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.

For those who may have lost count, the public drama surrounding Towson University's desire to disband its baseball and men's soccer programs has stretched 199 days. ( Here's our original story about the proposal. ) Improbably, the governor got involved . As did the state comptroller . Then, the entire legislature . Despite a temporary stay of execution for the baseball program created by lawmakers , Comptroller Peter Franchot wanted to hear from Towson University president Maravene Loeschke at the Board of Public Works Wednesday.

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.

Residents across the Baltimore region could soon be hit with annual bills of $18 to more than $100 to pay for stormwater treatment, wetland restoration and other projects aimed at improving Chesapeake Bay water quality. The fees, to be charged by localities starting this summer, have drawn complaints from local officials who object to the state mandate that requires the fees but also businesses and nonprofit organizations who estimate that, in some cases, their charges could be tens of thousands of dollars.

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.

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.

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.

The General Assembly is poised to pass legislation that would make Maryland the 19th state to legalize marijuana use for medical reasons - though how quickly the state's cancer patients and others might benefit remains in question. The state Senate gave the legislation preliminary approval Friday evening without debate. The bill, which has passed the House, would allow the legal distribution of marijuana by doctors and nurses through academic medical centers. A commission would be set up to spell out the terms under which it would be grown and dispensed.

Maryland could become one of a handful of states that grant special driver's licenses to illegal immigrants under legislation garnering strong support in Annapolis. The bill, passed by the Senate on Monday, would expand and make permanent an existing two-tiered driver's license system to include more than 100,000 people whose immigration status currently prevents them from applying for a license. Gov. Martin O'Malley backs the plan, which now moves to the House of Delegates. "It's a safety issue," said Del. Jolene Ivey, a Prince George's County Democrat who introduced the House version.

The Maryland Senate today passed the most significant gun control measure in Maryland in at least a generation, one that not only responds to the threat of a Newtown-style mass shooting but also to the daily violence that plagues Baltimore and other Maryland communities. The House of Delegates is to hold its first hearing on Gov. Martin O'Malley's legislation tomorrow, and it should quickly follow the Senate's lead. The key components of the legislation are a ban on the sale of assault weapons and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds; new restrictions to prevent those suffering from a mental illness that makes them a threat to themselves or others from obtaining handguns; and a new licensing system for handgun purchasers.

Key provisions of Gov. Martin O'Malley's sweeping gun-control plan face renewed battles in the Maryland Senate next week, while the House of Delegates launches hearings expected to be just as contentious as those that brought thousands of people to Annapolis this month. Lawmakers are again bracing for crowds as each chamber presses forward with O'Malley's proposal, which would give Maryland some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. The governor is scheduled to appear at a Friday rally for his bill.

John Carroll Coolahan, a decorated Marine and former member of the Maryland Senate who acquired the reputation as the "Lion of Halethorpe" when he opposed construction of the Baltimore Metro rail system, died Sunday at St. Agnes Hospital. Family members said he fell in snow Dec. 26 and died after surgery. He was 80. After leaving the Maryland Senate he became a District Court judge and heard cases throughout the state until September 2012. "He played to win. He believed in debate and never shied away from conflict, whether it was on the Senate floor or around the family's dinner table," said his son, William D. "Bill" Coolahan of Relay.

Maryland homeowners could lose out on hundreds of dollars in tax bill savings if they miss a deadline that's a week away. Many may not realize they must sign up for the Homestead Tax Credit, which saved the average Baltimore homeowner more than $1,000 in the most recent tax year. To receive the credit in property tax bills starting this July, homeowners must sign up by Dec. 31. "When you say the words 'tax credit' to some homeowners, it doesn't really resonate what they're getting out of it," Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby said.

Baltimore's game of political musical chairs has begun.No sooner did State Sen. American Joe Miedusiewski confirm his candidacy for next year's gubernatorial campaign than City Councilman Perry Sfikas announced that he would run for Mr. Miedusiewski's Senate seat."

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.

State Sen. Bill Ferguson's car was vandalized overnight, and he said he suspects political enemies are to blame. Ferguson, a first-term Democratic senator representing south and southeast Baltimore, posted a picture on his Facebook page this morning, showing his car badly damaged from what he called "acid. " "Heard I had an opponent next election. Pretty clear its going to be same type of election as last time," Ferguson wrote on his Facebook page. "Last time this happened it was 2 weeks before election day. Not a fun way to start the day, and this time they used acid to destroy my car. " Ferguson said that in 2010, someone dumped food and horse manure on his car. This time, there was also manure on the hood of the car.  Ferguson lives in Canton, and said the incident has rattled his family.