Maryland State Education Association comes out for gay marriage; gay marriage and the gas tax among issues to be addressed in next 90-day session; redistricting gives Howard County three reps; Garagiola lines up Dem endorsements for 6th Congressional District run – but not Del. Kelly; Lt. Gov. Brown testifies for Currie; Ehrlich book to hit stores for Christmas; Baltimore County councilman to resign state job; and Prince George’s speed cameras bring in more than $500,000 in first month.
Month: October 2011
Alcohol tax money goes to districts that supported it
It took some Annapolis deal making in order to get the new 3% alcohol tax passed at the tail end of this year’s legislative session, and charges are being levied that politics are being played with where those proceeds are being spent.
State Roundup, October 24, 2011
In the aftermath of redistricting, potential rivals line up to take a shot a U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett; Arundel councilman considers run against U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards and the DOJ to review requests to investigate remapping process; new traffic court law causing suspended licenses to soar; Sen. Mike Miller’s UM Baltimore/College Park merger proposal met with harsh criticism from city pols; Carroll commissioners to hold environmental summit to challenge assumptions behind PlanMaryland; 5-year projection says slots revenue to be softer than expected; and auditors find spending irregularities in Prince George’s owned arena.
Clients are up, funding is down for free legal aid
As the economy has slowed, the demand for free civil legal services has risen, but funding for those services has not increased. “The situation is dire,” said Sharon Goldsmith, executive director of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland. “The programs are feeling stretched beyond their limits. The funding is not there.”
State Roundup, October 21, 2011
O’Malley’s redistricting plan is now law, but minorities expected to challenge it; Jacobs leaving her leadership post, considers higher office; Garagiola, Trachtenberg and Coblentz all announce their intentions to challenge Bartlett; Van Hollen will take nothing for granted in his new district; $1 billion shortfall projected; alcohol tax money going to its backers’ districts; racing restarts at Rosecroft tonight.
Immigrant group to meet first legal deadline in suit against state election board over tuition referendum
Casa de Maryland is expected to submit tens of thousands of contested Maryland Dream Act referendum signatures to the Office of the Attorney General today (Friday). This marks the first deadline imposed by the courts since the immigrant advocacy group sued the State Board of Elections in early August.
Congressional redistricting signed into law; lawsuits expected
Gov. Martin O’Malley signed his recommended congressional redistricting plan into law Thursday, but the law will almost certainly be challenged in federal court on a number of grounds, including diluting minority voting strength.
State Roundup, October 20, 2011
House passes O’Malley map as U.S. Rep. Edwards embraces new district and U.S. Rep. Bartlett announces he’ll seek another term; Franchot criticizes Baltimore County for lack of school air conditioning; another politician testifies for Currie; a Baltimore County councilman’s state job looks like it has run afoul of county charter; Ehrlich to head Romney’s Maryland campaign; and rockfish spawn success.
House passes O’Malley redistricting plan
The House of Delegates on Wednesday approved Gov. Martin O’Malley’s congressional redistricting map exactly as he had proposed, despite fierce opposition by Republicans and some minority groups.
The vote was 91-46, with five minority Democratic delegates from the Washington suburbs joining all 41 Republicans voting against it
Franchot votes against $7 million in school projects because AC is not included
Emotions ran high and discussions ran long as the Board of Public Works approved $7 million in Baltimore County school renovation projects – but not a cent of it going toward air conditioning in old schools.
Comptroller Peter Franchot voted against the projects because he felt the lack of air conditioning in 65 of the 172 county schools should be the district’s top priority.
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