Proposed Legislation

Legislation is expected to be introduced at Tuesday's County Council meeting that would reduce the school enrollment figure that triggers a mandatory halt to new housing construction in crowded neighborhoods. The bill would tighten Harford's adequate public facilities laws that were enacted to manage growth in the county. Under the proposed bill, preliminary approval for new houses would be halted when enrollment at the elementary school serving the site was greater than 105 percent of the school's rated capacity or was projected to exceed 105 percent within four years.

WASHINGTON -- When the Muslim world was first inflamed over images of abuse from the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, President Bush took the lead in a campaign to minimize the damage by pledging that his government would speak through its actions. "There will be investigations. People will be brought to justice," Bush said May 5, 2004, speaking from the White House and into the lens of a camera for Al-Hurra, a U.S.-sponsored Arabic-language satellite network. But 28 months later, provisions in Bush's proposed legislation for detainee interrogations and terrorism tribunals could hamper potential criminal prosecutions in some of the 17 abuse investigations from Iraq and Afghanistan pending before federal prosecutors in Virginia by retroactively changing a key law. The CIA's former assistant general counsel, a defense attorney for a veteran intelligence officer under scrutiny and outside military-law experts all said Bush's proposal could make it more difficult to obtain indictments by retroactively weakening the U.S. law against war crimes.

Halt public debate; build the tower As we celebrate Columbia's 40-year history, we also look forward to the possibilities of a vibrant Town Center, rich with activities for people of all ages. According to the Howard County Planning Board, there is "no public good" to be served by the proposed zoning regulation amendments aimed at derailing the Plaza Residences. In a public work session June 7, Planning Board members unanimously rejected proposed zoning regulation amendments No. 79 and No. 83. If adopted, the amendments could limit the height of buildings in Columbia and affect previously approved projects under appeal.

Sensing a shift in the state's political landscape, a gambling-industry lobbyist is circulating proposed legislation that would permit three full-scale casinos in Maryland, along with thousands of slot machines at horse racing tracks. The proposed legislation was crafted by Edward O. Wayson, an Annapolis lobbyist whose clients include Wynn Resorts, headed by Las Vegas-based casino tycoon Steve Wynn, and a Buffalo, N.Y.-based conglomerate that is seeking a majority ownership stake in Rosecroft Raceway in Prince George's County.

Three members of Anne Arundel County Council introduced legislation last night that would throw a speed bump in the path of developers proposing a 61,600-seat auto racetrack in Pasadena.The bill proposed by 3rd District Councilwoman A. Shirley Murphy and two other Democrats would require Chesapeake Motorsports Development Corp. to appear before a public hearing before building on bay front land south of Key Bridge.Murphy's bill would reverse a much-criticized zoning law that the council rushed through in April to allow motor racing complexes as a "conditional use" on land zoned heavy industrial.

Harford residents could be forced to pay higher property and income taxes if the County Council approves legislation designed to slow new housing development to reduce school crowding, a top county official said. Treasurer John Scotten Jr. told members of the council Wednesday that changing the county's adequate public facilities laws could limit construction of new homes and thus cut into the county's revenue base. He said the county would be forced to increase taxes to make up the difference.

The Howard County Council, feeling the heat on a proposal to limit growth in areas where roads and schools are overburdened, may put off a vote on the most controversial aspect of the legislation.Several council members said yesterday they expect to pass enabling legislation for the adequate-facilities ordinance before November, but to delay action on the complex manuals that outline what a developer must do to comply with the law.The legislation, proposed by County Executive Elizabeth Bobo, has drawn heated reaction from business leaders, who warn that quick action may lead to a flawed law that could shut down development and shake the county's fiscal stability.

Howard County's proposed adequate-facilities ordinance was hit with a barrage of criticism last night after having emerged unscathed in three public briefings and eight special briefings.The earlier presentations were dress rehearsals. This was the real thing with voters and representatives of special interest groups telling the County Council what they like or dislike about the proposed legislation.A 12-member commission of developers, civic leaders, school officials and county employees that has worked six hours a week on the measure for the past year wants the proposal approved without alteration.

Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend unveiled yesterday a Glendening administration bill she said would keep "candy-aisle shoplifters from becoming gun-toting carjackers" by providing swifter, surer punishment for young criminals.At an afternoon news conference, Mrs. Townsend said the legislation was meant to get schools and parents more involved in the early stages of a child's delinquency.The proposed legislation -- House Bill 407 and Senate Bill 343 -- would establish a two-year pilot project allowing police in Allegany, Prince George's, Somerset and Wicomico counties to write civil "tickets" that would require youths who commit misdemeanors to do community service immediately as an alternative to criminal prosecution.