State House

What is the big deal about what is going on in Annapolis ("After breakdown, what?" April 11)? We all know what's going to happen. The ringmaster ( Gov.Martin O'Malley) will call the circus back to Annapolis. They will then pass new tax laws that will hurt the people of Maryland. The clowns will pat each other on the back and adjourn. They will go home and think how to do it again next year. Ed Forsht, Glen Burnie

What is the big deal about what is going on in Annapolis ("After breakdown, what?" April 11)? We all know what's going to happen. The ringmaster ( Gov.Martin O'Malley) will call the circus back to Annapolis. They will then pass new tax laws that will hurt the people of Maryland. The clowns will pat each other on the back and adjourn. They will go home and think how to do it again next year. Ed Forsht, Glen Burnie

First lady Michelle Obama, 9-year-old daughter Sasha and other presidential relatives toured Maryland's historic State House on Tuesday during a day trip to Annapolis that included a stop at the U.S. Naval Academy. Gov. Martin O'Malley and House Speaker Michael E. Busch, both Democrats, greeted the first family, who then took a 45-minute private tour of the Capitol and grounds. The Secret Service restricted access to the building during the midday visit and kept news media and passers-by at a distance.

A trio of Maryland colleges students were arrested today after sitting down by the State House entrance to protest lawmakers' failure so far to pass legislation boosting offshore wind development. The students, two from St. Mary's College and one from theUniversity of Maryland, College Park,  sat atop the steps with signs saying "Wind Works" for 20 minutes while police gathered and warned them they'd be arrested if they didn't move. Johanna Galat, a St. Mary's senior and the group's leader, said they chose civil disobedience as prospects for the bill fade.

Gov. William Donald Schaefer has announced that the 1990 State House by Candlelight celebration will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8.The governor is scheduled to welcome visitors on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m.State House by Candlelight is a traditional holiday event that began in 1976 as a part of the bicentennial celebration. The program for both nights includes musical entertainment and candlelight tours of the State House.The program for the event includes:Friday, Dec. 7*7 p.m. -- Performance by the Angus Violin Studio *7:30 p.m. -- Welcoming ceremony *7:45 p.m. -- Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church Choir *8:15 p.m. -- Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Slowly but surely, State House leaders are maneuvering toward a joint committee on congressional and legislative redistricting. If it comes to pass, it would be a welcome development.The governor is mandated by the state constitution to draw up redistricting plans -- one for congressional seats and one for General Assembly seats -- in line with the 1990 census. The legislators then have 45 days to accept the plans or to come up with plans of their own. All this activity must take place by next spring.

As the General Assembly commences its 90-day session today at noon, the delicate balance between the two chambers of the state legislature has shifted. Thomas V. Mike Miller remains in firm command in the Senate, but a new speaker, Casper R. Taylor, takes over the House of Delegates. For the moment, the two leaders are not co-equals.All eyes in the State House will be focused on Mr. Taylor. In the past, the House has been the more influential of the two chambers because of the strong committee system that gives the House a more unified voice than the proudly individualistic Senate.

Yesterday's unexpected resignation of House Speaker R. Clayton Mitchell -- apparently for personal reasons -- removes from the State House scene a much-needed stabilizing force at the highest levels of Maryland government. The battle over succession -- especially the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that is sure to follow -- could leave the House of Delegates in turmoil for the coming General Assembly session.Even if House leaders are able to reach agreement on a caretaker speaker for the 90-day meeting that starts in January, the jockeying for position will be hot and heavy as delegates shore up support in preparation for the post-election balloting for speaker late next year.

WHILE Gov. William Donald Schaefer jerks our chain over what he'll do next, his executive staff of 125 and the entire cabinet are updating their resumes.For the next nine months there will be more arrivals and departures at the State House than at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.Already Robert Walker is resigning as agriculture secretary to become a farm consultant in Eastern Europe. Joel Lee is giving up his billet as deputy secretary of economic and community development to become marketing director for the University of Maryland Medical Center.

That recent 90-day stand-off in the Maryland State House between Gov. William Donald Schaefer and the General Assembly could pose major obstacles to the smooth running of state government in the months ahead. Unless the two sides lower their voices, restrain their tempers and work cooperatively, there could be unprecedented gridlock in Annapolis.Government paralysis benefits no one. Mr. Schaefer cannot do his job effectively without approval of his plans by the legislature. At the same time, lawmakers cannot implement their own policy initiatives without the help of the administrative arm of government run by Mr. Schaefer.

Not everything in Tuesday's primary election came in by deadline for the print edition of The Sun . Here's a look at few races that didn't make today's story . - Republican Daniel Bongino beat Richard J. Douglas in the Senate primary by nearly 9,000 votes, unofficial results show. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, got into the race early and ran an aggressive grassroots campaign. Douglas, a former Pentagon official with an impressive military and legislative background, was never really able to catch up in support or fundraising.

Maryland's governor picked sides in the hottest Democratic primary in the state Thursday, announcing that he plans to support Sen. Rob Garagiola for Congress in the Sixth Congressional District. "At this critically important time, when people are paying attention, I wanted to throw support, my personal support, behind Senator Garagiola," Gov. Martin O'Malley said at an afternoon news conference in front of the state house. The governor noted that that the two have "fought together" for environmental bills and for clean energy.

More than 300 protesters filled a courtyard in front of the State House in Annapolis on Monday evening, listening to ministers and chanting slogans in opposition to a same-sex marriage bill introduced by Gov. Martin O'Malley. "We ask the government to fix the problems we already have, not create new ones," said the Rev. Michael DeAscanis, a Roman Catholic priest in St. Agnes and St. William of York Parish in Baltimore. The crowd roared with approval and broke into a chant directed at state lawmakers: "Do your job!

The next two and a half months appear destined to provide a defining moment for Gov.Martin O'Malley's second term in office. If his agenda for the remainder of this General Assembly session doesn't match the intensity of his effort during 2007's special legislative session, when he successfully pushed for a package of tax increases, spending cuts and expanded gambling, it surely wins out in the breadth of what he is seeking to accomplish. He has promised to lead the charge on the defining social issue of the day, gay marriage.

Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School is very proud of their fifth grade art students. Fifteen students were recently honored to have their artwork selected to be hung and displayed as part of the holiday tree in the Maryland State House in Annapolis. A fun family outing over the holidays would be a visit to historic Annapolis, and while there, be sure to stop by the State House to view ornaments created by Maryland students, including the patriotic quilled ornaments created by the following Triadelphia Ridge students: Ethan Coates, Taylor Currie, Luke Gezelle, Katie Grimes, Ryan Hopkins, Erin Jeffery, Ian Kirn, Tommy Maloney, Chase McGeehan, Ayaka Ohara, Grant Owens, McKenna Rueter, Braden Simmons, Martayn VanDeWall and Adriana Zakel.

The last of the scaffolding that enclosed the dome of the State House since summer will come down Friday — leaving Annapolis with an uncluttered view of its most famous landmark just in time for Christmas. For all practical purposes, the $800,000 restoration job is over. "It was just a good job well done and worked out great," said Bart L. Thomas, who oversaw the project for the state Department of General Services. The golden acorn at the very top of the soaring wooden dome has been regilded.

Gov. Martin O'Malley will hold his first "tweetup" -- a gathering of users of the Twitter social media site -- on Jan. 12 at the State House. According to the governor's office, attendees will be selcected at random from people who fill out the online application form for the gathering, which will focus on the agenda for the 90-day legislative session that begins the day before. Takirra Winfield, O'Malley's deputy press secretary, said the exact time and place within the State House are undecided, though the likely location is the second-floor Reception Room.

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold is skeptical of the decision to move two state agencies out of his county - and for good reason. In the case of the Department of Housing and Community Development's planned relocation to Prince George's County, he raises legitimate questions of cost and political favoritism that deserve closer scrutiny. But don't expect that closer scrutiny to come from the General Assembly. The DHCD's move to New Carrollton, announced nearly one year ago, has all the look of a political decision - the fulfillment of a five-year-old campaign promise from Gov. Martin O'Malley that fellow Democrats are unlikely to question, no matter how expensive it turns out to be or how much fuss a Republican county executive might make in the media.