognizes Piscataways, first time Maryland has honored Native group; Mooney to announce decision on running for Bartlett's seat; some in GOP see Cardin as vulnerable; and feds put damper on Prince George's hopes for FBI facility. [...more]
What to expect in Annapolis: debates over tax increases, balancing the budget, same-sex marriage, medical marijuana, the flush tax, septic system curbs, wind farms, turning a buck with fantasy football, education funds and petition privacy; Carroll and Anne Arundel feel the burn from the legislative redistricting proposal; Busch poised to become longest serving speaker in Maryland; and Wargotz considers running for Cardin's seat. [...more]
Lt. Gov. Brown promises spending, while O'Malley administration weighs how to get the revenues for it; Obama's "leaner military" may be better for state jobs; Muse challenges Cardin; several Congressional endorsements (and a distinct non-endorsement) announced; analysts and politicos look ahead to issues coming before the General Assembly. [...more]
Brinkley, Delaney, Bailey enter 6th District congressional race, Trachtenberg drops out; Del. McDonough starts fundraising efforts to fight Maryland DREAM Act; AFL-CIO backing same-sex marriage; state deficit reduction prime focus of Howard delegation; former Judge Murphy to aide state Sen. Currie in Annapolis ethics inquiry; backed by new state law, DNR attacks rockfish poaching problem; and former state Sen. Nancy Murphy dies at 81. [...more]
Alumni, students from four HBCUs sue state for underfunding; Evans back as top moneymaking lobbyist; legislators may consider another gas tax hike; Montgomery's legislative agenda to focus on its importance to the state; raft of congressional challengers lining up to announce runs; state gets $2 million in wetlands protection grants; O'Malley brings in the big bucks for the DGA, but bucks not as big as the RGA's; and first woman to head Baltimore County Council in more than 25 years. [...more]
