Laura Smitherman has been ensconced in the State House basement, writing about the governor, General Assembly and vagaries of Maryland politics for several years. An erstwhile business reporter, her interest in politics dates to her days in Washington when she covered Congress and national campaigns for another media outlet. She now follows a range of policy debates from slot-machine gambling to universal health care and energy regulation, while keeping an eye on the next election.
Paul West covers Washington for
The Baltimore Sun, continuing a tradition that began the month the paper was born, in 1837. He hasn't been in the DC bureau that long--only since Ronald Reagan was president. He's covered Congress, the White House and presidential campaigns as the paper's national political correspondent and Washington bureau chief. He's on the lookout for news of significance to Sun readers at the other end of the B/W Parkway. That includes the activities of the state's congressional delegation and anything else that might shed some light on the inner workings of the nation's capital.
Julie Bykowicz's first days as a political reporter, in January 2009, coincided with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon's indictment and the start of the Maryland General Assembly's 426th legislative session. She focuses on coverage of state agencies, such as social services, juvenile justice and prisons. During the session, she wrote about the death penalty, slots parlors and speed cameras, among other hot topics. Julie began political reporting after more than seven years on
The Baltimore Sun's crime desk. She lives in Baltimore and works primarily in Annapolis.
Comments
I'm with Ron Smith on this one.
The Maryland TAXPAYER is broke and we are the ones who feed the Maryland and Federal Government.
No matter how hard Ms. Gladden tries to sugar coat this reality, Obama taking the oath of office is not going to change that fact.
Facts are stubborn things.
Posted by: Carole | January 26, 2009 10:49 AM
Whatever....the Maryland taxpayer isn't broke. People are buying the same crap, spending the same money.
Other than a few lost jobs, most Marylanders have not and will not feel the effects of the recession.
Gas is cheap again, people are out in droves shopping, restaurants are full for crissakes...there is no suffering on the part of Maryland taxpayers.
The government may be feeling the effects of the recession, because of its poor decisions, but people seem just fine, as evident by the lines at the stores.
It just another overblown reaction by who else? The GOP.
Posted by: King | January 26, 2009 11:27 AM
Hey King you idiot...
You must mean the lines you see at Circuit City- you know the one that is closing all 574 stores nationwide and is in Bankruptcy. Or at Boscovs in White Marsh- oh yeah sorry they went out of business also. Or do you mean Home Depot- sorry no one there to check you out- had to lay off a few thousand employees.. Just because your still buying your lottery tickets and buying groceries does not mean alot of people are not hurting. Perception is not always reality!
Posted by: kayleemackenzie | January 27, 2009 12:26 PM
@ King: I'm sorry, you must have missed the front page of the Capitol last night. Businesses in downtown Annapolis are closing left and right. Even very well established ones.
Maryland is not suffering as badly as other places, but it's not getting a free ride out of the recession either. Ms. Gladden's comment was ill-advised at best, definitely insensitive.
Posted by: Carrie | January 27, 2009 1:06 PM
What else would you expect from Lisa Gladden?
I remember her quote
it is patriotic to pay taxes!
Tell me Lisa Gladden is it patriotic to raise taxes in a recession as your boy king OweMalley did in the fall of 2007?
If Maryland wants to help its residents Maryland needs to lower taxes!
Yeah right!!!!!!!!
Posted by: jay | January 27, 2009 5:12 PM