Blogging from the floor of the Maryland Senate: What could be a fascinating political test is scheduled to come up here this morning as the Senate considers an amendment planned by Sen. Lisa A. Gladden to a bill raising the minimum auto insurance coverage for Maryland vehicle owners for the first time in 38 years.
Those limits, now set at $20,000 per person and $40,000 per crash, would increase to $30,000 and $60,000 under the proposed bill, which is strongly supported by trial lawyers and opposed by insurance companies.
According to Senate sources, Gladden plans to introduce an amendment giving customers of the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund the right to pay in installments -- a proposal fiercely fought be certain lenders who specialize in lending MAIF policy holders the money to pay heavy lump sum payments.
Opponents of the underlying legislation are hoping to see the amendment to added to the bill, forcing the legislation back to the House and possibly throwing a monkey wrench into the works.
Gladden, who voted for the increased minimums in committee, could presumably still cut a deal that would let the bill -- which has the strong support of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller -- go through unimpeded.
Stay tuned. We'll report the votes on the bill and the amendment as soon as they happen.