State Legislature

Reading about the recently-concluded special session gave me an idea ("O'Malley faces political risks of tax increases," May 17). Seeing as how this session was called only after Gov. Martin O'Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch sat down and drew up what they wanted the budget to be and then called in the Maryland General Assembly to rubber stamp it, why not do away with the 90-day regular session we...

State Dels. Jon Cardin and Dana Stein recently introduced legislation that would mandate helmets for female lacrosse players in Maryland (House Bill 1123). The bill was supposedly introduced "mostly to get the conversation started," in the words of Mr. Cardin's spokesperson, as there was apparently no real conversation with any constituent groups prior to introduction ("Headgear bill criticized" Feb 14). I understand that the bill has been substantially revised as a result of constituent criticism.

State Dels. Jon Cardin and Dana Stein recently introduced legislation that would mandate helmets for female lacrosse players in Maryland (House Bill 1123). The bill was supposedly introduced "mostly to get the conversation started," in the words of Mr. Cardin's spokesperson, as there was apparently no real conversation with any constituent groups prior to introduction ("Headgear bill criticized" Feb 14). I understand that the bill has been substantially revised as a result of constituent criticism.

A raft of new state laws take effect Monday, imposing new requirements from the car seat to the hearse. Children under 8 years old will be required to sit in a booster seat or child seat until they reach a certain height - the Maryland legislature repealed a provision that allowed heavier children to forego a special seat. And morticians will have to follow stricter rules when handling the dead, under legislation enacted by the General Assembly earlier this year. Other laws cut costs for patients undergoing oral chemotherapy, allow sports fans to win cash prizes in online fantasy football tournaments and give prisoners a reprieve from having to pay child support while behind bars.

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's ruling party was faced yesterday with an open revolt challenging the authority of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari and senior party officials in the key central state of Guanajuato.Officials of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) were pleading late yesterday with about 2,000 party militants to vacate the state legislature.About 15,000 militants stormed the legislature late Friday and early yesterday morning, preventing the 26-member body from naming an interim governor.

WellPoint Health Networks Inc. almost certainly will not be able to acquire CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield for the $1.3 billion it has already offered - but how much higher the California-based company might be willing to go isn't known, analysts said yesterday. Also, they said, whether WellPoint completes its deal to buy Maryland's largest health insurer will depend on other issues, and ultimately on the state legislature, where there has been strong opposition to the deal. On Monday, Maryland Insurance Commissioner Steven B. Larsen released a consultant's report saying that CareFirst is worth more than the $1.3 billion price set in the WellPoint-CareFirst sale agreement.

Congratulations to Baltimore County Executive Kamenetz for admonishing the County Council for taking in essence a formal position regarding the in-state tuition for illegal immigrants issue. However this not unexpected form a largely inexperienced County Council. Aside from the pros or cons of the issue, it is about practical politics. The County Council has taken a formal position in opposition to something the state legislature has approved. Each year the county request funding form the state legislature for a variety of things, including education.

Corrections and clarifications: Another column implied that none of Maryland's four Republican members of the House of Representatives had served in the state legislature. Bill Ratchford of the legislature's Department of Fiscal Services was the first to point out that Rep. Connie Morella served two terms in the House of Delegates. Your correspondent is abashed, and apologizes.

As the state legislature discusses and prepares to vote on the bill to legalize gay marriage, I have two questions on my mind concerning the subject. First, where did anyone, including the state legislature, get the idea that it or any earthly entity has the right to redefine marriage? God in His word defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, period. God gave man marriage for several reasons, including pleasure, procreation and protection of both parties. We have a right to marry in this way not because the state says so but because God says so. The Declaration of Independence states that our rights come from God not government.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- In one of the first efforts nationwide to mimic a new federal law, a bill has been introduced in the state legislature that would force pharmaceutical firms to give $40 million the first year in price breaks to the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly program."

Reading about the recently-concluded special session gave me an idea ("O'Malley faces political risks of tax increases," May 17). Seeing as how this session was called only after Gov. Martin O'Malley, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch sat down and drew up what they wanted the budget to be and then called in the Maryland General Assembly to rubber stamp it, why not do away with the 90-day regular session we...

Congratulations to Baltimore County Executive Kamenetz for admonishing the County Council for taking in essence a formal position regarding the in-state tuition for illegal immigrants issue. However this not unexpected form a largely inexperienced County Council. Aside from the pros or cons of the issue, it is about practical politics. The County Council has taken a formal position in opposition to something the state legislature has approved. Each year the county request funding form the state legislature for a variety of things, including education.

Wednesday's front page of The Sun exposes the damaging illogic of our state legislature. They passed "breaks" for illegal students while eliminating the 350 merit Distinguished Scholars awards. More higher education, college, as the fix, when state high schools are graduating, generally, less functional young adults ( see "Maryland's uneducated grads," by Marta H. Mossburg on May11) won't improve our work force. The emphasis should be the major revamping and improving of our base K-12 educations, provided college for the deserving, motivated achievers.

As the state legislature discusses and prepares to vote on the bill to legalize gay marriage, I have two questions on my mind concerning the subject. First, where did anyone, including the state legislature, get the idea that it or any earthly entity has the right to redefine marriage? God in His word defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, period. God gave man marriage for several reasons, including pleasure, procreation and protection of both parties. We have a right to marry in this way not because the state says so but because God says so. The Declaration of Independence states that our rights come from God not government.

I wish to comment on the issue of renaming Negro Mountain and Polish Mountain in Western Maryland, which seems to be a hot topic before the state legislature this session. Seems to me that in lieu of a severely mounting state deficit, high unemployment and other pressing matters which are literally consuming this state's resources, some of our state representatives find it necessary to waste valuable time and resources on this endeavor. These mountains were duly named back in their time to hail accomplishments by their namesakes, and I find it offensive to change that.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced Wednesday that she will seek legislation that would enhance the penalties for illegal gun possession and make the crime a felony. Speaking before a group of top law enforcement officials, Rawlings-Blake called for a change to state laws that would create a minimum sentence of 18 months and a maximum sentence of 10 years for defendants arrested with an illegal, loaded firearm. The current penalties call for sentences between 30 days and three years.

Wednesday's front page of The Sun exposes the damaging illogic of our state legislature. They passed "breaks" for illegal students while eliminating the 350 merit Distinguished Scholars awards. More higher education, college, as the fix, when state high schools are graduating, generally, less functional young adults ( see "Maryland's uneducated grads," by Marta H. Mossburg on May11) won't improve our work force. The emphasis should be the major revamping and improving of our base K-12 educations, provided college for the deserving, motivated achievers.

The Supreme Court's ruling in Bush vs. Gore establishes significant new constitutional requirements for state election law. Though the case involved only presidential elections, the new definitions the court gave were based on broad interpretations of the Constitution. So some of the new interpretations could presumably apply to elections at every level of government. These are the changes the court made for presidential elections only: The people do not have a right under the U.S. Constitution to vote for presidential electors unless a state legislature chooses to allow it through statewide elections.

Tuesday's primary election will determine much of the state legislature and congressional delegation in parts of Maryland where one political party is dominant. It will also tee up Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski's quest for a fifth term and a rematch in the race for governor. After polls close at 8 p.m., Baltimore will learn whether State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy will continue in the job she has held for 15 years, or succumb to an aggressive challenge from attorney Gregg Bernstein.

DENVER - In the 1930s, Colorado officials realized they were facing a long-term water problem because the Continental Divide channels about 80 percent of rain and snowmelt westward toward neighboring states and, ultimately, the Pacific Ocean. But most of the population of the state lives east of the Rockies, in the Front Range. So Colorado politicians decided to dig tunnels through the Rockies, creating man-made arterials that redirect waters eastward to those burgeoning, thirsty counties.