In November, Maryland voters will decide on Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal to legalize slot machines in the state. The current debate on the issue is completely different from the one that took place under Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who lost his bid for re-election in 2006. Mr. Ehrlich regarded slots as a means to save the state's horse-racing industry, and he preferred raising revenue from legalized gambling to increasing taxes. But Mr. O'Malley, Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch have different agendas in mind with the slots referendum, which include massively increasing the size of government, and possibly the creation of some form of a state-run health care system in Maryland.
Barack Obama told veterans today that he can't understand why Republican John McCain opposes legislation that would provide college scholarships to people who have served in the U.S. military. 12:19 p.m. Records show McCain's health 'excellent' TWT EDITORIAL: Jindal for vice president? TWT EDITORIAL: Lock and load, and wedlock
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — America's wildlife refuges are so short of money that one-third have no staff, boardwalks and buildings are in disrepair, and drug dealers are using them to grow marijuana and make methamphetamine, a group pushing for more funding says.
A few politicians are pumping gas-tax holidays and rebates as a way to aid drivers paying close to $4 a gallon — but in the Washington area, at least, such proposals seem to be running on empty.
Republican debacle
General David Petraeus testifies yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to lead United States Central Command. Astrid Riecken/The Washington Times
Legal aid representatives described to the Senate yesterday their struggle to represent low-income Americans as a housing crisis and slow economy leave a growing number of people with more legal problems than they can handle.
Well, sort of. The news that had again been subpoenaed to appear before lawmakers regarding the matter of nine fired U.S. attorneys has rankled a few of his fans.
Virginia Democrat Mark Warner continues to far outpace his Republican rivals in raising campaign cash for his U.S. Senate bid.
