Votes

Advertisements praising Maryland's new gun control law will appear on Baltimore-area televisions soon after the measure is signed Thursday - the first volley in a two-pronged effort to defend the legislation and the politicians who voted for it. The gun control advocates behind the ads want to bolster support among Maryland voters in case there's a referendum next year. But they also want to counter a campaign to oust lawmakers who backed the bill in the General Assembly. "We know that the other side will be attacking the legislators who voted for it, and we want people to know those legislators were doing the right thing to save lives in Maryland," said Vincent DeMarco, president of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

In an emotionally charged vote Thursday, the Boy Scouts of America lifted its ban on gay youth starting in January, the latest sign of a shift in American attitudes toward gays and lesbians. After months of debate in local districts, more than 61 percent of the Boy Scouts national council approved a resolution at its annual meeting, overturning the long-standing prohibition on openly gay youth, while retaining a ban on gay adult leaders. Of 1,232 votes, 757 were in favor. Gay advocates called the vote a step in the right direction for the 103-year-old group, among the nation's largest youth organizations, with more than 2.6 million youth members.

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 Baltimore County Council voted Thursday to significantly lower fees developers pay to help the county buy parks and recreational land. A council resolution lowering the fees — in some categories nearly 90 percent — passed in a 6-1 vote, with Council Chairman Tom Quirk voting against it. County law requires developers to set aside land for recreation or open space when they build housing developments. But since 2000, the county has allowed developers to pay "waiver fees" instead of preserving land, if the county director of parks and recreation approves.

I had a chance to talk to former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro about Wednesday's Hall of Fame announcement that the Baseball Writers' Association of America did not vote in anyone for the 2013 induction class . That includes Palmeiro, who was on his third year of the ballot and is one of just four players in the game's history to have at least 500 homers and 3,000 hits. He's also the only one on this year's ballot to have tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. In 2005, months after he told a congressional committee that he had never taken steroids, a drug test found stanozolol in his system and Major League Baseball suspended him for 10 days.

Thanks, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., for your warning to the Democrats ("Democrats riding high, but beware a midterm crash," March 10). Now, let me ask a question to a Republican: What do you see a conservative, Republican Party doing to swing the Democrats their way? When I was in my 20s, I asked my father the difference between the. He told me the Republicans live in the past and the Democrats always look to the future. I am now 84 years old and I believe he was right. Since Mr. Ehrlich's party is still in shock over the last election, some keep saying they just didn't explain themselves enough.

Editor: I am very grateful to the voters of Havre de Grace, this was my first attempt to serve as a member of the City Council. I was not elected, however, the number of votes I received was impressive and most gratifying. Thank you and I shall return! Robert E. Greene Havre de Grace

The Republican answer to not taxing the rich is to reduce unemployment benefits and freeze federal workers pay, again affecting the middle class and not the wealthy ("Lawmakers hold talks as shutdown draws close," Dec. 15). And yet they want our vote? Maybe a wiser cut would be to reduce their salaries; I'm sure they wouldn't take much time turning that one down! Gary Lusby, Ocean View, Del.

In response to your editorial "No defender of the bay" (July 18), are you really surprised that Congressman Andy Harris voted against protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay? You can expect every vote from the 1st Congressional District to be against protecting Maryland's environment and waters until Rep. Harris gets what he deserves - retirement. John A. Pica Jr., Baltimore The writer is a former Democratic state senator from Baltimore.

Remember all that voting you did this week? I'm not talking about the election; I'm talking about “The Voice.” Well, we got to see the results tonight, and I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in you, America. A results show means a lot of filler, but I'm gonna cut straight to the chase here because I'm angry. The deal was this, America: You got to save two people on each team, while Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton got to save one. Team Adam Saved by America: Amanda Brown and Bryan Keith Saved by Adam: Melanie Martinez Eliminated: Loren Allred, Joselyn Rivera In this case, it's Adam I'm mad at - you're good for now, America.

Editor: I am very grateful to the voters of Havre de Grace, this was my first attempt to serve as a member of the City Council. I was not elected, however, the number of votes I received was impressive and most gratifying. Thank you and I shall return! Robert E. Greene Havre de Grace

Late Ravens owner Art Modell might face an easier path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame if the museum follows through on tentative discussions of putting "contributors" in a different voting pool than players. Modell, who brought pro football back to Baltimore, made a list of 15 finalists for the 2013 class, the first time he had gotten that far in the voting since 2001. Modell's death last September at age 87 seemed to spur a reconsideration of his candidacy, which has always been divisive because he moved his franchise from Cleveland.

Anne Arundel County's stormwater fee hasn't been collected yet, but the County Council has already changed it. By a 7-0 vote Monday night, council members agreed to reduce the maximum fee that commercial property owners would pay and to phase in the fee for some property owners. The changes were made to make the stormwater fee more palatable to County Executive Laura Neuman, who vetoed the stormwater fee that the council passed earlier this spring. Owners of nonresidential properties still must pay based on the percentage of their lot that's covered by impervious surfaces such as parking lots and rooftops.

Republicans accuse Thomas E. Perez, President Barack Obama's nominee for labor secretary, of twisting the legal process in three cases in St. Paul, Minn., to suit his political purposes. But it is they who are twisting the Senate's role to "advise and consent" on presidential nominees for their own political ends, and in so doing they have smeared the reputation of a talented public servant and damaged the institution in which they serve. Mr. Perez made it out of committee on a party-line vote Thursday, but Republicans are still suggesting they may try to block his nomination on the Senate floor.

Brian Rogers, manager of the T. Rowe Price Equity Income Fund in Baltimore, won't be voting the fund's shares in support of splitting the role of CEO and chairman at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon has been CEO at JP Morgan since 2005 and became chairman a year later. "I fully support the combined Chairman and CEO role at JPMorgan under the superb leadership of Jamie Dimon," Rogers said in a statement. "He and his management team have created superior shareholder value after the company weathered the financial crisis so capably.

Advertisements praising Maryland's new gun control law will appear on Baltimore-area televisions soon after the measure is signed Thursday - the first volley in a two-pronged effort to defend the legislation and the politicians who voted for it. The gun control advocates behind the ads want to bolster support among Maryland voters in case there's a referendum next year. But they also want to counter a campaign to oust lawmakers who backed the bill in the General Assembly. "We know that the other side will be attacking the legislators who voted for it, and we want people to know those legislators were doing the right thing to save lives in Maryland," said Vincent DeMarco, president of Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence.

Even the most ardent fans of Mitt Romney ought to take the latest of President Barack Obama's reelection ads to heart. Here's its point: 537. That's the number of votes (along with a favorable Supreme Court ruling) that decided who won Florida - and the presidency - in the contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. This year's election is shaping up to be just as close, with the latest polls suggesting the outcome could turn on a relatively few voters in states like Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Colorado and even tiny New Hampshire.

Faced with a standing-room-only crowd of about 100 supporters of the arts and nonprofits organizations, the Columbia Association Board tentatively voted unanimously to give the Columbia Festival of the Arts its full funding allotment of $95,000 for this year's event. The board also voted unanimously to fund a total of $234,000 for community grants and nonprofits instead of a lower amount approved in a straw vote Monday night. The action reverses votes the board took Monday night to cut funding for grants to $200,000.

The City Council is poised to vote Monday on a bill that would require businesses receiving large city contracts or major financial support to hire 51 percent of new workers from Baltimore - or face sanctions. "We have the highest unemployment rate in the state," said City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young, the bill's lead sponsor. "If a business wants to take our money, at least hire us. As they begin to enrich themselves, enrich the citizens as well. " But the city's law department is challenging the legislation - calling it unconstitutional - and some businesses are objecting to what they believe is a burdensome requirement.

WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee vote on Labor Secretary nominee Tom Perez was postponed hours before it was set to take place Wednesday, highlighting what appears to be a growing partisan fight over the confirmation of the former Maryland official.  Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee accused Republicans of relying on an obscure rule to delay the committee vote, which had been moved back once before. Republicans said Perez has failed to answer questions they say are critical to understanding his record.