Del. Anthony J. O'Donnell (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

Before even the first meeting of a gambling work group formed Monday, opposition is mounting against the possibility of Gov. Martin O’Malley calling a special session of the General Assembly to consider expanded gambling in Maryland.

Republican leaders of the House of Delegates — Minority Leader Anthony J. O’Donnell and Minority Whip Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio — co-signed a letter to Democratic House Speaker Michael E. Busch on behalf of the House Republican caucus, detailing why a special session should not be convened.

“With annual 90-day sessions, it is our view that special sessions should only be called in times of true, rather than contrived, crisis,” the letter says. “We do not see any crisis or emergency that would necessitate a special session, nor has any reason been given why this must be done now.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. — who also received a copy of the letter, along with O’Malley — has pushed hard for the casino issue to be resolved this summer. Any change in state casino law requires an amendment to the state constitution. Any amendment to the state constitution must be approved in a statewide voter referendum during a general election.

If the issue is not voted on this fall, the next statewide election isn’t until 2014. But O’Donnell and Haddaway-Riccio wrote there still wasn’t enough reason to call a special session.

“Holding the debate until the regular session in 2013 may delay the question going to the voters until the 2014 election, but it will give legislators and voters alike the time to consider the issue thoughtfully,” the letter says.

Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

The letter goes on to say that the state should learn from the 2007 special session, where Maryland’s casino framework was established. Trying to change that framework just five years later — and less than two years after the state’s first casino opened — shows the “haphazard manner” through which the program was set up, the letter says.

“If Maryland’s slots program had been crafted in a more deliberative and thoughtful fashion, rather than in a chaotic frenzy, we could be in a very different position today,” the letter says. “We do not need a repeat of past mistakes, the citizens of Maryland deserve better.”

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Last week, Gov. Martin O’Malley confirmed plans for a second special session of the General Assembly, where lawmakers would discuss expanding the state’s gambling repertoire.

In this week’s podcast, we discuss O’Malley’s plans for that session, whether legislators are likely to pass new gambling legislation and what other issues could arise during the second overtime period for state lawmakers.

Enjoy.

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House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

The presiding officer of the House of Delegates said the General Assembly should do something about a recent Court of Appeals ruling that calls pit bulls inherently dangerous.

The ruling makes owners and landlords automatically liable if a pit bull bites or otherwise attacks someone.

But Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel, thinks the ruling goes too far.

“I don’t think you can take breeds of animals and selectively keep them from being pets,” Busch said. “Then, once you start that list where do you go next? Rottweilers? German shepherds? Doberman pinschers?

“I think, hopefully, that we will resolve that when we come back into session.”

Busch, however, did not say whether that meant the matter could be addressed when the legislature is called back for a second special session later this summer.

Gov. Martin O’Malley said that session — which could take place as soon as July — would be focused on expanding gambling in Maryland. But the governor left open whether other issues could also be discussed.

Busch, for his part, seemed to echo the sentiment of several state lawmakers — including Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s — who felt the issue deserved consideration.

“I think that it’s something needs to be addressed,” Busch said.

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The vote on a bill that will raise the income tax rate on Maryland’s wealthiest residents was tight in the House of Delegates.

Republicans voted against the bill because they did not support taking more money from residents who tend to be small business owners. Some Democrats, including a large contingent from Montgomery County, voted against the bill because they said it did not raise enough money for the state.

Here’s the vote list, printed off minutes after the bill passed by a 77-60 margin.

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An American pit bull terrier. (Photo: Dante Alighieri)

Despite apparent bipartisan support, legislation that would overturn a court ruling that calls pit bulls inherently dangerous animals doesn’t appear to have legs during this special session of the General Assembly.

But it could return, perhaps during a second special session that may be called later this summer that intends to address expanding gambling in the state.

After the Senate passed the budget package Tuesday it returned to Annapolis to complete, Sen. E.J. Pipkin, R-Upper Shore, asked Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s, to consider taking up one of several bills filed that would overturn the ruling.

Miller, though acknowledging his own interest in the pit bull legislation, said the special session was about finishing the budget, and that’s it.

Sen. Delores G. Kelley, D-Baltimore County, added that there were plenty of other policy bills that weren’t getting heard, so there was no one reason to take one up that involves animals.

“Laying in the House rules committee are dozens and dozens of very important policy issues that affect human beings,” Kelley said. “We’re going to have to wait to deal with that next year in a  regular session and I think we should in regard to this issue also.”

Miller said the Judicial Proceedings Committee could examine the issue in the interim between sessions, perhaps setting up later action.

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The Senate did not pass the budget package in one day as it had hoped, but gave preliminary approval Monday to a pair of bills that would undo $500 million in cuts from Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2013 budget.

The Senate should pass the bills Tuesday morning, and then it’s up to the House of Delegates to work on the bills.

Here’s a few other headlines around the state:

• The Associated Press reports that senators feel they were disrespected by the Maryland Department of the Environment.
• MarylandReporter.com writes that among the tax hikes proposed in the budget package, $36 million would be raised from companies that back mortgages on development projects.
• The Herald-Mail reports that a new multipurpose stadium — which would be paid for using some state money — could open in spring 2015.
• The Washington Post reports that bills introduced by lawmakers that don’t pertain to the budget have been shot down.

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The Maryland General Assembly will convene Monday morning for the first of what will likely be two special sessions this year. This one will likely end with an income tax hike on the state’s top 16 percent and a shift of teacher pensions costs to local jurisdictions.

The legislature adjourned in April after enacting $500 million in cuts to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s fiscal 2013 budget. This session is to reinstate those cuts. Some say the tax hike will have a broad negative impact on the state’s economy, while others say the job loss inherent in the “doomsday” cuts would be far more meaningful.

Here’s a few other headlines around the state:

• The Washington Post reports that O’Malley is seeking federal funding for an $800 million rapid transit bus system in Montgomery County.
• The Herald-Mail reports that, just days from the G-8 Summit at Camp David, Washington County is feeling an impact from the influx of people to the area.
• WYPR reports that even though income taxes may only go up for Marylanders earning more than $100,000 a year and couples earning more than $150,000, a much wider swath of people will be affected.

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With the Maryland General Assembly set to convene a special legislative session to finish the fiscal year 2013 budget, the Eye on Annapolis Podcast returns to discuss what is — and isn’t — on the schedule for this overtime meeting of the legislature.

We also discuss the future of gambling in Maryland and how the legislature’s agenda will impact business.

Enjoy.

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Del. Michael D. Smigiel (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

A court’s apparent sense of “breedism” has led to an extraordinarily rare legislative pairing.

As the fallout continues over a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that calls pit bulls inherently dangerous, two state delegates on polar opposite sides of the political spectrum are co-sponsoring legislation that would overturn the court’s ruling.

Del. Michael D. Smigiel, R-Upper Eastern Shore, and Del. Heather R. Mizeur, D-Montgomery, want the bill considered in the special legislative session set to begin Monday.

Del. Heather R. Mizeur (Photo: Maryland State Archives)

“A dog may not be presumed dangerous solely on the basis of the breed or heritage of the dog,” the bill states.

Del. Jon S. Cardin, D-Baltimore County, announced on his Facebook page that he also was sponsoring a bill that would respond to the pit bull ruling.

It appears unlikely that the legislation will receive a serious look from the House of Delegates, however. House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel, is not expected to put on the agenda anything more than the state’s fiscal 2013 budget.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s, has emphatically said that the budget would be the only issue discussed during the three day session, as has Gov. Martin O’Malley.

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The presiding officer of the Maryland Senate said his chamber will easily pass the budget revenue package that Gov. Martin O’Malley plans to introduce on the first day of a special session of the General Assembly.

It’s the House of Delegates that will be a problem, said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s.

Miller said the 47-memeber Senate would quickly pass what is likely to be two bills — one that raises income taxes and another that shifts the cost of teacher pensions from the state to local jurisdictions. Wrangling up enough votes among the 141 members of the House will be more difficult, Miller said.

“The house is going to need an extra day to pass the bill,” he said.

But Miller is not blaming House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Anne Arundel.

“He has a much tougher job than I do. He’s dealing with a younger group of people, he’s dealing with a far more demanding group of people, he has the influence of the Tea Party in his [Republican] caucus, he has people that aren’t experienced and haven’t made the tough votes that members of the Senate have,” Miller said. “He’s got a tougher job getting votes together, and I salute him for his efforts.”

Miller also tried to put aside any notion that there was conflict between himself and the speaker.

“People want to point out acrimony between myself and the speaker,” Miller said. “That is not true.”

Miller said the two don’t always agree, but still respect each others’ opinion.

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