State Senate

The state Senate gave preliminary approval to an expansion of gambling into Prince George's County, voting for a measure Friday that would allow card games at the faltering Rosecroft Raceway pending a voter-supported constitutional amendment. The measure, a local bill backed by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, stirred a broad debate about enhancing gambling options in Maryland, which is struggling to launch a slot-machine program approved by voters in 2008. Sen. Delores G. Kelley, a Baltimore County Democrat, said the local bill should be expanded and supported a proposal allowing card games at Maryland's five authorized slot-machine venues, as well as at Rosecroft.

Former state Sen. Walter M. Baker, who had served in the legislature representing the upper Eastern Shore for more than two decades and also had been a Cecil County attorney, died Tuesday of complications from diabetes at Christiana Hospital in Delaware. The longtime Elkton resident was 84. "Walter was a lifelong Democrat. He was from a large family that was rural and poor, and he grew up with a great sense of values," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. "He was conservative, and loved the Eastern Shore and reflected its conservative values.

What went wrong in the State House this year? How is it that the General Assembly session ended this past week with so little the way of significant accomplishments?Don't blame it on William Donald Schaefer this time.In the past, he may have been petulant, unsympathetic and arrogant in dealing with lawmakers. But not this year. Governor Schaefer proved the model of diplomacy and accommodation. He was both sensible and cunning, flexible and encouraging. Yet his modest package of bills was decimated at session's end.Don't blame this debacle on House Speaker Casper R. Taylor, either.

Alfred J. Lipin, a former Anne Arundel County hardware store owner turned Democratic politician who served in both the House of Delegates and state Senate, died Friday of a heart attack at Hanover Hospital in Hanover, Pa. The lifelong Glen Burnie resident was 92. He was born and raised in Pasadena at Lipin's Corner, where his parents owned and operated a combination grocery store and gas station. After graduating from Glen Burnie High School in 1938, he attended the University of Baltimore for three years.

Former state Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer got out of one political race yesterday and into another.Soured in his gubernatorial bid, but still sweet on public service, Mr. Kasemeyer said he hopes to return to the state Senate, this time from District 12.He was elected to the Senate from District 14 in 1986 after serving a term as a General Assembly delegate from the "B" portion of that district."

A bomb scare that turned out to be a simple misunderstanding brought a measure of comic relief to state lawmakers meeting today in Annapolis.On edge this morning following yesterday's outbreak of war, a security guard posted in the James Senate Office Building suspected foul play was at hand when a man rushed in, dropped a battered briefcase onto the floor and left.The man, who turned out to be Sen. Arthur Dorman, D-Prince George's, was not immediately identified as a lawmaker. Instead, the guard called for help, and within minutes the office building was cleared of workers while police began an investigation.

"DON'T JUST do something, stand there!" For the past two years, on legislation that would allow Maryland to vie for the $200 million in federal money allocated to start charter schools, this state's Senate has been doing nothing and standing there. Last year, Del. John Leopold of Anne Arundel County sponsored legislation that would permit Marylanders to apply for federal funds to establish charter schools. He did the same the year before. The House of Delegates passed Leopold's bill both years.

The Senate moved Maryland one step closer to adopting the most ambitious firearms safety law in the country yesterday as it passed Gov. Parris N. Glendening's bill to require that locks be built into any handgun sold in the state. The 26-21 vote sends the legislation to the House of Delegates, where the governor hopes to persuade lawmakers to approve the bill without amendments that would send it back to the Senate. Three suburban Republicans joined 23 Democrats in voting for the measure.

Economics and experience are topping the list of campaign themes as candidates begin staking out ideological territories and attacking their opponents' records in the county's three state Senate races.* In District 13, Republican Del. Martin G. Madden says Del. Virginia M. Thomas, a Democrat, has never seen a tax increase she didn't like. Ms. Thomas criticizes her General Assembly colleague for voting against a 1992 state budget that increased taxes she says were necessary to avoid harmful county cuts in public safety and education during the recession.

Robert L. Douglass, a former City Council member and state senator from East Baltimore who was an advocate of linking jobs with minority political muscle, died Wednesday at Maryland General Hospital of a brain hemorrhage related to Alzheimer's disease. The Homewood Avenue resident was 76. Nearly 40 years ago, he founded the politically influential Eastside Democratic Organization with future council President and Mayor Clarence H. Du Burns to bolster election-day turnouts in predominantly African-American neighborhoods around the Johns Hopkins medical complex.

The youngest member of Maryland's state senate sent email to constituents Tuesday saying that he was "embarrassed" by the so-called "Doomsday" budget that passed in the General Assembly with his support. Sen. Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat, said that he cast his green vote on "what we believed" was a compromise spending plan that included a "Doomsday" clause. The budget that passed closes a roughly $1 billion revenue shortfall mostly with cuts, firing hundreds of state workers and making deep cuts in education and other Democratic priorities.

Legislation to add elected members to the all-appointed Baltimore County school board cleared the state Senate on Thursday. Under the amended House bill, which passed the Senate 34-9, the school board would have six elected members and five members appointed by the governor, said state Sen. Bobby Zirkin. The Pikesville Democrat had sponsored a Senate measure to create a partially elected school board. The County Council would draw election districts in consultation with the county school board, he said.

Your recent editorial on state finances preferred the House of Delegates' version of next year's budget over the Senate's budget plan because of its smaller tax bite ("A better plan," March 27). The House version, though, provides less ongoing revenue and a smaller year-end balance. The result: A $200 million shortfall for the legislature to resolve this time next year. In order to bridge that gap, the state will either need to revisit its options for new taxes or make more cuts to local schools, college affordability, access to health care and other community services.

I wanted to share a story with your readers regarding a recent interaction with State Senator J.B. Jennings and relay how he has renewed my faith in our elected officials and the political process. I am a resident of Senator Jennings' district, in Eastern Baltimore County. I'm not active in politics, I've never met Senator Jennings, I don't donate any money, and I'm not a "power broker" in any sense of the word. I'm simply a constituent. I'm also a member of a local law club that has monthly meetings.

A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage squeaked through the House of Delegates on Friday night with just one vote above the minimum needed for passage, putting Maryland on the cusp of becoming the eighth state to allow such unions. Cheers erupted when the gavel dropped on the final 72-67 tally. Within minutes, Gov.Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, walked from his second-floor office to the door of the House chamber, embraced House SpeakerMichael E. Buschand said, "Good job, man. " "We are a good people.

The Maryland Senate voted unanimously Friday to censure Sen. Ulysses Currie for numerous violations of ethics laws stemming from his failure to disclose that he was being paid by a grocery chain when he sought help for the company from state agencies. Currie, once a powerful committee chairman, apologized to the Senate for his conduct — then voted along with his 46 colleagues for the resolution of censure. "I'm a person with flaws, and I do have weaknesses," he said. Choking up toward the end of his statement, the Prince George's Democrat thanked senators for their support over the past five years, during which he was the subject of a federal investigation, an indictment and a trial in which he was acquitted of bribery and extortion charges.

Democratic political activist James M. Kraft has decided to pursue his "initial desire" -- a run for state Senate instead of the House of Delegates seat for which he had geared his campaign for several months.Mr. Kraft said yesterday he decided to run for the Senate in District 12 -- which includes West Columbia, Elkridge and southwestern Baltimore County -- after Democratic Sen. Nancy L. Murphy recently announced her intention to run for Baltimore County executive rather than seek re-election.

Launching a new era in partisan politics in Maryland, the Democratic members of the state Senate raised about $500,000 at a Baltimore fund-raiser last night to help cement their hold on power in the State House in next year's elections.Several hundred people attended the event at the downtown Harbor Court Hotel, including business leaders, university officials and most of the State House lobbying corps.The 32 Democratic senators -- led by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller -- hope to raise as much as $1 million to help their party's incumbents and, in some cases, challengers to incumbent Republicans.

Madison Getty is just like any other page in Annapolis. She makes coffee, delivers papers to be signed, runs errands for legislators and helps get things ready in the morning for members of Maryland's House of Delegates. She does have one tiny advantage, however. Her dad is state Sen. Joe Getty, who serves Carroll and Baltimore counties in the District 5, and so Madison knows her way around the State House buildings, from the tunnels up. "It's been helpful that I've been here," Madison, 17, said.

Nancy Lee Murphy, a veteran Baltimore County Democratic legislator who served in Maryland's House of Delegates and Senate, died Dec. 30 of a heart attack at St. Agnes Hospital the day before her 82nd birthday. "It was certainly sad news to end the year with for the friends who knew Nancy. She was such a great family person," said former Harford County Executive Eileen Rehrmann, who had served with Ms. Murphy in the House of Delegates during the 1980s and remained a close friend. "During all her years in public life, she served her constituents well.