Archive for the 'The Assembly 2009' Category
ONe of the most talked about big pushes over the past couple of days (and probably adding fuel to the fire over today’s tea parties here in Maryland) is the General Assembly’s last minute approval of a ban on illegal immigrants receiving driver’s licenses…to completely take effect in 2015. Those immigrants with licenses now can renew them until 2015, but they will receive an ID that is not good for boarding planes or entering federal buildings…that’s right, a two-tiered license system is in effect for the next six years. However, immigrants who cannot prove that are here legally after June 1 of this year, will not be able to receive their licenses.
This bill was an effort to be compliant with the federal Real ID Act. As reported previously, Governor Martin O’Malley (D) was not a fan of doing this, and was hoping that President Obama (D) would do an about face on the law signed by President Bush in 2005. The legislation was passed in the final half hour, under threat of a special session should the legislature fail to find the compromise. Come Jun, it takes a social security card or other proof of citizenship to get licensed to drive in the free state.
In the meantime, The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the MVA is cancelling the appointments of some 8,000 illegal immigrants who had appointments in June.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, WBOC
The 426th session of the Maryland General Assembly is over. It is also the last session on a non-election year, which means that the 2010 regular session is going to filled with love for the constituents from Annapolis as everyone bends over backwards to convince us why they should stay in office…but we are getting ahead of ourselves. It also marks the end of the previous two weeks, kicking my butt. This whole blogging, going to school and working thing is not as easy as one think, especially with everything being thrown in at the last minute, but I digress. Keep in mind that I have just explained the muted sounds of myself over the past couple of week in a roundabout way.
What a time to finally get caught up on out standing items. Nevermind the fact the Governor Martin O’Malley (D) is looking to go back to the future by pulling a page from 1984. Governor O’Malley is looking to place Maryland’s race tracks under eminent domain.
The Baltimore Sun reported that Governor O’Malley’s goal is to keep the Preakness in Maryland. The Preakness is the second jewel in horse racing’s triple crown and the owner of that crown, Magna Entertainment, has filed for bankruptcy. In addition, one developer has his heart set on razing up Pilmlico to building a shopping center in it’s place.
Anne Arundel Senator Ed DeGrange (D-Dist. 32) wants the legal status of Maryland inmates checked to make sure that we are not paying for anyone here illegaly.
The Capital reporting that the proposal from DeGrange would require the state Divisions of Correction and Parole and Probation to collect an inmate’s immigration status and forward it to Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of a pre-sentence investigation report or compiling a case record.
Right now, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services attempts to identify citizenship status during the intake process. ICE is currently notified when foreign birth, not undocumented immigrant status, is suspected. Currently, the Division of Parole and Probation does not inquire about legal presence.
The Senate passed a bill requiring SWAT teams to report their activities to the Attorney General on a monthly basis. The voting was REALLY REALLY close and passed by a margin of 43 to….zero.
The inspiration for this bill is came from the botched police raid conducted with the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo, who has yet to receive an apology from ANYONE in the Prince George’s County Government.
The story from WJLA-TV (Channel 7). The demand for Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael A. Jackson continues to come from Maryland Politics Today.
Over the weekend, Governor Martin O’Malley officially changed his tune on the death penalty, by asking the members of the House of Delegates, many of whome were going to try and revive the repeal effort, to support the Senate version of the bill which would put in place stricter protocols for a death penalty case.
The Baltimore Sun reporting that O’Malley (D) said that a repeal effort would not be possible unless the Senate gained new members in the 2010 elections. Governor O’Malley trying to put some chivalry on what is a defeat for his agenda said that “The Senate has spoken. I would have preferred that we repeal the death penalty, but we have made considerable progress with the Senate’s version. I plan to testify in favor of that rather than going back to a deadlock.”
O’Malley said that he is ready to go with new protocols for lethal injection, that he said earlier this year were prepared during the same time that his death penalty commission were studying the issue. The governor added that he would begin looking at the cases of the five men that are currently on death row.
A former Republican Congressman, the state Attorney General and a freedom fighter walk into a room…and express their support for Gay Marriage.
The former Republican congressman is Wayne Gilchrest who respresented the first congressional district in Maryland until January, having lose the Republican primary to Baltimore/Harford Senator Andy Harris (R-Dist. 7). Gilchrest joined Attorney General Doug Gansler (D) and Travis Britt, the widow of Prince George’s County Sen. Gwendolyn t. Britt (D-Dist. 47).
Proponents tell The Baltimore Sun that the bill allowing civil unions in the state, will more than likely not pass.
Just when you think that Annapolis has run out of places to ban smoking, guess again.
WBAL (1090AM) is reporting that Montgomery Sen. Mike Lenett (D-Dist. 19) is sponsoring a measure that would fine people who smoke in the car while driving children under the age of 8. Drivers would also be fined if they allow another passenger to smoke in the car while in the presence of children under the age of 8.
There are seven co-sponsors to a bill where a similar version in 2007 was killed in committee.
It looks like Medevac will remain under control of Maryland State Police. The Baltimore Sun saying that a legislative panel unanimously recommended that the operation remain under state police supervision, while calling for further legislative scrutiny of the state EMS system in addition to seeking higher levels of certification, independent accredidation and for safter upgrades. The panel also at the last minute recommended that the fleet be reduced from 12 choppers to 10.
OK, if you have read this blog at some point on the past couple of years, you will know that I have been railing against the hundreds of state symbols that Annapolis seems to pass every year, regardless of what’s on the docket (i.e. slots, death penalty, de-regulation.)
GOOD NEWS! The Baltimore Sun says that the naptown leaders are finally looking at a symbol that should have long been changed…THE STATE SONG!
Those of you who have heard me when talking about the state song know that I think that it’s nothing more than a pro confederate drunken limmerick to the tune of old Christmas Tree. Well, “Maryland, My Maryland” is getting the pimp my state song treatment by some lawmakers.
FIRST STANZA OF CURRENT STATE SONG
The despot’s heel is on thy shore, Maryland!
His torch is at thy temple door, Maryland!
Avenge the patriotic gore
That flecked the streets of Baltimore,
And be the battle queen of yore,
Maryland! My Maryland!
FIRST STANZA OF PROPOSED STATE SONG
We dedicate our song to thee,
Maryland, my Maryland,
The home of light and liberty,
Maryland, my Maryland.
We love thy streams and wooded hills,
Thy mountains with their gushing rills,
Thy scenes — our heart with rapture fills –
Maryland, my Maryland.
As a writer, I have been enjoying the word play as of late when it comes to the headlines on the general assembly covering the death penalty. In any event, no playing hear, NO DEATH PENALTY REPEAL this year if ever. The state senate has made it tougher to seek the death penalty. If you are a prosecutor, you have to have DNA evidence, video proof of the crime or a volunteered confession.
The Baltimore Sun says that a bill called by Senate President Thomas Mike Miller (D-Dist. 27) a great compromise passed the chamber 34-13. The bill now faces the House where some delegates will still push for a full repeal.
Yesterday, the death penalty died in Annapolis, but this one was not so loud, but at the same time, it was not so quietly.
The Baltimore Sun says that the Senate effective killed off Governor Martin O’Malley’s hopes of a complete repeal of capital punishment, 31 years after it was implemented, by agreeing to two amendments to the bill proposed by two members of Team Baltimore County. The first one would preclude capital punishment when the evidence is only eyewitness testimony for murder cases. The second one would only allow the needle when there is DNA evidence, videotaped evidence or a voluntary videotaped confession. Score one for Baltimore County. Score negative three for O’Malley (D) on the issue who was denied a full repeal of the death penalty again.
House Speaker Michael Busch (D) saying that his chamber had the repeal votes, but don’t look for a dramatic difference in the Senate bill, especially when they are about to take on the budget.
ANALYSIS:
Hassan Giordano: ‘Did Md. Democrats drop the ball on repeal effort?’ 4 March 2009 examiner.com
P. Kenneth Burns: ‘Death Penalty Should Be Modified’ 22 January 2009 BurnsNotes
