Maryland Senate delays debate on gay marriage bill

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 22, 2012
Tags: Annapolis, attorney general doug gansler, gay marriage, General Assembly, maryland gay marriage bill, maryland senate, same-sex marriage, sen. president thomas v. mike miller
Comments: 1

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Senate is delaying the debate on a bill to legalize gay marriage.
Republican leaders asked that discussion of the bill and potential amendments be postponed until Thursday.
Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller said the Senate could gather into the evening that day to consider the bill, which barely passed the House of [...]

Frederick County makes English official language

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 22, 2012
Tags: Blaine Young, Board of County Commissioners, english, frederick, frederick county, illegal immigrants, Tourism

FREDERICK — Frederick County officials have passed an ordinance making English the official language of county government.
The Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 for the measure Tuesday after a nearly three-hour meeting. It requires official actions of Frederick County to be taken only in English.
However, there are many exceptions. For example, other languages can be [...]

Bill to expand gambling in Maryland to get Senate hearing

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 22, 2012
Tags: Annapolis, blackjack, casino, gambling, General Assembly, Prince George's County, Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, Slots, table games

ANNAPOLIS — A Senate committee will hold a hearing on a measure to expand gambling in Maryland.
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee is scheduled to discuss the bill that would pave the way for table games like blackjack. The measure also would allow a casino to be built in Prince George’s County.
Even if General Assembly [...]

Cyber security center coming to Montgomery County

BY: Capital News Service
POSTED: February 21, 2012
Tags: cyber security, gaithersburg, maryland, Montgomery County, National Cyber Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Montgomery County, national institute of standards and technology, sen. barbara mikulski

GAITHERSBURG — In an effort to fight what Sen. Barbara Mikulski described as the “new enduring war” against “hate-hackers,” Maryland officials announced Thursday a plan to create the National Cyber Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Montgomery County.
The new center will be developed in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a [...]

Gay marriage bill heads to Senate without changes

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 21, 2012
Tags: gay marriage, General Assembly, house of delegates, Judicial Proceedings Committee, legislation, maryland senate, same-sex marriage, sen. jamie raskin, sen. jim brochin, Sen. Joseph Getty, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, vote
Comments: 1

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland senators are unlikely to approve any amendments to a bill legalizing gay marriage, worried that if it heads back to the House of Delegates that it could be in trouble because the vote to pass it there was so close.
Members of the Judicial Proceedings Committee rejected two changes to the bill Tuesday, [...]

Miller: ‘Doomsday’ budget plan being prepared

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 21, 2012
Tags: calvert, General Assembly, gov. martin o'malley, house of delegates, maryland budget, maryland senate, mortgage, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, state income tax
Comments: 1

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland senators are exploring broader cuts to the state budget due to resistance to some of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s tax proposals, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said Tuesday.
The Senate is putting together a “doomsday” budget plan, which focuses on making steeper cuts in case lawmakers can’t agree on the Democratic governor’s budget [...]

Lt. Gov. Brown to testify on domestic violence bill

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 21, 2012
Tags: domestic violence, General Assembly, legislation, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, maryland, senate finance commtittee, unemployment benefits

ANNAPOLIS — People who leave a job to escape domestic violence would be eligible for unemployment benefits under a measure coming before Maryland lawmakers.

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown is scheduled to testify in favor of the legislation Tuesday in front of the Senate Finance Committee.
It would apply to someone who leaves a job because continued employment [...]

Frederick County considers English-language ordinance

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 21, 2012
Tags: Blaine Young, county commissioners, english, frederick county, illegal immigrants, language, languages, ordinance
Comments: 1

FREDERICK — Frederick County officials are asking citizens to weigh in on a proposed ordinance making English the official language of Frederick County government.
The proposal is up for a public hearing Tuesday night in Frederick.
Board President Blaine Young says it would help deter illegal immigrants from settling in Frederick County.
It would require official actions of [...]

Judge clears way for referendum on tuition law

BY: marylandreporter.com
POSTED: February 20, 2012
Tags: Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Silkworth, illegal immigrants, in-state tuition, judge, Law, tuition

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Silkworth ruled Friday that a referendum to challenge a new law granting in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants can go forward on this November’s ballot.
In his opinion and ruling, Silkworth rejected arguments from Casa de Maryland attorneys that the new law appropriates funds and is therefore exempt from [...]

Maryland Senate takes up gay marriage legislation

BY: Associated Press
POSTED: February 20, 2012
Tags: amendments, gay marriage, house of delegates, Judicial Proceedings Committee, maryland senate, maryland senator, Montgomery County, same-sex marriage, Sen. Brian Frosh

ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Senate is expected to act quickly on a bill that could legalize same-sex marriage.
The chamber’s Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to send the legislation to the full Senate on Tuesday and a final vote on the bill could come by the end of the week, said committee chairman Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery.
Last [...]