Maryland Politics: December 12, 2010 - December 18, 2010

Baker greets Prince George's government employees

Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) has been making the rounds of government holiday parties this week, offering pep talks to many of the county's 6,000 employees as they confront some daunting budget numbers.

By Miranda S. Spivack and Ovetta Wiggins  | December 17, 2010; 6:13 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Tags:  prince george's county; rushern l. baker; t. eloise foster; william hite  
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O'Malley budget secretary bristles at Prince George's education aid request

A request from Prince George's County's for $139 million more in state education aid than was budgeted this year brought a sharp rebuke Friday from the administration of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

By John Wagner  | December 17, 2010; 4:33 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  John Wagner, Maryland State Budget  
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Montgomery's SnowMap provides plowing updates

In response to irate, snow-bound residents who were befuddled by bad county information on neighborhood plowing last year, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) called on his staff to come up with something better.

By Michael Laris  | December 17, 2010; 4:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
 
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Report: Investigators raid Ehrlich consultant's home in election-night robocalls probe

State investigators gathered evidence Friday morning at the Baltimore home of political consultant Julius Henson as part of an ongoing probe of election-night robocalls, WBAL television in Baltimore is reporting.

By John Wagner  | December 17, 2010; 1:51 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  2010 Elections, John Wagner  
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O'Malley won't join McDonnell in calling for quick review of federal health law

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has rebuffed an offer by Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) to join him in requesting an expedited Supreme Court review of this week's ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that part of the nation's massive new health law is unconstitutional.

By John Wagner  | December 17, 2010; 12:38 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Governor, John Wagner  
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Gay-rights group hires well-known lobbying firm for same-sex marriage push in Maryland

Equality Maryland, the state's largest gay-rights advocacy group, has hired Alexander & Cleaver, a top-flight Annapolis lobbying firm, to help push for legalization of same-sex marriage in the upcoming legislative session.

By John Wagner  | December 16, 2010; 11:14 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  General Assembly, John Wagner  
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Revenue estimates in Md. improve a smidgeon

In such dire budget times for state governments, this proved enough to qualify as good news Wednesday in Maryland: Revenue projections for this year and next are no worse than they were back in September.

By John Wagner  | December 15, 2010; 3:47 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Governor, John Wagner  
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'Bi-metropolitan' O'Malley offers thoughts on being appreciated in Montgomery

Is Montgomery County not sufficiently appreciated by state leaders? Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) tackled that perennial question Monday with a mix of humor and candor -- and a trace of irritation.

By John Wagner  | December 14, 2010; 8:12 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Governor, John Wagner, Montgomery County  | Tags:  martin o'malley; montgomery county; isiah leggett; committee for montgomery  
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Smaller slots casino envisioned first at Arundel Mills

The developers of Maryland's largest planned slots casino unveiled a strategy Monday to open a smaller facility late next year at Arundel Mills mall as construction continues on its full-size project.

By John Wagner  | December 13, 2010; 5:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  John Wagner, Slots  | Tags:  maryland slots; arundel mills mall; cordish cos.  
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David Nitkin leaving Sun to work for Howard County

David Nitkin, a longtime reporter and editor of Maryland politics, is leaving the Baltimore Sun for a job in Howard County government.

By John Wagner  | December 13, 2010; 12:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  John Wagner  
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Orientation begins for Pr. George's County Council

Prince George's County Council, which has five new members, begins two days of orientation Monday for its newcomers, and anyone who might want a refresher. Among the missing: new council member Leslie Johnson (D), who last week was sworn in but then denied committee assignments by her colleagues after a heated discussion behind closed doors.

By Miranda S. Spivack  | December 13, 2010; 10:43 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Miranda Spivack, Prince George's County  
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