By Annapolis Digest
Wednesday, March 12, 2008; B06

The Senate appears poised to pass a proposal by the administration of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to allow speed cameras in highway work zones and authorize Maryland's local jurisdictions to use cameras to enforce speed limits near schools and in residential neighborhoods.

The Senate gave preliminary approval to the measure, though some legislators voiced concerns with the bill, saying cameras could be an intrusion. The chamber amended the bill to exempt volunteer rescue workers heading to an emergency from being subject to speed-camera tickets.

Supporters of the bill have argued that the cameras would help prevent speeding-related accidents. Currently, Montgomery County is the only jurisdiction in the state authorized to use the cameras.

The Senate expects to hold a final vote on the measure as early as tomorrow. In the House, the Environmental Matters Committee expects to vote on a similar bill later this week and, if it passes, will send the bill to the House floor for full debate.

-- Philip Rucker

Consumer groups faced off with the for-profit debt-counseling industry at a hearing yesterday before House lawmakers on legislation that would allow such companies to be licensed in the state.

Maryland now allows only nonprofit firms to help consumers with deep debts to manage their finances and improve their credit. A Columbia-based company, AscendOne, which does business in 35 states, has lobbied lawmakers for two years to support its efforts to operate in Maryland. The company's business practices are being investigated by several state attorneys general, including Maryland's.

The bill's House sponsor, Del. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery), said the company and other for-profit debt counselors are unnecessarily being held to a higher standard than some nonprofit firms whose licenses have been revoked by the Internal Revenue Service because they were actually operating as for-profits.

But consumer groups, including the Maryland Public Interest Research Group and the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, said for-profit firms have little motivation to help consumers and a large incentive to profit from their troubles.

The Senate approved the bill last week. In past years, it has stalled in the House Economic Matters Committee, which held yesterday's hearing. Chairman Dereck E. Davis (D-Prince George's) said he plans to bring it to a vote this week or next.

-- Lisa Rein

More than two dozen environmental, agricultural and business leaders in Maryland signed a letter to the General Assembly's presiding officers yesterday calling for full funding of the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund.

Lawmakers seeking more than $300 million in cuts to the budget proposed by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) have suggested trimming by as much as half the first $50 million allocation to the fund to clean up the bay, which was established last fall.

In a letter to House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), the leaders of 32 groups said that cleaning the bay is critical and cannot be delayed. The letter cited statistics of fish kills and declining blue crab and oyster harvests caused by poor water quality and pollution.

"While we understand the need to address our fiscal deficit, Maryland's ecological deficit has been overlooked for far too long," it said. "The undersigned organizations urge you to fully fund the Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund."

"Otherwise," it continued, "what will we tell our children, that we cared about the Bay, just not enough?"

-- Philip Rucker and Lisa Rein

Maryland's highest court heard arguments yesterday in a GOP-led lawsuit contesting November's special session.

The suit contends that laws passed in the special session should be overturned because of alleged constitutional violations. The special session resulted in $1.4 billion in tax increases and an upcoming referendum on whether to legalize slot machine gambling.

A GOP attorney argued that lawmakers violated a constitutional provision that prevents one chamber of the legislature from adjourning for more than three days without consent of the other chamber. Chief Judge Robert Bell pointed out that the purpose of the consent provision is to keep lawmakers working on legislation -- not to undermine legislation they approve.

Assistant Attorney General Austin Schlick was asked why lawmakers decided that a constitutional amendment was needed to solve the slot machine issue when they had the power to legalize the machines. Schlick said it was needed to accomplish the full legislative purpose.

-- Associated Press