One week to go...
The Sun's State House crew sums up the remaining issues before the General Assembly this year, and compared to what we've seen in the past, they look rather manageable. The budget conference committee seems to be moving right along, despite all the cuts they've dealt with this year. The death penalty, speed cameras, texting while driving, climate change, etc., have already been dealt with.
Re-regualtion of electricity always has the potential to become a huge fight, but with Economic Matters Committee Chairman Del. Dereck Davis skeptical of the bill, it's hard to see major momentum for its passage so late in the session. Lawmakers, Davis included, are wary of big changes to the state's utility laws after approving what many now consider an ill-advised deregulation scheme in 1999. Davis is smart and well respected in the House, and it's unlikely that his committee, much less the whole chamber, would buck him on something like this.
That leaves us with illegal immigrant driver's licenses. For those who missed the news last week, both chambers are moving ahead with plans to bring Maryland into compliance with the federal Real ID law but with a key difference: The Senate wants to require proof of legal residence for all new licenses and renewals. The House wants to grandfather in illegal immigrants who now have licenses and create a two-tier system, so that their licenses would be labeled "not federally compliant" for the purposes of getting into federal buildings, boarding airplanes, etc. Gov. O'Malley says he'll sign either bill but prefers the House approach.
There was some news on this front over the weekend in that the Senate dropped a clause from its budget bill that would have denied funding for the MVA to provide licenses to illegal immigrants. I wouldn't read too much into that, though. The two chambers will fight out the policy issue in legislation; no need to hold up a $14 billion budget over it.
Two factors could make this issue the big fight of the last week of the session. For one, there's pressure to do something before the legislature adjourns because of a federal deadline to come into compliance with Real ID. The other is that there's not obvious compromise. One side or the other is going to have to cave.
Comments
There is a third option for the Driver's license issue - do nothing.
Do you really think the Obama administration will really penalize states for being out of compliance?
Plus all this talk about Maryland being one of four states out of compliance is hogwash. We're one of four states to yet enact some sort of Real ID legislation. Many of the other 46 states have some legislation that May or May Not be in compliance with the current federal law.
Posted by: Mark Anderson | April 6, 2009 10:59 AM
What part of illegal do our demigods in Annapolis not understand.
Screw CASA!
Posted by: jay | April 6, 2009 12:31 PM
"despite all the cuts they've dealt with this year"
Can you confirm if these "cuts" are cuts from the INCREASE in spending or are they REAL cuts in spending from what the programs spent last budget year?
I am sick and tired of the word games these legislooters use when saying how proud they are of the "cuts" they propose.
As for DL's to illegals. If they continue to allow illegals to get DL's it will be proof they care more about ILLEGAL ALIENS than the safety of their LEGAL constituents.
Posted by: Fed Up | April 6, 2009 1:45 PM
From the linked article, "Sen. President Thomas V. Mike Miller held out the possibility that a bill designed to strengthen the state's hold on the Preakness could still be introduced."
I thought the time has passed to introduce new bills? Or is this another one of those obscure rules they can use when convenient?
Posted by: Fed Up | April 6, 2009 1:49 PM
Yes, they are poised to actually spend less money this year than last year.
And as for the bill introduction deadline, bills can be introduced after that if the chamber votes to suspend the rules. Happens all the time.
Posted by: Andy Green | April 6, 2009 2:07 PM
Thanks Andy. But, why then have rules?
Posted by: Fed Up | April 6, 2009 2:12 PM
The vast majority of bills (remember, 1,000-plus are introduced in each chamber every year) do get introduced before the deadline. That gives the committees sufficient time to go over them. But every year some dozens of bills get introduced after the deadline, sometimes in response to late developments, like the Preakness situation, sometimes because constituents ask their legislators to do something, sometimes just because a lawmaker didn't get his or her act together. It's discouraged because of the workflow, but it does routinely happen, and not just when Mike Miller suggests it.
Posted by: Andy Green | April 6, 2009 2:16 PM
Word is circulating in Annapolis that emergency legislation was drafted up late last week and over the weekend for the state to purchase Pimlico. People with a close eye to Annapolis will note that Miller was really rushing last week and said Friday they had accomplished most of what they usually waited until Sine Die to complete.
Ask yourselves, why would they rush? Preakness. Look at the media attention to the issue. Does anyone think that is accidental? Will Andy Green tell us that there wasn't some leakage of bidding proposals coming from Annapolis? A little heat to write about the subject perhaps?
The question is, where would the funding come from? Would it come from the fabled slots 'revenue' that was promised to schols, horse racers and localities (and boy did they get hit over the head by the Governor who promised he wouldn't cut them!)? Will it come from some new tax? Maybe an attempt to say future sales receipts cover the bonding (risky, but possible)?
Ask yourselves what are you willing to give up for the Preakness?
Posted by: James | April 6, 2009 3:55 PM
For those who missed the news last week, both chambers are moving ahead with plans to bring Maryland into compliance with the federal Real ID law but with a key difference: The Senate wants to require proof of legal residence for all new licenses and renewals. The House wants to grandfather in illegal immigrants who now have licenses and create a two-tier system, so that their licenses would be labeled "not federally compliant" for the purposes of getting into federal buildings, boarding airplanes, etc. Gov. O'Malley says he'll sign either bill but prefers the House approach.
mva maryland
Posted by: ander | April 8, 2009 12:43 PM
They are not illegal immigrants they are illegal aliens. Immigrants go through legal processes to enter a county. People who intentionally break the law to enter don't deserve the immigrant title. I am tired of people using the terms of illegal immigrant or undocumented immigrants to soften the view of these people. Illegal aliens should be deported deep into their own country so they can't make it back into the states within any short period of time.
Posted by: Rick O | April 9, 2009 6:38 PM