Going down to the end, the House Judiciary Committee wrangled past 9 p.m. over one final bill, approving a bill increasing penalties for felons possessing firearms by a 12-8 vote, with Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. casting the 12th vote necessary to report a bill to the floor.
It was a classic Judiciary Committee arguments, with Allegany County Democrat Kevin Kelly leading the shouting on behalf of good old boys with an assault conviction and a shotgun in the closet, but the bill is going to the floor. Whether Senate Bill 44 will make it into law, it's still touch and go.