State Roundup, November 3, 2009

Constellation Energy Group plans to “act quickly” on the nuclear power plant deal with Electricite de France, Hanah Cho at The Baltimore Sun reports. Jay Hancock analyzes Gov. Martin O’Malley’s performance as he sought to fulfill his campaign promises on electric rates, concluding “don’t judge O’Malley for not trying. Blame him for promising more than he could deliver and then trying a little too hard.” The Daily Record’s Danielle Ullman reports the deal “does not please all,” quoting opponents of the transaction.

Top officials from around the state were on hand for the unveiling of the statue of William Donald Schaefer in the Inner Harbor on his 88th birthday Monday. As usual, Schaefer himself gets the last word, the Sun reports. The Sun has extensive video as well, and Fox 45 along with most of the Baltimore stations has video clips. The Associated Press has its version of the unveiling in The Washington Post.

Black & Decker is being sold to Stanley Works for $4.5 billion causing the loss of one of the Baltimore area’s last remaining Fortune 500, “pretty bad news for the state and the region” says one economist. The Sun and Daily Record report.

Senate President Mike Miller will propose clarifying changes in the death penalty statute passed last year which would allow fingerprint and photographic evidence, The Gazette’s Doug Tallman reports in the paper’s Tuesday e-blast.

Real estate developer Heffner & Webber is offering another slots location near BWI airport and Route 295, but Cordish, which wants to build a casino at Arundel Mills, says the spot is a non-starter. County Executive John Leopold agrees.

Maryland has met its minority contracting goals for the first time, The Daily Record reports, but the bulk of the story is available only to subscribers because of the paper’s new pay wall for exclusive stories.

The Washington Post blog reports Montgomery County Council President Phil Andrews is calling for a pay freeze there.

In Maryland, more than 1,900 teachers got or kept their jobs because of federal stimulus money, according to the U.S. Department of Education, as reported by Leah Fabel in The Washington Examiner.

Prince George’s County  Del. Gerron Levi tells the Post she’ll be running for county executive. Another freshman Democratic lawmaker, Del. Aisha Braveboy, is considering the race for the open seat in what may be a crowded race in Maryland’s second largest county. Alan Brody at the Gazette has more details and a full list of possible candidates.

Maryland “should fear” the likely victory by Bob McDonnell in the Virginia governor’s election today because he has promised to make the state even more business friendly,  columnist Marta Mossburg says in the Washington Examiner.

Bidding has started on Maryland tracks, WBAL radio reports.

About The Author

Len Lazarick

len@marylandreporter.com

Len Lazarick was the founding editor and publisher of MarylandReporter.com and is currently the president of its nonprofit corporation and chairman of its board He was formerly the State House bureau chief of the daily Baltimore Examiner from its start in April 2006 to its demise in February 2009. He was a copy editor on the national desk of the Washington Post for eight years before that, and has spent decades covering Maryland politics and government.

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