'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Maryland has long been one of the nation's most Democratic-leaning states, but its progressive politics seem to have ramped up even further of late.
Supporters of a Maryland ballot initiative to expand gambling have touted it as a boon for education funding, but opponents say that claim is just a bluff.
Maryland lawmakers tasked with reviewing a court ruling on the danger of pit bulls are scheduled to meet next week to continue the complicated debate on the rights of dog owners, the safety of residents and the protection of the breed.
Pit-bull owners and the landlords who rent to them will not be subject to stricter liability while a Maryland Court of Appeals decision designating the dogs "inherently dangerous" is under appeal, according to an advisory letter from the state attorney general's office.
Lawmakers might have to wait until next year to change the state's laws on dog bites because the likelihood of a summer special session is fading.
Maryland lawmakers could make all dog owners liable for their dog's first bite in response to an April court ruling that classified only pit bulls as "inherently dangerous."
The Maryland General Assembly could consider legislation that would soften the impact of an April court ruling classifying pit bulls as "inherently dangerous" in the latest of several recent cases that have highlighted the checks and balances between the state's legislative and judicial branches.
The House voted Friday night to approve Gov. Martin O'Malley's same-sex marriage bill, sending the legislation to the Senate and clearing what was likely its most formidable legislative hurdle.
Gov. Martin O'Malley's renewed fight to legalize same-sex marriage will depend heavily on assuring religious groups that his proposed legislation won't infringe on their beliefs or opposition to the weddings.
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's executive order calling for a study on natural-gas drilling has upset some political opponents, who note that a similar proposal failed in this year's General Assembly.
When the Maryland Senate voted last month with little debate to legalize same-sex marriage, the issue went from one never strongly considered in the General Assembly to one whose time appeared to have arrived.
"Maryland is a state that is founded on freedom, justice and tolerance," Delegate Heather R. Mizeur, Montgomery Democrat, said Friday during debate over the death penalty bill. "Today's historic vote is a long time coming."
Delegate Heather R. Mizeur, Montgomery Democrat, also has said she is considering a run.
