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Looks like Sen. Alex Mooney's long quest to secure hate crimes protection for homeless people may finally become law. For a number of years, Democrats looked at the Frederick Republican's efforts on this issue cyincally, assuming that he was really trying to water down existing hate crimes protections for minorities, gays and others. But he's stuck with it, and, with some compromises, it looks like it might actually go through this year.
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
OMG!!! Who does he think he is?
How dare he want the same protection for someone whose only issue is they don't have an address as minorities, gays and others get. What is wrong with this country?
We all know that crimes against these groups are much much much worse than the same crimes against the rest of us.
I am worth less jail time than a gay victim is for the same assault.
I understand that the lesbian getting jacked up is worse than me getting jacked up.
The ambiguous gendered are worthy of more protection from predators than I am.
Why?
Posted by: Fed Up | April 13, 2009 9:02 PM