Lawmakers meet to hash out budget differences
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland lawmakers and legislative staff are hoping to iron out differences in budgets passed by the state Senate and House of Delegates by midweek. A committee of legislators began meeting Monday morning and resolved some preliminary differences in their versions of the state budget package. Lawmakers held off dealing with a shift in […]
O’Malley submits legislative redistricting map
ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Martin O’Malley has sent Maryland’s state legislative redistricting map to the General Assembly. O’Malley presented the map on Wednesday, the first day of the state’s 90-day legislative session. The map creates 12 districts that are majority African-American. That’s an increase from 10 districts that the state’s highest court drew in 2002. Law[...]
Even with tax hikes, transit funds lacking
ANNAPOLIS — A proposal to raise nearly $900 million a year more to spend on Maryland’s transportation needs would fall billions short of goals to pay for three major transit lines and support local projects and other initiatives, state budget analysts said Thursday. That forecast came packaged with a wide range of gloomy fiscal projections […]
Positive results for clients help Legal Aid exec Wilhelm Joseph in difficult times
Wilhelm H. Joseph Jr. sat upright and still, his face emotionless. It was an almost startling posture for the longtime executive director of the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau Inc., widely known for being gregarious, friendly and expressive, especially because the question was about his passion for legal services. Then the smile broke out from behind […]
Senate panel takes up MERS bill, others
ANNAPOLIS — An influential Senate committee heard testimony from homeowners’ and lenders’ attorneys Wednesday on three bills designed to make it easier for borrowers facing foreclosure to discover who owns their loans before it is too late. One of the proposals would remove registries like the lending industry’s home-loan database — Mortgage Electronic Registration System, […]
The Daily Record’s Eye on Annapolis Happy Hour
The Daily Record hosted its second Eye on Annapolis Happy Hour event at Harry Browne's in Annapolis. Dozens of Maryland's political figures enjoyed food and drinks, while networking with our legislative reporters and editors.
Legislative leaders meet with O’Malley on budget
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland’s legislative leadership is scheduled to meet with Gov. Martin O’Malley to talk about his budget proposal. House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller are going to meet with O’Malley at noon on Friday, along with lawmakers on fiscal committees. O’Malley is then scheduled to talk about the budget […]
Bill to raise Maryland’s minimum wage faces opposition
ANNAPOLIS — A proposal to spark consumer spending by bumping the minimum wage to $10 an hour faces opposition from conservative lawmakers and legislative leaders loath to take any action they believe could slow job growth. The legislation would gradually raise the minimum wage from the federally mandated $7.25 to $10 in 2013. After that, […]
Maryland’s General Assembly 2011 session begins
Maryland's 2011 Generaly Assembly session began Wednesday, with the state faces a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, and several hot issues on its plate. Photos by The Daily Record's Maximilian Franz.
Maryland leaders want less spending in 2011
ANNAPOLIS — Legislative leaders took a new approach to setting budget targets Tuesday, telling the governor and lawmakers that they wanted to see the persistent $2 billion structural deficit cut by a third next year, meaning a $670 million real reduction in general fund spending. The Spending Affordability Committee, made up of 21 fiscal leaders […]
Pro bono made easy for solos, small firms
The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service placed more than 3,000 clients with pro bono lawyers last year, making it one of the largest law firms in the state. But even with a track record like that, MVLS wants more lawyers to step up — especially those practicing in small firms and in rural areas. “The question […]