New poll by same-sex marriage advocates shows gains

//UPDATE: This post has been changed to add more information about the methodology of the poll.

Long meeting, long words

Today's Board of Public Works meeting was about more than just big government contracts, it also became a lesson in big words.

Bill to ban children from making purchases at liquor stores to be heard tonight

Baltimore's City Council will hear testimony this evening on a bill crafted by Councilman Nick Mosby that would prevent minors from making purchases in liquor stores.

O'Malley to sign tax hike, arsenic ban, ethics bill

Gov.Martin O'Malley will sign bills doing everything from raising income taxes to banning arsenic from chicken feed Tuesday as he closes out the business of the 90-day General Assembly session and the special session that followed it.

O'Malley names panel to study gambling expansion

Gov. Martin O'Malley named an 11-member work group Monday night to study a possible expansion of gambling in Maryland and announced that if the group can reach consensus he would call a special session July 9 to vote on casino legislation.

Grade level of congressional speech falls

A study suggesting that the sophistication of congressional floor speeches has declined by a full grade level since 2005 ranks Reps. Chris Van Hollen and John Sarbanes as the most eloquent -- or verbose, depending on perspective -- members of Maryland’s delegation to Washington.

House approves tax increase, sends bill to O'Malley

The House of Delegates voted 77 to 60 this afternoon to increase income taxes on the top 14 percent of Marylanders, finishing up business left undone when lawmakers gridlocked at the end of the regular session in April. It still needs to be signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley, who introduced the legislation.

Pit bull pals may get chance in a second special session

Pit bull owners and other animal advocates won't get a chance to overturn a recent Court of Appeals decision labeling the breed as dangerous during the special General Assembly session now under way, but they might get their chance if the legislature reconvenes this summer to consider gambling issues.

Senate passes tax increase, pension shift

The Maryland Senate passed an income tax increase and a shift of some of the cost of teacher pensions to the counties Tuesday, averting more than $500 million in so-called Doomsday budget cuts that otherwise would have taken effect July 1.

Miller miffed by "best available technology" regs

Maryland's Democrat-majority state senate beat back a GOP amendment that would have gutted the O'Malley Administration's new septics regulations, but Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller wants to revisit the regs next year.

Pit bull legislation caged in rules committee

Dog lovers shouldn't look to the General Assembly to give them a bone, as legislation overturning court ruling that designated pit bulls as dangerous animals was locked in the House rules committee this morning.

GOP opens session with roar of protest

Republican lawmakers opened Monday's special session with a roar of protest, denouncing Gov. Martin O'Malley as a liar and vowing to fight the majority Democrats' plans to raise income taxes and shift part of the cost of teacher pensions to the counties.

Obama plans two Baltimore fundraisers June 12

He may not be campaigning in deep-blue Maryland but President Barack Obama will be in Baltimore next month for a pair of fundraisers.

Hoyer to support gay marriage effort in Md.

Rep. Steny Hoyer's decision to support same-sex marriage could bring a powerful ally to efforts in Maryland to retain the gay marriage law in the state. A source close to Hoyer said Friday that the Democratic House leader will "oppose efforts to repeal the new Maryland law."

Barney Frank: Obama shift important in Md.

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday night that one place President Obama's change of position to open support of same-sex marriage could have a significant impact is Maryland.

O'Malley applauds Obama same-sex marriage stance

Shortly after President Barack Obama threw his support behind the right of gay couples to marry during an interview Wednesday, Gov.Martin O'Malleywelcomed the shift.

O'Malley, Busch, Miller unveil budget agreement for special session

Standing side by side, Gov. Martin O'Malley and the state's two top legislative leaders unveiled the broad outlines of the budget plan they hope to enact quickly during a special session next week.

First salvo in 6th District race fired then withdrawn on Twitter

Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, the Republican incumbent fighting to keep his seat in Maryland's 6th District, fired what could be considered the first line of attack against his Democratic opponent in the general election race, criticizing John Delaney in a tweet.

DNC chair to headline Obama Shore event

The Eastern Shore's embattled Democrats, routinely outvoted in one of the redder regions of a very blue state, will have something to cheer about June 3 when Democratic National Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz appears at a fundraiser for President Obama's re-election campaign.

Lawmakers want special session to stick to budget

 In theory, a special session of the General Assembly could be an opportunity raise any issue a legislator wanted to attempt to put on the agenda. In reality, there seems to be virtually no desire on the part of lawmakers to deal with anything but the state  budget in the session set to begin May 14.

O'Malley, presiding officers to discuss special session tomorrow

Gov. Martin O'Malley and the state's two presiding officers plan to hold a news conference Wednesday morning to lay out plans for the upcoming special session.

Emails illuminate guv's relationship with top Shore employer

A series of emails between Gov. Martin O'Malley  and Purdue Industry's top lawyer have drawn criticism from an environmental group for showing undue "coziness" between the two. O'Malley's office denies that conclusion -- but the exchanges do provide political-types a peek into how the state's governor manages key relationships (and some insight as to what exactly he's doing with his Blackberry all the time.)

Miller, Busch make nice after session fiasco

If any ill will remains between the state's two top legislative leaders over the chaotic end to this year's session, the two concealed it well at the Democratic Party's gala fund-raiser in Greenbelt Monday night.

Obama to visit Baltimore June 12

President Obama will make what could turn out to be his only Maryland campaign stop June 12 when he visits Baltimore for a fund-raising event, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Monday night.

O'Malley's labor secretary to be Rawlings-Blake's new chief of staff

Maryland Labor Secretary Alexander M. Sanchez is leaving his state post to take over as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's chief of staff.

Grover Norquist to speak in Annapolis

The Economic Club of Annapolis has score an impresive "get" for its May 8 meeting, lining up a speaker whom many consider the most powerful figure in the Republican Party.

Democrats face demonstration at fund-raiser

When the state's leading Democrats gather for a fund-raising gala Monday evening in Greenbelt, they can expect to see members of the party's most liberal wing demonstrating outside.

State Common Cause chief departing

Susan Wichmann, executive director of Common Cause Maryland, said Friday that she is leaving that post to be a full-time, stay-at-home mother an occasional volunteer for the government reform group.

Gambling expansion study already getting under way

Though Gov. Martin O'Malley just called a May 14 special session to deal with budget issues Friday, the General Assembly’s staff and a consultant are already laying the groundwork for a possible second act in late summer.

O'Malley calls special session for May 14

Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Friday that he is calling lawmakers back to Annapolis for a special session of the General Assembly to complete work on budget-related bills  that failed to win approval  before the clock ran out on the regular 90-day session that ended April 9.