First deadline to bring DREAM Act to ballot is today; petitioners say they were turned away from Frederick County spots; despite disappointments, environmentalists stick with O'Malley; overall government jobs grow in Maryland, but decline begins; Palin visits Fort McHenry on Memorial Day; shareholders blast Shattuck's paycheck; and Calvert commissioners appoint redistricting panel. [...more]
State pushes ahead with health care reform with appointments; state tax revenues up; state furlough day today; no team yet for planned city sports arena; protests in Montgomery over budget; and no higher taxes under Prince George's budget. [...more]
State gets $23 million to help boost small, startup business; state board of ed addresses school funding levels as several counties get ready to make cuts; Franchot suggests suspending gas tax hike over holiday weekends; state hopes to stop lone Baltimore slots bidder; GBC offers major renovations to some harbor attractions; two Montgomery Council members owe state, federal back taxes; and Arundel, Carroll, Prince George's, Howard and Montgomery pass fiscal 2012 budgets. [...more]
Parrott confident on anti-DREAM Act petition; O'Malley likely to forge beneficial relationships in trip to Asia; despite toll bridge, tunnel price hikes, not everyone will have to pay; bidders blast city slots proposal as unprofitable; Montgomery Council to re-fund Viagra plan for county workers; Sen. Pugh seeks city mayor's seat; and Arundel budget passes with property tax hike. [...more]
Number of homeless students rises as state grapples with ensuring education; 1,346 state employees beat or meet O'Malley's salary; O'Malley touts space-business incubator program; state sees lack of entrepreneurs, not innovation, a problem for high-tech progress; Michael Steele becomes MSNBC commentator; federal on-line gambling sting hits Baltimore; Ruppersberger reaches out to family of son missing in Libya; and Carroll County expecting influx of businesses with changes in development process. [...more]
Anti-DREAM act petitioners say they have bi-partisan support; Maryland could ban crib bumper pads; despite the high from the Preakness, horse racing's future in Maryland still looks grim even to its biggest supporter in Annapolis -- Mike Miller; Maryland's private sector jobs grow; Washington Times writes lengthy piece about Ehrlich keeping his hand in politics, while the Daily Kos calls it out as a puff piece for failing to mention Ehrlich's campaign problems; Mikulski to work toward electing more women to Congress; prosecutors open treasure trove of documents in Jack Johnson probe; and Arundel cuts $19 million from budget. [...more]
O'Malley signs booze tax hike, bill closing text-while-driving loophole, open government legislation and Nazi disclosure rules for rail companies; Del. Parrott says anti-DREAM Act petition drive on track; Leopold shuffles staff who testified before grand jury; Montgomery Council passes budget with a 4-cent property tax hike; and new Frederick Commission intends to overturn former's zoning decisions. [...more]
O'Malley vetoes four bills, allows others to pass without his signature, including bill allowing parole for some lifers upon recommendation of Parole Commission; today, O'Malley expected to sign first booze tax hike in almost 40 years; proposed toll bridge hikes worry tourists destinations; with Johnson's guilty plea, recriminations, remorse over an all too-familiar situation; and Montgomery County expected to hike property tax rate. [...more]
O'Malley vows to fight for transgender protections; despite environmentalists' opposition, O'Malley to sign bill making trash burning a Tier 1 renewable energy; fertilizer use limits also to be signed into law; DREAM Act news: costs expected to rise with hike in number of illegal students; rally supports the law, but military kids can't take advantage of it; Schaefer's will revealed; and former Prince George's Exec Jack Johnson pleads guilty, will be free until sentencing in September. [...more]
Delegates move to limit candidates' "lump sum" donations; toll hike proposals stir concern, Harris vows fight; supporters to rally for Maryland DREAM Act; wind advocates hope to craft legislative agenda; Lt. Gov. Brown is engaged; as gas prices rock the region, Gansler begins investigation and Cardin hopes to end oil subsidies; Jack Johnson expected to enter guilty plea in corruption case; and Worcester gets to spend slots bucks. [...more]
