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Maryland General Assembly

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Poll: Narrow Majority Thinks Maryland Is on Wrong Track

New Goucher College poll finds the public is almost evenly split on the job performance of both Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Maryland General Assembly.

A narrow majority of Marylanders believe the state is headed in the wrong direction and most are split on the job performance of Gov. Martin O'Malley and the General Assembly. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed in a poll conducted by the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College believe the state is on the wrong track compared to 44 percent who think it is going in the right direction. The same poll gave mixed reviews on the job performance of the governor and state legislators. Forty-six percent of Marylanders polled said they held a favorable view of O’Malley compared to 45 percent who said they held an unfavorable view. When asked O’Malley's job performance as governor, 47 percent approved and 43 percent disapproved. …

Edward V tindel

11:11 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013

THE ONLY WAY I WOULD VOTE FOR O,MALLEY IS TO VOTE HIM OUT OF OFFICE http://dontvotemartinomalley.renthandy.com/   more ›

Monday, February 4, 2013

Maryland Lawmakers Trying Again to Legalize Medical Marijuana

"People are suffering every day" and need medical marijuana, delegate says.

By Ethan Rosenberg Capital News Service Despite coming up short the last two years, several House legislators are trying again to legalize medical marijuana, while others are attempting to tighten restrictions on its synthetic counterparts. Delegate Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore, plans to reintroduce the Maryland Medical Marijuana Act to the House Judiciary Committee. The bill would allow the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to regulate the distribution of medical marijuana through compassion centers for patients who have an ongoing relationship with a physician. “People are suffering every day in the state of Maryland, and they are being subjected to going out on the streets to get the relief we should be providing,” Glenn said. The …

George gerlach

10:49 am on Friday, March 8, 2013

I should not have to leave everyone I know to get my treatment Maryland gov should be ashamed about how they treat your children because you refuse to listen I must move out and find treatment from people who will listen I'm tired of be looked at as a criminal when I just want to be left alone and you closed minded judgemental assholes who think your better than everybody dont even understand its…   more ›

Friday, January 18, 2013

Gun Bills Top O'Malley Legislative Priorities

The legislative package also includes bills regarding offshore wind, expansion of early voting and allowing voters to register and vote on the same day.

Calling it his top priority for the 2013 General Assembly session, Gov. Martin O'Malley Friday said he will introduce a set of proposed gun control laws. The bills are part of O'Malley's 25-item agenda that was announced Friday morning. The requests include bills on school safety, repeal of the sunset of the state DNA database program, offshore wind, jobs and expansion of early voting as well as making it possible for voters to register on the same day they vote. But the focus of the news conference was on O'Malley's gun control bills. "Military assault weapons don't just threaten children and they don't just threaten families," O'Malley said. "They also threaten the men and women, that on our behalf, execute search and seizure warrants. …

Lorna D. Rudnikas

12:09 am on Monday, April 8, 2013

Why La FIFA...am I getting on your iddy, biddy nerveeees? Hope so!!!   more ›

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Maryland General Assembly Notebook 2013

Miller: School Construction Needs State Oversight

State Sen. Allan Kittleman wants voting sessions recorded, a Prince George's County senator suffers a basketball injury and two Baltimore County legislators team up to shorten the wait to get a divorce.

A proposal by Baltimore City to secure hundreds of millions in state money for school construction is missing a key ingredient, according to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. "The state needs to have a role in school construction," Miller said. Baltimore City wants the state to guarantee as much as $30 million a year for 20 years in the form of block grants for school construction and renovations. The city will then use that promise to leverage borrowing $1 billion for its plan. Miller rejects the plan saying it's a lot of money and that the state is needed to provide a check and balance to potential malfeasance and corruption. "I'm a historian, I study all history, OK," Miller said. "Whenever you have a one-sided government you …

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kevin

11:40 pm on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

No he found a couple relatives relatives needed state jobs.   more ›

Monday, January 7, 2013

O'Malley Announces $336M for School Construction

Governor's announcement at Overlea High School includes $325 million for school construction and $25 million for air conditioning in schools.

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Monday a plan to spend $336 million on school construction and facilities improvements in the coming budget year. The governor made the announcement during Jan. 7 news conference at Overlea High School. The proposal, which will be part of his Fiscal Year 2014 budget sent to state lawmakers later this month, will include $325 million for school construction and renovation, $25 million for air conditioning schools and $6.1 million for the aging schools program. O'Malley said that the proposed budget was unusual because of the funds earmarked for air conditioning. "This is the first time an allocation of state capital that large has been made for a specific purpose," he said. The governor also highlighted the …

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Shannon

11:54 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013

It was all a lie to get the Casinos. Not one penny has gone to the schools, and it never will. People need to vote with logic, but instead they voted for their own selfish greed.   more ›

Monday, December 31, 2012

Same-Sex Marriage, Kids' Credit History Among MD Laws Taking Effect

Numerous key laws passed in 2012 by the Maryland General Assembly take effect on Jan. 1.

Same-sex marriage, a first-in-the-nation arsenic ban for chicken feed and a law designed to protect children's credit reports are among the Maryland laws taking effect on Jan. 1. Some, including the marriage law and a Baltimore City charter amendment, were passed by voters in November. Others tweak existing rules, like renewable energy credits and car insurance. Here are the key laws you need to know about that take effect, according to a Maryland General Assembly document. Same-sex marriage: The Civil Marriage Protection Act, passed in the 2012 session, petitioned to referendum and ratified by Maryland voters in November, takes effect as scheduled on Jan. 1. Maryland was one of the first three states to ratify same-sex marriage at the …

Michelle L

10:55 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Wow....we actually needed a law to ban arsenic in our food supply.   more ›

Friday, December 21, 2012

Maryland General Assembly Prepares For Spring Legislative Session

Gov. Martin O'Malley and others to promise gun control legislation in the upcoming session.

By JULIE BAUGHMAN Capital News Service An increase in gas taxes, a repeal of the death penalty and a renewed discussion of liability for pit bull owners are some of the issues currently on the table for Maryland's 2013 legislative session. In addition, the recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., have prompted Gov. Martin O'Malley and others to promise gun control legislation in the upcoming session. However, with the ongoing fiscal cliff discussions in Washington threatening to dramatically affect taxes and the economy, plans for the 2013 session in Maryland may be severely altered depending on the outcome. Maryland has a huge public sector workforce, and is home to a multitude of government agencies and …

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Reader Poll: Congressional Redistricting

How will you vote on the Congressional redistricting plan on Nov. 6?

In addition to more notable referendum questions such as same-sex marriage, DREAM Act and expanded gambling, Maryland voters will also be asked to decide the fate of the state's recently redrawn congressional districts. Earlier this week, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced he intends to vote against the maps and asked voters to do the same. The comptroller said the recent maps drawn by Gov. Martin O'Malley and approved by the General Assembly are unfair and make Maryland "the poster child for gerrymandering." A spokeswoman for the governor noted that the maps have survived a number of challenges in the courts and that the process used to create them is legally sound. Voters on Nov. 6 will be asked to vote for the referred law or against …

Dana Schwartz

2:33 am on Wednesday, November 7, 2012

How can there be so many jerks in this state? This was not about Dems vs Reps, it was about disenfranchisement and too much power in the hands of people we didn't vote for! Very disappointed. It's an embarrassment being "the most gerrymandered state in the US". It's time for an amendment instituting term limits for MD legislators!   more ›

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Franchot Calls For Changes To Redistricting Process

Comptroller says Maryland "is the poster child for gerrymandering" and urges voters to vote no on Question 5.

Democratic Comptroller Peter Franchot said Monday he supports his party's candidates but that recent redistricting of Maryland's congressional is too heavy-handed. "This map is way over the edge in terms of bare-knuckle politics," said Franchot. "I'm a proud Democrat. I support Democrats. I just want it to be fair and not fixed," Franchot said, comparing the redistricting process to "Boss Tweed-style Chicago politics." Franchot Tuesday called for an independent, non-partisan commission that would redraw the congressional and state legislative districts. The change would help restore faith in the political system, he said. The comptroller said the districts should be more compact in order to provide voters with better representation. He …

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Rick Jones

8:32 am on Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It's not only Franchot who thinks the map is over the edge. Even the liberal Washington Post called the governor's redistricting map "comical" in its construction. O'Malley's hubris in designing a map, specifically to enhance the power of Democrat incumbents while minimizing the voting power of minorities, rural voters and Republicans, is astonishing. Hopefully the term "gerrymandering", which …   more ›

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Delegate Justin Ross to Retire

Ross has represented the 22nd District since 2003.

  Del. Justin Ross (D-Prince George's) is retiring, according to a statement from county officials. County Executive Rushern Baker's office announced the decision by the 22nd district representative on Thursday, calling it "a loss for Prince George's County." Ross was elected in 2002 and has served as a delegate and Deputy Whip in the general assembly. "His energy and passion for Prince George’s County impressed anybody he met in the county or around the state and region," Baker said. "I will miss having his voice in Annapolis and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I know that he will remain an active and engaged leader in our county and throughout our communities.” Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley called Ross a "tireless advocate…

Michel Cavigelli

8:06 am on Friday, November 16, 2012

My understanding is he has strong ties to the development community. Has this impacted his voting record to favor development that might not meet the goals of smart growth? Michel Cavigelli   more ›

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