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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 18, 2013

Patch Coverage of the 2013 Maryland General Assembly

Check out some of the news makers from the 2013 Maryland legislative session.

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, November 15, 2012

County Democrats Look to Replace Del. Ross Tonight

Public hearing to discuss replacements for state legislator.

  The Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee will hold a public hearing tonight to try to find a replacement for retiring Prince George's County state Del. Justin Justin Ross (D-District 22). Ross announced his retirement back in September, surprising many of his colleagues in Annapolis.  Ross was first elected in 2002, and was a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.  Last week, Ross, whose 22nd District encompasses Hyattsville, University Park, Riverdale Park, Greenbet and New Carollton, was honored by the Hyattsville City Council for his service to the area.  Tonight's meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Prangley Room on the second floor of the Hyattsville Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street in Hyattsville.

Kerstin

10:36 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012

District 22 also encompasses the Town of Berwyn Heights, which was represented by Delegate Ross.   more ›

Monday, November 5, 2012

Question 7: A Primer on Maryland's Expanded Gambling Referendum

A look at what's at stake—and how the battle is being waged.

Note: This article was originally published on Oct. 25 but is being featured again ahead of Tuesday's election. WHAT IT'S ABOUT Question 7 asks voters whether they favor a plan to expand gambling in Maryland that would: The ballot question is a result of legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly during its 2012 special session (view the House and Senate roll calls) and signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley. Several other portions of the law are not subject to a referendum. Slot machines have been permitted in the state since voters approved a gaming referendum (59 percent to 41 percent) in November 2008. Passage of Question 7 would mark a significant shift, however, bringing Maryland's casinos closer in line with those of Atlantic City …

RC

7:51 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

I hear all of these negatives to it - like that it stipulates Union Labor and that labor will come from outside MD. So, where does it stipulate that and where are the specifics? And, certainly their will be some jobs for MDers. If there are other jobs created because of this, even outside of MD (if need-be) isn't that a good thing too. Like taxes expected to generate from hotel taxes, extra …   more ›

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