Democratic Lawmakers Denounce Troop Surge With a Passionate Letter to Capitol Hill

Automakers lobbied hard to strip key provisions but were unsuccessful. The industry says the changes would force higher prices on car buyers and make it difficult to buy large vehicles, which are less fuel-efficient than smaller cars. The bill could reach the House floor this week.

-- Lisa Rein

Health-Care Measure Squelched

Sen. Thomas M. Middleton (D-Charles) says he's making health care a priority this year. The Finance Committee chairman said late Monday that he planned to file a bill to expand coverage to some of the 780,000 uninsured in Maryland using revenue from a $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase.

"I'm 100 percent engaged in expanding medical coverage," he said. The bill would mirror a measure sponsored by Del. Peter A. Hammen (D-Baltimore) and backed by House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel). Middleton said he was submitting the bill on behalf of the Greater Baltimore Committee, a regional business association.

But by yesterday, the bill was nowhere to be found, even after Middleton's office released a lengthy fax with the details. It seems Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) put the kibosh on it. Miller is cool to a tobacco tax unless it is used to help close the state's looming budget deficit. And Middleton is one of a handful of senators vying for Miller's job when he retires in three years.

"He knows what we can afford to do and what we can't," Miller said. "I did indicate that it was kind of inconsistent with where we need to be next year."

-- Lisa Rein

Concerns Over Early Voting

Republicans stalled two bills yesterday that would establish early voting in Maryland, raising questions about how the measures would work.