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Obama uses tax proposals for his political message
WASHINGTON — Aiming tax increases at millionaires and companies that ship jobs abroad may help frame the fairness theme of President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, but it’s a plan that stands virtually no chance of passing Congress. Republicans have enough votes in the GOP-run House, and almost certainly in the Democratic-controlled Senate, to kill Obama’s […]
Law blog roundup
Welcome, again, to Monday and the law blog roundup. Here are a few lawyerly news items to get your week started. — New York lawyer keeps low profile in high-profile cases. — If this Texan wins, can federal tort-reform legislation be far behind? — Los Angeles criminal defense attorney takes her own life. — Kansas […]
Senate moves to exempt Maryland family farms from estate tax
A bipartisan group of Senate leaders is backing legislation that would exempt family farms from Maryland’s estate tax. “When someone who owns a farm passes, so often the farm is lost to congestion, to sprawl,” said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s. The Senate’s bill will exempt up to $5 […]
MSBA’s Board of Governors endorses same-sex marriage bill
Add the Maryland State Bar Association’s Board of Governors to the list of organizations supporting same-sex marriage in Maryland. The Board on Tuesday “voted by an overwhelming majority” to support S.B. 241, which will be taken up by the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Jan. 31. It was recommended by the MSBA’s Standing Committee on […]
Maryland Senate committee to call for annual online financial disclosure
ANNAPOLIS — The financial disclosure forms filed every year by Maryland lawmakers would be available to the public online under a proposal being crafted by a state Senate special committee. Maryland is the only state in the country that requires citizens who wish to view disclosure documents to access them in person. Other states provide […]
Wikipedia editors question site’s blackout
NEW YORK — Can the world live without Wikipedia for a day? The shutdown of one of the Internet’s most-visited sites is not sitting well with some of its volunteer editors, who say the protest of anti-piracy legislation could threaten the credibility of their work. “My main concern is that it puts the organization in […]
Miller likes O’Malley’s approach to Maryland transportation funding
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said Tuesday he thinks Gov. Martin O’Malley’s yet-to-be-revealed transportation proposal would raise enough money to spend on roads, bridges and other transportation projects. Miller wouldn’t disclose what the governor will propose, but has said that he and the chief executive have discussed the plan. “We’ve talked about the [&he[...]
Water damages Maryland Senate office building
ANNAPOLIS — The James Senate Office Building in Annapolis has sustained water damage on multiple floors after a 3-inch pipe that is part of the sprinkler system broke. Sam Cook, special assistant to the secretary of the Maryland Department of General Services, said there is no major damage to the building that contains offices for […]
GOP maps strategy in wake of payroll tax debacle
WASHINGTON — When last seen in Washington, House Republicans were furious with their own leader, Speaker John Boehner, and angry with their Senate Republican brethren over how the showdown over the Social Security tax cut turned into a year-end political debacle. The holidays and three weeks away from the Capitol have tempered some of the […]
Maryland lawmakers support health care overhaul in Supreme Court fight
More than two dozen Maryland legislators have signed on to an amicus brief supporting the Affordable Care Act as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on President Obama’s signature piece of health care legislation. The 26 delegates and senators from the Old Line State were among 518 representatives from all 50 states, Puerto Rico […]
Maryland Senate panel tackles ethics reform
As Maryland lawmakers consider sanctions against one of their own, a new committee of seven senators will be searching for ways to make the state’s ethics laws more open and transparent and toughen sanctions against lawmakers who break them. The Senate Special Committee on Ethics Reform will compile a list of suggested reforms by March […]
Maryland begins 2012 legislative with big money issues on the table
Maryland’s lawmakers are back in Annapolis on Wednesday for the 430th legislative session. The General Assembly faces a host of major fiscal issues, including a $1.1 billion budget deficit and a push by powerful lawmakers and interest groups to raise more money to spend on transportation. Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to unveil his transportation plans […]
