Amendments

WASHINGTON -- A comprehensive immigration bill that would boost control of U.S. borders and provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. was brought back to life yesterday as the Senate voted 64-35 to resume debate on the controversial measure. The move, which had been strongly pushed by President Bush, gave hope to the beleaguered immigration bill's advocates that it was showing new signs of life and could pass the Senate by week's end. "We're back in the ball game," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican.

A bill that could drastically increase the number of video poker games, pool tables and other amusement devices in Baltimore bars and convenience stores has been sent back to committee for amendments. City Councilman Robert W. Curran asked that the legislation be remanded to the Land Use and Transportation Committee on Monday. In a memo obtained by The Sun, Curran said he wanted the committee to add amendments that would increase licensing fees for the games. The bill was amended once before to increase such fees from $180 to $350.

WASHINGTON -- The beleaguered immigration bill makes a much-anticipated return to the Senate floor today, with some senators saying that a critical procedural vote will signal whether the legislation will be defeated or eventually clear the Senate. If today's showdown vote - on a motion to officially revive the bill - fails to procure the 60 votes needed to pass, it will probably be the end of the road for comprehensive immigration reform this year. But if it passes, senators are predicting - some grudgingly - that it would herald Senate passage of the measure by week's end. The bill then would go to the House for further debate.

Article wrong on Harmony Hall The article written by Karen Nitkin ["Harmony Hall seniors drawn to art classes," July 1] certainly paints an erroneous picture of many of the residents of Harmony Hall. To declare all residents, between 250 and 275 of us, as victims of dementia when she observed only 12 is a big mistake. There are those who go out to volunteer their time at Howard County General Hospital, visit the ill at Lorien Columbia, a minister who serves at various churches when called on, men who are still putting in hours working in their businesses and a group of women knitting prayer shawls.

The Annapolis city council voted to cut the property tax rate by 2 cents, a change implemented through a series of amendments that a bloc of three aldermen tacked on to Mayor Dean L. Johnson's $44 million spending proposal approved last night.The action, trimming the tax rate to $1.68 per $100 of assessed value, reversed Johnson's 2-cent increase of last year.Aldermen Sheila Tolliver, a Ward 2 Democrat, Louise Hammond, a Ward 1 Democrat, and Herbert H. McMillan, a Ward 5 Republican, introduced the amendments at the start of last night's meeting.

After weeks of aggressive lobbying by the governor, a Senate committee is poised to vote today on a bill that would grant Maryland's gay men and lesbians the same legal protections offered to other minorities.Supporters, led by Gov. Parris N. Glendening, said they were optimistic that the bill would be approved in the Judicial Proceedings Committee and sent to the full Senate for a final vote.However, opponents said they were still hopeful they could derail the legislation, in part by offering nearly two dozen amendments, any one of which could weaken it.The bill, which has passed the House of Delegates, would for the first time offer legal recourse to homosexuals if they are victims of discrimination in the workplace or elsewhere.

Supporters of a Baltimore City Council bill to renovate the west side of downtown have offered amendments that they hope will appease historic preservationists and help merchants who face losing their properties.Under the new language, the city would spare the 400 block of W. Baltimore St., designate several structures for preservation and create a list of merchants who want to stay downtown."We are trying to listen and address concerns where we can deal with them," said M.J. "Jay" Brodie, president of the Baltimore Development Corp.

WASHINGTON -- Successfully navigating a minefield of destructive amendments, sponsors of a drive to ban large, unregulated contributions from federal election campaigns won a House vote last night and hoped their measure would survive the Senate.Winning passage, 252-177, just before midnight, leaders of a bipartisan coalition supporting the campaign finance measure said they were determined to keep up the pressure. A similar bill won House passage last year by an almost identical margin only to stall in the Senate, where Republicans are again threatening to renew their opposition.

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said yesterday that the historic tobacco-control bill pending before the Senate is "dead in the water."Lott's comment came one day after President Clinton chastised the Senate for delaying action on the measure and demanded that it be passed this week.The Mississippi Republican said the Senate will vote on more amendments to the tobacco bill this week, but termed a final vote "not very likely." Speaking on CNN's "Late Edition," he continued, "At this point it's dead in the water.

The Maryland Senate passed an ambitious electric utility deregulation bill yesterday -- but only after loading the measure with amendments that threaten its survival.By a 34-13 vote, senators approved a bill that started in the House as a simple measure authorizing Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. to form a holding company.But the bill that emerged from the Senate has strayed far from the intentions of both House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.After succeeding Wednesday in his effort to tack a speeded-up timetable for deregulation onto the House bill, Miller was bushwhacked on the Senate floor yesterday by liberals from his own party -- aided at a critical juncture by the Senate Republican leader.

The Anne Arundel County Council has approved amendments to a bill that would allow developers to defer fees they pay to support water and sewer plant construction. The amendments include an increase in the deferral fee from 4 percent of the so-called "capital facility connection charges" to 8 percent. Other amendments reduced the immediate costs to the developers. "This just allows the people who need the assistance to get the assistance," said Robert Loomis, assistant director for public works.

The House of Delegates is moving to accept the Senate's plan to allow speed cameras in highway work zones and within a half-mile of schools. After rejecting about a dozen amendments Thursday that would have further restricted speed cameras, delegates gave preliminary approval to the Senate measure, with a final vote scheduled for Friday. If approved, owners of vehicles captured traveling at least 12 mph above the posted limit in camera-monitored zones would receive $40 citations in the mail.

Councilman to review public hearing practice A Baltimore County Council member said yesterday he planned to look at the practices of legislative bodies in other counties and consider whether public hearings should be required for bills that have been amended at the last minute. Council Chairman Stephen G. Samuel Moxley said he understands concerns, described in an article in yesterday's editions of The Sun, about material changes being made to bills after the council's public review period has ended.

A developer receives a zoning change allowing the construction of dozens of homes on one particular Middle River tract. Landlords in another community in eastern Baltimore County are added to a group of property owners required to subject their rental homes to inspections. Shopping centers across the county are told they must install security cameras in their parking lots -- but the requirement applies to fewer outlets than originally proposed. The Baltimore County Council passed all of these measures.

When I brought my Thanksgiving cacti indoors, they produced many flowers, but one plant dropped buds. Pesticide didn't help. What's the problem? Bud and leaf fall in Thanksgiving cacti can be caused by too little water, too much water, excessive nitrogen, deficient potassium, rapid changes in temperature and drafts. Excess buds or flowers may drop naturally. Rotating a plant when buds are small may also cause sudden bud fall, possibly because buds turn to face the light and the effort weakens them.

Article wrong on Harmony Hall The article written by Karen Nitkin ["Harmony Hall seniors drawn to art classes," July 1] certainly paints an erroneous picture of many of the residents of Harmony Hall. To declare all residents, between 250 and 275 of us, as victims of dementia when she observed only 12 is a big mistake. There are those who go out to volunteer their time at Howard County General Hospital, visit the ill at Lorien Columbia, a minister who serves at various churches when called on, men who are still putting in hours working in their businesses and a group of women knitting prayer shawls.

WASHINGTON -- Supporters of the Senate immigration bill rebuffed all but one of the most serious challenges to the legislation yesterday, setting up a critical vote today that could decide the fate of the most ambitious attempt to overhaul immigration laws in two decades. In a series of votes steadily interrupted by Republicans intent on stalling the proceedings, lawmakers rejected amendments aimed at gutting two key features of the bill: one provision that would allow illegal immigrants to seek legal status and another that would shift the basis for future immigration from an emphasis on immigrants with family ties to those with needed skills and education.

WASHINGTON -- A comprehensive immigration bill that would boost control of U.S. borders and provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S. was brought back to life yesterday as the Senate voted 64-35 to resume debate on the controversial measure. The move, which had been strongly pushed by President Bush, gave hope to the beleaguered immigration bill's advocates that it was showing new signs of life and could pass the Senate by week's end. "We're back in the ball game," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican.

WASHINGTON -- The beleaguered immigration bill makes a much-anticipated return to the Senate floor today, with some senators saying that a critical procedural vote will signal whether the legislation will be defeated or eventually clear the Senate. If today's showdown vote - on a motion to officially revive the bill - fails to procure the 60 votes needed to pass, it will probably be the end of the road for comprehensive immigration reform this year. But if it passes, senators are predicting - some grudgingly - that it would herald Senate passage of the measure by week's end. The bill then would go to the House for further debate.

City Charter changes won't curb council John Fritze's article on the amendments to the City Charter proposed by the Department of Finance turned into an article full of political spin and editorializing ("Mayor seeks spending changes," June 20). I think reporting on such legislation should deal with the substance of the legislation rather than seek to connect it with "criticisms of the spending practices" of the mayor when she was City Council president. This proposed legislation is in no way connected to that issue.