First Click -- Maryland

Your daily download of Maryland's top political news and analysis

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009:

O'Malley to tout new jobs in port deal
Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) this morning is expected to announce the award of a long-term partnership with Ports America to operate an expanded, state-owned Seagirt Marine Terminal in southeast Baltimore. The deal will be touted as creating 5,700 jobs, something O'Malley (D) is likely to play up in his remarks, according to sources. That would be consistent with O'Malley's stepped-up emphasis on job creation in the wake of this month's Republican gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia.

More money woes in Mongtomery County
"Montgomery County officials are trying to digest a new batch of ugly budget figures from the state, particularly this one: $85 million," writes The Post's Michael Laris. "That's how much less the county is getting in income tax revenues in November, and it comes on top of budget gap Montgomery officials had been estimating at $364 million."

One in 10 with prime borrowers behind in Maryland
"The mortgage crisis has worsened to the point that about one in every 10 prime borrowers in Maryland and nationwide - homeowners judged to be good credit risks - were behind on payments in September," writes Jamie Hopkins in the Baltimore Sun. "The Mortgage Bankers Association, releasing those numbers Thursday, blamed unemployment, which is at a 26-year high in Maryland and the United States."

Briefly:

"The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission received nearly 200 proposals for state-funded research grants, the highest number of applications to date in a year when there is less money available," writes Scott Dance in the Baltimore Business Journal

Red Maryland sketches out prospects for Congressional and Legislative reapportionment in Maryland following the 2010 election."

Ehrlich talks to The Sun about the already publicized price tag he expects for a possible gubernatorial bid - adding that he doesn't think he'd have trouble raising the money.

Maryland Politics Watch looks at Sen. Jennie Forehand's $36,251 in lump-sum contributions. Forehand's also on Political Pulse this week.

Laura Smitherman takes one more look at O'Malley's Governing Magazine award.