Author: Cynthia Prairie

Gay marriage bill dead for the year although some speculate Maryland’s actions could put it in limbo for much longer; couples hoping to marry ponder their next move; Governor may be stripped of parole authority for lifers; snack tax funds would be used to fight obesity in kids; O’Malley continues push for septic ban; death penalty repeal returns; protests abound over proposed state pension cuts, education funding cuts and gas tax hike; and Prince George’s continues move toward ethics reforms.

On the same sex marriage front: Vote on the bill expected tomorrow after attempts to amend fail; lone Southern Maryland delegate for same-sex marriage is gay; two UM professsors — a couple for 27 years — look forward to bill’s passage while out-of-state opponents expect to pour $1 million to fight if bill becomes law; bill giving in-state tuition to illegal aliens expected to pass in Monday vote; Lt. Gov. Brown tells moving story about his illegal alien grandmother; legislation a good shot at curbing drunk driving deaths; O’Malley testifies for estate tax relief for farmers; and U.S. Rep. Andy Harris decides to keep private insurance after all.

Gay delegates, church pastors at odds over same-sex marriage; amendment would exempt religious groups that provide certain services to withhold them on religious grounds; lawn fertilizer regulation mulled; bill would allow workers to keep Facebook information from employers; living wage bill likely to fail; 10,000 expected Monday to protest school, pension cuts; and Mikulski to be inducted into National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Federal budget cuts could spell disaster for many Marylanders; same sex marriage moves on to full House after fits and starts: constituents seemed to hold sway over how legislators voted; community colleges play big role in compromise on in-state tuition for illegal alien students; wine shipping bills get airing; bills would ban smoking in car containing kids and reading texts while driving; gas tax hike proposal draws protests; retired state workers concerned about prescription drug coverage cost; and you soon may be able to dine alfresco with Fido.

Two holdouts ready to vote on gay marriage bill, but just when that vote will be taken is anybody’s guess; O’Malley seeks tax to pay for wind power; the governor continues to support septic legislation or he may be willing to shelve it for more study; beverage lobby may get curbs on wine shipments; DNR seeks stronger poaching laws; and funding for USM at Hagerstown passes committee.