Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee heard heated testimony for and against Governor Hogan’s proposed Judicial Transparency Act of 2019. The bill would require a state Sentencing Commission to publish an annual report that includes detailed, judge-by-judge information about the sentences handed down to convicted violent offenders.
Testimony presented defining eSports in Maryland, permitting prizes
Montgomery County Delegate Eric Luedtke says eSports is a “multi-billion dollar industry” and that Maryland’s laws need to catch up with the growing market. Luedtke, a sponsor of the legislation defining eSports and allowing prizes for those who play them, told a House Committee on Thursday that eSports could benefit the state with the dollars that it brings in.
Moms group rallies to push gun-control laws
Led by chants of “moms demand action” and “gun sense is common sense,” dozens of red-shirted volunteers from the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America lobbied in Annapolis to support stricter gun laws Thursday.
Lawmakers React to Governor Hogan’s State of the State
State House Democrats and Republicans may have their differences but Montgomery County Senator Susan Lee (D) says Governor Hogan’s State of the State showed his willingness to work with both parties. But the Democrats say they are concerned about the Governor’s proposed half-billion dollars in additional tax relief and his failure to support an increase in the minimum wage.
Governor Hogan again urges bipartisanship, sets priorities in State of the State
Republican Governor Larry Hogan, inaugurated for a second term just two weeks ago, told a joint session of the Maryland General Assembly that the state of the state has “never been stronger.”
Local non-profit helps with meeting needs of pet owners impacted by government shut-down
It’s not just the humans who’ve been impacted by the government shut-down. Many of their four-legged family members have been as well. One local non-profit is helping to fill the need and help with preparing pet owners if federal workers are hit with a second shut-down.
State House Democrats present 2019 General Assembly priorities
Maryland Senate and House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled their legislative agenda for the 2019 General Assembly. Among their top priorities: increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and raising the age to 21 in order to buy tobacco products.
U.S. Senate votes down two bills to end record shutdown
On the same day that the U.S. Senate rejected two bills that would end the government shutdown, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin again criticized President Trump’s proposal for a wall along the Mexican border. Cardin also said delaying the President’s State of the Union address was the right thing to do because it would not be appropriate to talk about the state of the union while the government is still shut down.
State offers free transportation to workers impacted by shutdown
Governor Larry Hogan announced on Thursday that federal workers who are not being paid because of the on-going government shutdown will be able to get free rides from the Maryland Transportation Administration.
Maryland Senators meet with local business owners
After 34 days of the government shutdown, local business owners are feeling more heat. Dawson’s Market is offering discounts to its federal worker patrons until Monday, Jan. 28th. Other business owners, however, are concerned for what will happen beyond that time.