ANNAPOLIS – Think “lobbyist,” and money, influence and lots of backslapping are some of the things that come to mind, says Ann Ciekot, one of 695 such folks registered to prowl the halls of Maryland’s General Assembly

ANNAPOLIS – The cookie crumbled, the Patuxent River agate sank, walking took a hike and a new state song hit a sour note, as four out of four proposed state symbols died during the 2002 General Assembly session

ANNAPOLIS – A bill requiring children under age 6 to use safety seats awaits the governor’s signature after being passed by the Maryland General Assembly the last week of session

ANNAPOLIS – The House is expected to accept a watered-down Senate version of a bill that allows some ex-felons with multiple convictions to vote in Maryland elections

ANNAPOLIS – A Senate committee killed a bill that would have included made some white males eligible for minority business preference by including them in the definition of socially disadvantaged

ANNAPOLIS – Proponents of a Maryland House bill requiring an 18-hour waiting period for women seeking an abortion say it is not a pro-life bill, but opponents call it a “flimsy smokescreen” to take away a woman’s right to choose

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland House of Delegates voted Thursday to include non- minority males in the definition of socially disadvantaged for minority business preference

ANNAPOLIS – Working into the early evening Wednesday, senators tried to retool a bill restoring voting rights to felons after some senators criticized the bill as too broad, allowing even those who commit treason to eventually vote

ANNAPOLIS – Child booster seats save lives, say sponsors of bills this year to close the gap in Maryland child safety restraint laws by requiring children age 4 to 6 ride in safety seats

ANNAPOLIS – Autumn Skeen thought she was doing everything right