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Posted at 05:05 PM ET, 05/15/2012

How the Md. Senate voted on the tax bill


The Maryland Senate. (Steve Ruark — Associated Press)
The Maryland Senate approved three bills on Tuesday that would raise income taxes on six-figure owners, shift a part of teacher pension costs to the counties and make other changes to the state budget as lawmakers left it when they adjourned April 9. The Senate action moved the special session debate on the bills to the House of Delegates.

Here’s a look at how senators voted on SB1302, the tax bill, which was most controversial:

VOTING FOR THE BILL (27 Democrats)

* Sen. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. James E. DeGrange Sr. (D-Anne Arundel)

* Sen. William C. Ferguson IV (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Jeannie Forehand (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Brian E. Frosh (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Robert J. Garagiola (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Lisa A. Gladden (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Verna L. Jones-Rodwell (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore County)

* Sen. Dolores G. Kelley (D-Baltimore County)

* Sen. Nancy J. King (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Roger Manno (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles)

* Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert)

* Sen. Karen S. Montgomery (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. Catherine E. Pugh (D-Baltimore)

* Sen. Victor R. Ramirez (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery)

* Sen. James N. Robey (D-Howard)

* Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. Ronald N. Young (D-Frederick)

VOTING AGAINST THE BILL (12 Republicans, 7 Democrats)

* Sen. John C. Astle (D-Anne Arundel)

* Sen. David R. Brinkley (R-Frederick)

* Sen. James Brochin (D-Baltimore County)

* Sen. Richard F. Colburn (R-Dorcester)

* Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary’s)

* Sen. George C. Edwards (R-Garrett)

* Sen. Joseph M. Getty (R-Carroll)

* Sen. Barry Glassman (R-Harford)

* Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R-Harford)

* Sen. J.B. Jennings (R-Harford)

* Sen. Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard)

* Sen. James N. Mathias Jr. (D-Worcester)

* Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George’s)

* Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Cecil)

* Sen. Edward R. Reilly (R-Anne Arundel)

* Sen. Christopher B. Shank (R-Washington)

* Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel)

* Sen. Norman R. Stone Jr. (D-Baltimore County)

* Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County)

EXCUSED AND NOT VOTING

* Sen. Katherine A. Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County)

By  |  05:05 PM ET, 05/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 05/15/2012

Montgomery County Council approves ambulance fee

The Montgomery County Council approved an ambulance fee in a 6 to 3 vote Tuesday, reviving the only county law to be struck down by referendum.

The fee would be charged to patients for ambulance service, but it would be paid for by health insurance in most situations. People without health insurance and people below a certain income threshold would be exempt from the fee. County officials stress that county residents would neither see a bill nor incur out-of-pocket expenses.

But volunteer firefighter groups say they oppose the fee partly because it would make residents hesitant to call for assistance. They added that county officials should not resurrect an issue on which voters have already decided.

Some county officials believe that the volunteer firefighters will start another referendum campaign. Eric N. Bernard, executive director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association, said all options are open.

By enacting the legislation, the county again joins the vast majority of local jurisdictions that have the fee. Prince George’s, Fairfax and Prince Williams counties have similar fees, while Calvert, Loudoun and Howard counties do not.

By  |  02:54 PM ET, 05/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:25 PM ET, 05/14/2012

Leggett vetoes economic development bill

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) on Monday vetoed a bill that would increase legislative oversight over his economic development decisions.

In a 6-3 vote earlier this month, the Montgomery County Council approved the bill, which generally would allow legislators to prevent county officials from selling lucrative county properties. The legislation was part of a slew of bills the body considered to boost local economic development.

Leggett’s veto on Monday was the first during his tenure as county executive, county spokesman Patrick Lacefield said.

Lacefield said Leggett struck down the bill — at least for now — because it would add another layer of oversight to economic development, make business transactions more difficult and affect future county executives. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” he said.

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By  |  07:25 PM ET, 05/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:18 PM ET, 05/14/2012

Pit bull, bingo bills also introduced in Md. special session

Pit bull attacks, government waste and bingo were not what brought Maryland lawmakers back to Annapolis on Monday. But as long as they are there, some legislators want to expand the agenda beyond the budget to include those and other issues.


A pit bull. (Mark Humphrey — Associated Press)
On the first day of what is expected to be a three-day special session, no fewer than five bills were introduced in response to a recent court ruling that makes it easier to sue owners of aggressive pit bulls, even if their dogs have no prior history of biting.

Sponsors included senators and delegates and Democrats and Republicans.

“The Maryland Dog Nondiscrimination Act,” introduced by Del. Herbert H. McMillan (R-Anne Arundel), was the most colorfully named of the bunch. Another bill seeking equal treatment for all dog owners, regardless of the breed of their pets, had the most co-sponsors — 15 at the time of introduction.

Republican senators also introduced a pair of bills designed to create a new elected office in Maryland: inspector general.

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By  |  04:18 PM ET, 05/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:07 AM ET, 05/14/2012

Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot calls special session ‘wrong’

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) on Monday threw cold water on the efforts of fellow Democratic leaders in Annapolis, calling plans to raise taxes in a special session “simply the wrong approach at the wrong time.”


Maryland Comptroller Peter V.R. Franchot (D) (Gretchen Phillips)

In an extraordinary letter, released to the press hours before lawmakers were set to convene, Franchot argues that a planned income tax increase could undermine the state’s “fragile” economy recovery.

“We cannot afford to jeopardize the long-term health of our economy for the sake of a questionable, short-term budget fix,” Franchot, the state’s chief tax collector, writes.

His letter is addressed to “fellow Marylanders,” and an aide said its recipients included state legislators.

Franchot, who is expected to run for governor in 2014, has emerged as an independent voice in Annapolis, frequently taking positions at odds with Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Democratic legislators leaders. Franchot’s critics say he has a penchant for attention-grabbing stunts.

Monday’s letter is likely to further reinforce his reputation as a maverick.

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By  |  09:07 AM ET, 05/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Maryland, Maryland politics

 

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