Thursday, May 3, 2012
Let us know if you think lawmakers can agree on a better state budget.
In early April, the Maryland Legislature passed a "doomsday budget" that would require $512 million in cuts across the state, which would be felt everywhere from classrooms and libraries to police departments and nonprofits. Now, they're heading back to Annapolis to fix it. Gov. Martin O'Malley and state legislators have agreed to reconvene the General Assembly on May 14 to address the budget cuts, the Associated Press reported Wednesday afternoon. Only two weeks ago, Montgomery County representatives to the General Assembly told the Gaithersburg City Council exactly what they thought of the so-called "doomsday budget." Sen. Jennie Forehand, D-Montgomery County, called the budget "truly terrible." Fellow Montgomery County Democratic Del. …
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The measure will make Maryland the eighth state to legalize gay marriage.
Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign Maryland's same-sex marriage bill Thursday, the Washington Post reported, and many of the bill's supporters expect the issue to go to referendum in November. O'Malley has supported the bill throughout the legislative session, and it lands on his desk after clearing the House and Senate. However, opponents of the bill will likely take the issue to a referendum, and an October poll found that Marylanders were about evenly split on same-sex marriage. What do you think? Vote in our poll and share your views in the comments.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Vote in our poll and share your views in the comments.
The Maryland House is debating a same-sex marriage bill today, and a vote could come as soon as tonight, the Capital News Service reports. Gov. Martin O'Malley has put his weight behind the effort this year, after the last session's bill died in the house. For its part, the Town of Kensington has already voiced its support for marriage equality. In 2007, the Town Council passed a unanimous resolution calling on the state's legislature to legalize same-sex marriage, and that resolution still stands. So, what do you think?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Kensington senator is profiled in this month's issue of The Washingtonian.
The debate over same-sex marriage is a personal one for Sen. Rich Madaleno. The Kensington resident is Maryland's first openly gay senator, and he told The Washingtonian that discussions about equality in the Assembly often hit close to home. "As respectful and dignified as the debate on the floor was, it was still difficult to sit and listen to your life being debated," he told the magazine. "... this idea of the slippery slope to societal breakdown — even if no one is saying 'you,' you don't appreciate being told your life is leading to the downfall of American civilization — especially from people who are already on their second marriages." Madaleno is profiled in this month's issue of the magazine, and some of his colleagues say the …
Friday, January 27, 2012
The new bill, SB 241, includes broader language that, among other guarantees, ensures that each religious entity "has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine, policy teachings, and beliefs regarding who may marry within that faith."
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Friday, January 27, 2012
By Tom McParland, Capital News Service Gov. Martin O'Malley touted increased religious protections as he promoted a new same-sex marriage bill Tuesday that supporters hope can overcome the objections raised last year. Flanked by lawmakers, religious leaders and union members, the governor repeatedly invoked the values of equal rights and religious freedom, which, he says, the legislation protects. "Yesterday we submitted a marriage equality bill which balances equal protection of individual rights with the important protection of religious liberty and religious freedom," O'Malley said, at a press conference in front of Government House. O'Malley hosted same-sex couples at a breakfast before the announcement. Supporters of same-sex marriage…
Thursday, January 12, 2012
District 18 is well-represented in the General Assembly's leadership.
As the General Assembly session opens in Annapolis, Montgomery County lawmakers have increased their clout. And District 18 — which includes Kensington, Wheaton and Chevy Chase — is well-represented in the House and Senate leadership. Sen. Rich Madaleno, of Kensington, chairs the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, which manages appropriations and tax matters. Del. Jeff Waldstreicher, also of Kensington, serves as the chairman of the Estates and Trusts Subcommittee, which falls under the House Judiciary Committee. Del. Ana Sol Gutiérrez, of Chevy Chase, is the House chairwoman of the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, which oversees the state treasurer's handling …
Sam R
12:00 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
It's amazing, but I had to find out here: http://tothecenter.com/2012/03/maryland-signs-same-sex-marriage-bill/. This really isn't getting as much attention as New York's was. Shame, but good for marriage equality. more ›