Amid the crush of business in the session's final days, lawmakers take time out to remember Louise Beauregard, who was once a constant presence in the halls of power in Annapolis - and a reminder of the need to be mindfull of human frailty.

Beauregard, 85, who died Wednesday at Anne Arundel Medical Center, was an eccentric gadfly, who testified frequently before the General Assembly and at Anne Arundel County and Annapolis city government meetings.

She was always dressed in her Sunday best, and she spoke up for the poor, though inevitably wandered off topic. The Sun once called her daffy, but there was a constant theme in her verbal ramblings.

Her testimony on behalf of the neglected and disenfranchised reminded us all that society is measured by how it treats the least of its members. The Capital, in its obituary of her on Friday, called her perhaps the area's "most conscientious citizen." She ran for local public office several times, and even garnered 17,000 votes as the Republican nominee for county executive in 1986.

I remember, as a young reporter in the Annapolis bureau of the Baltimore Evening Sun about that time, giving her a ride from a meeting of the Anne Arundel school board, where she had presented her views. She was, as always, unfailingly gracious and polite.

Del. Talmadge Branch, a Baltimore Democrat and the majority whip, announced her death on the House floor Friday. Later, he recalled her as the legislature's 142nd delegate. "She was on everybody's committee," he said.

The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. today in her memory. There won't be another Louise Beauregard, but her kindred are always among us.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

Posted by Andy Green at 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The Senate voted to amend the $2 billion settlement between the state and Constellation Energy Group to require that any new power plants built in Maryland would offer to sell their electricity first in-state, and be subject to Public Service Commission regulation.

The amendment, offered by Sens. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, and Jim Rosapepe, a Prince George's County Democrat, carried 27-18, with one not voting and one excused.  The bill is SB 1013.

Proponents argued the amendment would set the state on course to correct its nine-year-old vote to deregulate electricity generation, while opponents warned it could scuttle the settlement with Constellation.

YEAS - 27

• David R. Brinkley, R, Frederick & Carroll Counties
• James Brochin, D, Baltimore County
• Richard F. Colburn, R, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot & Wicomico Counties
• Joan Carter Conway, D, Baltimore City
• George W. Della, Jr., D, Baltimore City
• Roy P. Dyson, D, Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties
• Nathaniel Exum, D, Prince George's County
• Brian E. Frosh, D, Montgomery County
• Lisa A. Gladden, D, Baltimore City
• Janet Greenip, R, Anne Arundel County
• Larry E. Haines, R, Baltimore County & Carroll Counties
• David C. Harrington, D, Prince George's County
• Andrew P. Harris, R, Baltimore County & Harford County
• Nancy Jacobs, R, Cecil & Harford Counties
• Verna L. Jones, D, Baltimore City
• Mike Lennett, D, Montgomery County
• Richard S. Madaleno, Jr., D, Montgomery County
• Nathaniel J. McFadden, D, Baltimore City
• Alex X. Mooney, R, Frederick & Washington Counties
• C. Anthony Muse, D, Prince George's County
• Paul G. Pinsky, D, Prince George's County
• E.J. Pipkin, R, Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties
• Jamie Raskin, D, Montgomery County
• Jim Rosapepe, D, Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties
• Bryan W. Simonaire, R, Anne Arundel County
• Norman R. Stone, Jr., D, Baltimore County
• Bobby A. Zirkin, D, Baltimore County

NAYS - 18

• Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., D, Calvert & Prince George's Counties
• John C. Astle, D, Anne Arundel County
• Ulysses Currie, D, Prince George's County
• James E. DeGrange, Sr., D, Anne Arundel County
• George C. Edwards, R, Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties
• Jennie M. Forehand, D, Montgomery County
• Robert J. Garagiola, D, Montgomery County
• Edward J. Kasemeyer, D, Baltimore County & Howard County\
• Delores G. Kelley, D, Baltimore County
• Nancy J. King, D, Montgomery County
• Allan H. Kittleman, R, Carroll & Howard Counties
• Katherine A. Klausmeier, D, Baltimore County
• Rona E. Kramer, D, Montgomery County
• Thomas M. Middleton, D, Charles County
• Donald F. Munson, R, Washington County
• Douglas J.J. Peters, D, Prince George's County
• Catherine E. Pugh, D, Baltimore City
• James N. Robey, D, Howard County

NOT VOTING - 1

• J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties

EXCUSED FROM VOTING - 1

• Barry Glassman, R, Harford County (Constellation employee)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Did Barack Obama lose a superdelegate when Rep. Albert R. Wynn announced his resignation from Congress?

Wynn, an eight-term Democrat from Prince George's County, endorsed Obama for president earlier this year. But on the day Obama scored a resounding victory in Maryland, Wynn was defeated in the Fourth Congressional District primary. With no chance at re-election in November, he announced last week that he would be leaving the House at the end of May to take a job with the Washington lobbying firm Dickstein Shapiro LLP.

The move could impact a race in which both Obama and Hillary Clinton are agressively courting superdelegates. Gov. Martin O’Malley has not decided whether to order a special election to replace Wynn for the few months remaining in the legislative session. The decision may hinge on whether he can push through legislation that would enable him to skip a costly and length primary process and go straight to a general election before the state General Assembly adjourns next week.

Donna Edwards, the Prince George's County activist who defeated Wynn in the primary, would be heavily favored to win a special election in a liberal district where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than five to one. She is also an Obama backer, so if she were sworn in before the Democratic National Convention in August, it would be a wash for the Illlinois senator.

But if O'Malley -- a Clinton supporter -- doesn't order a special election, Obama will have one less superdelegate to bring to his argument for the nomination.

Posted by Matthew Hay Brown at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval this afternoon to a bill that would repeal the new computer services tax and replace it with a combination of cuts and a 3-year income tax surcharge on millionaires.

Here's how the 31-14 vote went down:

YEAS:

John C. Astle, D, Anne Arundel County
Joan Carter Conway, D, Baltimore City
Ulysses Currie, D, Prince George's County
James E. DeGrange, Sr., D, Anne Arundel County
George W. Della, Jr., D, Baltimore City
Nathaniel Exum, D, Prince George's County
Jennie M. Forehand, D, Montgomery County
Brian E. Frosh, D, Montgomery County
Robert J. Garagiola, D, Montgomery County
Lisa A. Gladden, D, Baltimore City
Barry Glassman, R, Harford County
David C. Harrington, D, Prince George's County
Verna L. Jones, D, Baltimore City
Edward J. Kasemeyer, D, Baltimore County & Howard County
Delores G. Kelley, D, Baltimore County
Nancy J. King, D, Montgomery County
Katherine A. Klausmeier, D, Baltimore County
Mike Lennett, D, Montgomery County
Nathaniel J. McFadden, D, Baltimore City
Thomas M. Middleton, D, Charles County
Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., D, Calvert & Prince George's Counties
Donald F. Munson, R, Washington County
C. Anthony Muse, D, Prince George's County
Douglas J.J. Peters, D, Prince George's County
Paul G. Pinsky, D, Prince George's County
Catherine E. Pugh, D, Baltimore City
Jamie Raskin, D, Montgomery County
James N. Robey, D, Howard County
Jim Rosapepe, D, Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties
Norman R. Stone, Jr., D, Baltimore County
Bobby A. Zirkin, D, Baltimore County

NAYS:

David R. Brinkley, R, Frederick & Carroll Counties
James Brochin, D, Baltimore County
Richard F. Colburn, R, Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot & Wicomico Counties
George C. Edwards, R, Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties
Janet Greenip, R, Anne Arundel County
Larry E. Haines, R, Baltimore County & Carroll Counties
Andrew P. Harris, R, Baltimore County & Harford County
Allan H. Kittleman, R, Carroll & Howard Counties
Rona E. Kramer, D, Montgomery County
Richard S. Madaleno, Jr., D, Montgomery County
Alex X. Mooney, R, Frederick & Washington Counties
E.J. Pipkin, R, Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties
Bryan W. Simonaire, R, Anne Arundel County
J. Lowell Stoltzfus, R, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester Counties

DIDN'T VOTE:

Nancy Jacobs, R, Cecil & Harford Counties
Roy P. Dyson, D, Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties

Posted by Gadi Dechter at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

In today's edition the Senate takes a vote on repealing the computer services tax and replacing it with a tax on people who earn over a million dollars a year.

Posted by Mike Catalini at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Posted by Brad Olson at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Gov. Martin O'Malley said his first 14 months leading the state -- in which his time has been defined as much by Maryland's fiscal woes as any other issue -- have been "the most unpleasant" of all the time he's spent in public life.

He made this remark to a number of reporters after a Board of Public Works meeting yesterday morning, and also said he was playing an active role in efforts to repeal the computer services tax, calling lawmakers and urging them to vote for a combination of cuts, one-time funding from money earmarked for transportation and additional income taxes on those earning more than $1 million a year.

"It's not unreasonable to ask those patriotic citizens to pay an extra percentage" on their income over $1 million, he said. Another option on the table, largely favored by those who oppose his plan, is to make up for the money lost from the repeal with additional budget cuts.

The governor said he would prefer the previous option, but is most committed to repealing the tax. O'Malley even held out the possibility that the session could be extended past Monday if the General Assembly isn't able to wrap things up.

"I don't want to undermine the progress we've made in the special session," he said, referring to many of the programs passed in November that included more funding for transportation and Chesapeake Bay cleanup and an expansion of health care coverage to the uninsured. Lawmakers have already cut those programs or delayed their implementation in order to cover unexpected revenue shortfalls due to the lagging economy, and any further cuts could more definitively undermine those new programs.

O'Malley said he knew many were loathe to consider higher taxes after having raised them by $1.3 billion just a few months ago, but he felt the repeal was the right step.

"I haven't heard of anybody...offering up better alternatives," he said.

Posted by Brad Olson at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A bill to repeal the computer services tax passed a major hurdle today when it was voted out of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. The bill would replace the $200 million "tech tax" with a 3-year tax hike on personal incomes over $1 million, and $100 million in cuts to transportation projects and other spending. Here's how the 10-5 vote came down:

YEAS: Chairman Ulysses Currie, Prince George's County Democrat

Edward DeGrange, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Verna Jones, Baltimore Democrat

Edward Kasemeyer, Howard County Democrat

Nancy King, Montgomery County Democrat

Nathaniel McFadden, Baltimore Democrat

Donald Munson, Washington County Republican

Douglas J. J. Peters, Prince George's County Democrat

James Robey, Howard County Democrat

Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore County Democrat

NAYS:

David Brinkley, Carroll County Republican

George Edwards, Western Maryland Republican

Rona Kramer, Mongtomery County Democrat

Richard Madaleno, Montgomery County Democrat

J. Lowell Stoltzfus, Lower Eastern Shore Republican

After the hearing, Miller said he was "disappointed" in Madaleno and attributed the freshman senator's refusal to fall in line with the governor's proposal to being "young" and "probably nervous."

Miller hinted darkly that Madaleno, a freshman senator and fiscal expert, was "pegged for leadership" but had let down the boss, who is known for rewarding loyal senators with coveted committee leadership slots. Told of Miller's remarks, Madaleno paused, smile slightly and said he thought the comments were "ironic." "This is the first tax increase I haven't supported in six years, including many, many bills that passes in the House" when he was a member there, he said. "I just think this is the wrong time to be doing another tax increase."

Posted by Gadi Dechter at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

As the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee wrestled with its decision yesterday to raise income taxes on millionaires, Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden complained that the O'Malley administration and lawmakers haven't gotten enough credit for reining in spending before voting to increase taxes.

Warren G. Deschenaux Jr., the legislature's chief budget analyst, told committee members that the governor and the General Assembly have trimmed more than $1 billion in spending overall since last year. Deschenaux said they had exerted "significant downward pressure" on spending.

McFadden, a Baltimore Democrat, jumped on the statement, saying the news media never mention that. He challenged reporters in the crowded committee room to report the spending cuts.

Challenge accepted - consider it reported here.

For the record, though, The Sun has reported before that the governor and lawmakers have cut spending in addition to raising taxes by $1.3 billion.

The $1 billion total Deschenaux cited yesterday hasn't been specifically mentioned, but news stories have repeatedly reported that the governor and lawmakers agreed in last fall's special session to cut more than $500 million from the fiscal 2009 budget. We've also reported on the spending reductions lawmakers made in this session to offset the $300 million in revenue "writedowns" projected by the state comptroller.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Who should help cover the state's costs for collecting child support? The single parent - or the one required to pay support?

House members voted yesterday to levy a $25 fee on non-custodial spouses when the state collects child support from them - shifting the handling cost from single-parent recipients after an emotional debate.

The change, proposed by Del. A. Wade Kach, a Baltimore County Republican, came on a bill that would extend a one-year-old law allowing the state Child Support Enforcement Administration to collect the fee to cover its costs. Kach argued that it was unfair to collect the fee from recipients of child support, who may be receiving as little as $500 a year. He suggested garnisheeing wages of those required to pay support to get the extra fee.

Del. Kathleen M. Dumais, a Montgomery County Democrat, pointed out that the fee collection is required by federal law, and that the switch might jeopardize matching federal funds to help with the effort.

But Kach said he didn't care if his proposal did cost the state federal funds, it was the right thing to do. He drew impassioned support from Del. Joanne C. Benson, a Prince George's County Democrat, who suggested that deadbeat dads deserved worse than having just to pay the extra $25 fee.

Kach's amendment passed 87 to 47. The bill is to be taken up again today for further debate and possibly more amendments.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Transit-oriented development would receive a boost under legislation given final approval yesterday by the House of Delegates.

The O'Malley administration measure, approved on a 130-8 vote, would enhance the eligibility of public and private development near the state's transit stops for state funding. State transportation officials estimate there are 70 potential sites for transit-oriented development along Baltimore's Metro and light rail lines, as well as along the MARC commuter rail lines in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Maryland Archeology Month.

And for those attending the Board of Public Works meeting this morning, this point was driven home as Susan Langley, the State Underwater Archeologist, regaled top state officials with tales of shipwrecks and other prized findings for nearly a half hour.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp seemed especially interested in a German U-boat the state and the Navy have partnered in preserving in the past decade.

They did not seem terribly concerned about the gaggle of public officials awaiting word on state funding they had asked for, perhaps aware that as soon as they took up the concerns of those individuals, the meeting could take a decidedly less interesting turn.

Perhaps aware their curiosity had taken up a good amount of time, O'Malley made a wisecrack and the panel moved on to discuss lawsuits and other matters.

Posted by Brad Olson at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

In today's edition, something might finally happen in the weeks-long effort to repeal the unpopular computer services tax.

Posted by Mike Catalini at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Walking back into the Senate a few minutes ago from a photo-op on the State House steps, President Thomas V. Mike Miller expressed optimisim that a bill to repeal the computer services tax would emerge from the Budget and Taxation Committee this afternoon.

After canvassing for votes yesterday, Miller, who now backs a "tech tax" repeal, predicted a close vote on the Senate floor in coming days.

"It's going to be one or two votes either way," he said. "But I think we're OK."

Posted by Gadi Dechter at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer wants to see the race for the Democratic presidential nomination wrapped up before the national convention this summer. And he has an idea of how to do it.

“Let me tell you, in my early days, my younger days, I was a political leader in Prince George's County,” the Maryland Democrat told reporters yesterday. “We had what was called a breakfast club. People sat around the table just like this. We rarely ever voted.

“We did have, however, significant discussion in which we ultimately came to consensus on. That didn't mean everybody was in unanimity, but it did mean that everybody agreed that, well, that seems to be the logical conclusion to reach. So you don't necessarily have to vote to reach such a conclusion.”

Hoyer, who has not backed a candidate in the primary, does not say that superdelegates should be bound by the popular vote in their districts or states. Instead, he says, they should rely on their experience and judgment.

“The people of Maryland voted on February 12,” he said. “Between February 12 and August 25 is a long period of time. A lot of things are going to happen. The people of Maryland might have voted differently on, frankly, October 12 of the preceding year, may have voted differently on May 12.”

Which is not to say that the will of the voters wouldn’t influence his decision. Hoyer’s district, like Maryland as a whole, went heavily for Barack Obama.

“In November I have to stand for reelection, so whatever decision I make in August will be a component part of what my constituents in my district think of me,” he said. “If they think my judgment was good, they will say, hooray. If they think my judgments were lousy and wrong and subverted them, they can vote against me.”

As far as campaign nastiness goes, Hoyer says, he’s seen worse than what’s gone on so far in the Democratic primary. But as Obama and Hillary Clinton continue to battle, he’s urging both to tread lightly.

“I, frankly, think this has not been as tough a primary as we have necessarily had in the past,” Hoyer said.

Still, he is concerned about the tone of the race.

“Uniquely, we have two candidates who are the personifications of major constituencies; Mr. Obama obviously of African-Americans, Hillary Clinton of women,” he said. “And therefore, when one or the other is attacked by either third parties or they go after one another, it is not just them who is hearing … the disagreement, the attack, the whatever, however you want to characterize it. It is the constituencies that they personify. And so to that extent, I think we need to be very careful, and I would urge both candidates and am going to urge both candidates to be positive in their approach.”

Posted by Matthew Hay Brown at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Posted by Andy Green at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Last night's House session went swiftly, as no major debates came up and delegates seemed in a genial mood after the long weekend.

In a prayer to begin the session, Del. Sandy Rosenberg invoked the season of Easter and Passover and how, for baseball lovers, they can intertwine with Opening Day, "when every team starts out a winner."

In the end, it wasn't enough for the Orioles, but the Nationals started nicely in their new ballpark.  

Posted by Brad Olson at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)